Equitation Science: Equitation Science Practitioner ~ Rider/Handler Coaching, Welfare Consultation. Nancy Ellison-Murray is an Equine Behaviorist, Coach, Equine Mobility Specialist & Therapist specialising in the inseparable link between sound functional equine movement & soundness of equine cognitive wellbeing during ridden performance, handling & the day to day life experience of management. Pro
viding a non-veterinary, evidence based, experience & educated problem finding & solution providing service to enable sustainability in your horses movement & mobility related concerns, behavioral states, facilitating sustainable wellbeing as a ridden horse, performance horse, or companion. For Bookings, please head to the online booking at this link; www.resetequine.com
08/01/2025
Its as simple as that. We don’t hold, we ask, and recorrect. Self carriage is everything, and it is the weight of the reins and no more unlese we are asking for changes. If we hold, the horse by nature of physics is ‘on the forehand’ physically & cognitively.
"A horse should not be held together, this is a mistake and a complete misunderstanding of how horses learn." Andrew McLean
Start the New Year with building a healthier, happier horse that is one step closer to welfare resilience 💚🍏
✅ January 2025 appointments are now open for Reset Equine -Sustainable Equitation & Mobility sessions.
Whether you’re tuning up mobility, strength & stability & refining responses, straightness & relaxation for competition season, or simply wanting to keep your equine partner mentally & physically sound and moving their best now is the time to focus on lasting wellness and soundness - and I am so very much looking forward to working with you all again this year🌟
If you are looking for the collective approach of behavioral & physical:
✅ Behavioral - Movement - Performance Consultations & strategies.
✅ Manual Therapeutics from a broadly educated & experienced practitioner.
✅ Evidence based, Qualified & Experienced Coaching for all ages, levels & disciplines.
✅Equine Management Consultations.
📅 Book your session with me now, spots are limited — so lock it in today and give your horse the changes they deserve, and you hope to acheive for them.
📌 Bookings can be made 24/7 via the online booking system: www.resetequine.com
🖊️ Or contact Nancy via email, sms or messenger if you have any questions.
*other booking days & times may be available for your area, these will show on the online booking system.
*Time variations to this may be availiable upon contact with Nancy direct.
20/12/2024
….and thats a wrap for the year of work 💚🌟
Thankyou for the trust in the process & advice.
Thankyou for the laughs, the incredible moments of achievement, the beautifully subtle moments of ease in your horses.
Thankyou for the sharing of your joys, your precious grief, your high & lows.
Thankyou for all your questions that has lead to so much diligence in providing the optimal quality of life for your horses, and the joy in that for yourselves. I am proud of you all, in all that you have worked at.
So, lastly, thankyou all on behalf on your horses for choosing to create ‘beautifully boring’ for them. I truly feel so privileged to be part of it - so thankyou from all the reaches of my heart for having me along 💚
Here’s to lots of dirty feet in ‘safety boots’, and empty fancy glasses made at relaxing sunsets with loved ones over the next few weeks - seeyou all in the new year! 💕🥂
12/12/2024
☀️🌡️ This is why solid shade is essential for Manual Therapeutic bookings & reschedules are a must sometimes.
Despite the temps under cover being far too hot anyway here, and very much so for 10:30am… there was a vast difference between outside in the semi shade/sun and that certainly wasn’t indicative of the BOM current temp reading. It was on Kikuyu that was watered that morning and the humidity was horrendous…. not a single gasp of air moving either! That’s the one that reads as 45.1 🥵
So as much as rescheduling is always done in this weather (I was at home - I am no lunatic 😂) Even when reshedules happen, the local temperature, where we are working is far more important…so therefore it is monitored.
Plans change if they need to. Most places with shade, we can get by if we get caught out on a cooker!
