What are Eponaquest Retreats?

Eponaquest retreats provide participants with the tools to find

balance, renew strength, regain spirit, tap into their intuition and

rediscover their own inner power.

How does it work?

Horses are ancient creatures, a species that has survived for 50

million years. As prey animals, their lives depend upon the ability

to properly and correctly assess a situation and react accordingly.

Therefore they have developed extremely heightened intuitive

senses, enabling them to accurately perceive what is happening

around them and then communicate this to the rest of the herd.

Hence they have the ability to reflect back to us our internal state.

When humans begin to understand this instinctual interaction we

learn about ourselves from what they are reflecting back to us.

They make the invisible visible, if we know how to see it.

This multifaceted retreat combines equine assisted learning with

the surreal beauty of a tropical paradise, nourishing farm-fresh

food, private photography and spa services all in one amazing

package!

Space is limited. No prior riding experience necessary.

"An Exploration of Eponaquest Equine Facilitated Experiential Learning Retreat for Practitioners and Retreat

Leaders”

Facilitated by:

Nancy Coyne MD, Psychiatrist, AI, Power of the Herd (POH), Eponaquest Founder of Psychotherapy Program

Shelley Rosenberg, AI, RFI, Power of the Herd (POH) and Eponaquest Founder Riding Program

Deborah Draves Legg, Registered Nurse, (AI) Advanced Eponaquest Instructor, (RFI) Riding Focused Instructor

Hosted By: Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat, Costa Rica

October 21st – October 27th, 2015 (6 nights)

Understanding How Horses are Used as Teachers

Horses help make conscious in humans what is unconscious – our authentic selves – the person we were meant

to be. Highly sensitive prey animals, they respond to subtle changes in their handler’s body language,

providing feedback on how we are in this moment. Examining our own reactions to equine behavior can lead

to powerful new insights into our own natural abilities and talents and help enhance and promote personal and

professional growth.

During this retreat we explore how to:

Understand and use emotions as information.

Consistently access a more mindful and intuitive presence.

Establish and maintain optimal personal space for personal well-being.

Use your bodies as a sensory and communication device, accessing the “other 90%” (non-verbal

communication)

Recognize and move beyond the limiting, unconscious beliefs and behaviors that keep us stuck in old

patterns

Discuss how to distinguish social conditioning and authentic behaviors and beliefs.

Overcome counterproductive ways of thinking and reacting, learning to respond with heart-centered

presence.

Experience, facilitated by horses, true congruence/coherence. In the equine mind, incongruence does

not make sense to them, they respond when our body and our minds are in sync.

Listen to our bodies as a source of information for living a more balanced life. Exercising our intuition

and letting go of the egocentric chatter.

Discuss the implications of predatory and non-predatory power in leadership and group dynamics.

Create an authentic community, thus building a ‘sacred space’ for self development.

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR INVITED GUESTS

To promote our program and expand our referral base

we are offering this retreat to selected professionals.

The best way to fully understand the benefits of equine

experiential learning, one must experience it.

Retreat Facilitators

Shelley Rosenberg continues a 38 year career as a dressage rider, competed for the long-list on the U.S. Olympic equestrian team and is a

professional horse trainer. In addition, she is a United States Dressage Federation (USDF) “L” judge, and certified USDF instructor. She

served as President of the Tucson Dressage Club and ran her own professional Dressage Center in Oro Valley, AZ for 18 years. She moved on

to become Ranch Manager for Linda Kohanov, author of ‘The Tao of Equus: A Woman’s Journey of Healing and Transformation through the

Way of the Horse’ (New World Library 2007) and founder of Eponaquest in 2005. Shelley’s first book, ‘My Horses, My Healers’

(AuthorHouse 2006), is her personal story of childhood sexual abuse and trauma. Through the healing power of horses, Shelley transforms

her experience into a protocol for self-healing through the way of the Horse. At Eponaquest from the beginning and as one of Eponaquest’s

Senior faculty, Shelley’s innovative, multifaceted approach has supported the evolution of Equine Experiential Learning. Shelley integrated

riding with Eponaquest ground activities elevating the Eponaquest process to a new level, and in 2013 Eponaquest officially added her riding

program to the Eponaquest foundation. She conducts Eponaquest Apprenticeships and workshops/retreats worldwide.

