Calm, one-to-one nervous system support for horses — with additional sessions available for dogs experiencing stress-related behavioural changes
Equine Nervous System Regulation | Surrey & Surrounding Areas
Helping horses who feel tense, anxious, or overwhelmed to settle, release tension, and return to balance.
One-to-one sessions designed to help your horse release tension, process stress, and return to a more balanced, settled state.
Work is guided by your horse’s responses, with gentle, integrated approaches used where appropriate.
Nervous system support sessions are also available for dogs experiencing stress-related behavioural changes.
Hi, I’m Vicky Thompson
I specialise in equine nervous system regulation, offering calm, one-to-one sessions designed to support horses experiencing tension, stress, or behavioural sensitivity.
Many challenges that appear behavioural or physical are closely connected to how the nervous system responds to stress, pressure, and environmental change. By working gently with the nervous system, sessions help create the conditions for the body to settle, process, and rebalance naturally.
Sessions unfold at the horse’s pace and are delivered alongside your existing care team where appropriate.
Fully insured and professionally trained in multiple complementary modalities.
If you’ve noticed subtle changes in your horse’s behaviour, comfort, or sensitivity — even if you’re not quite sure what they mean — nervous system support can be a helpful place to begin.
Nervous System Regulation
“Horses often carry far more than we realise.”
Sometimes the challenges we see in a horse are not behavioural issues, but signs of a nervous system that has been under prolonged stress.
This may present as nervousness, heightened reactivity, difficulty settling, anxiety, or sensitivity. It can also show up physically as tension, changes in comfort, or inconsistent performance.
When a horse’s system remains in a heightened state for too long, it can become difficult for them to rest, process, and regulate — creating a cycle of continued stress.
Nervous system support focuses on gently creating the conditions for the horse to settle, soften, and return towards a more balanced internal state.
This work may be helpful if your horse:
• Feels anxious, reactive, or unsettled
• Doesn’t seem quite themselves
• Is sensitive to touch or handling
• Struggles to relax or focus
• Appears tense or overwhelmed
Common presentations include:
SHUT DOWN BEHAVIOUR
• withdrawn or disengaged
• dull or “switched off” responses
• minimal reaction to surroundings
STRESS PATTERNS
• tension through the body
• difficulty settling
• heightened alertness or reactivity
STEREOTYPICAL BEHAVIOURS
crib biting
weaving or box walking
repetitive or compulsive behaviours
These responses are often linked to nervous system overload, chronic stress, or emotional pressure.
The practice of nervous system regulation in this instance will focus on supporting regulation rather than trying to solely suppress symptoms.
If you’ve noticed subtle changes in your horse — whether physical, behavioural, or simply a sense that something isn’t quite right — you’re not alone.
You don’t need to have all the answers before reaching out.
How I Work
Holistic Approach
Sessions are quiet, responsive, and led by the horse. The focus is on creating the conditions where the nervous system can begin to settle and tension can release naturally.
Nervous system support focuses on gently creating the conditions for the horse to settle, soften, and return towards a more balanced internal state.
Integrated Support
Sessions are responsive and guided in real time, rather than following a fixed method.
As the nervous system begins to settle, many horses show a natural shift towards greater ease, comfort, and confidence. Nothing is forced — each response is observed and respected.
A range of complementary approaches may be introduced where appropriate, supporting the session as a whole rather than being applied as standalone techniques. These may include bodywork, sound-based approaches, or animal self-selection, depending on what your horse is able to engage with on the day.
A Thoughtful, Personalised Approach
Every horse is unique, with their own history, sensitivities, and way of responding.
Before your session, I review your intake form and prepare accordingly. During the session, your horse’s behaviour and comfort guide how the work unfolds.
Some horses show changes after a single session, while others benefit from a short series to allow the work to build gradually.
Everything is introduced with care, patience, and professional judgement.
In-Person & Remote Options
In-Person & Remote Options
I offer one-to-one equine sessions across Surrey and surrounding areas, with visits available within approximately a 20-mile radius of Ashford.
Canine sessions take place in a calm, private setting in Ashford, Surrey.
Some modalities may also be offered remotely where appropriate.
Workshops and training are available both in person and online.
Ready to explore calm, structured support for your horse or dog?
Contact Form
Frequently Asked Questions
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If we look at your dog or horse through the lens of evolution, it becomes clear just how central the nervous system is to their wellbeing. Every response — from a flick of the ear to a spook, a wag of the tail, a refusal to load, or a tense stride under saddle — is guided by the nervous system. It quietly shapes how they experience their world, how safe they feel, and how they relate to you.
