Hearts & Horses for Women
Come Back to You
A 4-Day Women's Retreat to Reconnect With
Yourself, God & What Matters Most
October 8–11, 2026 | Swell Retreat, Utah
Only 20 women | Retreat options starting at $697
Four days away from the noise, responsibilities, and people who need something from you.
Horses. Nature. Adventure. Rest. Laughter. Meaningful conversations. Connection.
Come as you are. Leave clearer about who you are, what matters most, and what comes next.
Wondering if this is right for you? Talk with Lacy - 801-230-6363
Imagine four days
where nobody needs anything from you.
No schedules to manage. No problems to solve. No one asking what's for dinner.
Just space to step away from everyday life and reconnect with you.
Ride a horse. Paddle across the lake. Sit around the fire. Try something that challenges you. Laugh until your stomach hurts. Have conversations that go deeper than small talk. Spend time in nature. Get quiet. Pray. Think. Rest.
And somewhere in those four days,
begin asking the questions that are easy to avoid when life is loud:
Who am I becoming?
What matters most to me now?
What might God be asking me to do next?
This isn't four days of sitting in a room talking about your problems.
It's four days of living, learning, experiencing, and connecting — creating enough space to hear yourself again.
When You Know Something Needs to Change
You've gotten really good at carrying a lot.
Being the one people depend on. Taking care of your family. Showing up. Getting things done. Solving the next problem.
And maybe somewhere along the way, you've found yourself wondering:
When did I stop feeling like me?
Maybe you're tired.
Maybe a relationship hurts.
Maybe life changed and you're trying to figure out who you are now.
Maybe you've accomplished everything you thought you wanted—and something still feels missing
Or maybe you've simply had the quiet thought:
"I can't keep doing life exactly like this."
You don't have to be in crisis. You don't have to have the answers.
You just have to be willing to make some space to listen.
What Actually Happens at Hearts & Horses?
This isn't a conference - and you won't spend four days sitting in a classroom.
Hearts & Horses combines horses, adventure, nature, faith, meaningful conversation & guided SWELL experiences - with plenty of time to simply enjoy being at Swell Retreat.
Over four days, you'll experience:
Horses & Horsemanship
Learn, interact, ride, and discover what horses can teach us about awareness, boundaries, trust, communication, & leadership
Adventure & Challenge
Kayaking, cold plunge, archery, axe throwing, and other experiences invite you to step outside your comfort zone, have fun and remember what you're capable of.
Conversations That Matter
Guided SWELL experiences help you look at your relationships, patterns, boundaries, purpose and the life you're creating - without spending the weekend dwelling on what's wrong.
Faith & Reflection
Make room for prayer, stillness and time in nature as you reconnect with God and listen for the direction you feel called to take.
Connection, Laughter & Rest
Meals together. Fires. Laughter. Stars. New friendships. Quiet moments. And space where you don't have to perform, solve the next problem, or take care of everyone else.
What You'll Explore
Your Response to Pressure
Recognize your fight, flight, freeze and please patterns—and what they may be trying to communicate.
Boundaries That Protect Connection
Learn to communicate needs and limits without controlling, withdrawing or abandoning yourself.
What is Yours to Carry?
Explore what genuinely belongs to you and where over-responsibility may be costing you peace and connection.
Patterns That May Be Holding You Back
Understand why strategies that once protected you may no longer be serving the life you want to lead.
Regulation and
Self-Trust
Practice becoming grounded, present and able to make intentional choices under pressure.
Clarity For What Comes Next
Identify the decision, conversation, boundary or action that can begin moving your life forward.
The horses offer immediate, honest feedback without judgment.
No previous horse experience is necessary. Every activity is guided and adapted to your individual comfort level.
The Three-Day Journey
1
2
3
DAY ONE
SEE IT
What can no longer remain the same?
Step outside your normal routine and recognize the pressure, relationship or pattern that brought you here. Begin noticing what your life—and your responses—have been trying to show you.
DAY TWO
KNOW IT
Who shows up when pressure shows up?
Explore your fight, flight, freeze and please responses. Through reflection and working with the horses, practice regulation, boundaries, communication, trust, pressure and release.
