Sue Falber Equine Touch Practitioner & Foundation Coach

02/01/2026

Following on from yesterday's post and putting the horse first, some beautiful words of inspiration to open the year from Equine Touch's co-founder Ivana Ruddock.

To those who work with quiet hands,
who listen first, and understand.
Who chooses the soft way, slow and true,
and let the horse’s voice lead through.

May 2026 keep you aligned,
steady in body, clear in mind.
When change feels small, or progress is slow,
trust the seeds you gently sow.

You ease, you guide, you stay, you care —
even when no one sees you there.
In every horse you help to heal,
your calm intention leaves a seal.

Not loud heroes, yet strong and kind,
walking a path that few can find.
Your work is felt, your presence too —
Thank you for all that you do.

Best wishes for every new day!
Ivana

01/01/2026

Celebrating the start of 2026 and The Year of the Horse with the Japanese tradition of 'Hatsuhinode' watching the first sunrise of the year in my happy place with my best friend.
Wishing everyone a happier healthier year with the focus most certainly being on what is best for the horse !

25/12/2025

Wishing all my lovely clients and friends and followers past and present a wonderful Christmas. Thank you for all your support and patience throughout what has been a very difficult and challenging year and here is hoping that 2026 will be happier and healthier for all!🎅🦄🐴🦄🎅

24/11/2025

Rain is wet and mud sticks ! 🌧💦
Yep this is indeed stating the obvious. However as we head into the rainy muddy season please plan ahead for your Equine Touch session. 👍
It is great to see lots of horses out naked growing their own fluffy waterproof coats and using some of their own extra padding as insulation and many of my clients know how I hate overrugging and rugs that don't fit properly. (More on that in another post)
Now I don't mind getting my ✋🏻hands ✋🏻dirty from scurfy coats and grease it comes with the territory BUT trying to feel the fascia and what is going on under the horses skin is extremely difficult if I have to go through a layer of dried mud and practically impossible if it is wet mud or if the coat is wet and slippery! 😢 🤷‍♀️
Equine Touch is not massage - it has its unique three part move that addresses the 3D web of fascia that lies underneath the skin and wraps around and goes into the muscles, tendons, ligaments, organs and cells. In order for this to be as effective as possible the vibration of the move needs to be able to resonate through the body - if the surface is wet and slippy it cannot and can also be quite uncomfortable for your horse. ☹️
I really do not expect your horse to be bathed and gleaming before the session - just dry and reasonably mud free. So please plan ahead in order that your horse can achieve maximum benefit from the session and I don't have to change into yet another clean coat before my next client 🦄 🥰 🦄
[Picture is of my mare Tin at the beginning of April having ventured into the cow pond to cool off on an unseasonably warmer day !]

23/11/2025

I am endeavouring to keep my lovely clients on schedule and will be sending out the last few appointment dates for 2025 today.
I am planning on taking a complete break over the Christmas period as hoping my hubby will finally be home from hospital after a very long 3 months and so my last day will be 21st December and resuming on the 3rd Jan 2026 when hopefully the days will start to get lighter. 🦄🐴🦄
[Picture of Tin waiting patiently for her fieldmate Cloud to join her at Hill Farm Haven]

08/10/2025

Thank you to everyone who has been very patient and sent their support and best wishes through what has been a very challenging and difficult summer. I have started to slowly work my way through my backlog of clients but having to juggle afternoon appointments with hospital visiting hours and with the darker evenings my last appointment time will be 4pm.
Horse and Rider packages will continue to be offered providing you have the facilities.
For anyone who is interested in Equine Touch Foundation Courses these will be resuming in the Spring.
If I haven’t yet contacted you and you need an appointment for November then please get in touch with me and I can see what I can do.

04/10/2025

Environment is key when it comes to happy healthy horses ….. I have been so fortunate this year to have been able to spend time with the Tacky Central Livery herd and they have been instrumental in teaching new students the Foundation level of Equine Touch.