When an animal’s nervous system becomes overwhelmed or out of balance — perhaps through stress, injury, change in environment, training pressures, or past experiences — it’s natural for this to show up in their behaviour, movement, or overall health. You might notice signs such as tension, reactivity, anxiety, shut-down behaviour, digestive changes, or unexplained performance issues. Often, these are not “bad behaviours,” but signals from a body that doesn’t yet feel fully safe.
Through gentle, holistic techniques designed specifically for dogs and horses, we can begin to support and regulate the nervous system in a calm and respectful way. By working at your animal’s pace, listening to their subtle cues, and prioritising their sense of safety, we help their system shift out of stress and into a more balanced state.
As this inner stability strengthens, many animals show positive changes — softer movement, improved focus, greater emotional resilience, easier training, and a deeper sense of connection with their handler or owner. When the nervous system feels supported, the body can return to its natural rhythm, allowing your dog or horse to move, learn, and live with greater ease and harmony.
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Before your initial consultation, you’ll be invited to complete a detailed intake form. This allows you to share your dog or horse’s history, temperament, current presentation, workload, environment, and what you are hoping to improve or support.
This information helps me prepare appropriately and select the complementary approaches most likely to be suitable for your animal.
As every animal responds differently, sessions are adapted in real time based on comfort, engagement, and behavioural cues. Some animals settle quickly with calming input, while others respond better to more body-focused or sensory-based approaches. Adjustments are made thoughtfully to ensure the session remains supportive and appropriate.
Your observations as an owner or handler are an important part of the process. You know your animal best, and your insight helps ensure that the work remains aligned with their needs.
Sessions progress at a pace that feels measured and sustainable, with the aim of providing steady, consistent support to overall wellbeing.
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It’s natural to wonder whether gentle, holistic approaches will truly make a difference. While animals are not influenced by expectations in the same way humans are, there is growing understanding around the powerful connection between the nervous system, the body, and behaviour. When the brain and body are able to settle into a more regulated, coherent state, we often see measurable changes in movement, digestion, focus, emotional stability, and overall health.
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Every animal is individual, and the reasons for seeking support can vary. Some owners enquire following a change in behaviour, performance, or routine, while others are looking for ongoing complementary support alongside veterinary care.
To help determine what may be most appropriate, I offer a complimentary 15-minute consultation. This allows us to discuss your dog or horse’s history, current presentation, temperament, workload, and environment. From there, I can suggest a structured approach tailored to their needs.
Some animals appear more settled after an initial session. Others — particularly those with longer-standing patterns of tension or sensitivity — often benefit from a short series of sessions to allow the work to build progressively.
Rather than working to a rigid timetable, I focus on providing consistent, measured support based on your animal’s responses. For those wishing to commit to a series of sessions, discounted block bookings and payment options are available.
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Online sessions offer a flexible and accessible way to support your animal’s wellbeing, wherever you are in the world. They allow for continuity of care without the need for travel — which can be especially beneficial for sensitive dogs, young or elderly animals, horses on box rest, or those who find new environments stressful.
Certain modalities, such as distance Reiki and sound-based healing, lend themselves beautifully to remote work. These gentle approaches focus on supporting the nervous system and energetic balance, helping your dog or horse settle, regulate, and restore without physical handling. Many animals relax deeply in their own familiar surroundings, often responding just as positively as they would during an in-person session.
Online sessions can also include guided support for you as the owner or handler. You may be shown simple, practical techniques to help your dog feel calmer, more secure, or more focused, or ways to support your horse’s relaxation, posture, and emotional balance between sessions. This empowers you to play an active role in your animal’s ongoing wellbeing.
In addition, online workshops and group trainings provide a welcoming space to deepen your understanding of your animal’s nervous system, behaviour, and communication. Learning from the comfort of your own home allows you to integrate new skills gently and consistently, strengthening both confidence and connection.
With the right guidance, remote support can be a calm, effective, and deeply nurturing option for both you and your dog or horse.
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Booking a session is simple and welcoming. You’re invited to get in touch via the contact form or reach out to say hello and share a little about your dog or horse, along with your availability.
Once we’ve agreed on a suitable date and time, you’ll receive a gentle intake form. This allows you to tell me more about your animal’s history, current needs, and what you’re hoping to achieve from our time together. The more I understand in advance, the more thoughtfully I can prepare to support you both. At this stage I will arrange for us to discuss this further within your free 15 minute phone consultation. From there we can check the schedule and confirm availability and cost.
Payments can be made on the day of the session or in advance of your booking, depending on what feels most convenient.
From the first contact to the session itself, the process is designed to feel calm, clear, and supportive — ensuring both you and your dog or horse feel at ease every step of the way.
