Touched By A Horse

In this episode of Touched by a Horse, Melisa and Dane catch up on life in beautiful British Columbia before diving into the power of momentum and how to maintain it through changing seasons. Drawing from her years of experience as an entrepreneur and coach, Melisa shares practical strategies for staying motivated, setting clear intentions, and turning ideas into action. From finding clarity and b...

Have a great idea but aren't sure how to bring it into the world? In this episode of Touched by a Horse, Melisa and Dane catch up on life at the ranch before diving into Melisa's tried-and-true approach to evaluating new ideas: Heart, Head, and Hand. Drawing from her years of experience as an entrepreneur and business coach, Melisa shares the essential questions to ask before launching a product,...

Melisa and Dane are back! In this episode, they catch up on a busy few months in beautiful British Columbia, from preparing the ranch for winter and navigating their journey toward Canadian permanent residency to Dane’s adventures with the local hockey team. Melisa shares highlights from an incredible season of equine training, including powerful Gestalt experiences, facilitator workshops, and the...

In this week’s episode of Touched by a Horse, Melisa sits down with Equine Gestaltist Carolyne Stolzenfels of Wildfire Dreams in beautiful Charlevoix, Michigan. Carolyne shares her journey from growing up around Standardbred racehorses to discovering a deeper, more intuitive partnership with horses and ultimately finding Equine Gestalt. She and Melisa explore the profound wisdom horses can offer,...

In this episode of Touched by a Horse, Melisa welcomes Dr. Bonnie Laabs, educator, author, and founder of Minnesota's Wee Farm, a nonprofit dedicated to helping children and families reconnect with nature through meaningful interactions with animals. Bonnie shares her powerful personal journey from a childhood marked by trauma to earning a PhD in curriculum development and creating innovative, han...

This episode of Touched by a Horse is a heartfelt reflection on the deep bonds we share with the animals who shape our lives. Melisa and Dane begin with updates from the farm—including a rescued orange kitten and visits from dear friends—before sharing the peaceful passing of their beloved miniature horse, Cracker Jack. Through stories of his playful personality and gentle final moments, Melisa ex...

In this laid-back summer catch-up episode, Melisa and Dane reflect on birthday celebrations, welcoming a new class of Equine Gestalt students, and the joy of slowing down with a good book. They also share a fascinating real-world example of using AI to quickly identify a toxic pasture weed before it could harm their horses, sparking a thoughtful conversation about technology as a tool for both ani...

In this inspiring episode, Melisa chats with Equine Gestalt Coach and author Marcy Waelti to explore the transformative connection between horses, healing, and neurodiversity. Marcy shares her journey from teaching riding lessons to creating a sanctuary where horses help children, families, and caregivers discover confidence, connection, and personal growth. Together, they discuss the unique gifts...

In this solo episode, Melisa explores the power of intuition and how we can strengthen our ability to trust our inner knowing. Drawing from decades of experience in Equine Gestalt Coaching, she explains why horses are naturally "clairsentient"—deeply attuned to human emotions, energy, and authenticity—and how they help us reconnect with our own intuitive wisdom. Melisa shares practical ways to dis...

In this lighthearted catch-up episode, Melisa and Dane share life around the ranch, from much-needed spring rains and hay season preparations to welcoming new Equine Gestalt Coaching Method trainees and celebrating the growth of their equine facilitator community. Melisa reflects on the support of close friends, the bittersweet anniversary of her daughter's passing, and the healing power of connec...

In this episode of Touched by a Horse, Melisa explores how horses act as powerful mirrors, responding not to our words but to our authentic emotional state. Drawing from her work in Equine Gestalt Coaching, she explains how horses reveal hidden feelings, unresolved grief, suppressed emotions, and the gap between who we appear to be and what we truly feel. Melissa shares stories from her practice t...

In this heartfelt solo episode, Melisa explores the often-overlooked art of truly listening. Drawing from her years as a psychotherapist, educator, and Equine Gestalt practitioner, she shares how most people unintentionally interrupt, derail, or “hijack” conversations instead of offering genuine presence and attention. Through relatable stories and practical examples, Melisa unpacks the emotional...

