Equine Miracle

23/03/2025

Yesterday, I caught up with Razz and Kelly Zorn , watching Razz get stronger and healthier and Kelly never stop growing her knowledge and skills, continues to be a huge pleasure.
Razz is releasing tension, opening up through the thoracic/wither area, and rebalancing himself. From such a sceptical dude he now embraces bodywork.

17/03/2025

Recognise the Red Mare? She is on holiday for a week with Athena, Fleet...and Greg 😉
Thanks Talia Hackney for taking care of Docnwishes so I can enjoy some adventures.

15/03/2025

Such a lovely, well mannered and quiet lad, just needing a bit of help to rebuild his top line.

11/03/2025

Yes, I was between the ears on Sunday, a lovely stroll up the road on Larri, who was a gentleman.
Felt so at home on this lovely lad.

10/03/2025

This is an OTTB, Ollie is in perfect condition. OlIie is not fat, it is likely your OTTB is too thin. I see so many lovely thoroughbreds who are underweight. Aim for Ollie!!!
Thanks Margot Sharp for looking after Ollie and Comedian so well.

07/03/2025

Georgia, loving the feeling of being up off the forehand, engaging her thoracic sling and releasing tension in her back.
Stacked pads provide a unique therapeutic feel.

05/03/2025

Visiting Milton, Termeil Friday March 14.
Book now
0431387787

04/03/2025

While Doc is groomed, the dogs take advantage.
Note it is the Black Dog Fleet that started this game, not the puppy.
The puppy is genuinely looking for a home. Excellent around horses.

28/02/2025

Dehydrated skin created by the recent scar you can see to the right of the picture.
The third picture shows almost normal tissue, after scar release technique.
Callie's wound was stitched and well cared for but scarring has occurred and has affected the surrounding tissues.
This localized area of dehydrated tissue tells us important fluids are not being transported to, from and through this area.
After fascial release the area no longer looks dehydrated.
If you see wrinkles on your horse's skin, and your horse is not dehydrated in general, then your horse has tight and drying out fascia.
This can have many causes including back or neck pain, an overworked area of the body, anyhdrosis, PSSM and more.
Whatever the primary issue/s it needs releasing as it causes physical and energy blockages, restricts skin glide and muscle activation, reinforces stiffness, effects health of underlying organs and joints etc etc.

27/02/2025

Bath time, at Ironbark horse wash 😜 about 2.5 years between shampoos. Wishes was surprisingly amenable. Doc was shocked. Lol

24/02/2025

Scars, there is a lot of great info about scars being shared however I never see a mention of the branding scar.
'But!' I hear you say, 'My horse is freeze branded, that's not a scar.'
Unfortunately, it is a scar; it can effect your horse's movement and it can hold a traumatic memory. It is also relatively easy to release, usually.
I can prove that it is a scar, you don't even need me there.
With your horse standing still and quiet, not eating, take your pointer finger and think of that fingertip as an eyeball. Then, ever so gently, follow all the contours of your horse's scar. Try to take your eyes out of this process and 'see' through your fingertip. Go over the scar a few times, getting slower and slower. After a few passes around the scar, take note of your horse, have their eyes softened or started blinking? Are their nostrils wider? Have they started taking bigger breaths? Is their head lowering? All of these are signs your horse has scarring in that area.
Your horse may not show any of these, if they are shut down to the scar, or simply thinking of something else, like what their friend is doing over there, they may not be tuned into their body.
So really 'feel' under your fingertip, don't press harder, if anything make your touch lighter. The things you are likely to feel are tiny bumps or hollows, hard spots, or cold spots, rough areas, ropey spots, sticky spots, changes in the hair pattern, perhaps even small bare areas. All the above are the result of scarring.
Now, think about how mobile the skin and fascia of the shoulder area need to be for your horse to perform at their best.....
Or, your horse's brand may be on those huge hindquarter muscles, how important are they to performance?
In my Intro to Fascial Release clinic I teach how to release scars, sometimes the only scars students can find on their practice horse, is a branding mark. It is always amazing, how a first time student can initiate a huge healing response to working on that branding scar.
I am not saying, don't brand your horse, if you think it is necessary then that is your choice. Just make that choice with the knowlege that it does create pain at the time, and there will be scarring.
Be a responsible owner and learn how to release this for yourself, or ask your therapist to check for, and address any issues.
Remember the connectivity of fascia, especially that fascia just under the skin, and also the ability of fascia to hold on to trauma.
Check events on my page for clinics this year, or contact me about organising a clinic in your area.

21/02/2025

If your thoroughbred has a pointy bottom. He or she needs help.

18/02/2025

In recent years I was horrified by a comment made by a relatively prominent dressage horse breeder who had a horse for sale that I was looking at with a friend.
The horse was a 4yo. The comment was made about a newly started 4yo!
'In 4 or 5 years time, when she is ready for a new horse, he will be broken down anyway. '
Apparently, breeders really do breed for the horse to be retired by 10yo .
I guess it's a good business model , buyers have to come back every 4 years, but it lost her our sale .
I teach about form and its relationship with function in my biomechanics clinic, Movement Matters. One reason is to save you money and heartache on your next purchase.
Next clinic in Taree, NSW on March 29.
It is also a part of each initial therapy session.
You need to know what areas to focus your attention on in strengthening your horse.

Key Elements To Consider for Purchasing and Breeding Horses

A horse's ability to balance is fundamental to his/her welfare and performance.

Proper balance ensures that a horse can move efficiently, reducing the risk of injury and enhancing rideability.

When a horse maintains good balance, he/she can carry himself/herself and his/her rider more effectively, provided the other necessary elements of good training are adhered to.

Some of the Key factors influencing a horse's balance and overall rideability include good balanced feet, good conformation, a good temperament, and freedom from genetic diseases.

Why is this important information?

Because aesthetics and breeding for trends has become widespread, so it really is buyer beware.

Beware of being "wowed" by flashy movement that is not functional when it comes to rideability.

Beware of the trends that are winning in the show ring but are a distortion of a horse's functional features.

Our goal as successful equestrians should be to have an enjoyable riding experience on horses that are bred and cared for in a way that does not compromise their welfare.

Learn more about becoming a better informed on these topics and more at www.equitopiacenter.com

17/02/2025

W**d experts, Australian Water Clover.
How dangerous and palatable is it to horses?
Our dam is covered in it this year.

Found on Google from nas.er.usgs.gov

14/02/2025

T-Touch wrap experiment for shoulder pain. Thanks Mark Klaus,awesome hoof trimmer, for reminding me to try them for myself.

13/02/2025

If you saw this accident it would probably be all over in the blink of an eye. The adrenalised horse is likely to jump up and run off, even more stressed than it was before the fall, and not feeling any pain. You breathe a sigh of relief, no injuries to be seen.
A day, a week, or a few weeks later you contact me, your horse is not doing so and so very well, or your horse has got lazy etc etc.
I visit and after assessing your horse I ask when it had a fall, suddenly you remember, 'Oh but he got up ok after,' you say.
A large and mature horse will not get away from a major fall without any injury. A young and bendy horse may escape injury but a mature horse will not.
I had a horse fall sideways on top of me once, I got up, brushed myself down and thought, phew, escaped injury-free. But no, 6 weeks later I developed a frozen shoulder.
Shout out with the areas you think should be looked at closely for this horse, after the fall. What is likely to be damaged?