My Story
Horses Are My Truth. Helping You Discover Yours.
A Journey To The Umami Of Your Soul
Horses have been my lifelong passion, shaping who I am and guiding me on a journey of connection, purpose, and personal growth. From my earliest memories, I’ve felt a deep and unbreakable bond with these magnificent animals. As a child, my world revolved around horses—I talked about them endlessly, dreamed about them constantly, and found my greatest joy in their presence.
I was fortunate to grow up on a farm where my parents supported my love for horses by keeping ponies for us to care for and ride. At the age of 12, I made one of the best decisions of my life: I bought my first horse. He remains with me to this day—a testament to the lifelong commitment, partnership, and love I have for these incredible animals.
Over the years, I’ve come to realize that horses have given me so much more than riding skills. They have taught me how to slow down, become present, and truly experience life. They remind me to notice the quiet moments—the sunsets that make my heart beat, the rhythm of hoofbeats across a pasture, the feeling of simply being. I like to call it the umami of the soul—the richness that can only be experienced when we slow down enough to truly savor life.
Deep down, I have always known my vision was to bring people and horses together. After a few careers and many life lessons, I am now living that vision.
I am a graduate of the Touched By A Horse Equine Facilitator Program™ and the Equine Gestalt Coaching Method™. Alongside my equine partners, I create meaningful experiences where people can slow down, reconnect with themselves, build awareness, and discover the wisdom that horses so naturally invite us to explore.
For the past several years, I have mentored riders in building stronger relationships with their equine partners and taught beginner horsemanship and riding lessons for youth and adults. Whether someone comes to ride, learn, or simply spend time with horses, my hope is that they leave not only with new skills, but with a deeper connection to themselves and the world around them.
I look forward to sharing the wisdom of horses and creating experiences that open hearts, inspire growth, deepen connection, and invite you to discover the richness that has been within you all along.
I am a licensed and certified
Equine Facilitator™ and Equine Gestalt Coach™
As an Equine Facilitator™ and Equine Gestalt Coach™, I offer experiential opportunities for connection, growth, self-awareness, and meaningful change alongside my equine partners.
Horses are extraordinary teachers. Highly attuned to human emotions and energy, they offer honest, real-time feedback that helps us become more aware of ourselves, our patterns, and the way we move through the world.
Grounded in Gestalt principles and experiential learning, my work creates space for people to slow down, reconnect, and explore life with greater clarity, confidence, and authenticity.
These experiences may support:
- Self-awareness and personal growth
- Communication and relationship skills
- Leadership and confidence
- Emotional awareness
- Mindfulness and presence
- Connection with self, others, and horses
Research suggests that time spent with horses may help regulate the nervous system, reduce stress, and encourage emotional grounding through co-regulation and presence.
Whether through workshops, mentorship, riding lessons, or quiet moments beside a horse, I invite you to experience the wisdom horses so naturally offer.
LET’S DO THIS
How it works…
If there’s one thing I’d like you to know, it’s this: I lead with love.
That is the foundation of everything I do—with people and with horses.
I believe horses invite us to slow down, become present, and notice what is happening within us. They don’t judge, fix, or expect us to be anyone other than who we are. Instead, they create space for awareness, connection, curiosity, and discovery.
Whether you’re joining me for a riding lesson, horsemanship session, equine coaching experience, or horse camp, my goal is the same: to create a safe, supportive environment where you can learn, explore, and connect—at your own pace.
I won’t tell you who you should be or what you should do. Instead, I’ll ask questions, offer observations, and invite curiosity. Some days you’ll leave with a new riding skill. Other days you’ll leave with a new perspective. Often, it’s both.
The horses are my partners in this work. Together, we create experiences that build confidence, deepen authentic connection, and invite a greater understanding of yourself, your horse, and the relationship you share.
Whether your journey begins in the saddle, on the ground, or simply by spending time in the presence of horses, I hope you leave feeling more connected than when you arrived.
If that feels like the kind of experience you’ve been looking for, I’d be honored to welcome you.
%
Agreed they felt better about themselves at the conclusion of the Equine Gestalt Coaching session than at its beginning.”
%
Would participate in this coaching program again.
%
Agreed they felt more hopeful about their future at the conclusion of the Equine Gestalt Coaching session than at its beginning.
Meet the Horses
My Healing Herd
Cody
Clover
Clover is a Pony Of America and a true rescue with a traumatic past. She has triumphed in her journey and is the sweetest girl with a big heart. Clover adores rolling in the long green stuff, as she affectionately calls it, and she gives the most delightful kisses. Full of spunk and personality, she brings joy to everyone around her.
Lady
Lady is a Pony of the Americas and one of our beloved rescues. Her journey to us began when a kind-hearted soul outbid a kill buyer by just $50—changing her life forever. Lady became my son’s pony and created an unbreakable bond with him. He would sing silly songs and she would prance along. Now that he is grown he still spends time with her and she has become our go-to lesson pony and a gentle guide for young riders. With her calm spirit and nurturing nature, she naturally takes on the role of “mama mare,” offering comfort and confidence to every child who spends time with her.