DAY THREE
LEAD IT
What will you do now that you know what you know?
Move from awareness into intentional action. Identify the pattern you are ready to interrupt, the boundary or decision that needs attention and the next steps required to lead your life differently.
Awareness creates the opportunity to choose something different.
You may not leave with every answer. You can leave more grounded, more connected to God and yourself, and clearer about what comes next.
The Tools Go Home With You
"I still use tools all the time that I learned at Hearts & Horses and it has elevated all facets of my life for the better."
-Maxine, 2024 Participant
Since 2023, Hearts & Horses has helped women gain awareness, practice meaningful tools and identify intentional next steps they can carry into everyday life.
YOUR RETREAT INCLUDES
Three full days of facilitated SWELL experiences
On-site lodging available based on your registration choice
Horse-guided empowerment activities
Horsemanship, grooming and light horse care
Light riding experiences—no experience necessary
Meals, snacks and beverages
Hearts & Horses workbook and reflection materials
Retreat T-shirt
Evening connection and integration experiences
Personal 30-day action plan
Post-retreat virtual follow-up gathering
Recreational activities: archery, axe throwing, kayaking,
horseback riding, etc.
Choose the Registration Option That Works for You
Payment plans are available. Contact Lacy at 801-230-6363.
Registration is limited to 16 women to preserve the personal connection and small-herd experience.
The full value of this three-day, three-night experience is $2,500. Through support from the SWELL Foundation, reduced-cost registration options are available to help make Hearts & Horses accessible to more women.
Those who choose full program tuition help strengthen the program and expand future opportunities for women who may not otherwise be able to attend.
Help Another Woman Find Her Way Forward
The SWELL Foundation helps make transformative experiences accessible to women who may not otherwise be able to attend. Your support provides scholarship assistance for Hearts & Horses while advancing self-mastery, wellness, emotional strength, leadership, love and service.
Not attending this retreat? You can still help another woman take her next step.
Is Something Asking To Change?
Hearts & Horses May Be For You If:
You know something in your life can no longer remain the same.
You are exhausted from holding everything together.
You have lost touch with your voice, identity, needs or direction.
You keep repeating a pattern even though you know it is not working.
You are ready to examine your own responses—not only what someone else needs to change.
You want more than temporary relief and are willing to take meaningful action.
You are ready to invest in yourself and participate fully.
You do not have to be at rock bottom. You do not need to have everything figured out.
You only need to recognize that something needs to change—and be willing to begin.
Retreat Schedule
Every day combines reflection, meaningful connection, time in nature and experiential learning. Activities are guided, adaptable and designed to help you practice what you are discovering—not merely talk about it.
Thursday
Oct 8, 2026
Arrival & Check in:
10 AM - Noon
Awareness Opens Opportunity
Arrive, step outside your normal routine and begin noticing what your life and responses have been trying to show you.
Your day may include:
• Welcome and connection activities
• Horseback riding
• Horse-guided experiences
• Kayaking
• Personal reflection
• Evening stargazing
Friday
Oct 9, 2026
Practice Something Different
Explore who shows up when pressure shows up. Practice regulation, trust, communication, boundaries, pressure and release in a supportive environment.
Your day may include:
• Horseback riding for participants who have not yet ridden
• Horse-guided experiences
• Optional cold-water plunge
• Grounding practices
• Kayaking and paddleboarding
• Evening reflection and fire ceremony
Saturday
Oct 10, 2026
Choose What Comes Next
Move from awareness into intentional action. Identify what you are ready to interrupt, strengthen or carry forward when you return home.
Your day may include:
• Forest bathing and guided time in nature
• Optional cold-water plunge
• Horseback riding
• Horse-guided experiences
• Kayaking
• Archery and axe throwing
• Personal integration and action planning
Sunday
Oct 11, 2026
Check Out: 4 PM
Rest Reflect Return
Sleep in and wake when you are ready.
Spend an unhurried morning resting, reflecting and enjoying the Swell Retreat property before returning home.
• No scheduled morning programming
• Enjoy the property at your own pace
• Time for reflection, connection or quiet
• Check-out by 4:00 PM
Activities may be adjusted according to weather, safety considerations and the needs of the group.
