IF YOU’RE HERE, SOMETHING IN YOU IS READY.
Grief. Anxiety. Trauma. Life transitions that feel overwhelming.
So often, we try to think our way through the pain. We try to stay strong. We try to control what feels out of control.
But the more we push, the more disconnected we can become. Healing doesn’t have to be forced.
In partnership with horses, you are invited into a grounded, experiential process where awareness, safety, and presence create space for real change.
You were never meant to carry it all by yourself.
A Different Kind of Healing Begins in the Pasture.
WHEN LIFE FEELS HEAVY, YOU DON’T HAVE TO WALK THROUGH IT ALONE.
Sometimes the path feels heavy.
You keep moving forward,
but underneath, you feel disconnected.
You’ve learned how to cope.
How to stay strong.
How to manage.
But strength alone doesn’t always bring relief.
Healing deepens when you feel safe enough to soften.
In the pasture, alongside horses,
you are supported in slowing down, noticing what’s present,
and allowing something new to unfold.
HEALING BEGINS HERE.
Time outdoors
Caring for animals
Simple routines
Honest conversations
what always grounds me
Sunsets over the pasture
The sound of wind through the trees
Early mornings before the world wakes up
Quiet moments with the horses
Where I Feel Most at Peace
Presence over perfection
Listening before fixing
Safety before change
Connection before correction
What Matters Most to Me
in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
I’ve spent much of my life walking alongside others during seasons of grief, transition, trauma, and uncertainty.
My work began in social work, supporting individuals and families through some of life’s most difficult moments. Over time, I realized that healing often requires more than conversation alone, it asks for presence, safety, and experience.
That realization led me to the pasture.
Through my training in the Equine Gestalt Coaching Method, I discovered how powerfully horses can support the healing process. They respond honestly. They reflect what is real. And they create a space where people can gently reconnect with themselves.
My role is not to fix you.
It is to hold steady space while you find your footing again.
Certified Social Worker & Equine Gestalt Coach
Meet Crista
Kathy M.
“Crista is kind and genuine. She wants to serve her community as well as help others work towards the best version of themselves!"
Dana D.
“Sessions are innately tuned to the day with an approach that works for everyone, as we connect differently each time, to honor the horses who are always helping us, no matter the reason you arrived for that day.”
Leia Organa
"I say this from a VERY true heart and mindset. My daughter, who was dealing with some major issues and is diagnosed as Neurodivergent (Asperger’s Syndrome) and has ADHD..”
Throughout the year, Leave It in the Sand offers group sessions and retreats designed to create safe connection, shared processing, and meaningful growth.
Community Healing Experiences
Small Group Gatherings
A restorative equine-based retreat designed to support women veterans in releasing what they’ve carried and reconnecting with themselves in community.
Operation Reconnect Retreat
For Women Veterans
When your nervous system feels on edge and you’re carrying more than you can name, this work offers space to slow down and process safely.
Equine Gestalt Coaching
Individual Sessions
Healing Pathways at Leave It in the Sand
Rooted in safety. Guided by horses.