Deborah Draves Legg left her life in the USA and a 25 year career as a registered nurse in 2006 and created Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat in Costa Rica with her husband, Steve Legg. Her years working as charge nurse and transport nurse in Neonatal ICU, Pediatric ICU, Adult Hospice, Director and founder of a pediatric home care program prepared her for the challenge of creating this healing retreat in Central America. Horses found their way into Debbie’s life serendipitously after the move to Costa Rica. Little by little as the herd grew to 20 plus horses so did the equine therapy programs and Leaves and Lizards is now the Eponaquest headquarters of Central America. As an RN and an Advanced Riding Focused Eponaquest Instructor, Debbie is able to bring insight and wisdom to hotel guests, local therapy clients and workshop participants in the glorious shadow of the Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica.

Nancy Coyne,M.D. is a board certified psychiatrist, creator of the Eponaquest Psychotherapy Apprenticeship, and Advanced Instructor. Her work as a healer is informed by long experience as a psychotherapist, artist, yoga practitioner and lover of animals and of the outdoors. She utilizes creative process, movement and breath, EMDR, as well as talk therapy and medication in her practice. She currently practices equine facilitated psychotherapy, working with people in concert with horses as healer/mentors. This work brings together her passion for creative process as a healing tool, connection with animals, and deep centering through breath, movement, and immersion in the natural world. The horses bring to the healing process their big hearts, their generous willingness to mirror and engage with humans and the power of their physical strength, compassion and presence. People often find their lives transformed by intensive 3-7 day workshop-retreats, learning new tools, finding inner resources, reclaiming the joy of childhood. Workshops are available at the home ranch in Arizona, in Maine and internationally (Costa Rica, Australia, Europe)

Shelley Deborah Nancy

Retreat Itinerary

(Please be well rested for the start of the workshop. It is recommended to come in the night before)

Day 1 (October 21, 2015)

Morning: Arrival by 11 am

Midday: Welcoming Lunch and Introductions

Afternoon: Horse Selection/Partnering

Days 2-6

Retreat will include Eponaquest round pen and mounted activities, riding (suitable for all levels of riders), private guide

services and networking time.

Daily yoga and optional spa/body services.

Day 7 (October 27th, 2015)

Morning: Breakfast

Departure: If you schedule your departing flight today, it should leave no earlier than 1pm

Included: accommodation, meals, retreat tuition and materials, guide services and riding!

PLEASE INQUIRE FOR RATE- This Retreat/Workshop is offered at a deep discount. Please contact us for more information.

www.leavesandlizards.com

For reservations: Call 1-888-828-4295 or Email leavesandlizardsretreat@gmail.com

.

What to Expect Beyond the Life Changing Eponaquest Experience!

Maslow's hierarchy of needs (a popular framework in sociology research, psychology and management training) suggests that if

basic needs (Food, Water, Shelter) humans are able to focus on the secondary (Relationships, Learning) and as we move up the

Maslow’s pyramid, as needs are being met we have the capacity to reach the highest level of human fulfillment he calls “Self

Actualization”.

In the friendly, nourishing, beautiful and safe environment of Leaves and Lizards, your basic needs will be more than met,

creating the optimum opportunity to absorb the full benefit of the workshop.

The Horses: The Costa Rican horses, Costarricense de Paso also known as Criollo, are a combination of several Spanish horses

and the Peruvian Stepping Horse. This magical combination has created horses with a smooth, comfortable gait. The spirit of

the Costa Rican horses will touch your soul. They are fearless, sure footed, hardworking and extremely versatile.

The horses at Leaves and Lizards are cared for and trained using natural horsemanship techniques. We offer a variety of horses

to choose from and cater for all riding abilities. Options range from the highly spirited Criollo to low key Quarter Horses and

anywhere in between. The riding style is Western.

The Riding: You will interact with the horses both on the ground and in the saddle. Riding will include various terrain including

open pastures, rainforests, waterfalls, river crossings, spectacular volcano views with opportunities to experience tropical flora,

fauna and hospitality. Individuals with little or no riding experience to seasoned riders will find the riding to be just what they

need. The horses at Leaves and Lizards are extremely adaptable, sure footed and kind.

Spa Services: You will have the option to meet with a professional masseuse. She will do an assessment and determine the best

treatments for you including therapeutic, deep, hot rock massages, paraffin treatments, volcanic mud wraps, reflexology,

chakra balancing, reiki, acupuncture and yoga. An extra fee of $300 will include consultation and 6 hours of spa services. No

charge for daily yoga practice.

