3-Day Horse-Assisted Grief & Reconnection Retreat in New Smyrna Beach, Florida

Angel's Animal Sanctuary sits on a quiet piece of land in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, about an hour from Orlando. The property houses rescued horses, dogs, cats, and farm animals, and the retreat is designed to let you spend as much time with them as you want. You sleep on site, either in a private pool house, a guest room, a workshop room, or a luxury tent, depending on what you book. Meals are plant-based and prepared fresh each day, with dietary needs accommodated if you tell them in advance.

The daily schedule is gentle but structured. A typical morning starts with coffee or tea and breakfast, then a two-hour groundwork session with one of the horses. You'll learn how to approach, halter, lead, and groom, and how to read signals like ear position, breathing, and where the horse is looking. The horses are rescues, so some come with trust issues, and the facilitators teach you how to move at their pace. After lunch, there's usually an optional activity — a sound bath, a yoga class, a guided meditation, or a lesson in holistic horse care like introductory hoof trimming or equine bodywork. Late afternoons are left open for resting, walking the property, or sitting with the animals. A trail or beach ride is scheduled for one of the days if you're physically able and under 170 pounds.

What separates this from other equine therapy retreats is that the sanctuary is also home to dogs, cats, and farm animals, and you're free to interact with all of them. The retreat doesn't force group sharing or require you to talk about your grief or transition. The facilitators are trained in therapeutic support, and they'll check in with you one-on-one, but the horses are the primary guides. Many guests find that the simple act of grooming a horse or sitting in a pasture with a dog is more helpful than a structured therapy session.

The retreat is led by the team at Angel's Animal Sanctuary, which runs several similar programmes, including a burnout recovery retreat and a grief and loss healing retreat. The facilitators have backgrounds in equine-assisted learning, holistic horse care, and complementary therapies like sound healing and yoga. They live on or near the property and know each animal's history, so they can match you with a horse that fits your comfort level.

New Smyrna Beach itself is a small coastal town on Florida's east coast, known for its wide beaches where you can drive on the sand, a laid-back downtown with restaurants and shops, and the Canaveral National Seashore nearby. The sanctuary is a short drive from the beach, so you can combine your retreat with time by the ocean. The weather is warm most of the year, with mild winters and hot, humid summers. The retreat runs for three days, and exact arrival and departure times are confirmed with the leader when you book.

What's included

- 3-day guided retreat at Angel's Animal Sanctuary - On-site accommodation (private pool house, guest room, workshop room, or luxury tent) - All plant-based meals, prepared fresh - Daily groundwork sessions with rescued horses - Holistic horse care workshop (introductory hoof trimming and equine bodywork) - Optional therapeutic support such as sound healing, yoga, or guided meditation - Trail or beach ride (for guests under 170 lbs and physically able) - Access to the sanctuary's rescued dogs, cats, and farm animals - One-on-one check-ins with facilitators

What's not included

- Airfare and travel to and from New Smyrna Beach, Florida - Airport transfers - Travel insurance - Optional add-ons such as private yoga, private sound bath, painting classes, plant-based cooking demonstrations, additional animal time, and bodywork with a chiropractor trained in animal therapy - Personal expenses