Finca Soley. Horse Riding School and Lodge. — Hotel in Tucurrique

Recently, I had the privilege of bringing my family to Finca Soley, Isa's stunning horse farm and sanctuary, and I can confidently say that it was a life-changing experience. Having grown up riding and training horses in New York, I was accustomed to a culture of controlling horses and performance-based training. However, my time at Finca Soley opened my eyes to a different and, in my opinion, a better way of approaching horsemanship. I am forever grateful for this experience.

Being on Isa's farm taught me the true beauty of horses - how they thrive as a herd and how they can work with humans in true partnership. Her horses are not only healthy and happy, but they also offer their healing medicine to us. This enables us to leave the farm feeling more empowered to carry out our work.

The rhythm of life on the farm was enchanting - waking up with the sun to the gentle sound of horses nickering, feeding and grooming them, and enjoying a wholesome breakfast. Our mornings were filled with natural horsemanship, classical riding, and liberty training. My husband commented, "I've never seen you happier in my life." Learning natural horsemanship and liberty from a gentle master like Isa is an extraordinary gift that I believe every equestrian should experience. It takes you from being just a rider to embarking on a journey as a true horseman.

Watching Isa train her horses was like watching poetry in motion, and it inspired me to want to unlearn and relearn how to ride. The lunches were delightful and prepared with care, while volunteers and families alike sat together to discuss the day. Our children enjoyed playing with other lovely kids on the farm, picking flowers, playing hide-and-seek, and foraging for yummy fruits.

Siesta time was sacred, allowing us to unwind before afternoon lessons. My favorite part of the day was observing the horses in their wild fields, working as a herd, and being in awe as they galloped up the hill to answer Isa's call for afternoon training. I had never seen horses so eager to be with their humans.

The evenings were peaceful and filled with laughter and games, as we watched the sun set and retired to bed by 9:00-9:30, eager to wake up to another beautiful day on the farm.

Being on Isa's farm felt like a dream to me, and I hope to return one day. If you are an equestrian, horse owner, or horse lover, I encourage you to give yourself the gift of experiencing what's possible when horses are treated with the reverence they truly deserve. Finca Soley is where that...

I participated in the Working Student Program for five months in 2017 and it was definitely one of the best times of my life. Isa and Milton were very warm and welcoming from day one and I learned so much during this time. The natural horsemanship lessons with Isa were great and I was able to quickly see progress with my own project horse. All the horses there are incredibly well trained and you can learn a lot from them. Apart from the lessons with Isa, you are also allowed to practice independently with your project horse and after I had already spent some time at the finca, I was even allowed to train with other horses, which was very enriching because I learned so much about the different behaviors of the horses. In addition, I was able to improve my Spanish skills during this time, since I also had individual Spanish lessons in addition to the group lessons, and the Spanish teacher taught me much more in a few months than I had learned in Germany over years. On the finca, there are always different tasks, such as taking care of the other animals, working in their own organic garden and much more, so it never gets boring and everyone can choose some activities that they want to engage in. I also met a lot of great people there and went on trips with other volunteers, for example to the Caribbean or Pacific coast. At that time, the project still took place on another finca, but in 2017 Isa and Milton already bought their own property, where they wanted to move the project in the future. Even before I left the finca in 2017, it was clear that I definitely wanted to come back, because both Costa Rica as a country and Isa and Milton and the wonderful project they built excited me so much. In 2020 I traveled again to Costa Rica for a month with a friend, where we also visited Isa and Milton at the new finca for a week at the end of our trip. It was incredible to see what they had built there and I immediately felt at home again. I can only recommend a stay at Finca Soley to everyone as I saw what an amazing experience I and many others had with Isa, Milton and all the other great people and animals you meet along the way. It was definitely not my last visit and I can’t wait to see them all...

I spent 7 days at Finca Soley and my only regret is not staying longer. From beginning to end the trip was amazing in so many different aspects. The grounds were absolutely beautiful and being around nature and all the animals made you feel like you were in another world, but still a home away from home. A quick overview of the trip included: waking up and being around the horses, grooming, feeding, riding lessons, etc. you really get to know the horses and all of their unique personalities. I also witnessed true farm life, chickens , milking cows, making fresh bread, cheese, guava jam. We had two horse theory lessons that I truly enjoyed and helped when dealing with the horses. I also loved the other animals on the farm, the dogs, cats, etc. I was able to experience three excursions that were unforgettable— an adventure tour, a hike with the horses and the hot springs. I highly recommend all three. Last but not least, three main things that stood out to me the most: 1) The people. Being around volunteers and meeting people from around the world and different walks of life is all part of the experience. I loved hearing everyone speaking in different languages, dancing, eating meals together and truly getting to know everyone in such a short time. 2) Isa’s knowledge, expertise and passion for natural horsemanship and her care and maintenance of the horses. This was so impressive. 3) The family and hospitality. Isa, Milton, the family and team were truly so hospitable and accommodating. From the pick up at the airport, the drop off at the airport after 7 days and everything in between. I felt comfortable and was welcomed with such hospitality. The girls were the sweetest and baby P the cutest. I also spent my bday there and everyone made it so special! I can’t not wait to go back sometime. 10/10 highly recommend! You...