Alex has been involved with horses all her life and it is through her work as an Equine Massage Therapist that she has become more involved in the equine back and the demands made upon it.
She trained at the world famous Yorkshire Riding Centre with Jane and Christopher Bartle, competed up to Elementary level in British Dressage and has started her own young horses.
Alex runs workshops and clinics in Equine Massage, Reading Your Horse, Anatomy, Handling and Groundwork, and Tack Awareness. For over fifteen years, Alex taught and assessed the Pat Ki Equine Therapy (Massage) Diploma, accredited by the FHT. She is also involved in Equine Facilitated Learning – working with practitioners to bring the benefits of associating with equines to a wide variety of people who have little or no contact with them.
She is extended her studies (Professional Diploma in Equine Therapy and Rehabilitation) into equine biomechanics as she believes that this can greatly enhance our understanding of how the horse and rider function as a pair, as well as increase knowledge of the subtle differences that different equines exhibit depending on the demands made of them. She believes it is essential that owners and riders learn more of their equine’s language – as a welfare and safety imperative. It only when we can “read” our horses that we can move towards more successful performance – be it hacking or eventing, and maintain our social license to ride.
Alex has also been involved in education and teaching for over twenty-five years. She is a trained and qualified teacher, gaining her PGCE from Leeds University (with Special Commendation) in 1990. She completed her Masters in Art and Psychotherapy, graduating from Sheffield School of Medicine (with Distinction) in 1995.
Alex has worked in all areas of education, including FE, HE and Adult Education. She has also written, delivered and assessed courses and workshops: GCSE, A Level, educational conferences and courses for Adult Education trusts. She manages partnership projects in schools, brings creativity into health settings and delivers CPD training for teachers.
As a talented practising artist, Alex also delivers workshops, courses, exhibits in London galleries and works with people with dementia and their carers using art, singing and poetry.