In this warm and conversational catch-up episode of Touched by a Horse , Melisa and Dane reflect on a whirlwind month filled with Equine Gestalt coaching trainings, cross-country road trips, reunions with friends and graduates, and settling further into life in British Columbia. Along the way, they share stories about traveling with their beloved Bernese Mountain Dogs, reconnecting with students a...

In this episode, Melisa and Dane reconnect after time apart, sharing stories from Dane’s memorable trip to Augusta for the Masters, complete with early mornings, long lines, and plenty of golf (and merch). Back on the farm, Melisa dives into the deeply transformative work happening within her equine gestalt programs, from guiding students through group facilitation to teaching her immersive “Revea...

In this solo episode, Melisa shares a personal and reflective update while Dane travels to the Masters, offering a glimpse into life on the ranch—from spring cleaning and hosting guests to preparing for upcoming equine gestalt training sessions. She weaves in updates on her growing programs and a behind-the-scenes look at her work, before diving into a thought-provoking discussion on bioenergetics...

In this episode, Melisa and Dane share a behind-the-scenes look at life on their farm as spring arrives—balancing horses, new equipment, travel plans, and even the complexities of navigating dual U.S. and Canadian taxes. Melisa also dives into the heart of equine gestalt coaching, exploring how deep listening, collaboration with horses, and a trauma-informed, non-pathologizing approach create mean...

In this solo episode, Melisa takes listeners behind the scenes of spring preparation on her British Columbia horse farm, sharing the rhythms, challenges, and essential care routines that come with managing a herd of 14–20 horses. From navigating late-season snowstorms to tackling seasonal chores like tack cleaning, worming, veterinary visits, dental care, and shedding, Melisa offers practical insi...

In this episode of The Touched by a Horse Podcast, Melisa and Dane share updates from the ranch as they prepare for spring, from caring for their horses to planning improvements around the property. Melisa also explores the powerful symbolism of the 2026 Fire Horse year in the Chinese zodiac, discussing its themes of bold action, innovation, and personal reinvention. The conversation then shifts t...

On today’s episode, Melisa chats with Graduate of the Year Casie Simpson of Flourish with Horses in Colorado Springs. Casey shares the powerful story of finding her heart horse, Teddy, during one of the most difficult seasons of her life—and how their healing journey together led her to the Equine Gestalt Coaching Method program. Now a dedicated practitioner, Casey serves nurses, healthcare worker...

In this warm and wide-ranging episode, Melisa and Dane reunite in the studio to share personal updates, including celebrating the birth of their assistant Tana’s baby boy, Atticus. They dive into a fascinating bit of trivia tracing the standard railroad gauge—four feet, eight and a half inches—back to Roman war chariots and the width of two horses, exploring how ancient history still influences mo...

In this heartfelt episode of The Touched by a Horse Podcast, Melisa Pierce welcomes Equine Gestalt graduate Emma Rogers for a powerful conversation about following your bliss, navigating unexpected life turns, and the healing connection between horses and humans. Emma shares her journey from being inspired by Cavalia to building and selling her thriving group practice, Argo Counseling and Wellness...

In this reflective solo episode of Touched by a Horse, Melisa explores the powerful connection between horses and vibrational frequency, sharing how our thoughts, words, environment, music, and relationships directly influence our energy. Horses live fully in the present moment and naturally attune to human emotional frequencies—often mirroring and supporting deep healing work in the round pen. Me...

Today on the Touched by a Horse Podcast, Melisa and Dane share a warm, behind-the-scenes catch-up before diving into highlights from their recent online Summit. Melissa reflects on teaching a Certified Practitioners workshop focused on using artificial intelligence—specifically ChatGPT—as a supportive business and self-discovery tool for the TBAH community, while also addressing common concerns ab...

In today’s episode, Melisa and Dane reconnect with listeners after the holidays, sharing updates on ranch life, community, and the rhythms of winter. Melissa dives into her annual practice of year-end reflection and choosing an intentional word or phrase to guide the year ahead, weaving in insights from numerology and personal growth. The conversation expands into a grounded, accessible exploratio...

In this episode of Touched by a Horse, host Melisa Pierce sits down with newly certified Equine Gestalt Practitioner Carrie Blamer of Equine Soft Eye to explore her journey into horses, healing, and heart-centered leadership. Carrie shares how finding horses later in life transformed her path, how equine-assisted work supports leadership, collaboration, and recovery, and why Gestalt principles are...