4 Counties Holistics

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

08/06/2025

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....

19/01/2025

If you are interested in hearing more about upcoming Equine Touch Foundation Courses for Horse Owners then feel free to Pm me with your email address and I will forward you details.

Exciting news going into 2025 I have just sent out a mail shot to all my clients past and present with more details and provisional dates for the first of the Equine Touch Foundation Courses that I will be coaching in March. So please check your mail boxes and register your interest as soon as possible as spaces are limited to ensure 1-1 training.

This course is specifically aimed at horse owners and knowledge of equine anatomy is not required just the willingness to want to help your horse.

It's not too late to make a New Years Resolution to learn something that can help you and your horse and have fun doing it!

If you would like more details and are not on my mailing list send me a pm with your email address and I will add you to it.

19/03/2024

I am now taking appointments for April which are carried out from the comfort of your own home thus taking the stress out of having to travel and visit somewhere strange. I am fully qualified and Insured and DSB checked. Signed Veterinary permission is required before sessions can commence but I am happy to contact the vet on your behalf. Feel free to message me for more information.

06/03/2024

'In my equine world pain is all. Pain affects not only the horse's training and athletic performance but also everyday life, from standing in the stable to playing in the field. When something changes in your horse, be it physical, emotional or behavioural always suspect pain. When and if, found, pa...

15/01/2024

Since the New Year I have been inundated with calls for 'broken' ponies or 'not quite right'. The weather in Herts, Beds, Bucks and Northants has been unseasonably and horrifically wet. Horses are on restricted turn-out or in some cases no turn out and in some cases turn out is into mud and lakes simply to get a leg stretch whilst mucking out. Stiffness and filling of joints starts to happen from standing in a dry, sheltered stable and even if your horse is out 24/7 with shelter you will find them standing in one place bracing against the elements.

Turning out into wet fields and mud (yes how can we forget mud - can we ever remember life without mud!?) even if it is just for an hour a day often has the disadvantages of horses sensing a bit of freedom and relief going on a feral rampage not giving 4 hooves about the dangers that it can pose. Even the most chilled out of animals can suffer from slippages and strains from getting up after a good old roll to refresh that layer of mud between the ears that you have spent an age getting clean.

Whilst many owners have given their horses time off this winter, either for a rest from competing or because they simply cannot find a dry day in the calendar to go out for a hack or have the facilities to school indoors slippages, strains, tension and compensation and restrictions do not improve with rest. Bodies need to be balanced in order that additional compensations do not occur and this is where good whole horse bodywork is required.
Equine Touch is a unique whole body balancing modality. It is holistic in its address in that it works on the whole body not just the bit that you think is the problem. In addressing the fascia that lies between the skin and the muscles that acts as a 3D framework to hold the body together a small gentle coordinated address with the unique Equine Touch moves provides a powerful change in the structure of the fascia allowing the body to self-adjust. We very much work on the principle of ‘Less is More’ - working too hard and too fast with the tissue will cause it to put up a defensive reaction and for the body to simply shut down against any work. Similarly the body has to be allowed time to readjust and rebalance - one of the reasons why a day or two off work is always advised especially if the body has never had this type of work. Due to the fact that the body can hold onto trauma both physical and emotional over many years the full results of the body balance may take many weeks and two to three sessions before changes start to take place. We always need to remember that the body is not a machine that can be quickly fixed and putting the horse’s welfare first is always my ultimate consideration.

The lovely Boo relaxing and processing after his Equine Touch Body Balance ...retired ponies need bodywork just as much as competition horses !

27/02/2023

4 Counties Holistics is the all encompassing name for my business which incorporates Sue Falber Equine Touch Practitioner, Sue Falber VHT Practitioner and Sue Falber Canine Touch Practitioner. After many, many years of study and passing the relevant exams I am qualified and ensured to carry out all three modalities endorsed by the co-founder Ivana Ruddock-Lange. All three modalities are a hugely effective system of hands on bodywork, which holistically helps the soft tissue by using incredibly gentle, yet also incredibly powerful bodywork moves. It affects muscles, tendons, ligaments and joint capsules as well as effecting the emotional aspects of the body as so very often it is fear or anxiety that can cause us problems not only mentally but physically. If you are interested in having a session for yourself, your dog or your horse then please message me.

