You’re used to figuring things out.
Lately, it’s just creating more noise.
A small, in-person retreat for high-achieving women
who are ready to stop overthinking and trust their decisions again.
Calm Leadership with Horses
June 4-7, 2026
Stepping Stones Farm & Retreat Center
Temple, NH
Intentionally small group of 8 women
After you apply, we’ll invite you to a short,
no-pressure conversation to explore fit.
CALL TO ACTION TO WATCH!
Your mind doesn’t really turn off.
You’re the one people rely on.
But your own decisions?
Those are the ones that keep looping.
You’ve read the books.
Tried to “just decide.”
Thought it through from every angle.
And still… your brain keeps spinning
while your body just feels tired.
This is where it starts to shift.
Not more thinking.
Not more pressure.
A few days where your nervous system can finally exhale…
and you don’t have to force clarity.
You may notice:
- decisions feel less heavy
- the mental noise starts to quiet
- you can sense what actually feels right
And underneath all of that…
something you may not have felt in a while—
real, uncomplicated ease.
The kind that comes from being fully present,
not trying to fix anything.
What surprised many women most?
Not just the calm—but the joy that returned once the grip softened.
The retreat reminded me of something I didn’t realize I was missing: joy. As a competitive rider and Type A overachiever, I had lost sight of the fun. Playing with my horse, listening without words, and simply being present brought me back to the magic. Leadership and work can be joyful again.
"Being offline, connected to myself and the land, and spending time with the horses was magical. I had never spent time with horses before, but their energy and presence were so calming. The retreat gave me the space to slow down, recharge, and be fully present— something I didn’t realize I was craving. I discovered I wasn’t struggling with attention, I was just addicted to my phone. Taking this pause from the hectic nature of everyday life was so important, and I left feeling renewed, grounded, and deeply grateful."
“This retreat unplugged me. I'd been moving too fast, not enjoying life's little things. It slowed me down and I feel it - my horse feels it too."
You’re Ready To Stop Holding Everything So Tightly
You don’t need another strategy, hack, or color‑coded planner.
You need a way to feel steady again…
and trust your own decisions without overthinking them.
This retreat is for you if…
your brain keeps replaying things long after the day is over
you go back and forth, even after you’ve decided
you’re used to pushing through,
but something in you is tired of doing it that way
you’re the one others rely on, and it’s getting harder to hold it all together
you want honest reflection and support that doesn’t try to fix you
And something in you is starting to notice…
you don’t want to keep doing it like this
When your system stays in that constant state of pressure,
everything starts to feel heavier than it needs to be.
This is about coming back to a place where things feel clearer again.
Where you can tell what’s yours to decide…
what isn’t…
and what your next step actually is.
This is part of what you’ll begin to experience with the horses.
After you apply, we’ll invite you to a short,
no-pressure conversation to explore fit.
What You’ll Experience Over the Weekend
You’ll experience horse-guided sessions that are unmounted, spacious, and deeply revealing.
This isn’t a retreat where you learn more strategies.
It’s a place where you start to feel what clarity is like in your body
so decisions begin to feel lighter, less forced, and easier to trust.
Over the weekend, you’ll spend time with the horses in simple, guided experiences — all on the ground — designed to quiet your system and show you what’s actually happening underneath the overthinking.
There’s nothing to perform. Nothing to get right.
Just space to slow down and notice what’s true.
You’ll also receive gentle support before you arrive, including a short grounding practice to help you begin settling in before the weekend even starts.
Here’s what you’ll begin to notice:
You start to see how you actually lead under pressure.
The horses reflect what’s real, not what you think you’re doing.
You notice where your mind takes over and your body checks out.
It becomes obvious quickly, without overanalyzing it.
You spend time with the horses without riding, performing, or trying to get it right.
Just being with them is enough.
You practice making decisions without forcing them.
Slowing down just enough for clarity to show up on its own.
You have space to connect what you’re seeing to real decisions.
Not later. Right there, while it’s clear.
Your system finally gets to exhale.
No performing. No fixing. No getting it right.
And something lighter starts to come back.
Often in simple moments with the horses, without needing words.
By the end of the weekend, most women don’t leave with more strategies.
They leave feeling steady, clear, and able to trust their own decisions again.
Not because they figured it out…
but because things finally got quiet enough to hear themselves.
You don’t need to arrive calm, clear, or certain.
Just willing to notice what’s true.
There’s no expectation to arrive calm, clear, or certain, only willing to notice what’s true.
After you apply, we’ll invite you to a short,
no-pressure conversation to explore fit.
Meet Your Wild & Wise Guides
Your Wild & Wise Hosts
Isabella "Boo" Martin
Boo leads Wisdom Horse, an equine‑assisted learning program that uses unmounted work with the herd to build practical leadership and communication skills. She designs clear, goal‑focused exercises that help participants see how they actually show up under pressure—then translate those insights into timely action back at work and at home.
