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How One Horse Led Me to Holistic Healing
I’ve always loved horses. Since childhood, I’ve ridden and cared for my own, but one experience set me on a completely new path. My beloved horse, Vince, was 27 when he became seriously ill. I suddenly realised how little I truly knew about horse health. I felt helpless—and even the vet didn’t have answers.
That moment was a turning point. It led me into a new chapter of my life. I went on to become an equine craniosacral therapist and equine iridologist. Along the way, I also deepened my understanding of equine nutrition, barefoot trimming, and kinesiology.
My goal has always been to improve the lives of horses. Beyond hands-on treatment, this often meant suggesting changes—whether to their feed, their environment, or their lifestyle.
Over time, it became clear to me that an owner’s state of mind and behaviour has a profound impact on their animal. Even if we made all the right changes and gave the best treatment, the emotional dynamic between horse and human still played a major role. I couldn’t change that—until I discovered the Trust Technique.
The Trust Technique was developed by James French and his partner Shelley Slingo. I had the privilege of studying with them in the UK in 2015 and again in 2017—experiences that proved to be truly life-changing. I became a qualified Trust Technique Practitioner in 2016 and went on to obtain the Level 3 Crossfields Institute Diploma in 2019.
It’s in the quiet act of listening that our bond with animals deepens.
We’ve reached a moment in time where more and more people are starting to question our relationship with animals — not just in terms of how we treat farmed animals, which has long been under scrutiny, but also how we relate to domestic animals, including those we claim to love the most.
On a personal level, the past 15 years have been transformative in finding — and ultimately redefining — my place in the horse world. I’ve come to realize that I no longer want to be part of this industry. I was one of those horse-crazy girls, riding every day, caught up in the routine, without really being in tune with my pony or, later, my horses.
Everything began to shift when I started treating horses with craniosacral therapy. A whole new world opened up — one where I began to listen. Over time, I became more aware of the mental and physical impact riding has on horses.
Living and working with a herd in South Africa taught me even more. I observed how horses form deep family bonds and how much autonomy they hold when left to live as they choose. At first, I worried about them — accidents happen, after all. But I’ve witnessed their incredible ability to self-regulate and heal, particularly when they have the support of the herd and are free from constant stress and interference.
My journey through craniosacral therapy and the Trust Technique has taught me deep respect for horses—and all animals. My work is guided by the belief that animals are sentient beings with their own voices, and that true connection begins with listening—really listening—and giving them the freedom to choose. Along the way, I’ve also learned to question long-held human habits around control, dominance, and what it means to “train” or “own” an animal. I’ve learned that healing doesn’t come from fixing, but from creating a space where trust, stillness, and freedom can unfold.