… We cope extra well with my fans on 💨😎
After working in this career for over 17 years now, I have had my fair share of accidental over heatings - and it really is dangerous. You can’t work properly for days. It fries your brain…🧠 You just don’t notice how hot you are after a certain point when you are getting all touchy feely with the big hot animal & concentrating on feel & technique 🥵😬
This is also why lessons, coaching & behavioral assessments get rescheduled at much lower forecast hot temperatures. We save the cooler ends of the day for them normally as a rule as well.
If the forecast is 32 - it will be easily 36-37 or more where we are standing in the training area which us usually in full sun. Arena surfaces are even worse…. they reflect the heat. If they don’t, the radiant heat will getcha! 😂 (looking at you rubber 👉🏼🛞)
🥵 If the human is hot - the horse is hotter🐴
The second, and onwsrdst photo’s was checking horses at 1:30pm, because the cameras showed them standing in the sun 🤦🏽♀️
The breeze had finally started to blow from the SW, so they all got hosed down 💚 …me too of course 🤣
Edited to add* Its still 39.4 at 4:14pm 🥵
06/12/2024
🌟Last Dates for 2024!!🎄
🥂Off from 22nd December- Back on Jan 7th 2025 😎
🔴South West Region - North of Bunbury, South of Bunbury (Hamel to Boyanup, Henty Myalup etc)
•Tuesday 17th, Thursday 19th.
Bookings can be made 24/7 via the online booking system: www.resetequine.com
*Time variations to this may be availiable upon contact
22/11/2024
📊In studies on horses with confirmed Sacroiliac (SI) pain, only 14% of cases were from a single, primary source. The other 86% were linked to other concurrent issues like arthritis, inflammation, or other musculoskeletal conditions.
👉 What does this mean for us horse owners, trainers, managers & coaches & therapists?
SI pain rarely exists in isolation. Comprehensive assessment and management are key to addressing the root cause and promoting recovery.
What to do first:
✅Book a Veterinary Assessment for a proper diagnosis, including imaging, scans or nerve blocks if needed. Primarily, a comprehensive diagnosis of all issues, SI alone or contributing problems is the absolutely vital first step.
✅Undertake the veterinary treatment, and embark on following the treatment plan. Take notes of all findings & diagnosis, because the rest of your team needs to know the full picture.
Then:
Work with a knowledgeable Equine Manual therapist, Equine movement Specialist or Equine Physiotherapist to assess posture, muscle compensation, mobility and undertake supportive therapeutics.
Discuss with your trainer or coach, the implementation of low-impact exercise programs from an evidence based perspective to support overall joint and muscular health as well as appropriately timed retraining of possible identified pain/fear biased movements & behaviors from an equine learning & behavioral approach.
Address inflammation with appropriate nutritional and therapeutic support as recommended by your vet.
Continue to Manage hoof care, dental care & ongoing tack (saddle) fit requirements to support your horse in tension free, stress free, discomfort free movement.
🐎 Just like the saying, “No hoof, No horse” we have learnt to also understand “No legs, no back.”
References:
Stubbs et al. (2006). The prevalence of musculoskeletal conditions in horses with SI dysfunction.
Dyson et al. (2018). The relationship between SI pathology and other orthopedic issues.
20/11/2024
A review of 58 studies shows 75% report significant welfare concerns with this practice—consistent across all training levels. And the performance impact is mixed, but with 44% showing no benefit.
Wise words from Dr Andrew Mclean - the way we move around horses is really important.
Don’t move around them like “you need to chase your lunch” - grass doesn’t run, horses do, by default for their lives 😉
🌾🐎
18/11/2024
Studies have indicated that muscle tension is an early warning sign of wellbeing affecting stress that isn’t always reflected in traditional measurement tools like hormone changes such as cortisol levels. This is important as regularly occurring acute stressors are known to result in chronic stress states of adaptation in the horse that are very damaging to their wellbeing & health.
This is a useful, and practically applicable approach, and skill than can be learnt by all who work with horses.
Persistent muscle tension is that which continues, beyond the stopping of the associated movement.
