3-Day Grief & Loss Healing Retreat with Rescued Animals in Florida

Days here don't follow a fixed schedule. Morning might start with a bodywork session with Dr Angelique Barbara, then time with the animals or a guided horsemanship session in the paddock, then a plant-based lunch, then the afternoon open for a sound bath, a yoga session, a meditation, or just sitting by the pool. The team builds the plan with you, either before you arrive or on the first morning, and adjusts it as the days go.

The horsemanship side is led, not free-form. You work with the sanctuary's rescued horses on ground exercises — approaching, haltering, leading — which builds the same kind of trust you'd need with any animal that's been through something. It's quiet work and it doesn't require riding experience. Horseback riding is available as an add-on if you want it. The sanctuary also houses dogs, cats and farm animals, and time with them can simply mean sitting with them.

The bodywork sessions are the other anchor. Dr Barbara works as a chiropractor, so the hands-on work is structural as much as it is relaxing — she'll work on where you hold grief, which for a lot of people is the chest, the jaw, the shoulders or the hips. She also has veterinary science degrees, which is how she came to build a retreat around rescued animals.

Food is plant-based and cooked for you, adjusted to what you can eat. Meals are taken alongside the programme, not in a separate restaurant — you'll usually eat with whoever is leading the day. Accommodation is on the sanctuary grounds in nature, with outdoor space, a pool and spa, and quiet spots to sit in. The whole stay is private, meaning you're not sharing sessions with a group unless you choose to.

The point of doing this over three days rather than a weekend is that grief doesn't resolve itself on a schedule. The first day usually goes on settling in and getting on the same page about what you need. The second is often the fullest: bodywork, animal time, and whichever holistic session you've chosen. The third is lighter, with more time to sit with the animals or by the water before you leave. Optional extras — a sound bath, painting lessons, a cooking class, extra horsemanship — can be added at any point, and the schedule gets rebuilt around them.

What's included

- 3 days / 2 nights accommodation on the sanctuary grounds - Plant-based meals prepared on site (breakfast, lunch and dinner) - Restorative bodywork sessions with Dr Angelique Barbara - Guided horsemanship sessions with the rescued horses - Time with the rescued dogs, cats and farm animals - Guided meditation and yoga sessions - Access to the pool, spa and outdoor spaces - Customised programme built around your goals - Full directions and travel guidance before arrival

What's not included

- Flights and travel to New Smyrna Beach, FL - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Optional add-ons: additional sound baths, painting lessons, cooking classes, extra horsemanship, horseback riding - Airport transfers - Additional nights beyond the three-day programme