At Wild & Wise, Boo partners with the horses to create safe, well‑structured sessions where you can experiment with new ways of leading and get immediate, honest feedback.
Bettyann Cernese
Bettyann is an equine-guided leadership coach and creator of The Inner Reins Method, a calm-leadership framework for high-achieving women who are tired of overthinking their way forward. She helps women recognize the patterns beneath their decisions, regulate their nervous systems, and choose next steps that honor both ambition and wellbeing.
At Wild & Wise, Bettyann weaves emotional energy mentoring, grounded leadership tools, and the clear, unfiltered feedback of the herd into experiences that restore clarity, confidence, and inner authority.
An invitation to an optional post‑retreat Inner Reins Debrief call with Bettyann if you want continued support after you get home.
What a Day at Wild & Wise Looks Like
The schedule is intentionally spacious, but here’s a feel for how a day flows so your planning brain can relax.
Morning – Slow breakfast, grounding practice, and a calm‑leadership teaching to frame the day.
Late Morning – Unmounted equine‑guided session with the Wisdom Horse herd, focusing on presence, boundaries, or decision‑making.
Afternoon – Lunch, then circle or coaching lab time to apply what you learned to a real‑life decision, plus space for walks, journaling, a little barn-yard play, or simply doing nothing at all.
Evening – Nourishing dinner and a gentle reflection circle, with plenty of time to turn in early or enjoy quiet connection with the group.
What's Included in Your Wild & Wise Weekend
So your planning brain can relax, here’s exactly what's included when you join us.
3 nights of lodging at Stepping Stones Farm & Retreat Center in Temple, New Hampshire in a cozy private room (shared common spaces).
All meals from Thursday dinner through Sunday brunch, plus snacks, coffee, tea, and water throughout the weekend.
Everything above and below is included so you can arrive, unplug, and remember that clarity doesn’t have to be hard or heavy.
2.5 days of gently guided retreat programming from Thursday evening through Sunday after brunch (departing around 1 p.m.)
Daily unmounted equine‑guided sessions with the Wisdom Horse herd (no riding; all horse experiences take place on the ground).
Calm leadership teachings and guided circles focused on overthinking, nervous-system regulation, and clear decision-making.
At least one structured “decision lab” to support a real-life decision or boundary you’re exploring or ready to move forward.
Built-in time for rest and integration, including walks on the land, journaling, and quiet connection with the group.
Pre-retreat preparation emails, including packing list, schedule overview, arrival details, and an optional guided grounding journey to support a calm, present arrival.
Optional post-retreat Inner Reins Debrief call with Bettyann to support integration once you’re home.
Investment: $2,500
Includes lodging, meals, all guided experiences, and post-retreat integration support.
Payment plans are available if helpful.
After you apply, we’ll invite you to a short,
no-pressure conversation to explore fit.
What Wild & Wise Women Are Saying
Watch Charis’ story
I arrived burned out. I left joyful,
present… and fun!
~ Charis Loveland
Watch Kerry’s story
I finally unplugged—and I feel it.
So does my horse.
~ Kerry Jordan
After you apply, we’ll invite you to a short,
no-pressure conversation to explore fit.
A few questions you may be holding.
Do I need prior experience with horses?
No. You don’t need any horse experience at all.
Everything we do is on the ground, gently guided, and designed for reflection, not performance.
The horses respond to what’s actually happening, not what you’re trying to project.
Will we be riding?
No.
All of the time with the horses happens on the ground.
This keeps the focus on presence, boundaries, and how you make decisions, not skill or technique.
What if I don’t feel calm, clear, or ready when I arrive?
That’s completely okay.
There’s no expectation to arrive calm or certain.
Most women don’t.
The weekend is designed to help your system settle so clarity can emerge naturally.
Clarity tends to show up on its own when that happens.
What’s the group size?
We keep it intentionally small. Just 8 women.
That allows the space to feel personal, supported, and unhurried.
Is this retreat physically demanding?
No.
Everything is gentle and accessible.
You’ll be on your feet at times, but there’s no strenuous activity.
You’re encouraged to move at your own pace and listen to your body throughout the weekend.
What happens after I apply?
We’ll review your application with care.
If it feels like a potential fit, we’ll invite you to a short conversation.
A simple space to ask questions, talk through what you’re looking for, and make sure this feels right for you.
Is the conversation a sales call?
No.
There’s no pressure to decide on the call.
It’s simply a conversation to see if this feels like a good fit for you and for the group.
What if I’m unsure whether this retreat is the right fit for me?
That’s okay too.
Most women don’t feel 100% certain when they apply.
They just know something in them is curious.
You don’t need certainty.
Just a willingness to see if this feels like the right next step for you.
After you apply, we’ll invite you to a short, no-pressure conversation to explore fit.
