The Daring HERD®
Courage, Compassion, and Connection Retreat
The Daring HERD®
The Daring HERD® Retreat Experience
Equine-Facilitated Learning is a unique opportunity to experience yourself and how you move in the world in a novel way. With real-time feedback the insights are often profound, and rewiring can happen quickly.
It takes a lot of courage to show up, but that's all you need to do. Come just as you are and allow yourself this quality investment that has the possibility to transform many areas of your life.
Each day we will focus on a different topic - courage, compassion, and connection - and there will be lots of equine interaction time, as well personal and group processing sessions.
Creative elements, and mindful breath and movement opportunities, will be woven in to further help learning and integration.
There will not be any equine riding, only a variety of experiential activities in nature. If you decide you do not want to go into the equine area, you can still participate from outside the pasture.
This is three days to get in touch with the incredible gifts animals and nature have to teach us. Allow yourself (and your nervous system) this beautiful retreat space, and get excited to see what happens for you!
It takes a lot of courage to show up, but that's all you need to do. Come just as you are and allow yourself this quality investment that has the possibility to transform many areas of your life.
Each day we will focus on a different topic - courage, compassion, and connection - and there will be lots of equine interaction time, as well personal and group processing sessions.
Creative elements, and mindful breath and movement opportunities, will be woven in to further help learning and integration.
There will not be any equine riding, only a variety of experiential activities in nature. If you decide you do not want to go into the equine area, you can still participate from outside the pasture.
This is three days to get in touch with the incredible gifts animals and nature have to teach us. Allow yourself (and your nervous system) this beautiful retreat space, and get excited to see what happens for you!
KIND WORDS
"I really enjoyed the structure and flow of the retreat. Not only was the environment beautiful and relaxing, the food prepared for us was delicious. Lee Ann was really in tune with our groups needs, and it was great that she shared her own personal journey with us."
-Jason Nunez, San Antonio with Rise Recovery
"The setting was just perfect for the group to be able to not only engage with one another but provided a safe space for us to "connect." I loved the way Lee Ann presented the material and allowed us to share with everyone our thoughts and feelings after each experience. I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to be a part of this."
-Kristi Wagner, San Antonio with Rise Recovery
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"Horses live in the present moment and bring themselves into relationship authentically. Horses are highly attuned to human emotions and challenge us to stay congruent with our feelings when relating with them. In return, they offer us non-judgmental and honest feedback, and teach us to be more aware of the connections between our mind, body, and emotions through our breath and body sensations. This allows us the opportunity to make contact with ourselves and our environment and relate to others in a different way."
Source: The HERD Institute® Website
DISCOVER MORE:
Here are some articles written about equine-facilitated learning and related experiences that you may enjoy reading.
Here are some articles written about equine-facilitated learning and related experiences that you may enjoy reading.
ABOUT THE DARING HERD™
Dr. Veronica Lac and Lee Ann are both Certified Daring Way™ Facilitators and have designed these unique Daring HERD® Equine Facilitated retreats and workshops. These retreats utilize The HERD Model™ and are influenced by Brené Brown's research on shame and vulnerability.
To bring a private group for team building or training contact us.
6 hours of Continuing Education are potentially available under The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council guidelines.
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Dr. Veronica Lac (left) is the Founder and Executive Director of The HERD Institute®. She is also certified in Brené Brown's work.
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"HERD stands for Human-Equine Relational Development. At The HERD Institute®, we pride ourselves on the compassionate and relational way we work with both horses and humans."
-Dr. Veronica Lac
MEET YOUR FACILITATOR
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Lee Ann Hilbrich (she/her) is a writer, a Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator of Brené Brown's work, a SoulCollage® Facilitator, a Qi Gong Teacher, and an Art & Yoga Teacher. She is certified in Equine-Facilitated Learning by The HERD Institute®.
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RETREAT REGISTRATION
Three days of nature, animals, creativity, and lots of daring discoveries!
How does it get any better than this?!
Day 1 Courage: Thursday October 16, 2025
Day 2 Compassion: Friday October 17, 2025
Day 3 Connection: Saturday October 18, 2025
$150 per day (9am-4:30pm)
Register by 8/16/25 and get a seasonal lunch included each day!
