Horses and dogs have been a part of my life for longer than I can remember, although turning my love for animals into a career was not a linear course from childhood!
In my early twenties I spent six years working in Health & Social Care, supporting adults with learning difficulties and challenging behaviour in residential & community environments. I enjoyed this valuable and rewarding experience, but couldn’t see myself doing it long term as a career. I then started to get back to what I loved and worked in Countryside Management alongside studying and achieved a 1st Class Honours Degree in Ecology & Biogeography, which was also incredibly rewarding and a wonderful achievement.
After nine years living in Sussex, I decided to return to my home town of Fleet, Hampshire, for a new and lasting change of direction. Over the years I had always looked after friends and acquaintances dogs and horses whilst they were away, incorporating that with my own animal’s care.
Spending time with animals has always been at the top of my list of things that make me relaxed, happy and energised, so the idea of becoming self-employed within animal care took shape and grew until it became almost all I could think about. I studied again, earning a Level 3 Diploma in Canine Studies and I knew this was the path for me. It made perfect sense for me to turn my first love into my new career!
During 2021-22 I trained and qualified to be an Emmett Practitioner for horses. During training, and subsequently since qualifying, I have had the opportunity to work with show jumpers competing at 1m plus; young horses in training; horses in everyday leisure work; horses recovering from injury; and older retired horses. I really love this gentle therapy, the clear release in tension it provides, and the wonderful responses the horses display from it!
My own ex-racer TB mare is now 26, and has Equine PPID and some arthritis in her hocks. She has always had a slightly asymmetrical pelvis, quite possibly from a racing injury (her full history is unknown to me), and as a result she has compensatory imbalances throughout her body. I have been using the Emmett Technique with her regularly, with wonderful results. Not only does she give me clear positive feedback and lots of ‘releasing’ during treatment, but I can see a lot of improvement in her mobility. As Emmett is such an adaptable therapy I am able to apply the most appropriate corrections based on what her body is telling me at the time. It is extremely satisfying to be able to give something back to my dearest friend who has given me so much over our 16 year relationship, and I aim to share this with as many horses as possible!
I am committed to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and as such regularly complete online CPD courses and seminars; in the future I would like to qualifiy as an Emmett Practitioner for Dogs as well. In 2022 I attended a 3 day Foundation Workshop in Natural Horse and Hoof Care with the Hoofing Marvelous International School (HMIS) of Horse and Hoof Care. I have also completed a diploma in Equine Psychology.
I have a keen interest in Barefoot horse care and managing horses more in keeping with their natural physical, mental and emotional requirements is a big passion of mine and something I am keen to help clients with wherever possible.