4 Counties Holistics

24/08/2026

Has the summer you planned with your horse simply....... disappeared?
It feels like we waited all winter for summer to arrive. Looking forward to the Long evenings, Hacking after work, Training, Competitions, Fun days out with our horses.
And then summer finally arrived… and it was far too hot to ride!
The ground became hard and unforgiving, the temperatures soared, and riding or competing simply wasn't fair on our horses.
So instead of doing all those things we'd planned, we've been doing the bare minimum — keeping horses comfortable, keeping them hydrated, checking them constantly, getting the jobs done…
And if we're honest?
We're exhausted too.
Now we're looking towards the end of summer and wondering where on earth the time went.
Perhaps you've barely ridden.
Perhaps competitions you'd planned have passed you by.
Perhaps your horse hasn't been able to do the work you had hoped.
And perhaps, underneath all of that, you're beginning to notice that your horse isn't quite themselves.
Maybe they're stiff after standing around more than usual.
Maybe they're tense, uneven or reluctant.
Maybe they're not moving as freely as they normally do.
Or perhaps there's no obvious problem at all — just that nagging feeling every horse owner knows:
“Something just isn't quite right.”
And this is where it may be worth taking a closer look.
Did you know that Equine Touch isn't massage or physiotherapy?
Equine Touch is a unique form of bodywork that works with the horse, rather than on the horse, using a gentle three-part move that works with the soft tissues and fascia.
It is particularly suited to horses who may be tense, guarded or uncomfortable because it doesn't involve forcing, stretching or working deeply into sore muscles.
Equine Touch uses a gentle vibratory movement into the fascial system, encouraging the body to release tension and allowing the horse to respond in their own time.
And sometimes, after a summer of reduced movement, heat, hard ground and changes to routine, our horses need a little help getting ready to move forward again.
Not just physically, but emotionally too.
Because your horse is a prey animal, they don't always show us when something hurts or doesn't feel right. Showing weakness can make them vulnerable, so sometimes the only clue we get is a change in behaviour, movement or attitude.
And that's why you know your horse.
If you're looking at them and thinking “They're okay… but they're not quite right,” that feeling is worth listening to.
Let's make the most of what's left of the year.
The cooler weather and softer ground are coming.
There is still time for those autumn hacks, training sessions, fun rides and competitions.
And perhaps now is the perfect time to help your horse feel comfortable, relaxed and ready to get back to doing what you both love.
Don't write off the rest of the year just because summer didn't go to plan. 🐴❤️
And yes, I work with riders too! ❤️
VHT is the human equivalent of Equine Touch and can help address issues in the rider that may be influencing how the horse moves and responds.
My Horse & Rider discounted packages are particularly popular at this time of year.
I am fully qualified, insured and DBS checked.
If you'd like to find out more about how Equine Touch could help your horse, send me a message — I'd love to have a chat. 🐴❤️

23/08/2026

12/03/2026

EXCITING NEWS 👉👉👉👉👉.....
I can finally announce my upcoming dates for teaching The Equine Touch Foundation Course Part 1 specifically for Horse Owners.
🐴 Anyone can learn Equine Touch.
🐴You do not need a knowledge of equine anatomy, just a willingness to learn to help your horse and give the gift of Equine Touch.
🐴Courses are suitable for the young or old, those new to horse ownership or born in the saddle, the equine professional or the struggling amateur.
Course numbers are kept small (max 4) and I try and keep students with the same experience and ability together.
Based on the edge of the Chilterns near Chesham in Bucks a lovely group of barefoot geldings are looking forward to helping you with your holistic horse journey.
More information can be found via my website in the link below.

24/08/2025

🐴 Do you want to build a better relationship with your horse?

🐴 Are you new to pony ownership and want to know more on how you can help your new family friend?

🐴 Are you a longstanding horse owner who is looking for something different and more holistic to do with your horse?

🐴 Do you want to help improve your horse’s suppleness, willingness and balance and relieve muscle tightness & lessen asymmetry ?

🐴 Do you want to learn how to help your own horse using simple but incredibly powerful bodywork moves.

Then why not take a 2 day Horse Owners Equine Touch Foundation Course?

