July 2019 Practitioner of the month....alice cuff

Name:  Alice Cuff

Location: Bristol, England

Certifications Through Angel's Animals: Equine Craniosacral Therapy, Equine Kinesiology Taping

When did you decide that you wanted to work with animals? I've always had a love for horses, having started riding at the age of 3. Growing up I had thought about a career in horses, wanting to help them. I wasn't too sure so decided to go down the 'traditional' job route but quickly realised that office life wasn't for me!

What animal influenced you the most growing up?  I was very lucky to have my own horse from the age of 9, I was definitely over horsed, Erik was a very chunky, slightly crazy 15.2hh cob x, but he was my best friend. He had a lot of quirks and when I lost him I was heartbroken. It was going through the grief and devastation of him no longer being in my life that made me realise I needed to do something that helped these incredible animals. I still believe Erik is with me and guides me.

What animals do you currently own?  I currently have two horses, Captain and Duchess. Captain is a 16.2hh ISH who has quite a lot of anxiety and remains quite guarded. He loves having energy work done but it has to be on his terms, you certainly can't force him into having any form of treatment! We have spent a lot of time working on our partnership and building a strong bond.

Duchess was a rescue pony who I rehomed from Horseworld Trust (https://www.horseworld.org.uk), she was rescued at 3 yrs old, completely emaciated and with a foal at foot. She is now 7 and has come on leaps and bounds, Duchess has an incredible personality and it's an honour to be able to work with her.

What makes your animal bodywork practice stand out?  I pride myself on taking a true holistic approach, no treatment is the same. By incorporating the various techniques I am trained in I can give a rounded treatment that takes into consideration the physical, psychological and emotional wellbeing of the horse.

What message would you like to share with potential clients?  I would encourage anyone looking to work with a therapist for their animal to do their research but most importantly find a therapist who suits your horse. Just because someone is highly qualified it doesn't mean that they will connect with your horse, having someone you and your horse are comfortable with is key in ensuring you all get the most from a treatment.

What message would you like to share with others who are thinking about pursuing a career in animal bodywork? For anyone considering a career I would tell them to go for it! There are many ways of training now, it's important to find a path that works for you and your learning style. Do ensure you find courses that have an in-depth and well rounded content, as well as ongoing support, even after you have qualified. It's important to have this to give you confidence to go out and work on your own.

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