07/11/2024
Before training any horse, it can be very useful to gather a training history, informally or formally.
It might take the form of a simple question and answer or a written document.
This may reveal that one or some of the horse's hard-wired needs are not being fulfilled.
Isolated, confined or under/over fed horses are likely to be compromised in their ability to engage in training.
Another often unconsidered or 'unseen' factor may be that the routinely isolated horses will not be properly rested as they are lacking companions to stand sentry while they sleep, and the security that group housing provides.
Recent research into sleep in horses shows that they will have less REM sleep if they cannot see other horses. Further evidence shows that REM sleep is important for learning and laying down long term memories.
Therefore, it is an advantage to trainers to provide optimal sleep conditions for horses, including social housing.
This is a sneak preview from MODERN HORSE TRAINING, Equitation Science - In Practice, Volume 2, Training In-Hand and Under-Saddle, by Andrew N McLean which will be available at Equitana later this month.
30/10/2024
Me, wondering how long you’ve ever gotten around with a split in the crotch of your jods before and also if any clients/friends/strangers noticed but didn’t say anything 🤔… asking for a friend of course.
I mean. It was great airflow.
30/10/2024
Well, it’s not quite Summer, but it’s starting to feel like it! 😎🪰😂🤠
☀️ Spring/Summer hours have dropped:
⏰ 8:00am to 10:30am: Priority for Behavioural
assessments, Ridden/performance assessments,
Coaching/Guided Physical Therapeutics & Extreme heat reschedules *
⏰10:30am - 6:30pm: Priority for Manual
Therapeutics / Consultation*
⏰4:00pm to 6:30pm: Coaching/ Guided Physcial
Therapeutics availiable.*
🔗 Bookings can be made 24/7 via the online booking system: www.resetequine.com
📞 *Time variations to this may be availiable upon contact with Nancy direct.
26/10/2024
Super excited to have an embryo ping ponging around inside Rosie 🌹 at the 14 day scan - curtesy of an team effort from her (TB /Smug x Dangerous Diamond) & Bloomfields Fürst Love…and the fantastic repro team at Murray Veterinary Services 🙌🏼👏🏼
A 8 year (probably closer 16 years tbh!) project in the planning… thorough study of the chosen stallion, getting the right, sound, healthy mare - and it turned out to be the oh so special Rosie 😍❤️ So it is finally feeling like a more positive step towards reality.
Many more stages to progress through but I’ll take this as us being in the race!!
Can’t thank Dr Emma, Dr Jerome & Dr Ross and everyone at Murray Veterinary services for what they have done so far with my first foray into the AI process - chilled semen from interstate is intense!! 😅😮💨😆
Fingers crossed we have a foal on the ground sometime around mid September next year…. 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼
The order is in;
✔️Healthy
✔️Fabulous legs
🖤 Black
🖤 Filly 😆
15/10/2024
Horses have evolved as prey animals, which has led them to hide signs of pain or weakness as a survival mechanism.
This can make it difficult for humans to recognise when horses are experiencing discomfort or pain. Unlike some other animals, horses do not typically vocalise when in pain, which can further complicate the detection of their distress.
To address these challenges, it's crucial for horse owners and professionals to adopt a proactive approach to pain assessment:
Regular Monitoring: Consistently observe horses for subtle changes in behaviour, posture, and facial expressions.
Use of Pain Scales: Implement validated pain scales, such as the Horse Grimace Scale (HGS) or the Musculoskeletal Pain Scale (MPS), to objectively assess pain.
Comprehensive Evaluations: Conduct thorough clinical and orthopaedic exams to detect potential issues before they become severe.
Education: Improve awareness among horse owners and professionals about the subtle signs of pain and discomfort in horses.
What methods do you use to assess pain in your horses?
15/10/2024
😂🪰🦟🤷🏽♀️
Its that glorious time of the year, when everyone wants to get out and about, the birds & the bees are busy - Which means, everything has hatched, and now it wants to breed 😂
How to prep for a peaceful, effective, stress free & efficient booking with our flying, biting, blood sucking foes living their best lives?
