Whispers of the Herd

July 6-10, 2026

Five days to slow the pace, soften the noise, and listen for what is ready to shift.

An equine-guided women’s retreat shaped by horses, mountain land, and embodied presence.

Request to Join

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Overview • Experience • Lodging & Pricing • FAQ

WHAT THIS RETREAT IS

This retreat is for women who want depth without performance.

Over five days, we’ll work with rescued mustangs, the mountain environment, and mindfulness-based experiential practices to explore awareness and relational presence in real time.

This is grounded, experiential, and intentionally spacious.

You will never be asked to share more than you choose.

WHO THIS IS FOR

This retreat tends to resonate with people who:

  • Feel overextended, inwardly busy, or at a transition point

  • Want experiential work

  • Are comfortable with depth and ambiguity

  • Are drawn to horses, land, and relational awareness

  • Value presence more than performance

No horse experience required. All bodies are welcome. Activities are adaptable and participation is always optional.

THE SHAPE OF THE DAYS

Each day follows a steady rhythm of presence, movement, and rest.

  • Mornings: Equine-guided group sessions with rescued mustangs

  • Afternoons: Integration activities (movement, sensory immersion, creative studios; weather-responsive)

  • Evenings: Quiet reflection and circle (Tuesday and Wednesday)

Arrival day includes an opening circle and gentle mat Pilates.

The retreat closes Friday with a final sound bath and departure.

WORKING WITH THE HERD

Horses are responsive, relational beings with their own boundaries, preferences, and pace.

Our equine sessions are ground-based and group-oriented. We work with:

  • Presence and attention

  • Boundaries and connection

  • Impulse, hesitation, and response

  • What emerges between individuals and the herd

The work is experiential and non-directive. Insight arises through interaction, not explanation.

Mustang-Guided Sensory Immersion Hike

This retreat includes a guided sensory immersion hike informed by the presence and pacing of the mustangs.

This experience emphasizes:

  • Slowed pace and attunement

  • Sensory awareness (sight, sound, breath, movement)

  • Relational presence with land, herd, and group

The hike covers approximately 1.5 mile and includes a 200-foot elevation change up a mountainside. The pace is intentionally slow, with frequent pauses, options to rest, and permission to modify or step out at any point.

The experience culminates at a walking meditation labyrinth, where participants may spend quiet time in reflection. Optional journaling and art supplies are available for those who wish to stay with the experience in stillness.

Throughout the hike, the mustangs shape the rhythm — offering feedback through movement, proximity, and response.

No technical hiking experience is required. This is not about speed, endurance, or reaching a summit.

The trailhead is located approximately 15 minutes from Copper Lodge. Transportation details will be shared with participants.

AFTERNOON INTEGRATION & EMBODIED PRACTICES

Afternoons are intentionally slower — a time for integration through movement, sensory awareness, and creative reflection.

These experiences support nervous-system regulation and allow morning work with horses to settle in the body.

Movement & Attunement

  • Mustang-guided sensory immersion hike (described above)

  • Guided meditation

  • Gentle mat Pilates to support grounding and embodied awareness

Creative Integration Studios

Afternoons may include:

  • Mandala of Parts-of-Self — a guided, non-clinical creative exploration of inner states through shape, color, and symbol

  • Horsehair bracelet — a tactile project worked on gradually across the week

  • Labyrinth stone painting — contributing to the shared landscape

  • Fused glass workshop — Create a small fused glass piece to take home

  • Traditional soap making — Craft handmade soap to bring home

  • Sourdough breadmaking — Learn starter care, fermentation basics, and baking principles. Participants may take home a starter.

    You are always welcome to participate, rest, walk, journal, or simply be.

EVENINGS

Evenings are quieter.

Circles offer space to reflect and integrate without pressure to speak. Silence is welcome.

One evening includes Dream Theater — an optional experiential process for exploring recurring dreams through guided re-enactment and reflection.

COPPER LODGE

Copper Lodge provides a grounded, comfortable base for the retreat — surrounded by mountain land and designed for rest, reflection, and community.

Expect:

  • Simple, well-appointed lodging

  • Shared gathering spaces

  • Immediate access to land and trails

  • A peaceful atmosphere that supports the work

  • Access to sauna & hot tub

  • WiFi available; no televisions

Meals and indoor group activities take place in the main lodge.

Cabins & Lodging Options

Participants stay in private cabins at Copper Lodge. Options include private cabins and shared cabins, with pricing reflecting the level of privacy.

Cabin features may include:

  • Comfortable beds and quiet sleeping space

  • Coffee maker in each cabin

  • Some cabins include kitchenettes for light personal use

  • Easy access to shared gathering spaces and land

Room assignments are first-come, first-served.

Cabin Types

  • Private Cabin

    $3,250

    Private queen sized bed

    Private toilet

    Kitchenette

    Single Occupancy

    Greater privacy and quiet

    Limited availability

  • Private Room in Shared Cabin

    $2,950

    Private queen sized bed

    Shared bathroom

  • Shared Room

    $2,750

    Separate twin-sized beds

    Shared bathroom

    Some shared rooms are in lofts with low ceilings

Pricing & Payment

Pricing includes lodging, meals, all retreat programming, and materials.

A $1,000 partially refundable deposit reserves your space.

Second payment due April 1, 2026. Final payment due May 1, 2026.

