8 days/7 nights living among the herd of Hutsul horses in the picturesque mountainous area (territory of Farm "Polonynske Hospodarstvo", 930 meters above sea level, between Polonyna Rivna and Hostra).

 

• Equine therapy session lasting 8 days/7 nights;

• Surrounded by forests, streams, mountains, the natural beauty of the territory of Farm "Polonynske Hospodarstvo", the herd of horses, natural ambient sounds (stream sounds, birds, etc.). And most importantly, a calm and safe place with people with similar experiences;

• Lectures and workshops about horses conducted by the owner and breeder of the herd of pedigree Hutsul horses, equine therapist, veterinarian, founder of the Mountain Horse Tourism School Olexandr Ihnatenko;

• Communication with like-minded individuals, the group consists of 40 combatants and veterans (a number of people that allows both individual and group activities);

• Behavioral rules within the herd create a calm and pleasant atmosphere in the camp;

• Opportunity to independently observe the life of the herd of horses; if using the knowledge gained in workshops and lectures, observation will provide a better understanding of what is happening in the herd and the nature of the horse itself;

• Organized hikes with a guide along routes to Polonyna Hostra, Polonyna Rivna, Voyevodyno Waterfall, etc.;

• Hot tub: relaxation for the body;

• All the blessings of mountain life: tranquility, clean tasty water from streams, the possibility to harvest herbal tea, berries, mushrooms;

• 3 meals a day;

• Internet via Starlink available for 30 minutes a day for communication with relatives, providing informational relief. All other times - absence of a constant flow of information.

 

After 8 transformational days, combatants and veterans may better understand and control themselves, cope with painful memories, deal with real-life situations, and move forward in life.

 

Schedule by days (8 days/7 nights):

 

Day 1

 

Group gathering on the group start day near the main entrance of Uzhhorod railway station at 11:30 AM.

Transfer to the location where the bus can arrive (5 km away from us).

 

If you are traveling by car, follow our bus to the parking area***.

The belongings are delivered by off-road vehicle. Participants walk 5 km to the FG Polonynske Hospodarstvo farm along a picturesque marked tourist route (only GREEN ROUTE) following the guide. Transfer is provided for participants who cannot reach the farm on foot due to health reasons.

 

16:00 Lunch

Setting up tents, familiarization with the camping area, group introduction.

Rest.

20:00 Dinner

 

Day 2

 

8:30 Harvesting herbal tea (optional)

9:00 Breakfast

 

10:00 Lecture: "Ethology. Partnership relations with horses."*

 

Content:

• We provide basics and try to reveal the topic of the horse;

• We will tell how we should move, how we should behave, and why we should walk like this and not otherwise, speak with this intonation and not another, so that the horses from the very first day stay among us, do their own thing, and watch us. Otherwise, the herd will leave us and move away from us;

• Answers to questions that arise during the lecture;

• The lecture is mandatory for everyone so that someone does not drive the horses away from others without knowing these rules and following them. Gaining the trust of horses, like people, is harder than losing it.

• Leading the horses into the camp area.

 

14:00 Lunch

20:00 Dinner

 

Day 3

 

8:30 Harvesting herbal tea (optional)

9:00 Breakfast

 

10:00 Workshop: "Step of a person, step of a horse, how to walk to move harmoniously. How to lead a horse so that it wants to follow you, that is, invite it to follow you."**

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Content:

• You will learn how to work with reins, trying it on each other, holding the reins and lead rope in your hands to feel how the horse feels about it;

• The workshop leader will demonstrate work with reins from the ground on a horse from the herd, explaining his movements. You will be able to see the horse's reaction to the leader's movements, compare how you felt the actions shown on yourself, and see how the horse reacts to them;

• We will show what step the horse understands, how the horse understands our movements. With the reins, we only confirm our intentions, and we invite the horse to follow us with the movements of our body, both at a distance and in our hands and on horseback.

• Answers to questions that arise during the workshop and the day spent with the herd.

 

14:00 Lunch

20:00 Dinner

 

Day 4

 

8:30 Harvesting herbal tea (optional)

9:00 Breakfast

10:00 Hike to Polonyna Rivna**

14:00 Lunch

20:00 Dinner

 

Day 5

 

8:30 Tea gathering (optional)

9:00 Breakfast

 

10:00 Workshop (demonstration): "Cooperation with a horse, when the rein is an element of transmitting information from the rider to the horse, from the horse to the rider, and not just an element of control. Rider's and horse's movements at a walk, trot, and canter on rough terrain."**

 

Content:

• Saddling and unsaddling a horse;

• Horse's movements at a walk, trot, and canter on rough (mountainous) terrain, i.e., walk, trot, and canter uphill and downhill. You will see how the rider's body position changes relative to the sloping surface;

• How to change the speed of walking, trotting, and cantering;

• Answers to questions that arise during the workshop and the day spent with the herd.

 

14:00 Lunch

20:00 Dinner

 

Day 6

 

8:30 Harvesting herbal tea (optional)

9:00 Breakfast

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10:00 Hike to Voevodyn Waterfall/or Polonyna Hostra**

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14:00 Lunch

20:00 Dinner

 

Day 7

 

8:30 Harvesting herbal tea (optional)

9:00 Breakfast

 

10:00 Presentation of Program No.2 "Rehabilitation of combatants and veterans through contact with a herd of horses in the mountains. With horseback riding." introduction to the selection criteria for participants to Program No.2.**

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14:00 Lunch

20:00 Dinner

 

Day 8

 

8:30 Harvesting herbal tea (optional)

9:00 Breakfast

12:00 Departure

15:30 Arrival at Uzhhorod railway station, main entrance

 

*Lecture is mandatory

**Attendance is optional

***Car parking is located 10 km below us

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Camp Rules:

 

• Respect the personal space of the horses, other camp participants, and organizers.

• Listen to music only with headphones (live music such as guitar playing is allowed).

• Alcohol and other psychoactive substances are prohibited.

• Follow the rules of coexistence on the horse territory, which we will explain during the first lecture.

• Violation of the rules will result in dismissal from the program.