Holistic Wellbeing for people and animals. Flower and other essences, Equine Facilitated Interactions
03/03/2026
We are thrilled to share that the Athena Foundation Certificate is being delivered in Essex UK 9โ12 April 2026!
Meet the team:
๐ Jane Gilbey โ Lifelong horsewoman with experience in providing learning opportunities in the Equine Assisted Services space. Jane brings insight and a deep connection to horses and people.
๐ Michaela Flury โ Integrative Therapist passionate about the benefits of Equine Assisted Services, blending therapeutic depth with equine focused understanding.
This certificate is ideal for anyone seeking to expand their skills, deepen self-awareness, and build meaningful practices that integrate horses into their practice.
๐ Save the Date:
๐ 9โ12 April 2026
๐ Essex, UK
๐ Whether youโre already working in equine assisted work, coaching, therapy, or seeking a powerful personal development journey, this is an opportunity to grow with intention and connection.
Foundation Certificate In Equine Assisted (IACP CPD Approved, ACCPH externally accredited)
Are you?
in a โpeople supportingโ profession such as mental health professional/practitioner, coaching, counselling or therapy; or
someone who is already working with horses (riding instructor for example) who is in interested in working in this field; or
just interested in developing more connected and meaningful equine interactions; or
curious to explore why a focus on horse wellbeing represents an important foundation for equine supported learning; or
looking to learn the business skills required to establish and develop a professional practice; or
looking for personal growth supported by an existing community with a wealth of collective experience;
This Level 2 Foundation Certificate also serves as the first part to the externally accredited Level 4 and Level 5 Diplomas in Equine Assisted Services.
Iโm excited be part of the Athena training team to be Co Facilitating this Level 2 certificate with my colleague Michaela and hosting the course at Oaksbrook Retreat in April this year. The training takes place over 4 days in the comfortable Walnut barn overlooking the orchard, a tranquil space for you to immerse yourself in this wonderful modality. My horses and ponies will be an integral part of your learning and journey.
Event Details Start Date 09 April 2026 at 09:00 (BST) End Date 12 April 2026 at 17:00 (BST) Cost (GBP) ยฃ 1899 Course Type Level 2 Certificate Event Description Foundation Certificate In Equine Assisted (IACP CPD Approved, ACCPH externally accredited)Are you?in a โpeople supportingโ profession....
31/12/2025
14/11/2025
A big update from Athena where I did my Equine Facilitated Interactions qualifications to Level 5. Over the last few years they have been working hard behind the scenes to establish an accredited register with the Professional Standards Agency and are now broadening the inclusion of other Animal Assisted Therapies and modalities as well as Horticultural. ๐๐ป๐๐ป
๐ฃ Important Update ๐ฃ
We are pleased to share that the Athena Herd Foundation CIC has formally become the:
๐ Association for Animals, Horticultural & Equine Practitioners (AAHEP): AAHEP.UK๐
This change strengthens the independence of the UKโs first and currently only PSA Accredited Practitioner Register, ensuring it stands as a clear and trusted voice for national standards, across Equine Assisted, Animal Assisted and Horticultural practice.
๐น Athena will continue as the training and education brand, with all courses and pathways remaining the same: athenaherd.org
๐น Aahep: Accredited Practitioner Register has the support from for example HCPC in holding titles such as the Equine Assisted Occupational Therapy titles and as well as being in discussions with practitioners and providers also supporting Animal ๐พ๐ and Horticultural ๐ practices.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support this work as we grow, evolve, and champion safe, ethical and high-quality practice across the UK. ๐๐ด๐ฟ
09/11/2025
โIn every quiet moment with a horse,
a little piece of yourself returns.โ - Human & Horse
29/10/2025
Iโm really enjoying having the mares and Zeena the sheep up on the 4 acre field. There is so much more of an enriching environment here with all the trees, trails and mound. Itโs lovely to just sit and observe them behaving naturally. They often tend to gravitate to where Iโm sitting with the dogs and just hang out with us while we admire the far reaching views. Oaksbrook Retreat
25/10/2025
I can totally agree with this. Willow is having a last big season and boy is she acting wild. Breaking out and dashing to flirt outrageously with the geldings, separation anxiety for the boys even though sheโs with her mares and sheep who she is usually very content with, growing an extra hand, braced and tense, bellowing and yodelling at the top of her lungs and threatening to buck, rear and bolt after two cyclists that were whizzing along the road in the distance whom Iโm absolutely convinced she thought they were Wraheem and Captain. For a split second I thought she was going to take off after them. Sheโs was a little sheepish and did calm down quite quickly when she realised it was cyclists with a grey and red helmet on. We had the high blowing alert warning several times too. This morning galloping round the field up and down the fence line for ages because she wants to get to the boys. Sorry sweetheart they are all geldings so canโt give you a foal ๐๐
๐ "As our autumn daylight shortens, many mares will experience one last big cycle before the winter shutdown. Itโs pure biology - shifting oestrogen, progesterone, and adrenaline levels can make even the calmest mare hypersensitive, clingy, or reactive, as their internal chemistry is changing gear.
Think less ๐ข๐ต๐ต๐ช๐ต๐ถ๐ฅ๐ฆโฆ more ๐ข๐ฅ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ ๐ข๐ฅ๐ซ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต."
Weโre moving towards the final stretch of our October Winter Transition campaign, and weโre feeling it already - winter socks, wellies, and fingerless gloves are back in action!
This week, weโre shining a light on our mares - and their often-overlooked autumn hormones.
There was a great line in a recent Simple Systems newsletter:
It made me sit up - I for one needed the reminder, as our own Carmen is making it very clear sheโs not taking any orders right now!