✅ Insect repellent spray (NOT CREAMS or LOTIONS) & lots of it: I don’t mind what you use, just use it generously. Legs, under arms, belly, flanks, udder, sheath, upper body, beck, rump, neck - use it! 🤩😎
❌ Please please please 🙏🏼🙅🏻♀️ do not use insect repellent creams or lotions (or any type at all please) on your horse prior to your booking. They are made thick, to stick. Your furry equine friend doesn’t appreciate the tar that is made in seconds with a bit of movement against their hair, the dirt in their coats & the creams. If you put it on, you may have to wash it off during your appointment time …🙈🧽🧴🚿🪣😬
As with all, ‘if it’s not on it doesn’t work.’
Pro Tip* Stand and spray from the direction the wind is coming from, you will get much more on your horse, and much less in your lungs 😆
Goodluck & happy march/marsh fly hunting 😂🪰
14/10/2024
The horses vision is a wondrous thing. They can spook at something they have been looking at for a full minute, yet… 😂
On a side note - this also demonstrates beutifully the power of rhythm resilience and how it is the foundation of relaxation 🙌🏼 ❤️
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‘Abcense of evidence does not equate to evidence of absence.”
This is a hard chat, reality check, truth speaking & calling out the ‘quiet part’ and I need it shared WIDE & FAR.
I have said this time and time again over the years but it is not sticking, and it sure as heck isnt flowing wider than me or other qualified, evidence driven academics can influence.
🚩A sudden decline of quality of response, and behavioral neutrality is 100%, ALWAYS a red flag for distress from the horse.
🚩Paired with conflict behaviors & expressions of flight, your horse is screaming for help.
🚩It is a sign of physical distress, from either a physical origin or a cognitive origin.
🚩It is the behavioral expression of screaming for help.
Yes, it is always behavioral. Being behavioral, does NOT exclude the likely cause of distress which in the horrifying majority of cases is a source of pain or extreme inescapable discomfort for the horse.
🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩This Human applied, traditional expression of ego driven, embedded fear aggression needs to stop in the wider equestrian community other wise it will result in the further decline of social license and acceptance of what we do well, with empathy, kindness & though with our horses.
If you hear “They just need to learn a lesson” or “here hand me the reins I will fix this.”
WALK AWAY.
✅✅✅✅✅ If you hear “I see your horse is struggling to give the right responses, and it’s difficult. ‘You’ may be able to fix this if you find the cause first.” Stop and listen, at least for a while.
Choose better coaches, choose better trainers, choose better ‘friends.’
Distress states in horses are NOT preferentially chosen, and distress states are not sustainable.
Horses that are distressed cannot LEARN or physically adapt.
I am not exaggerating, I am so beyond done with this recurring, time and time and time again. How dare we really?
#equinewellbeing #equinewellness #equinewelfare #reseteq
What is the problem with compensation patterns persisting in our horses posture, movement etc? 🤔 #resetequinesem #sustainableequitationandmobility #equinebiomechanics #equinemovement #horsemovement #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian
~ friluftsliv ~
Friday evening was spent well with Kian, in ‘friluftsliv’.
Reaching backwards to touch my ancestry, I am a lover of winter, cold air, dampness.
🤍free-loofts-liv | noun | Norwegian
• literally free air living
• traditionally, friluftsliv describes a Norwegian philosophical lifestyle based on a deep and profound - spiritual - connection with nature.
🖤💛🖤🐴
#resetequinesem #sustainableequitationandmobility #sustainableequinemobility #resetequine #equitationscience #horsetraining #horsewellness #horsewellbeing
🔀📈🐎Inconsistencies in training progress or performance
There are 2 potential areas for a lack of consistency.
🐎 Physical: lack of recovery that comes from physical expectations that are too high and have resulted in metabolic injury (lack of recovery) or structural injury (requires focused repair & recovery).
