STARR HORSE RETREATS
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Starr Horse Retreats, LLC., is a venue provider in two ideal settings: Starr Horse Retreats, located east of Lake Tahoe in the verdant Carson Valley, and Rancho Rico, our river ranch on the East Walker River, 10 miles south of Yerington, Nevada. Both properties host retreats, training, and education.
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Horse Healing Retreats
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Our retreats teach holistic healing modalities surrounding mindful living and respecting the planet. We learn about equine behavior and psychology and how those concepts can be applied to our mental and emotional skills. We bring the medicine of nature back to the people.
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Our three-night retreat allows guests to work closely with the horses' shamanic abilities to rewrite their narratives and clear blockages. In addition to equine interaction, we offer yoga, a sweat lodge, sound healing, a cacao ceremony, and a flower bath.
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At Starr Horse Retreats, we honor the horse spirit. We ask permission for the experience of getting on the backs of any animal and express gratitude for the privilege. We provide a sanctuary to horses that honors their ability to heal and awaken.
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Melinda Starr
Melinda Starr, owner and founder of Starr Horse Retreats, is dedicated to equine-assisted healing and education using positive reinforcement (R+) ridership techniques. She works in stewardship with the horses advocating for their needs and care and works with humans through the horses.
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"I grew up in rural Illinois, where we rode barefoot and bareback all over the country roads and into small towns. That culture differs from equestrian barns, which are typical for competitive sports. I've heard many stories from kids who wanted to be with horses in these barns and were told to whip the horses harder, show them who the boss was, use their spurs, etc. It breaks the hearts of the young riders as well as the horse. So, we aim to show people that there is a different way to be with horses — in both training and healing capacities."
Melinda opens a safe container with the horses to help people heal genetic memories of trauma and fear encoded deep in their ancestral history. She is driven to build a new paradigm that honors Mother Earth and all of her inhabitants.
Mission Statement
Starr Horse Retreats is a sacred sanctuary where horse enthusiasts, starseeds, and awakened individuals from all walks of life come together to open to their divine purpose, rediscover their soul family, and embrace their unique gifts.
Guided by the celestial wisdom of horses—sacred healers, shamans, and profound mirrors of higher consciousness—we provide transformative healing retreats, holistic clicker training programs, and equine-assisted education. Our bitless approach to training and ridership honors the innate needs of horses and their ability to guide humans toward trust, forgiveness, and emotional intelligence.
We create a nurturing space for deep healing and spiritual growth through innovative modalities such as free liberty meditation, sound healing, sacred Temazcal, yoga, intuitive animal communication, Reiki, constellation exercises, and flower or ice baths. Together, we explore the wisdom of horses as partners in awakening consciousness and healing humanity.
At Starr Horse Retreats, co-creation is our way of being. We cultivate a community and movement rooted in love, harmony, and infinite possibilities, weaving a new paradigm for humanity and Gaia. By empowering participants to embrace their full potential, healing ripples out to the collective, extending far beyond our sanctuary and creating a brighter future for all.
Interested in booking the venue?
Whether you need a location for enlightenment and mind expansion, leadership and productivity training, or a family or social gathering, our creative team can help. We can assist with planning, design, catering, and staff. We will work with you to discover new synergies to create a memorable foundation for your spiritual, corporate, or social retreat.
Meet the Horse Teachers
Our teachers and healers are the horses themselves. Our herd of 17 equines came to Starr Horse Retreats to help change the world during this transition of the ages. They honor their role and look forward to working with our Holistic Clicker Training Program and Horse Healing Retreats participants.
30-Day Holistic Clicker Training Program
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Starr Horse Retreats offers a holistic clicker training program in Minden, Nevada.​
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This profoundly immersive, four-week hands-on clicker training program takes a holistic approach, where horses are honored as healers, and clicker training becomes an essential tool in this transformative journey. By learning new horsemanship methods through an elevated, ascended perspective, we not only unlock the potential of our horses but also experience personal liberation, as horses serve as powerful mirrors of our growth and healing.
Lodging on-site is an optional gift for those who wish to fully immerse themselves in the healing energies of the horses and the sacred land.
Articles By Melinda Starr
Is It Time to Rethink How We Engage with Horses?
Can We, as a Collective, Shift the Paradigm to See Horses as Partners for Healing Rather Than Tools for Labor and Sport? Read More...
Sacred Mirrors: Horses as Guides to Healing and Sovereignty
The Healing and Transformative Wisdom of Horses Read More...