Anyone can learn Equine Touch.
You do not need a knowledge of equine anatomy, just a willingness to learn to help your horse and give the gift of Equine Touch.
Courses are suitable for the young or old, those new to horse ownership or born in the saddle, the equine professional or the struggling amateur.

Course numbers are kept small (max 4) and I try and keep students with the same experience and ability together.
Based on the edge of the Chilterns near Chesham in Bucks a lovely group of barefoot geldings are looking forward to helping you with your holistic horse journey.

I have just released the next two dates for this year Sat & Sun 13th & 14th Sept and Sat & Sun Oct 11th & 12th October.
Cost is £200 which can be paid in instalments
For further details and to request a booking form - either message me with your email address or go to my website https://www.4countiesholistics.co.uk/coaching

28/03/2025

Just a teeny tiny bit very excited about tomorrow - teaching my first Equine Touch Foundation course for Horse Owners - months of planning, preparation and revision and I really have to thank Emma Steels for her stirling Spring Clean this week for getting the horses and barn all prepared at our wondeful venue Tacky Central Livery.
Lots of learning and laughter is planned over the next two days and I will be releasing dates of future courses next week.
It doesn't matter if you are a longtime horse owner or totally new to horse ownership / sharing or loaning. You may even be a ponyclub mum or dad who wants the very best for their child's pony. You do not even need to know any anatomy just want to do the very best to help your horse be happier and healthier and have fun doing so in a small group with 1-1 tuition.
If you want more info just message me with your email address and I will get back to you .....although it may be next week 🦄🐴

21/02/2025

Have you heard of the horse 'grimace' or pain scale ?

It still amazes me that despite the vast amount of factual information at our fingertips on t'interweb that many horse owners pass off their horse’s facial expressions as 'grumpy' 'bitchface', 'moodymare' or worse some even resort to posting what they think are 'funny' videos on social media and yet sadly fail to recognise these as expressions of pain and find out the reasons behind why they are being presented.

Over the last few weeks I have been putting together training material for my forthcoming Equine Touch Foundation Courses and observation of the horse plays a huge part in our modality whilst working with the horse. Such observation I feel that not just students on the course but any horse owner should be made aware of in line with The Equine Touch’s own Mission Statement ‘To help horses by educating humans’
I have included below the Image of the 'Grimace' scale the full report can be downloaded from the link below and whilst this particular study was carried out on horses undergoing routine castration I feel it is an important one to get an idea of what we as horse owners should be looking for as signs of pain

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260950013_Development_of_the_Horse_Grimace_Scale_HGS_as_a_Pain_Assessment_Tool_in_Horses_Undergoing_Routine_Castration

In addition to this the notorious Dr Sue Dyson published her 3 year 6 phase study assessing over 400 horses known as the 'Pain Ethogram in the Ridden Horse' a catalogue of behaviours that can be used to spot potential pain in ridden horses, and has been so influential, in getting the awareness out into the horse industry. Dr Dyson's findings have shown that there is evidence that more than 47% of the sports horse population in normal work may be lame, that is almost half the horses that are out there competing but the lameness is not recognised by owners or even trainers!
‘Whilst an alternative means of detecting pain may be recognition of behavioural changes in ridden horses. It has been demonstrated that there are differences in facial expressions in non-lame and lame horses. The Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE), also known as the Ridden Horse Performance Checklist, can be used to reliably predict musculoskeletal (MSK) pain that may not be obvious to even an experienced eye. The RHpE identifies 24 behaviours of a horse under saddle, which are often labeled as disobedient, disrespectful, or dishonest (such as reluctance to go forward, ears back, tail swishing, head tossing, bucking and so on)’
A very useful site that I came across whilst researching my presentation material is The Train with Trust Project which not only delves deeper into animal behaviour and communication in order to strengthen the horse human bond but has freebee downloads including a mobile field guide to the 24 behaviours and behaviour and observation checklists as well as a documentary and blog postings all of which can be found on the website here : https://trainwithtrustproject.org/

Feel free to share this post as it is essential to try and educate more horse owners about what the horse is trying to communicate as so often I hear the phrase ‘If only they could talk’ when quite often the horse is shouting in the only way they know how but the owner isn’t really listening.

21/02/2025

So looking forward to my first Equine Touch Foundation Course at the end of March with these guys - such wonderful boys to work with and will really help guide new students through how they can go back and help their own horses with Equine Touch bodywork....