🐴 Cognitive: Asking to much, too soon, and for too long.
💚 Horses can only learn in a distress free way if they are only learning one new cognitive skill at a time, this is because horses are context specific learners.
🍏 These can be one “context” of;
1. One change of response - ie. so a potential rhythm, speed, response, gait, direction, outcome.
2. One changed place - ie. Arena, property, time of day, competition.
3. One given stimulus or aid - ie. Reins that are holding, or saying no while legs are being applied to say go.
A physical skill, is also a display cognitive skills - but it is usually multiple cognitive skills that culminate in a physical/behavioral response.
🧠 Cognitive overload, will always result in tension which is a form of flight response.
⚡️ Tension, from either a physical or cognitive origin will rapidity reduce the horses capacity to learn & recover.
💣Having tension persisting longer than a learning moment of motivation (>2 seconds) always results in both concurrent physical & cognitive declines in consistency due to the prolonged state of stress/flight mode that the horse remains in.
🏥 ❤️🩹and…. If none of the above seems to apply, there is likely something else occurring in the horses experience that is out of your control so seek out immediate professional advice from your equine wellbeing team, and first and foremost your equine veterinarian.
#resetequinesem #equine #horsetraining #horseethology #horseriding #horseofinstagram #horsesoffacebook #ethicalhorsetraining #ethicalhorsemanship #sustainableequitationandmobility
🍏 A 2021 study undertaken in Switzerland, showed that of 196 saddles in use on sports horses in training, that had been reported by owners, riders, trainers as subjectively assessed as fitting by saddle fit professionals, or by the riders, owners or trainers themselves, 90% were assessed as objectively poorly fitted.
In another study undertaken in the United Kingdom, 37% to 60% were assessed
as objectively poorly fitted.
37% is still way too high… 🤯
🔻In the Swiss study, during the survey, 95% of participants stated that their saddle was an ideal fit for their horse.
🔻53% of the participants provided that their saddle was regularly checked by a qualified professional of some type.
🔻47% did not have their saddle checked on a regular basis.
Sit down because this bit is heavy on the punchline 😬👊🏼👉🏼….On average, the saddles that had been checked by a qualified professional, had last been checked 10-11 months prior to the study.
Prt 2 continues in comments…
#sustainableequitationandmobility #resetequinesem #horsesaddle #saddlefitting #saddlefittersofinstagram #equinebiomechanics #horsemovement
That's what the focus is on, here at Reset Equine. Functionally correct equine movement for long term optimal welfare.
Hi, I'm Nancy Ellison-Murray and I am the human face of Reset Equine.
Reset Equine doesn't just provide a massage service, is muskuloskeletal therapist, or an equine body worker. That is just what I do, not why it's done, and I work with the why to create long lasting, effective approaches.
However, yes those services are offered and are at a high quality, experienced level - but they are only tools used to bridge together of the vital work that I am driven to do. No piece of the puzzle can stand alone to create the picture of a healthy, happy, and competent horse.
Physiology, Environment, Mechanical influence (Rider, Tack, Hoof health), Training and equine behavior are just a few of the key area's that must work in appropriate influence, synergistically to enable the horse to thrive at whatever we ask of it.
Nancy (Reset Equine) specialists in equine movement, and all the variables that influence it in the modern horses life with the singular goal of guiding you towards achieving correct, sustainable, healthy movement for both working performance and non working horses through comprehensive assessment, and then targeted services, insight, education and teamwork with your equine service providers - Farrier, Veterinarian, Coach and Saddle fitter.
Nancy (Reset Equine) currently offers bookings for Consultation-Assessment, Manual therapeutics, Guided Physical therapeutics, Coaching and Exercise Plans suited to the individuals needs through a wide region of South west WA. From north of the Perth metropolitan area, through the Swan Valley, South to Waroona weekly, and regionally from Armadale through to Albany on a regional trip basis.
