For Women:

FOREST ACRES SANCTUARY

Your space to breathe. To feel safe. To create.

Small gatherings, retreats and immersive experiences at Forest Acres Retreats Sanctuary in beautiful Chautauqua, New York. Where horses, nature and slow living create space you won’t find at a hotel or conference room.

Now offering:

Women’s Fall Writing Retreat In Beautiful Western New York

Three days to write, breathe, wander & let your story unfold

Where leaf-peepers come from all over the world

Limited to 5 women.

October 10–12, 2026 (Saturday-Monday)

or October 16-18, 2026 (Friday-Sunday)

For Couples:

MoneyMoon™

Don’t just take a honeymoon. Build a legacy and a foundation from day one together.

Experiences for couples that bring together nature, slowing down, and expert guidance in wealth and relationship, all while while forming your special bond in true luxury.

For Groups and Organizations:

Equine VIP Days

Lead. Connect. Transform.

For organizations and leadership teams ready to go beyond the conference room. A 3-Hour immersive experience at a partner horse facility that builds connection, regulation, and culture that actually lasts.

See if we can come to a city near you.

For 1:1, Stress Relief and Neurodivergent Individuals

Equine-Assisted Services

Ethical. Grounded. Healing.

For anyone that needs to step away from the noise.

Also for licensed therapists, counselors, and clinicians ready to explore ethical equine-integrated models within their practice.

Reviews

  • “What an excellent afternoon for our team!"

    “It was the perfect opportunity to come together, get out of our comfort zones, and challenge our go-to mechanisms we use when working through our everyday projects. The lessons learned in the horse obstacle course were incredibly applicable to where we’re headed as a team.”

    Elizabeth Cipolla, Decision Associates

  • "What a neat and enriching experience for the staff and the horses..."

    “Dena taught our Centaur Stride Therapeutic Horseback Riding Facility staff how to get grounded in our in- house EAL clinic. What a peaceful and blessed experience. She worked with our facility’s mares and the result was nothing but magical. Growing our horse skills will give us new insight and love for all we do here.”

    Holly Reslink, Centaur Stride Therapeutic Horseback Riding Facility

  • "In less than 6 months, my life significantly changed for the better in every aspect. I can say without a doubt that Dena guided me on the path that I am meant to be on. She inspired me to start my own successful business."

    “When it seemed like life was too much to handle, the universe sent me Dena. Her wisdom, compassion and empathy are like no other. She assured me that I could succeed, and she knew I could make it happen, even if I didn’t believe in myself or believe that I could.”

    Chelsea K

  • "The biggest takeaway from our session was finding the ability to ground myself in a way that deepened my connection with my horse."

    “My session with Dena was a once in a lifetime experience and I am thankful...so now I can better take care of my horse, ”Easy”. Prior to our session, I struggled with nervousness. Now, when he acts out of the ordinary, 1 am able to quiet my energy and respond to his reactions confidently. It is extremely rare that he exhibits unsafe behavior, but when it occurs, I am able to work with him in a way that brings his attention back to me and reestablish a connection that results in safe interactions.” - Clarissa S.

  • "Got to experience horse yoga with this business and absolutely loved it all.

    Her calm and relaxing personality help you immediately feel at ease even though our group had all beginners in it. Lots of laughs and left feeling uplifted and grounded."

  • "Almost immediately Matt had a connection with her horses, Keke and especially Mr B."

    “A wonderful experience. Dena is so welcoming, and excited to share her love of nature and horses.

    Dena works with Matt on relaxation techniques in nature, with Mr B watching and waiting for Matt from the barn. We noticed on our last visit that Matt had left his iPod and head phones in the car, he was indeed ready to just enjoy his time with his friends Dena and her horses.” - Karen Silzle, Counselor

  • "Truly one of the most amazing moments I've been lucky to capture."

    "Dena is one of the sweetest souls you'll ever meet and her calming aura fills any space she's in. Along with her two rescue horses, Mr B & KeKe, Dena offers therapy, yoga, paint sessions and more for anyone looking to relax and unwind in a country setting... an unforgettable evening of sunshine, warm breeze, flowers in bloom, birds singing, horses grazing, and so many smiles." -Catherine Baglia, 716 Media Solutions

  • "Talk about a good positive experience....l cant say enough."

    “My 9 year old granddaughter spent some time here and she was absolutely glowing afterwards. There are people you just can sense the good positive vibes from and Dena is one of them. Talk to her about what you are looking for and she will deliver.” - Donna Fowler, Licensed Real Estate Broker, Century 21

  • "Exceeded Expectations...

    I had the joy of finding Dena and Equine Union-we really wanted to support our amazing team and experience something healing and broaden our understanding of attunement, attachment & growth. We wanted to experience really tapping in to energy and the power of co regulation and self regulation in healing. Dena exceeded expectations. The joy, delight and peace experienced will never leave us. The insights gained are not things that can be taught, they need felt. I highly recommend Dena and the experiences offered. We are thrilled. She made the whole thing beautiful.

    Thank you for a wealth of experience and knowledge shared. We will be passing the lessons on.I had the joy of finding Dena and Equine Union-we really wanted to support our amazing team and experience something healing and broaden our understanding of attunement, attachment & growth. We wanted to experience really tapping in to energy and the power of co regulation and self regulation in healing. Dena exceeded expectations. The joy, delight and peace experienced will never leave us. The insights gained are not things that can be taught, they need felt. I highly recommend Dena and the experiences offered. We are thrilled. She made the whole thing beautiful.

    Thank you for a wealth of experience and knowledge shared. We will be passing the lessons on.” - Christina, Wellness Warriors Group

  • "A transformative day that will stay with us forever...

    Dena is such an excellent leader and made our experience beautiful, exhilarating, and safe. Highly recommend working with her.” - Susan / Wellness Warrior Group

  • "I would highly recommend this experience to anyone...

    We all left feeling more embodied and connected. We just had a staff retreat with Dena and it was a wonderful experience! Dena was awesome throughout the planning process - very prompt and communicative. She was amazing throughout the experience as well.” - Wellness Warrior Group, Pittsburgh, PA

As seen in…

We were featured in PBS along with the National Comedy Center and Roger Tory Peterson Institute! Tune in to hear why our local Forest Acres Sanctuary is a gem in the Chautauqua, NY community.