Sue Falber Equine Touch Practitioner & Foundation Coach

06/10/2026

🐴 Equine Touch Foundation Level Review Day 🐴

Sunday 25th October | Shillington, Bedfordshire

Calling all Equine Touch Students! 🌿

Come and join us for a dedicated Equine Touch Foundation Level Review Day — a great opportunity to revisit your skills, build confidence, ask questions and spend a day learning alongside fellow Equine Touch students.

Whether you’d like to refresh your techniques, work through areas you’re less confident with, or simply enjoy a day of hands-on Equine Touch, this day is for you. 💕🐎

✨ Refresh • Review • Practise • Learn • Connect ✨

📍 Shillington, Bedfordshire
📅 Sunday 25th October

Places are limited, so if you’d like to join us, message me for a booking form.

“Equine Touch — your gift to your horse.” 🐴💫

05/10/2026

Equine Touch & VHT - often incorrectly stated by those that don't know as 'a pamper session' or simply 'a massage'.
Let us dispel that myth .... Equine Touch and the human equivalent of VHT is a gentle non-invasive holistic bodywork modality that primarily addresses the connective tissue network - specifically the fascia alongside muscles, tendons and ligaments.
Rather than focusing soley on superficial muscle relaxation (like standard massage) it utilizes specific, light pressure moves over key body points to influence the deeper fascial system and support full body balance. It should also be noted that the physical body can be affected by the emotional and mental effects of everyday life and vice versa.

Over the years I have worked with many crooked horses to assist them balance their bodies which have been locked in compensation from injury, bad saddle fit, poor nutrition, dental issues and poor foot maintenance once these issues have started to be addressed owners see great improvements not only the physical aspects but in the emotional aspects of their equine companions. However I often get reports of falling in on the left rein, rider slipping to the left, feeling thrown off balance to the left or right. Often this is no longer down to the horse it is down the rider.

REMINDER : A crooked rider will often lead to a crooked horse and vice versa - one of the reasons why I undertook to qualify as a VHT Practitioner (the human version of Equine Touch) in order that both horse and rider can be balanced and not have to compensate for each other.

VHT sessions can be carried out at your yard on the same day that I see your horse for Equine Touch and I offer a discount on horse and rider packages.

So why not give VHT a go and experience first hand just how wonderful and extremely effective this powerful yet gentle bodywork modality actually is from the comfort of your own stable yard.
Don't see it as a pamper but see it as improving yourself for the mutual benefit of your horse !

30/09/2026

The International Equine Touch Association Virtual Conference is taking place from Monday 12th October opening with what promises to be another brilliant presentation from Equine Touch's Co Founder and Director of Education Ivana Ruddock. Sign up for tickets now and sit back and enjoy from the comfort of your own home.

Meet our speakers for the 2026 IETA Conference: First up we have one of our ET Founders, who needs no introduction!

Ivana will be opening the conference with one of her special, not to be missed, lectures. This will be a pre-recorded video since Ivana lives in New Zealand.
As our Director of Education, Ivana brings with her a diverse wealth of knowledge from her research along with her interest in other holistic modalities.

Speaking about ET, Ivana said: I love its gentleness yet effectiveness, its respect for the horse’s body and mind. I love to work with horses, rather than on the horses’.

We can’t wait to hear her talk!

Tickets: https://forms.gle/6pdWf7mHWzKaPNPi7

26/09/2026

Ooo fab opportunity to grab yourself a last minute bargain or a much needed new hat !

Monday 28th September 2026. 7pm Who's coming?

I'm going to be there in a personal capacity with some stuff I don't need/use anymore out of my own stash. BUT I'm also going to take some of the Tacky randoms, hats (as much prefer fitting them), plus whips as they're tough to post.

Come along, see what there is.. come say "hi", let me nick a chip.

Cash and Cards welcome!

04/09/2026

'It takes a Village !' thank you to Stevenage & District RDA and Model Farm - Training, Dressage and Livery it is an absolute privilege to be working with the lovely horses and helping them to help others in their day to day work with the wonderful discipline of Equine Touch.

04/09/2026

Excellent post as to why hindend stiffness is due to the rain and correlation to the gut and the surge in grass growth and why your horse needs bodywork! 🦄🐴🦄

29/08/2026

🐴 POSTURE vs CONFORMATION — and why does it matter? 🤓

Have you ever looked at your horse and thought, “That’s just the way he’s built”?
Sometimes it is — that’s conformation.
But sometimes what we are seeing is posture… and posture can change.
Understanding the difference can be incredibly important when we’re looking at the whole horse.
Conformation is the horse’s physical structure — the way they are built.
Posture is how the horse habitually holds and carries their body.