30/09/2022

IETA UK & IRELAND Virtual CONFERENCE 2022

A Special Opportunity for my lovely clients, to attend the International Equine Touch Association Virtual Conference which is to be held over alternate evenings at 7pm from Monday 10th October.
At a cost of only £10 which also gives you a years worth of Associate Membership to the Association in this Equine Touch Silver Jubilee Year.
You can opt to listen to one or all seven of the brilliant presentations.

Speakers are as follows:

Monday 10 October - Ivana Ruddock-Lange, Equine Touch’s Co-Founder, and Director of Education.
Ivana brings with her a diverse wealth of training and knowledge from the orthodox veterinary world, along with her interest in other holistic modalities.
Her teaching technique is enthusiastically brilliant and totally professional. A consummate researcher and instructor she leaves no answerable question unanswered with her outstanding knowledge of allopathic, energy and many other practical healing techniques created for the equine and small animal.

Wednesday 12 October - Maren Diehl, Biotensegrity and Horses
After many years as a rider, trainer and instructor with more questions than answers, Maren Diehl found biotensegrity to be a good explanatory model for living beings in motion, and things started to make sense. In her presentation she will show us what biotensegrity is all about, what it is good for and how it differs from what we know as biomechanics.

Friday 14 October - Felicity George (BSc, MPhil), Understanding Equine Body Language
We all know that understanding equine body language matters. Safety, well-being, relationships and effective communication are all massively improved as our understanding deepens. Recent research has sought to categorise signs of pain in equines, and some are moving beyond this to more general signs of discomfort. Reported findings may be confusing – for example, one study identifies an increase in blink rate as a sign of stress, another states that a decrease in blink rate is a sign of stress! This talk will consider how we think about equine body language and how we can interpret it in a fluid context-specific manner, and cover some of the key (often very subtle) signs to look for, using videos and case studies.

Sunday 16 October - Sarah Udal, Saddle Fitting for Comfort and Freedom of Movement.
Every living body has a structural dynamic where stress is distributed equally through the entire structure, enabling expansion, mobility, flexibility and structural integrity. If this is compromised and stress is allowed to accumulate at particular points in the body, this leads to compression, dysfunction and injury. A saddle should facilitate the connection and coming together of two dynamic bodies; allowing for and supporting the dynamic tensegrity in both. However, in reality, despite our very best efforts, we often find a saddle leads to conflict between the two. The presentation will be focussed on what aspects of saddle fitting can create compromised dynamic tensegrity in one or both parties, indicators of compression, stress or dysfunction and what can be done to address them.

Tuesday 18 October - Jo Fernandes, Wonders of Fascia
Jo is our head VHT instructor and a VHT practitioner. She is also a Doctor of Cymatics and Bioenergetic Medicine, a hypnotherapist, trained in TCM, Neuro Coaching, Radionics and Somatic Healing amongst others.
Only recently Fascia has transformed from the Cinderella tissue to being fully recognised.
Instigating the paradigm shift was Jean-Claude Guimberteau and Japp van der Wal’s contribution to integrating living tissues and embryological and development pieces.

In this talk Jo will be covering this and much of the recent research on fascia and how these apply to all our modalities.

Thursday 20 October - Clare MacLeod, Independent Equine Nutritionist Equine Ulcers
Clare MacLeod MSc RNutr is an independent Registered Equine Nutritionist with expertise in equine health and fitness, who provides consultancy to horse owners, managers, vets, and the horse feed industry. Clare provides professional unbiased advice and is passionate about helping horse owners with the nutrition, health and fitness of their horses or ponies, whether they are pets, leisure horses or elite competition horses.

Saturday 22 October - Ivana Ruddock-Lange, Lecture 2
Closing the conference talks Ivana will be delivering another one of her very special brilliant lectures which will be pre-recorded followed by a live Q&A.

If you would like to sign up for this offer then either send me a pm or drop a note below and I will send you the details.