Do I need any experience with horses to participate in a coaching session?

No prior experience with horses is needed. Most clients who come to Stable Support have never spent time around horses before their first session, and that is completely expected. Sarabeth Weber, as a Certified Equine Gestalt Coach, guides you through every step of the interaction. The horses at our Hillsborough barn are specifically suited to this kind of work and are accustomed to working with people at all comfort levels.

What footwear and clothing should I wear when visiting the barn?

Closed-toed shoes are a strict requirement for all visits. Sandals, flip-flops, and any open-toed footwear are not permitted around the horses for safety reasons. Since sessions take place outdoors under a covered barn, dress in weather-appropriate layers. Fans and heaters are available to help with comfort, but being prepared for the outdoor conditions will help you stay focused on the session rather than the temperature.

How do the horses take part in a coaching session?

In the Equine Gestalt Coaching Method, horses act as intuitive partners rather than passive animals in the background. Because horses are highly attuned to emotional and physical states, they respond to what is happening in your body in real time. This honest, non-judgmental feedback helps surface awareness that is difficult to reach through conversation alone. The work happens at a body level, not just an intellectual one. Sarabeth facilitates the session while the horse's responses become part of the coaching process itself.

Is the barn environment safe for someone who feels nervous around large animals?

Yes. The barn at our Hillsborough, NC location has been specifically set up to support people who may feel uncertain or even fearful around horses. Sarabeth's training as a Certified Equine Gestalt Coach through Touched by a Horse informs how she creates a calm, grounded atmosphere for every session. The horses selected for this work are well-suited to the coaching environment, and the covered outdoor space includes heaters and fans for comfort throughout the year.

Who trained and certified the coach working with these horses?

Sarabeth Weber is a Certified Equine Gestalt Coach, certified through the Touched by a Horse program founded by Melissa Pierce. This certification covers the Equine Gestalt Coaching Method, somatic healing principles, and the specific skills required to facilitate safe and effective sessions alongside horses. Melissa Pierce's foundational perspective, that you never forget the lessons learned alongside a 1,200-pound animal, is central to the work done at Stable Support.

Do the same horses work in both private and group coaching sessions?

The equine partners at Stable Support work across both private 90-minute sessions and ongoing group coaching sessions. Group sessions run approximately three hours and include a maximum of 10 participants, creating an intimate setting where the horses can engage meaningfully with the group dynamic. The same peaceful barn environment in Hillsborough, NC serves as the setting for all session formats, whether you are working one-on-one or as part of a small group.

Meet The Horses | Stable Support Coaching LLC

Why Somatic Equine Coaching Works

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 Equine Gestalt Coaching, the horse is not a passive presence. Each of our equine partners brings a distinct personality into the session, and that personality matters. Horses are prey animals with a finely tuned ability to read emotional states. They respond to what is happening in your body, not just what you say out loud. That honest, body-level feedback is precisely what makes the Equine Gestalt Coaching Method so different from sitting across a desk from a clinician. Our therapeutic horses in North Carolina have been selected and cared for specifically to support this kind of deep, somatic work in a safe and grounded environment.

Just as no two clients arrive at the barn with the same story, no two horses show up the same way. The individual personalities of our coaching horses are part of what makes each session at Stable Support a genuinely personal experience. One horse may be bold and direct, mirroring a client's need to be seen. Another may be gentle and patient, offering a steadying presence for someone working through grief or anxiety. This variety is intentional. Sarabeth Weber, as a Certified Equine Gestalt Coach trained through Touched by a Horse, understands how to work with each animal's natural temperament to support your healing process.

Our equine partners live and work in a 100-year-old barn that carries a quiet, grounded energy unlike anything you will find in a clinical setting. Sessions take place outdoors under a covered barn area, with fans and heaters available to keep the space comfortable year-round. The peaceful setting is not accidental. It is part of the container that allows clients to feel safe enough to do real work. When you meet our coaching horses in this environment, the combination of natural surroundings and intuitive animal presence creates the conditions for the kind of breakthroughs that stay with you long after the session ends. As mentor Melissa Pierce puts it: you never forget the lessons learned alongside a 1,200-pound animal.

Your session takes place at our peaceful, century-old barn in Hillsborough, North Carolina. The property has been intentionally designed to create a welcoming environment where you can slow down and settle into the experience.

Please arrive approximately 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment. Park only in the designated parking area, where a member of our team will meet you and walk with you to the barn before your session begins. This helps create a calm transition into your coaching experience.

No prior experience with horses is needed to work with our equine partners. Most clients have never been in a barn before their first session, and that is completely fine. A few simple preparations help ensure your visit is safe and comfortable. Closed-toed shoes are required for all visits; sandals and open-toed footwear are not permitted around the horses. Dress in layers and come prepared for the weather, since sessions are held in an outdoor covered space. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled session. When you reach our Hillsborough location, park in the designated area and a staff member will meet you and escort you down to the barn.

Why Somatic Equine Coaching Works

Do I need any experience with horses to participate in a coaching session?
No prior experience with horses is needed. Most clients who come to Stable Support have never spent time around horses before their first session, and that is completely expected. Sarabeth Weber, as a Certified Equine Gestalt Coach, guides you through every step of the interaction. The horses at our Hillsborough barn are specifically suited to this kind of work and are accustomed to working with people at all comfort levels.
What footwear and clothing should I wear when visiting the barn?
Closed-toed shoes are a strict requirement for all visits. Sandals, flip-flops, and any open-toed footwear are not permitted around the horses for safety reasons. Since sessions take place outdoors under a covered barn, dress in weather-appropriate layers. Fans and heaters are available to help with comfort, but being prepared for the outdoor conditions will help you stay focused on the session rather than the temperature.
How do the horses take part in a coaching session?
In the Equine Gestalt Coaching Method, horses act as intuitive partners rather than passive animals in the background. Because horses are highly attuned to emotional and physical states, they respond to what is happening in your body in real time. This honest, non-judgmental feedback helps surface awareness that is difficult to reach through conversation alone. The work happens at a body level, not just an intellectual one. Sarabeth facilitates the session while the horse's responses become part of the coaching process itself.
Is the barn environment safe for someone who feels nervous around large animals?
Yes. The barn at our Hillsborough, NC location has been specifically set up to support people who may feel uncertain or even fearful around horses. Sarabeth's training as a Certified Equine Gestalt Coach through Touched by a Horse informs how she creates a calm, grounded atmosphere for every session. The horses selected for this work are well-suited to the coaching environment, and the covered outdoor space includes heaters and fans for comfort throughout the year.
How early should I arrive, and what happens when I get to the property?
Plan to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled session time. When you reach our Hillsborough location, park in the designated parking area and a staff member will meet you and escort you down to the barn. This arrival process is in place to ensure the session begins calmly and that you have a moment to settle in before the work begins.
Who trained and certified the coach working with these horses?
Sarabeth Weber is a Certified Equine Gestalt Coach, certified through the Touched by a Horse program founded by Melissa Pierce. This certification covers the Equine Gestalt Coaching Method, somatic healing principles, and the specific skills required to facilitate safe and effective sessions alongside horses. Melissa Pierce's foundational perspective, that you never forget the lessons learned alongside a 1,200-pound animal, is central to the work done at Stable Support.
Do the same horses work in both private and group coaching sessions?
The equine partners at Stable Support work across both private 90-minute sessions and ongoing group coaching sessions. Group sessions run approximately three hours and include a maximum of 10 participants, creating an intimate setting where the horses can engage meaningfully with the group dynamic. The same peaceful barn environment in Hillsborough, NC serves as the setting for all session formats, whether you are working one-on-one or as part of a small group.