And posture can be influenced by so many things:

🐴 discomfort or tension
🐴 muscular imbalance
🐴 previous injury or compensation
🐴 stress and emotional state
🐴 poorly fitting or inappropriate tack
🐴 changes in workload or exercise
🐴 changes in their environment
🐴 and even how much time they are spending moving versus standing.

And let's be honest… this summer hasn't exactly made life easy for our horses! ☀️
The ground has been incredibly hard in many areas, temperatures have been soaring, and for very good reason many horses have been spending more time standing around in the shade and being ridden or exercised less.

Even when we're doing absolutely the right thing by them, a significant change in their normal routine can influence how they use and carry their bodies.

Less movement can mean less opportunity to naturally use, stretch and strengthen different muscle groups.

And if a horse is standing for longer periods — perhaps with their weight shifted, resting a particular hind leg, or adopting a habitual position — those patterns can become familiar.

Then we add back in work, and we may notice that our horse doesn't quite feel the same.

🤔 So why is it important to spot what is postural?

Because a horse can gradually develop a pattern of holding themselves that becomes their normal.
Muscles that remain shortened and contracted can become tight and inefficient, while muscles that are continually lengthened may become weaker and less able to do their job effectively.
This can create a cycle of compensation.
And sometimes the clues are subtle.

Your horse may appear:

🐴 stiff or restricted
🐴 uneven in their movement
🐴 reluctant to move forward
🐴 lacking their usual energy
🐴 tense through the body
🐴 difficult to stretch or soften
🐴 or simply… not quite themselves.

🐎 And what about tack?
Tack is another really important piece of the puzzle.
A saddle or bridle that doesn't fit correctly or is no longer appropriate for the horse can influence how they move and carry themselves.

And remember — horses change shape.
Changes in muscle, fitness, workload, weight, age and movement can all affect the way tack fits.
So if something has changed in your horse's way of going, posture or behaviour, it's worth looking at the whole picture rather than assuming it's simply “how they're built.”

🦄 So where can Equine Touch fit into this?

Equine Touch is not massage, physiotherapy or a diagnostic treatment.

It is a gentle, non-invasive form of holistic bodywork that works WITH the horse rather than ON the horse.

The distinctive three-part movement allows us to work with the horse's body and nervous system, encouraging awareness of areas where the horse may be holding tension or restriction and supporting them towards a more balanced way of carrying themselves.

We aren't trying to force a horse into a particular posture.
We listen. 👂🏻
We observe. 👀
We allow the horse to participate in the process.😍

And that is one of the things I love most about Equine Touch. ❤️
It isn't about imposing a shape on the horse.
It's about working with the horse in front of you.

✨ Posture isn't necessarily conformation.

And learning to recognise the difference can make us much more observant horse owners......which is a whole other post in itself.
(Thank you to Stan the Man aka Mr Brown and Helen Southwell of 10K Training for the almost correct posture ! )

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. 🐴❤️

12/08/2026

Day 2 of the Equine Touch Foundation Course part 2 for Horse Owners. We had the honour of working with Molly, Mabel and Jay from the Stevenage & District RDA at Model Farm - Training, Dressage and Livery who really enjoyed the gentle, non invasive approach of the Basic Body Balance and application of Area of Concerns. Whilst it took them a few minutes to realise that they didn't actually have to work on a Sunday it was lovely to see them process the work and to be able to give these wonderful ponies the gift of Equine Touch.
I am planning on holding the next Equine Touch Foundation Course for Horse Owners in October / November so if you would like to be added to the list for this or future courses then please message me.

12/08/2026

How time flies ....A month ago saw me coaching part 2 of the Foundation Level of Equine Touch for Horse Owners at the lovely venue of Model Farm - Training, Dressage and Livery, with our host June Scott. Day 1 saw Helen Southwell (RWYM Coach and Biomechanics Instructor) and Carly Tyler revising what they had learnt on Part 1 back in May, first off the essential human practice so as they could get the move correct and feedback from each other as far as pressure and position was concerned and then onto the horses where they received some wonderful responses from the horses who are very new to experiencing Equine Touch and the all important Basic Body Balance. We then started to apply the first of the Area of Concern procedures.