GlobalSpa
28-Aug-2025
Bring emotional clarity, inner calm and spiritual reconnection through horses, equine yoga and sound meditation.
As the pace of summer slows and routines settle back in, many travellers are seeking something more than just another getaway – a true reset. From 17 to 22 September 2025, NIHI Sumba will host the Equine Intuitive Awareness Retreat, an experience designed to bring emotional clarity, inner calm and spiritual reconnection.
This is no ordinary wellness escape. NIHI is the first spa in the world to have horses living on site full-time for wellness. You are guided by resident horse whisperer Carol Sharpe through sunrise swims and sunset rides with the herd, Reiki healing, equine yoga, sound meditations by firelight and cultural rituals unique to the island of Sumba. There is also the chance to visit the Sumba Horse Charity and offer Reiki to local ponies, deepening the bond between horse and human and a rare opportunity to give back.
For those drawn to a more private or personalised journey, NIHI also offers year-round equine retreats with Carol and the herd, tailored to individual needs and intentions.
GlobalSpa spoke exclusively with guest Susi Cheshire, who shared her own powerful experience of the retreat.
What drew you to NIHI Sumba and the Equine Intuitive Awareness Retreat?
I had heard about NIHI’s unique approach to wellness with horses and sensed it was unlike anything else in the world. I wasn’t looking for just another retreat. I wanted something that would help me reconnect with myself on a much deeper level. The idea of working with horses in such a spiritual environment felt like the reset I had been searching for.
You’ve faced deep personal loss. How did this shape your mindset going into the retreat?
Loss leaves you with a silence that can feel impossible to move through. I arrived at NIHI carrying grief that I hadn’t been able to release, no matter how many therapies I tried. I wasn’t sure if the retreat would change anything, but I was open, perhaps for the first time in a long time, to letting the horses guide me somewhere new.
You’ve said no therapist has ever been able to help, but something shifted during a session with Carol and the herd. Can you take us through what happened?
Carol has an incredible ability to listen, not only to people but to the horses too – many of which she has known since birth. One afternoon I was standing quietly with the herd when I felt a wave of calm move through me. It was as if the horses understood exactly what I was carrying without me saying a word. That was the moment something inside me began to lift, in a way no words or traditional therapy had ever managed to reach.
One of your most powerful moments involved Ina, an orphaned pony. What was that like?
Ina walked up to me and rested her head gently on my shoulder. It felt as though she chose me, and for the first time in years, I felt seen without needing to explain my pain. Sitting among the herd with Ina by my side was a moment of pure connection and healing.
How would you describe Carol’s approach?
She is extraordinary. Carol doesn’t push or prescribe. She allows the horses to lead and interprets what they are showing us in such a sensitive way. Her respect for the animals and their intuition makes you feel completely safe to open up to the process.
What would you say to someone silently carrying grief or trauma who might be unsure about trying this retreat?
I would say: trust the horses. They have a way of holding space for your emotions without judgement. If you are carrying something heavy, this retreat offers a chance to release it in the most unexpected and beautiful way.
Looking back, how has the retreat impacted your life today?
It shifted something fundamental. I came home lighter, calmer and more at peace. It doesn’t mean the grief is gone, but it no longer defines me. NIHI gave me the tools, and the horses gave me the healing, to move forward with a new sense of strength.
For NIHI’s guests, the Equine Intuitive Awareness Retreat is more than an escape. It is a journey of transformation, guided by horses who have themselves been rescued and now offer healing in return. Whether attending the September retreat or a private programme at another time of year, it promises not just calm but a profound reconnection with self, nature and spirit.