What’s Included

  • Five days / four nights lodging

  • All equine-guided group sessions with rescued mustangs

  • Gentle mat Pilates and daily integration experiences

  • Afternoon Integration & Creative Studios (movement practices, sensory immersion, mandala work, artisan projects, and equine-guided hike)

  • Evening circles and sound baths

  • Breakfasts, lunches and dinners catered from local restaurants

  • Art materials and supplies for studio sessions

  • Access to sauna and hot tub for evening relaxation

  • On-site facilitation throughout the retreat

Optional Private & Extended Work

For those who feel called to additional support, a limited number of private sessions are available.

During retreat week, short individual Energy Clearing sessions are offered during designated afternoon integration windows.

Full equine-guided Gestalt sessions are reserved for the weekend immediately following the retreat (July 11–12), for those wishing to remain in the area and continue the work in dedicated one-on-one space.

Energy Clearing & Ritual-Based Healing

(Offered During Retreat Week)

Optional individual sessions designed to support regulation and integration within the retreat experience.

These shorter sessions may include intuitive assessment, energetic clearing, grounding practices, or guided release work. Always consent-based and paced slowly.

  • 15–60 minutes

  • $180–$225

  • Offered Tuesday–Thursday afternoons

  • Limited availability

These sessions are intended as supportive integration touchpoints rather than deep process work.

Private 1-on-1 Equine Gestalt Deep Healing

A private equine-guided session focused entirely on you.

This is individualized, somatic, relational work with the herd — following what is present rather than what is planned. Sometimes what opens in a group container becomes clearer in one-on-one space.

Post-Retreat Extended Sessions (Saturday–Sunday, July 11–12)
For participants remaining in the area.

  • 2–3 hours

  • $375

  • Advance scheduling required.

  • Limited availability

Daily Nourishment

Each cabin includes a coffee maker. Some cabins also have kitchenettes for light personal use.

Some dietary needs and allergies can be accommodated with advance notice. Please reach out at least 60 days prior to the retreat.

PRACTICAL DETAILS

Dates: July 6-10, 2026

  1. Group size: Intentionally limited to preserve depth, safety, and meaningful engagement.

  2. Location: The Copper Lodge, Colorado. 8,000 ft above sea level.

  3. Physical requirements: Ground-based horse work; gentle walking; hiking optional. Ability to tolerate high altitude conditions.

  4. Weather: Mountain conditions vary — the retreat is designed to be meaningful in all weather

  5. Cell service: Limited

  6. Post-retreat private sessions available July 11–12 for those wishing to linger in the area and deepen the work.

YOUR GUIDES

Erika Lehmann, PhD
Founder of Mustang Wisdom

Erika facilitates equine-guided retreats grounded in experiential learning, relational awareness, and nervous-system informed practice. Her work integrates group process, movement, and creative integration within land-based settings.

She brings a steady, grounded presence and a deep respect for what emerges when experience leads and interpretation follows.

Renee Metty

Equine Gestaltist® • Equine Facilitator™ • Shamanic Practitioner • Energy Medicine Practitioner

Renee bridges science and soul through her integration of Equine Gestalt, shamanic healing, energetic medicine, and the Energetic Economy operating system. Her work helps people understand their energetic patterns, regulate their nervous systems, and reconnect with deeper awareness.

Partnering with the intuitive intelligence of horses, she blends somatic processes with energy-based insight, guiding clients to discern between conditioned responses and authentic alignment. Renee holds a coherent field that feels steady, compassionate, and deeply grounding—where insight becomes clear and emotional unwinding feels safe.

Kodie Ketchbaw
Steward of K-Bar Ranch • Copper Lodge • Witcher Mountain Apothecary

With more than 25 years in hospitality, Kodie curates elevated, authentic retreat spaces rooted in land and season. Through meditation, sound therapy, and earth-centered practices, she guides women to slow down, reconnect with nature, and return to clarity and confidence.

During this retreat, Kodie leads traditional soap making, sourdough breadmaking, and guided meditation — embodied practices that support integration and renewal.

Joining the Retreat

This retreat emphasizes mindfulness, relational awareness, and experiential learning with horses. We review each request personally to ensure alignment and preserve the integrity of the group experience.

FAQ

  1. Is this retreat women-only?
    Yes. This retreat is designed for women.

  2. Do I need prior horse experience?
    No. All equine sessions are ground-based and guided. No riding or prior experience is required.

  3. What is the physical intensity of the retreat?
    Activities include standing, gentle walking, and one optional hike with elevation gain. Participation is always optional, and alternatives are available.

  4. What happens after I submit a Request to Join?
    Requests are reviewed personally. If it feels aligned, we’ll follow up with next steps and registration details.

  5. Can dietary restrictions be accommodated?
    We can accommodate gluten-free and some other dietary needs with at least 60 days advance notice, but cannot guarantee against cross-contamination.

Deposits

A $1,000 deposit is required to reserve your space.

  • $500 of the deposit is non-refundable upon acceptance

  • The remaining $500 is refundable until April 1, 2026

Payment schedule

  • 50% of the remaining balance is due April 1, 2026

  • Final payment is due May 1, 2026

Cancellations

Because this retreat is intentionally small and venue costs become non-refundable, the following policy applies:

  • Cancellations before April 1, 2026: Any payments made beyond the $500 non-refundable portion of the deposit will be refunded.

  • Cancellations on or after April 1, 2026: All payments are non-refundable unless your space is filled from a waitlist.

If your space is filled, you will be refunded the amount paid minus the $500 non-refundable deposit.

NOTE: If minimum enrollment is not met by April 15, 2026, you will be notified and all payments will be fully refunded, including the full deposit