No previous horse or outdoor experience is required.
Participation in the cold-water plunge, riding and other physical activities is optional and based on individual comfort and readiness.
Your Guide For The Journey
Meet Lacy Hardman
Lacy Hardman is a 14-year Army veteran, educator, retreat facilitator and certified Horse Guided Empowerment practitioner with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
As the creator of the SWELL Method and facilitator of Hearts & Horses retreats since 2023, Lacy brings together Christian faith, nervous system awareness, experiential learning and the honest feedback of horses.
Her approach helps participants become curious about their responses without shame, recognize the patterns shaping their lives and practice tools they can carry home.
“You are a heart doctor—you are healing hearts! To bring hope and a path to healing is truly a valuable purpose for our world right now. Thank you for what you and Ben are doing.”
— Stephanie D., 2023 participant
Every Woman Arrives with a Different Story
Here's What Some of them Experienced.
Your experience will be your own.
Hearts & Horses isn't about telling you what your life should look like. It's about creating space, experiences and meaningful questions that help you listen, learn and decide what comes next for you.
"Ben & Lacy are wonderful examples and lead by example. Their Hearts & Horses retreat restored me, polished me, and left me feeling shiny."
Serena, 2023 Participant
"The increcible experiences at Hearts & Horses helped me exit a toxic relationship. I'll forever be grateful for the tools that empowered me to move forward in my life."
Jen, 2025 Participant
"I spent the weekend with my daughter...we learned about tools to help our body process challenging experiences. I loved it! What a magical weekend."
Erin, 2023 Participant
"I still use tools all the time that I learned at Hearts & Horses and it has elevated all facets of my life for the better."
-Maxine, 2024 Participant
"Hearts & Horses was MUCH more than I expected in so many ways. Spending time with Lacy & Ben, hearing their stories, receiving insights, strategies and tools was exactly what I needed. It's eye-opening, thought provoking and so helpful. It was also great FUN at our morning cold therapy sessions!!! (a new habit I never thought I would ever do, much less actually ENJOY!)
The location is perfect - away from everything but not too far away. Glamping tent is comfortable and clean, activities for everyone and the animals make it so fun. The perfect place for a retreat or a family get-away. Lacy & Ben are the perfects hosts. I will definitely be back and bring my whole family with me!" — Sue, 2024 participant
Your Retreat Setting
A Place to Step Away From the Noise
Hearts & Horses takes place at Swell Retreat, a privately owned 208-acre retreat property in Castle Dale, Utah, situated between the San Rafael Swell and the Manti-La Sal Mountains.
Here, horses, private lakes, pine trees, trails, open space and expansive dark skies create room to slow down, become present and hear what can be difficult to recognize amid the pressure of everyday life.
During the retreat, experiences may take place beside the water, with the horses, around the fire or beneath the stars. There will also be time for connection, reflection, rest and enjoying the property.
This is not a hotel or traditional conference center. It is an authentic outdoor retreat setting where nature is not simply the backdrop—it is part of the experience.
Shared and private accommodations are available based on your registration choice. Lodging details, a packing list and arrival information will be provided after registration. All glamping cabins & glamping tents are off-grid and disconnected, yet comfortable beds and bedding. Outdoor heated water shower and porta potties.
There Is A Way Forward
The Storm Around You May Not Immediately Stop
Another person may not change. The future may not become completely certain. The next step may still require courage.
But you can become more grounded in who you are, clearer about what belongs to you and more intentional about what comes next.
You can reconnect with God, trust your voice and feel empowered to:
BE who God created you to be.
DO what is genuinely yours to do.
BUILD a life you love—even while circumstances around you are still unfolding.
You may not leave Hearts & Horses with every answer.
You can leave knowing that you are not powerless, there is a way forward and—even while the storm continues—you can find peace in the midst of it.
Hearts & Horses is an educational and experiential personal-development program. It is not psychotherapy, medical treatment or a substitute for professional mental-health care. Participation in riding, cold-water immersion and other physical activities is optional and subject to individual readiness, safety considerations and facilitator guidance.