Practitioners

At Forest Edge, our human team brings together a rich blend of therapeutic skill, equine knowledge, resilience education, and lived experience. Though our approaches differ, we share a commitment to supporting the wellbeing of both humans and horses — and the relationship between them. Each of us contributes a unique thread to the work, creating a supportive, thoughtful environment for clients, horses, and the wider community.

Helen Gilbert

Equine Body Worker: Core Alignment Therapy, Neurofacial and Myofacial Relsease & lymphatic drainage and Massage

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Helen brings a calm, intuitive presence to Forest Edge, supporting the physical and emotional wellbeing of horses both onsite and in the wider community. As an experienced equine bodyworker, she works with softness, precision, and deep respect for each horse’s individual needs. Her approach blends anatomical knowledge with a sensitive, relational way of listening to the body — helping horses release tension, find balance, and feel safe in their own skin.

Alongside caring for the Forest Edge herd, Helen travels to support other horses and their guardians, offering guidance that strengthens the horse–human relationship through understanding, attunement, and compassionate touch. Her work forms a vital part of our ethos: that when horses feel well in their bodies, they can thrive in connection with the humans who love them.

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Georgina McBurney

Psycho-spiritual Counsellor (MBACP), Somatic Shamanism, Animal Behaviourist (BSc) & Teacher (PGCE)

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Georgie brings a steady, compassionate presence to Forest Edge, weaving together counselling, psychospiritual practice, somatic awareness, and a lifelong understanding of animal behaviour. Her work is grounded, intuitive, and deeply relational — supporting clients to reconnect with themselves, explore their inner landscapes, and build resilience through gentle, embodied process.

Alongside her therapeutic work, Georgie draws on her background as a science teacher and animal behaviourist, bridging the practical with the soulful in a way that helps people feel both held and empowered. She offers online sessions, walk‑and‑talk therapy, and offsite support, meeting each person where they are with clarity, warmth, and a quiet depth of insight. At Forest Edge, Georgie holds the wider field — tending the emotional wellbeing of the herd, supporting the humans who come to learn from them, and nurturing the evolving relationship between land, horse, and person.

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Suzanne Cray

Resiliance Educator, Maths Tutor & Relational Learning Practitioner & Teacher (PGCE)

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Suzanne brings a thoughtful, grounded intelligence to Forest Edge, combining her background in maths education and ICT with a deep interest in resilience, relational learning, and the ways humans grow through responsibility and connection. Her work with the Resilience Doughnut informs her approach, helping individuals understand their strengths, navigate challenges, and build supportive structures around themselves.

At Forest Edge, Suzanne is exploring how resilience develops through caring for and learning alongside horses — how responsibility, attunement, and gentle consistency can shape confidence and emotional steadiness. She offers a calm, practical presence, supporting both young people and adults to find clarity, capability, and a sense of grounded self‑trust.

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The four legged

The herd is in a formative, relational stage as its four members are still settling whilst the land is still shaping itself as we experience our first year and its seasons. We are intentionally allowing things to unfold at a pace that honours safety, wellbeing and connection. Our work currently focuses on supporing humans and horses through complmentary, interconnected practices.

Pixie McBurney

* Head of Joy Facilitator

* Pathfinding and Adventure Co-ordinator

* Snack Acquistion Specialist

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Pixie specialises in reminding humans that size has nothing to do with presence. She teaches confidence, boundary-setting and the art of taking up space even when you’re only 12 hands high. She may be the smallest but has the cosmic confidence that the universe revolves around her. She is the grounded explorer and adventurer, with natural charm and charisma.

Johara McBurney

* Director of Fiery Wisdom and Dramatic Flourishes

* Senior Matriarch and diplomacy advisor

*Shamanic Consultant

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Jojo carries the presence and fire of her celebrated Arabian lineage. As a truth speaker she specialises in teaching humans how to move forward with courage, grace and the right amount of dramatic hair toss. She is the dignified elder of the herd who often reminds the youngsters who invented confidence with her attitude of ‘act first, think later, and always look fabulous’ and that she is infact equine royalty.

Jet Cray

* Head of Vigilance, Energetic Safety and Existential Overthinking

* Director of Herd Dynamics & Leadership Training

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The black horse in a triad of silver mares, Jet is of rare Hackney lineage. As the herd sentinel, he watches so others can rest and he quietly manages his own sensitivity. He takes time out to separate what is his from what he’s absorbed from others. In doing so, he teaches humans the same skill of retreating when the world is too loud. He models sensitivity as a strength, that boundaries are essential and protectors deserve gentleness too.

Winnie Macey

* Apprentice Sorceress of Emotional Depth, Dramatic Revelation & Quiet Ambition

* Emerging Shadow-work Specialist

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Winnie may be the youngest but she carries the intensity of a soul who arrived on Earth already knowing everyone’s secrets. From the Cornish pennisula she brings with her the wild, sea-soaked magic with a hint of mermaid mischief. An Irish Draft mix she’s built like a future powerhouse but currently operates in ‘chaotic toddler mystic’ mode. Winnie helps humans explore parts of themselves they usually avoid, inviting transformation.

Behind the scenes team

Our quieter circle of humans and horsers who support the land, herd and heart of the place

Nicki Macey

Herd Care, Wildlife Guardian & Land Steward

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Nicki brings a generous heart to Forest Edge. By day she helps care for the herd, wildlife and the land, by night she works as a HCA at hospital, carrying the same steady compassion. She has a natural instinct for tending to the vulnerable, whether that is putting up bird boxes or attending to other creatures that need extra support. Her presence brings warmth and a deep love for all living beings, making her an essential part of the daily rhythm of the herd.

Jas Macey

Animal Care Student & Gentle Herd Helper

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Jas is studying Animal Care at college and brings a calm, earthy energy to the team. Recently experienced in looking after goats, she has a natural way with animals. Patient, kind and grounded, Jas helps with the practical care of the horses and the land, learning alongside the herd as they settle into their new life together. Her curiosity, gentleness and growing skills make Jas a valued part of the team with a bright presence in this field.

Jac McBurney

Equine Guide in Spirit & Teacher of Connection

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Jac remains an integral part of Forest Edge, even from spirit. He carried a rare blend of softness, wisdom, and bright, curious intelligence. During his life, he was an extraordinary therapy horse. He helped humans understand both themselves and their horses more deeply and revealed truths that words alone could not reach. Jac is the reason Georgie learned how to truly listen to a horse and how to honour their emotional world. His legacy lives on.

Dollar Gilbert

Equine Guide in Spirit & Foundational Teacher

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Dollar holds a special place in the heart of Forest Edge as the horse who opened the door for Helen to step into the world of equine body work. Senstive, wise and expressive, Dollar taught Helen how to listen to the equine body and trust her intuition. Dollar’s legacy lives on in the holistic, compassionate approach that underpins the equine wellbeing at Forest Edge and the deep care Helen brings to every horse she touches with patience, respect and curiosity.

Forest Edge Community

Thanks to our growing community of support and supporters.

Whats On?

Stories

Thanks to all members of the ‘Jojo team’ past and present which is how this community began. In Nov 2022, a small group came together so we could rescue Johara when her owner abandoned her with Georgie. Jojo’s journey onwards would not have been easy or achievable without financial support. Helen helped with Jojo’s kissing spine and core alignment which moved her out of pain, allowed her to move more freely and stabilised her emotionally. Now, the ‘team’ has expanded and includes many others who support ‘Forest Edge’ in many other ways and in return we support them where we can. If you would like to join our community why not come along to one of our events.