(Otherwise can add on for $20 each day)
If you are interested in staying at the retreat cabin include a note when you register and it's $75 a night (limited to 6 spots). Breakfast and dinners can also be provided for $40 each day.
6 hours of Continuing Education are potentially available under
The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council guidelines.
Registration deadline:
10/6/25
Register by 8/16/25 and get a seasonal lunch included each day ($60 value)
*If you invite someone who has never been to Braving Star Farms, and they sign up for this retreat, you get a $50 credit toward your next event or retreat at BSF.*
10/6/25
Register by 8/16/25 and get a seasonal lunch included each day ($60 value)
*If you invite someone who has never been to Braving Star Farms, and they sign up for this retreat, you get a $50 credit toward your next event or retreat at BSF.*
The Daring HERD® RETREAT
Braving Star Farms
Photo Gallery
Braving Star Farms
FAQ
Food Preferences/Allergies
Meals will be made from local and organic sources as much as possible, and will be mostly plant-based. When you register please specify any food preferences or allergies, and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. If you are staying at the retreat cabin there is a full kitchen available, as well as a Keurig with K-cups for regular and decaf coffee, and an assortment of tea bags.
What to Bring
-Closed toe shoes as you will be walking across uneven pasture and there is always a chance of snakes in the area.
-For equine activities you must have outdoor work boots that have a substantial toe, preferably go above the ankle, and can get muddy.
-Please be prepared to remove your shoes for indoor spaces. Bringing a pair of slip-on shoes or slippers is convenient.
-Please wear comfortable clothing you can move in for any physical activities such as Qi Gong that may be used for grounding and/or container-building activities.
-A journal and pen
-Check the weather before coming and plan to bring items needed such as sunscreen, sunhat, insect repellant, raincoat, galoshes, or a winter hat and gloves.
-If you are staying at the retreat cabin, pack a swimsuit for the hot tub/pool if desired. You may also want earplugs and a flashlight/headlamp. Your bedding and towels will all be provided.
-Any snacks that you would like to have.
-Do not bring valuables, drugs, or alcohol.
Getting Here
Braving Star Farms is located an hour northeast of Houston in Cleveland, TX. The address and more details will be sent upon completed registration and payment.
If you are flying in for the retreat, IAH is a a little bit closer than HOU, but either airport will work.
If you are staying at the retreat cabin please contact me if you are interested in extending your time at the cabin either before or after the retreat.
Please note the retreat cabin is not handicapped accessible.
Internet/Phone Access
Since you will be in the country you may not have a good signal and it may be challenging to make phone calls or check emails. There is NO WIFI. If your phone service is with AT&T, you should be okay. Hopefully you can enjoy the opportunity to disconnect.
Cancellation Policies
If you need to cancel your spot in the event/retreat, I can offer a refund (minus a $50 non-refundable registration fee) if I am able to fill your spot from the waiting list. If I am not able to fill your spot, I can offer you a credit for a future event/retreat based on the timeline below:
If you cancel more than two months prior to your scheduled event/retreat, 100% of your event/retreat fee, minus a $50 rebooking fee, can be applied as a credit towards a future event/retreat, which must be used within one year.
If you cancel your event/retreat within two months of your scheduled event/retreat, 75% of your event/retreat fee, minus a $50 rebooking fee, can be applied as a credit towards a future event/retreat, which must be used within one year. You will forfeit 25% of the price you paid for the event/retreat.
If you cancel your event/retreat within one month of your scheduled event/retreat, 50% of your event/retreat fee, minus a $50 rebooking fee, can be applied as a credit towards a event/future retreat, which must be used within one year. You will forfeit 50% of the price you paid for the event/retreat.
If you cancel your event/retreat within two weeks of your scheduled event/retreat, you will forfeit your entire event/retreat payment.
I am also happy to transfer your spot to someone else who is able to take your place in the scheduled event/retreat with no transfer fee regardless of when you cancel. In this case, you will need to find the new participant yourself and receive reimbursement directly from them.
If the event/retreat does not meet the minimum number of participants, or in the case of a natural disaster, COVID-related closures or surges, or any other unforeseen reasons to cancel the event/retreat, I reserve the right to make any changes necessary to the event/retreat. In this case, I will offer you a full refund and/or the option to book another event/retreat. However, I will not be responsible for any changes made to your airfare or travel arrangements. For peace of mind, I recommend purchasing "cancel for any reason" trip insurance in case cancellations or changes arise.
