Equine Elements was brought into being by Alice and her herd at the end of 2022, but is a dream that had been around for much longer! 

We aim to bring the power of horses to as many people as possible, as well as educating humans on what a horse truly needs, and how to work in partnership. 

Our Space

Equine Elements’ home is a beautiful seven acre field situated near Slad in the heart of the Cotswolds, with stunning views across the valley to the historic village of Painswick. Our field is meadow grassland that is rich in nature, including varied insect, bird, and plant life, and is bordered by ancient beech woodland. We have a large flat area and mini arena which are perfect for groundwork and building obstacle courses, and the surrounding countryside has some amazing paths to discover, whether that is walking or riding. The site is quiet and secluded, providing a safe, confidential and peaceful space for our sessions.

Alice

Alice has been working in the area of Equine Therapy and Horsemanship for 10 years. From a young age Alice could see the positive effects horses had on the humans around them, and wanted to do something that benefitted both human and horse alike.

Alice has worked at two centres that offer Equine Therapy, most recently managing the yard and horses, as well as offering Equine Facilitated Learning, Therapeutic Horsemanship and Relational Horsemanship sessions. In 2020 Alice completed her Equine Therapy training with the Institute of Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy and Learning (IEFPL) allowing her to offer EFL sessions. Alice has experience working with many different clients, including those with anxiety, ADHD, autism, adoptees and many more.

Alice has studied a variety of approaches to horsemanship, including training with Intelligent Horsemanship and Intrinzin. She values approaches that give horses a choice, focusing on working with them in a way they understand, and allowing them a voice. Alice has a particular interest and knowledge in holistic horse care, ethical training, reward based training, track system horse keeping and working in partnership.

Marie-Lou

Marie-Lou offers Equine Facilitated Learning sessions centered on guiding individuals back to their authentic selves. This transformative journey involves the integration of personal growth, life skills, creativity, movement, body-mind-spirit connection, and meaningful interactions with nature. Through this holistic approach, Marie-Lou aims to enhance overall well-being.

Marie-Lou completed her Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL) training with IEFPL and the Equine Therapy Center in 2021, this achievement followed her dance collaborations with equestrian Mel Fauske and her horses from 2015 to 2020. In 2023, Marie-Lou furthered her professional development in EFL and Horsemanship with Equine Elements, led by Alice Short.

Marie-Lou brings over 30 years of experience to her practice, specialising in community arts, inclusive dance, and wellbeing initiatives. Throughout her career, she has successfully engaged with both children and adults in diverse contexts, including:

• Special Educational Needs (SEN)
• Developmental trauma and PTSD
• Neurodiversity
• Physical and cognitive disabilities
• Mental health
• Dementia 
• Parkinson’s
• Individuals who have been through the criminal justice system
• Hospital patients
• Families at holiday and food programmes (HAF)
• Refugee camps (Save the Children and UNICEF)

In recognition of her impactful work, Marie-Lou received the Dance One UK Inspiring Leader Southwest award in 2015. Prior to relocating to Gloucestershire in 2005, Marie-Lou dedicated her time and expertise to Samaritans, contributing as a trained volunteer at the Central London Branch. 

Marie Lou has also featured in a short film about her journey with dancing and horses, please see the link below. 

Arrival by Horse https://vimeo.com/689057910