01/09/2025

Apologies ….to anyone who requested details for the forthcoming Equine Touch Foundation Course for Horse Owners or wanted further info on Equine Touch / VHT and where awaiting Health history forms and further details.
I have just been made aware that there appears to have been a problem with my email software and it appears to have duplicated one specific email instead of the personalised ones that I usually send out.
I can only apologise and will look to sort this out today.
To anyone who is awaiting appointment dates as you may already be aware I have had to pretty much put things on hold since June and whilst I am slowly catching up I am still having to fit in last minute hospital appointments so please bear with me.

26/08/2025

OOOO now this did brighten up my Tuesday - so happy to see the wonderful Stan the Man aka Mr Brown and his lovely owner Helen Southwell from 10K Training being awarded The Supreme Champion at Ashwell Show this weekend. I feel very privileged to have been part of 'the village' that has been able to assist on their journey over the last few years.
Anyone who knows Helen Southwell (who is also a RIde Wuth Your Mind Coach) will know that her ethos is always putting the needs of the horse first be it her own or her clients that have the fortunate pleasure of being taught by her - it is so good to see her patience and hard work paying off as she has been on quite a journey with the wonderful Mr Brown.

Thank you to everyone who attended this year's Horse Show.

Our Tyrrells Equine Clinic Supreme Champion of the Show was Stan Laurel ridden by Helen Southwell. Our Reserve Supreme Champion was Buckswood Cannon handled by Chris Heydon (pictured below)

We are also very grateful to the sponsors of the Horse Show this year, The Paddocks, Stewart Bullard & Son Ltd, C & G Trailers and Horseboxes and Hill view farm shop ltd whose generosity ensures we can provide the gorgeous rosettes and prizes to our winners!

Huge thanks also go to our horse show judges, stewards and volunteers on the day!

All the action from the horse show was captured by Fae Loudoun Photography 📷

Finally, thank you to all the competitors who attended this year, we hope to see you all back next year 🐴

24/08/2025

Equine Touch's co-founder, Ivana Ruddock of Equine Anatomy in Layers shared a recent podcast she did with Live Bonnevie in Norway. In Live’s opening words she credits Ivana saying, “she’s one of the most interesting clinicians I’ve ever met, and her insight and understanding of the equine anatomy, is simply, mindblowing. I learned more in three days with her, than two years in school”;
and
“I will never again settle, for the conclusion that there is nothing physically wrong with the horse that shows conflict behaviour or act-out, because we will never be able to know for sure”.
We are incredibly fortunate that Ivana shared her wealth of knowledge to create The Equine Touch bodywork modality alongside our late founder, Jock Ruddock nearly 30 years ago, with the mission to ‘Help Horses by Educating Humans’…
I have personally throughly enjoyed being taught by Ivana over the years - sitting in a 3 day Anatomy Class many years ago my attention was 100% for every single moment she was teaching Enjoy listening to this insightful podcast 😊 and feel free to contact me if you want to know more about the wonderful modality of Equine Touch.

It's crucial to bring this perspective with us: we must remain humble and remember that horses expressing pain, discomfort, or uncertainty should always be taken seriously. Just because we don't always understand what triggers a horse's behaviour, doesn't mean it originates from nothing. It never...

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 (HP5) 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

09/08/2025

12 years ago today I qualified as an Equine Touch Practitioner after 4 years of continuous study, courses, practical case studies and assessments, numerous theory papers, essays and exams. The study and learning did not stop on completion of attaining this qualification in fact it had only just started. Last July I decided to undertake my Foundation Coach training which has added an extra layer to my learning and understanding of this wonderful modality and the ethos of 'helping horses' in fact in recent weeks I have had quite a change in how I practice and work with the horse.
I want to thank all the owners and their horses who have put their trust and faith in me over the last 12 years and have seen the wonderful results that The Equine Touch and it's unique three part move working with the fascia can provide.
I also want to take this opportunity to apologise that I have been rather quiet over the last few weeks as I have had to take some time out to focus on family matters. I will be looking to catch up with clients and appointment dates from next weekend so please be patient and thank you to all those that have sent well wishes your support and kindness means so much. 🦄🐴🦄