Registration Help
Please email me if you need a payment plan or a deposit option. Limited partial scholarships are available for BIPOC, LGBTQ+ participants, or any in need of financial assistance. Email me to apply. At this time, Daring Discoveries' partial scholarships are only available to participants who have not received one in the past.
Meals will be made from local and organic sources as much as possible, and will be mostly plant-based. When you register please specify any food preferences or allergies, and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. If you are staying at the retreat cabin there is a full kitchen available, as well as a Keurig with K-cups for regular and decaf coffee, and an assortment of tea bags.
What to Bring
-Closed toe shoes as you will be walking across uneven pasture and there is always a chance of snakes in the area.
-For equine activities you must have outdoor work boots that have a substantial toe, preferably go above the ankle, and can get muddy.
-Please be prepared to remove your shoes for indoor spaces. Bringing a pair of slip-on shoes or slippers is convenient.
-Please wear comfortable clothing you can move in for any physical activities such as Qi Gong that may be used for grounding and/or container-building activities.
-A journal and pen
-Check the weather before coming and plan to bring items needed such as sunscreen, sunhat, insect repellant, raincoat, galoshes, or a winter hat and gloves.
-If you are staying at the retreat cabin, pack a swimsuit for the hot tub/pool if desired. You may also want earplugs and a flashlight/headlamp. Your bedding and towels will all be provided.
-Any snacks that you would like to have.
-Do not bring valuables, drugs, or alcohol.
Getting Here
Braving Star Farms is located an hour northeast of Houston in Cleveland, TX. The address and more details will be sent upon completed registration and payment.
If you are flying in for the retreat, IAH is a a little bit closer than HOU, but either airport will work.
If you are staying at the retreat cabin please contact me if you are interested in extending your time at the cabin either before or after the retreat.
Please note the retreat cabin is not handicapped accessible.
Internet/Phone Access
Since you will be in the country you may not have a good signal and it may be challenging to make phone calls or check emails. There is NO WIFI. If your phone service is with AT&T, you should be okay. Hopefully you can enjoy the opportunity to disconnect.
Cancellation Policies
If you need to cancel your spot in the event/retreat, I can offer a refund (minus a $50 non-refundable registration fee) if I am able to fill your spot from the waiting list. If I am not able to fill your spot, I can offer you a credit for a future event/retreat based on the timeline below:
If you cancel more than two months prior to your scheduled event/retreat, 100% of your event/retreat fee, minus a $50 rebooking fee, can be applied as a credit towards a future event/retreat, which must be used within one year.
If you cancel your event/retreat within two months of your scheduled event/retreat, 75% of your event/retreat fee, minus a $50 rebooking fee, can be applied as a credit towards a future event/retreat, which must be used within one year. You will forfeit 25% of the price you paid for the event/retreat.
If you cancel your event/retreat within one month of your scheduled event/retreat, 50% of your event/retreat fee, minus a $50 rebooking fee, can be applied as a credit towards a event/future retreat, which must be used within one year. You will forfeit 50% of the price you paid for the event/retreat.
If you cancel your event/retreat within two weeks of your scheduled event/retreat, you will forfeit your entire event/retreat payment.
I am also happy to transfer your spot to someone else who is able to take your place in the scheduled event/retreat with no transfer fee regardless of when you cancel. In this case, you will need to find the new participant yourself and receive reimbursement directly from them.
If the event/retreat does not meet the minimum number of participants, or in the case of a natural disaster, COVID-related closures or surges, or any other unforeseen reasons to cancel the event/retreat, I reserve the right to make any changes necessary to the event/retreat. In this case, I will offer you a full refund and/or the option to book another event/retreat. However, I will not be responsible for any changes made to your airfare or travel arrangements. For peace of mind, I recommend purchasing "cancel for any reason" trip insurance in case cancellations or changes arise.
Registration Help
Please email me if you need a payment plan or a deposit option. Limited partial scholarships are available for BIPOC, LGBTQ+ participants, or any in need of financial assistance. Email me to apply. At this time, Daring Discoveries' partial scholarships are only available to participants who have not received one in the past.