As our autumn daylight shortens, many mares will experience one last big cycle before the winter shutdown. Itโs pure biology - shifting oestrogen, progesterone, and adrenaline levels can make even the calmest mare hypersensitive, clingy, or reactive, as their internal chemistry is changing gear.
Think less ๐ข๐ต๐ต๐ช๐ต๐ถ๐ฅ๐ฆโฆ more ๐ข๐ฅ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ ๐ข๐ฅ๐ซ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต.
๐ช๐ฒโ๐๐ฒ ๐ด๐ผ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐บ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ต...
Here are our featured blends for emotional & hormonal balance:
๐ฟ ๐ ๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ โ calms nervous energy while supporting hormones and adrenals
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- https://www.equinatural.co.uk/october-2025-sale
As always, if youโre not sure where to start, just shout - weโre here to help you decode the seasonal shifts and support your horse naturally, from the inside out.
Carol & The EquiNatural Team
PS - Weโve also got a Blog coming - โ๐ช๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐ ๐ข๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐: ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐, ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ & ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐ด๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ๐ฐโ, following a message from a lovely lady whoโs really struggling with her mare after moving yards. This time, itโs biology and emotion intertwined - and once we understand whatโs really going on, the whole picture starts to make sense. Stay tuned!
24/10/2025
22/10/2025
Willow enjoying a pear.
21/10/2025
The Bach Flower Remedies were the first flower essence modality I studied and was lucky to do my level 3 at Dr Bachโs house at Mount Vernon, Oxfordshire.
What a fascinating book which Dr Bach consulted when selecting his first 19 essence plants.
Iโm really hoping to attained the BFVEA annual Gathering in 2026. I thoroughly enjoyed the 2025 gathering, lots of amazing workshops and inspirational speakers, Amerdown is a lovely centre as well.
Below is a copy of โBritish Wild Flowersโ by Sowerby & Johnson (1858) - the flora Bach consulted when selecting his first nineteen essence plants. He spent countless hours absorbed in its pages, observing the habits and characteristics of the species that spoke to him, often annotating the margins with notes for future reference. Later, at Sotwell, Bachโs process became so deeply intuitive he was able to experience various emotional states until he was guided to the plants that could offer help. At our 2026 Gathering, Ammerdown grounds and the Chalice Well gardens will provide rich opportunities to explore Bachโs and other essence making approaches, so do bring your equipment and prepare to deepen your connection with the plants that call to you. Book your place here: https://www.bfvea.com/bfvea-annual-gathering-2026/
21/10/2025
Just setting up for a lovely Reiki session with crystals, drumming and other sound healing tools for a client thatโs spent a relaxing stay in our Shepherd hut.
Sessions start from ยฃ45 for an hour or discounted if booked as part of a day visit package. Available on certain days this Autumn and Winter.
Do message for more information.
05/10/2025
My Flutes and other instruments are all tuned to 432hz the natural frequency. What I love about the flutes is when Iโm playing I can feel the physical vibration of the frequency not just hear it. It can be very calming and grounding and my go to if Iโm feeling stressed.
My wife stood in the doorway, arms crossed, watching me crouch on the bathroom floor at 3:12 AM.I was shirtless, freezing, and pressing two fingers to my neck.โCounting,โ I said. โMy resting heart rateโs 91. Iโm literally doing nothingโฆ and my heart thinks Iโm running.โThat was the m...
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Healing for Animals and People with the help of Nature
All my life I have been drawn to nature, animals and the great outdoors. I have been lucky enough to have pets since I was a child and my journey with horses started as soon as I got my first job and was able to save up for my first horse. Throughout my early career I was drawn to working with animals or at least in the very beginning taking any job that would fit in around my passion for caring for my animal charges. My early jobs included stable groom then yard manager. I then had a ten year spell working as a veterinary assistant and eventually local branch manager at Shoebury Veterinary Surgery, part of the Earls Hall Group. I was lucky enough to train as a Bach Flower Animal Practitioner during that time and that course ignited my desire to go on a journey of self development and study Flower Essences. I consumed so many courses over the years that I am now registered as an Advanced Member of the BFVEA for Flower and Vibrational Essences. Working with essences became my core modality and I now also produce my own range with the help of my animals.
I have always been drawn to holistic and alternative therapies for myself and my pets, but my time spent at the Vets has given me a grounded perspective and aware of the importance of combining allopathic as well as alternative medicine as well as practical species appropriate care and nutrition and kind training methods.
I love to help people too. Helping create better understanding and relationships for people with their horses, dogs and cats, but also helping people unleash their potential, release limiting self sabotaging beliefs and helping them gain confidence, better boundaries and self worth, finding a re connection to the natural world and themselves with the help of my beautiful animals and the tranquil out door space at my home Brook Farm.
I am able to work with clients on a one to one basis. Ideally in person so that individuals can immerse themselves in nature in a safe, caring environment where they can connect into the deepest part of themselves which is often mirrored by the horses. Clients can chose from a combination of holistic therapies and support packages that can make a truly bespoke and integrated therapy service. I can also offer consultations on line. I can draw on my knowledge across a whole range of holistic modalities.
My biggest teachers and healers have been the animals. My gorgeous, generous with their unconditional love Golden Retrievers, our pet sheep, cats and of course the horses.
The Oaksbrook Herd! Wraheem, Ryaaz, Oaksbrook Little Scarlet and Dotty. Horses have such a capacity to help us, often mirroring that in us that we most need to see and heal. The horses often form a focus for my meditation practice, but will soon be featuring more in my work as partners, if not leaders in helping people.
