Natural Horsemanship & Classical Riding

Surround yourself with the pure nature of our stunning Costa Rican mountain setting where a freely living herd of mixed horses from rescues to home bred, youngsters to shetlands is living in peace together. Learn how to communicate with horses using body language, psychology, energy and even more getting your ideas and intentions clear. With the study of Natural Horsemanship you will not only learn to understand horses but will also learn a lot about yourself. 

Within in the Natural Horsemanship you can learn about the natural behaviour, herd behaviour, horse language, horses needs and how to become a great partner for your horse. 

After connecting to your horses mind and earning his friendship you will learn how to proper train his body in order for your horse to be able to ride with you with pride and honor and withour harming himself. Within the study of Classical Horsemanship you learn about the horses anatomy and how to use flexion, mobalisation, lateral movements and your seat to improve his balance and strengh. You can witness how rescue horses can become happy, self confident and strong again. 

Within the Classical Horsemanship you can learn about anatomy, flexion, mobalisation, lunging, balance, using aids in order to help your horse to balance, lateral movements and why to do what in order to help your horse to become stronger. 

The first week of your stay you will mainly work with the horses on the ground. Please consider the longer you are able to stay the more you will be able to learn and develop. When you are an expirienced rider you can help us training the horses from the saddle. Beginners might also get a chance to ride, but will be more working on the ground with the horses, learn confidence and get the first contact with horses. This program is not only about riding but about growing an equal relationship towards an equine friend. Some of our horses are in rehabilitation and cannot be ridden at all in the moment. But putting time and the correct training in, we hope to rehab all of them. 

With your stay at Finca Soley you will support our horse welfare program and live an absolut unforgetable expirience combining self growth, education and an vacation in one of the most beautiful countrys on our planet. 

As a volunteer you will be part of our team. You will be involved in the daily care of our natural herd. Mucking, grooming, hoof care, massages, energy healing work (touch for health) and training. On the afternoons you have time off to take use of our horse libary, observe the horses in their pasture, take a tour, book onside Spanish lessons or just relax and chill on our peaceful mountain farm. 

Finca Soley is a family run project established in 2014 and in continious growth. We love to put our hands on and have built all structures here. The farm counts with 3 houses, a 20x40m riding arena, a paradies paddock with shelter space for the animals, plenty of fruit trees, jungle, pastures and incredible views. Next to the horses our family remains of dogs, cats, chickens and cows. We try to keep our surroundings organic and natural and live a simple lifestyle in respect of nature and in harmony with the animals. 

 This is a great opportunity to learn new things to take home and experience real Costa Rica. Our main goal is to keep our horses happy and healthy and teach people how to form a relationship with horses and learn how to ride with finest aids in order to reach perfect balance. 

There is a wide range of activities you can get busy while beeing on our farm. Your time can consist of: 

• natural horsemanship training 
• bitless riding 
• classical training: flexions, mobalisation, lateral movements
• lunging
• hike out with a horse 
• spa day with horses
• barefoot trimming 
• theory lessons
• tours and activities in the region (extra costs might occur)
• Spanish course (optional)
• and just relax

The farm is a place where people from all over the world meet and share their passion for horses and traveling. The team of Finca Soley loves to welcome guests and volunteers and consits of a professional horse trainer and volunteer coordinator.   

You will be living on site in our self build volunteer house. Volunteers have their own kittchen and prepare their food. Also there is a libary, study room, big living room and gardens with hammoks . Our farm is located on top of a small mountain called Chucuyo, within a 30 mins hike or 2 mins in car you arrive in Tucurrique with plenty of shops, restaurants, a soccer field and wifi etc. 

What we require

• Minimum stay of 1 week 
• work around horses for 5 days per week includes: mucking, grooming, tack cleaning, arena mantaince + 2 afternoons helping with our sustainable projects like: fruit harvesting, garden, chicken cleaning etc. 
• the will to learn
• a positive attitude
• teamplayer
• love for animals

What we offer

• Accomodation
• Daily interactions with our natural herd
• Lessons in: Natural Horsemanship, riding with fine aids, seat lessons, lunging, horse massage and more
• access to our big libery of videos and books
• Spanish course at an extra costs can be booked
• hikes with the horses 
• theory lessons 
• tours (extra costs might occur, depeding the tour)
• an unique way to combine your travels with learning Natural + Classical Horsemanship

6:30 - Volunteers have breakfast together

7:00 - Prepare the barn for horses: mucking paradise paddock, feeding hay etc.

8:00 - Horse Care: grooming and feeding horses. Prepare for training

9:00 - Training Sessions & Morning Activites (Lesson in Natural Horsemanship/ Classical Training/ horse spa/ massages/ etc.)

11:30 - Prepare hay for evening and release all animals into freedom. 

12:00 - Lunch Break/ Siesta 

15:00 - Project Work on two afternoons (harvest fruit/ bake bread/ making cheese/ clean tack/ garden etc.)

Spanish Course if apply

Our peaceful farm is the perfect place to relax and observe our freely living herd, birds and with some luck a sloth. We have 5ha of primary rainforest with a trail that leads you to a tiny private stream of cristal clear water. Space to breath and reset. There is a fruit orchard with hammocks to listen to the sound of birds, observe the butterflys finish the guayabas or the colibris drinking from the colorful flowers. On the mountains you find precios spots to bring your yoga mat and observe the sunset watching the horses grase. 

For more active afternoons and/or weekends book a tour with a local guide. Hike up the waterfalls, learn about Coffee, take a Chocolate tour, visit a local farmers market or hike up a vulcano. Also both costsides can be visited. We offer to swap a day if you stay longer and like to take a long weekend to chill on the beach.