Equine Experiences

Master Coach Leah Vaughn receiving confirmation from equine partner Hunter.

Healing Through Horses

My equine experience testimony:

After a heavy grieving period in 2023, I decided to travel to Vancouver BC and attend a women’s retreat hosted by my good friend and fellow Coach, Nafissa Shireen on her beautiful property Believe and See Ranch. There I was introduced to the world of partnering with horses in a Coaching setting. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, although I knew we would spend much time in nature with her team of horses.

On one particular day we were given exercises to do with Escudo, with the intention of tapping into our deep inner-self to identify the blockage, and desired result, that we were needing to process. I was enjoying Escudo’s presence but frustrated that he wasn’t responding in the way that I was asking him to. The problem wasn’t Escudo, he’s an expert in intuitiveness and clairsentience. The problem was that I was speaking words of desire and action, but I wasn’t feeling what I was speaking. I was hearing my words, but not believing them. And he was waiting for the opportunity to speak to me at the precise moment that I was ready to receive his message.

Sensing my frustration, Nafissa asked me to sit down on a large blue drum, put my hands palm-side up and take a deep breath. She asked me to focus on where I was desiring change and to envision the end result as if it’s already my reality. I closed my eyes, took a deep breathe and allowed my raw emotion to surface. I felt the hurt and the pain of what was blocking me begin to surface. It felt warm and a little scary. And then I envisioned the end result of healing that pain…where I wanted to be.

And guess who joined me? Escudo walked up to me slowly, nudged my knee with his nose, gave it a little rub and confirmed that I had just tapped into the soul-target I was hoping to hit. He stayed close, and allowed me to acknowledge his presence. We locked eyes and I tearfully thanked him…and he continued to stay close, ensuring that I felt heard, loved and empowered. That moment, sitting there on the blue drum while Escudo spoke to me in a language only he knows how to speak, my life changed.

Why Partner with Horses?

Horses can sense our energy and emotions in ways that are impossible for humans to identify. They bring vast wisdom, intuition, clairsentience and compassion to the healing process. They are the unspoken healers that watch quietly and nurture delicately just as us humans need. As I experienced this deep sense of connection, personal growth and healing for myself, I knew that there was an elevated sense of purpose meant to bring this experience to my clients. I am excited to introduce a platform of equine experiences that will include elements of fun, growth, connection, personal discovery and healing in individual and group settings. No horse experience required!

THE EGCM 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 his or her life and choices made with a focus on designing a positive future. For more information about Melisa or her Equine Gestalt Coaching Method and Certification Program go to: http://www.TouchedByAHorse.com