Nutrition/Lodging: You will enjoy farm fresh foods. We offer low carbohydrate, vegetarian, gluten free, vegan meal options. We

produce our own eggs, chickens, milk products and many fruits and vegetables. Cabins are well equipped with private

bathrooms, hot showers, comfortable beds, fine linen, Coffee makers, microwaves all with amazing views of jungle and the

volcano. There is WiFi at the one-site Lava Lizard Restaurant. Go to the Leaves and Lizards website for lodging information.

Recent Participant Testimonials:

“I am a holistic healer who recently brought a group of patients to Leaves and Lizards this spring. It was a magical experience

for everyone in our group on many levels. The degree of deep healing and consciousness expanding work was

exponential. There was not one person who did not grow in a hugely transformational way and from what I could tell since that

trip many lives have changed for the better. Both Debbie and Shelley and of course the horses were superb facilitators. Both

Debbie and Shelley have a deep and supportive understanding of how to help each one of us face and release the persistent

blocks in our respective lives. The horses at Leaves and Lizards are extraordinary beings, extremely perceptive, sentient and

willing to be of service to their “human” partners. All of us felt supported, physically, emotionally and mentally and certainly

spiritually. To be directly in contact with nature, in such a beautiful environment with gorgeous accommodations and wonderful

food, it just doesn’t get any better. The massage staff is excellent and if you have ever wondered what it is like to be massaged

daily or near daily this is the way to find out! It was beautiful to watch everyone being restored to their very “best and highest”

self. By the way, this was my second trip, as the first was so deeply restorative that I wanted to bring some of my own patients

over to experience this new and important way of healing. I think everyone could benefit from this kind of work at least twice a

year! --- Joanne Anita May, DOM LAC DHm

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“I live in a corporate world, in the city, where it is incredibly hard to keep your head in touch with your heart. That reconnection

is what the Eponaquest experience enables, plus so much more.

The other words I must use here are Authentic Community - such a rare thing to find these days - which the incredible leaders

Shelley, Debbie and Nancy created together with the horses. Trust, mutual respect, understanding, support and connection

follow such authenticity. Fun and laughter do too of course! What a huge relief and weight off my shoulders to be in this

authentic environment and to be free to be me. And accepted just the way I am.

That is truly a rare gift and I wish everyone had the chance to experience it.

When my horse, Beauty, picked me (yes I was selected by my horse rather than the other way around!) it was an incredibly

moving experience. To know that this beautiful, powerful, noble animal actually wanted to work with me was like being given a

precious gift of trust, connection and validation. The understanding, unconditional love and support she gave me throughout the

whole workshop was the most moving experience of my life - all the more so as it was freely and willingly given, with no

expectation of anything in return.

She also taught me some tough life lessons: to stand in my own power (in fact to be aware of where and what my power and life

force is in the first place), to maintain boundaries, to know when I am being true to myself.....a horse (so I have learned) will

react like a mirror to your energy and to where your attention and thoughts are. As she is a horse, I really couldn't blame her

reactions to me and what I was doing on anyone else, or use any other typical human excuses - which meant I didn't get away

with anything as she called me out immediately with her reaction, so I learned about myself and my impact on others

extraordinarily fast.

I have done many personal development, team building and leadership exercises in a corporate or business school setting and

can honestly say that nothing is a patch on this. Talk about fast-track to self-awareness, clarity and truth!

The horses are extraordinarily genuine, compassionate and giving - their interaction with me brought out feelings I had not

expected to surface and I worked through blocks and identified barriers I didn't even know were there. Working with the horses

in the group dynamic was also a fascinating mirror to how I show up in other life situations. Horses really do give you what you

need, rather than what you think you want. This is their most powerful lesson as so often we focus on what we think we want

and ignore what we actually really need to grow. So we end up just surviving, rather than thriving. That was a big lesson for me.

With all my basic needs being met at Leaves and Lizards (actually more than met with blissful comfort, fabulous food, inclusive,

genuinely friendly atmosphere and ooh! the spa treatments, let alone the views and the volcano!) I was in such a wonderful safe

and nourishing place, leaving me free to experience, explore and learn from a totally different perspective.

All I can say is what an opportunity and what an enriching, empowering and life-changing experience! The whole group (a

diverse mix, many with little or no horse experience) felt the same. If you are at all interested in learning, positive growth, action and solutions, to feel that you are moving forward, to find clarity

and identify things swiftly, to expose and examine your real truth and how you show up in the world, all in an authentic, non-

threatening, supportive and quite literally heart-warming place then this experience is a must for you.

Authenticity is hard to find, I found it here.” ----- Sally Nilsson, Esquire