PJ
PJ is a striking Arabian-Appaloosa cross who came into my life as my next riding partner—and he’s proven to be so much more. With a kind heart and steady presence, he’s been an outstanding mount. Including starting to give riding lessons to the inexperienced. But beyond the trail, PJ began to reveal his deeper calling: a natural gift for healing. Whether he’s carrying a rider or quietly standing beside someone in need, PJ has a way of reaching people’s hearts and holding space for their growth.
Ginger
Ginger is a spicy miniature horse, but don’t let her size fool you; her attitude is as large as that of full-size horses. She thrives on being the center of attention and won’t believe a word you say if it doesn’t resonate with her.
Secret
Secret is a purebred Arabian mare with a soft, calming presence and a quiet heart. She has a special love for children and shines brightest when she’s around them. In the riding arena, she’s shown her gentle spirit during lessons—carefully looking after her young riders with a watchful and nurturing eye. While Secret hasn’t yet stepped into formal healing work, her serene energy suggests she may choose to walk that path in time. She adores neck scratches and often leans in with appreciation, showing her sweet and affectionate nature. For now, she brings a peaceful grace to the herd and remains a quiet favorite among the little ones.
Star Dust
Stardust was bred to be a fancy show mare at a university program—but when all the others were sold, she was the one who remained. For four months, she sat quietly, waiting … until the day I showed up to bring her home. She had been destined to wait for me.
From the start, Stardust has shown her deep desire to connect. She greets me at the gate without fail, always eager for attention and heart-to-heart moments. She’s rested her head in my lap for long, peaceful naps, revealing her natural gift as a healer. There’s something sacred in her stillness, a sense of safety she offers without saying a word.
And while she carries a graceful presence, she’s not without her quirks—Stardust loves peppermints. She once heard me crunch one from over 100 feet away and made it very clear she expected me to share. Her sweetness is matched only by her devotion, and I’m so grateful she waited for the right person to come along.
Some souls are just meant to find each other
Bandit- The heart and soul of my herd
Some horses come into our lives for a season, but Bandit has been my constant for 34 years—a lifetime of love, lessons, and loyalty. A grade sooty buckskin with a past as mysterious as his name, he was found for me by my uncle, a horse salesman with an eye for a good one. Rumors say Bandit came from the deserts of New Mexico or the rolling fields of southern Minnesota, but the truth has long since been lost to time.
What isn’t lost is the impact he has had on my life. Bandit has carried me through childhood adventures, teenage heartbreaks, and the trials of adulthood. He has been my rock, my teacher, my best friend. He is the grandpa of my herd, the steady presence that younger horses look to for guidance, and the soul of the farm.
When he was young, a perfect heart-shaped marking graced his forehead, as if the universe itself had stamped him as something special. Time has softened its edges, just as it has turned his coat from bold to weathered, but the heart remains—not just on his forehead, but in every step he takes and every memory we share.
His legs move a little slower now, but his spirit is unchanged—wise, kind, ever watchful, and always ready for an adventure. He may not remember every mile we’ve traveled together, but I do. Every ride, every lesson, every quiet moment at the farm.
Bandit is more than just a horse. He is the keeper of my heart and soul..
The Keeper Of My Heart
What you need to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this therapy?
What if I'm afraid of horses?
What is The Equine Gestalt Coaching Method®
The Equine Gestalt Coaching Method® was developed by Melisa Pearce, a core founder since 1989, of the horse-human healing movement. The experiential nature of the method involves the horse as an active partner with the coach in the client’s exploratory process. The integrative approach of the equine’s interaction combined with positive coaching, somatic awareness guidance and Gestalt methodology, assists the client in examining their life and choices made with a focus on designing a positive future.
In Memoriam
Athena
Athena is a purebred Arabian with a presence as powerful as her name suggests. Marked with a rare blood spot—a red patch said in Arabic legend to appear on horses who carried their warriors home from battle—she embodies quiet strength and deep wisdom. Before joining our herd, Athena served as a therapy horse, helping women navigate the painful aftermath of trauma and abuse. In giving so much of herself, she began to forget how to simply be a horse.
Now, she’s found peace in a new role: motherhood. She’s chosen to step back from active work and embrace the slower rhythm of raising her babies. Quiet within the herd, Athena is rediscovering who she is outside of service—healing in her own way, one peaceful moment at a time. Her appearances may be few, but her spirit is always felt
Pancho
Now in his later years, Pancho is going blind in the only eye he has left. As his vision fades, his need to trust his human partners grows. And those who take the time to earn that trust are rewarded with his enduring loyalty and the kind of connection only time and tenderness can build. He may no longer be at the forefront of our riding program, but Pancho’s presence remains a cherished part of the herd.