Lovely afternoon in the sunshine ☀️
I hope everyone’s enjoying the warmer weather ☀️🫶🏼
📍Griffith
A few snippets and pics from the last few months 🐎 🐕
Thanks again to all my lovely clients near and far 🙏🏼 I love working alongside you and your four legged family and watching the improvements we make no matter how big or small!
See you soon out and about; 🚗 💨
Marrar/Downside 9th July
Leeton & Griffith 10th July
Griffith & Ardlethan 11th July
🐕🐎
Narrandera ⚪️ Leeton
Griffith ⚪️ Ardlethan
Coming to you over next Monday and Tuesday the 27th and 28th!
Some availability in Narrandera or Leeton on the 27th 🚙
Griffith + Ardlethan FULL, unless we work under lights 💡😉
🚨Full muscular massage with skeletal alignment, equine and canine sessions available
See you soon 🐎 🐕
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Lucky enough to be able to start poking along with some dogs! 🐕
Can’t wait to be back to work after Easter and catch up with all my clients and ponies 🥰
Bookings available from the 9th of April 🫶🏼🫶🏼
2024 🤩
I hope everyone has had a safe and relaxing holiday period 💫
I look forward to catching up with everyone soon and meeting new clients over the next month or two 🎈
I’ll be in the following areas over the next few weeks 🚗
📍17th Wagga
📍18th West Wyalong (pending numbers)
📍19th Upside/Coolamon
📍23rd Griffith/Leeton
📍Early Feb- Harden/Young/Binalong/Tarcutta (TBC)
If you have any suggestions on where I should come too or would like to join these trips please let me know 🐎
🐎🐎
Our last trip to Griffith & Leeton for this year!
Thankyou to all clients in and around these areas for your continued support 💫
I look forward to seeing you and your horses again in the new year 🎉
Casper 🤩
Casper showing us the little changes that can happen in a horses attitude during a session 🥰
Started out; 😠
> wanting to kick
> swishing tail
> moving around
> very tense
About halfway through his session we can see the differences; 🙃🙂
> standing still
> less tail movement
> starting to kick and chew
> head starting to lower slightly
Small wins are always pleasing to see, even if we can’t always get 100% in the first session. We always aim for BETTER than what we started with 🥳
Happy Friday ☀️
Hoping you have a restful weekend head! Check out the video below to see how our horses unwind during our sessions 🥳
Each and every horse has different ways they react during their sessions. Some signs of release include;
- Yawning
- Licking and chewing
- Softening of the eyes
- Lowering of the head
- Head shaking
- Checking their view
🐎☀️😴
HARDEN/YASS/TARCUTTA
Trip in the planning in the coming week or two!
If you are interested please let me know ASAP 🚗🚗
Sometimes it looks worse before it gets better😮💨
It is important to remember that not all releases will be instant. Some areas, for instance, the poll will take some time for the horse to relax. Particularly in areas like this that are sensitive to some.
In fact, horses can release up to 3 days post session! 🤭
Watch as ET takes some time to realise I’m helping him release.. This may happen several times before the horse is able to fully relax and release. Sometimes slow, soft and steady movements are best! 🤕🤗
Upcoming trips;
Leeton/Griffith Monday the 28th
Interest in Temora/Coolamon
If you would like to join these runs, please send a message 📲
Horses body language 🙃🙂
Each and every horse has a different normal in their personality and behaviour. It is important to learn and know your horses ‘normal’ to then know when something may be bothering them.
Signs of tension
- ears back
- Behavioural changes
- Constant whinnying
Common signs I see of physical tension/stress
- Widened/wrinkled eyes or nostrils
- High head carry
- Won’t stand still
Common signs clients mention
- Won’t stand still
- Can’t shake the feeling their horse is ‘Just not right’
- Behavioural changes
Ways bodywork can help 🐎
- assist in the removal of toxin/removal of lactic acid build up in muscles causing soreness
- Increase circulation and bloodflow allowing muscles to relax and so forth relieving tension
- Increased range of motion around joints and flexibility of muscles having a flow on effect of the horse becoming more comfortable in work and day to day
See the video above, notice Smartie’s difference around her eyes and nostrils as she releases tension and relaxes during her session ☘️
After 5 weeks I am back and ready to hit the ground running 🏃♂️
Starting today just warming back up by doing a session on my own 🐎 Watch as Bonnie instantly released after an exercise which gently rocks the spine.
Signs of releases:
- Head shaking
- Licking and chewing
- Softening of the eyes
This is a technique I like to use on many of my clients after massage and before alignments. Assisting in releasing the surrounding muscles and increasing mobility of the spine and therefore relaxing the horse prior to alignment.
If you would like to know more or book an appointment, send me a message. All questions and enquires welcome 📱 😊
Expressions of interest for those located in Temora 🚗
⚠️ Upcoming trip to Temora, via Coolamon ⚠️
If you or someone you know is interested in bodywork for their horse in these areas please send me a message 📲
✅Muscular massage with skeletal alignment
Poll soreness and discomfort
Signs
- Resistance/tense when moving
- Off balance
- Stepping away when a halter or bridle is being put on
- General discomfort when ears/poll is touched
Causes
- Misaligned neck (cervical spine)
- Repetitive lunging in tight circles
- Pulling back
- Uneven pressure on reins
- Feeders or hay needs hung too high
Here’s a video of Smartie today; releasing the poll with some light massage followed by deeper techniques and some alignments on the neck and poll 💆🏼♀️
She’s ticking all the right boxes
✅ shaking the head
✅ yawning
✅ licking and chewing
✅ softening off the eyes
✅ checking her view
All of which are signs of relaxation and releases of tension 🧘🏼♀️
One spot remaining in Coolamon tomorrow!
Grab it while you can ⚡️
Let your horse unwind and relax 😴😮💨
2 weeks into 2023 and we are in full swing of taking on new and visiting our existing clients 🤗
Here’s a little snippet of ‘Cricket’ loving his second session, starting with a warm up massage which he clearly enjoys! 🌈 Important to complete before any alignment to ensure any stiffness is tended to, and to allow the joints to have the best possible chance of staying in alignment = more comfort for our horses ✅
Thanks to Spackman Racing for giving me the opportunity to look after your horses! Cricket is a beautiful baby to work on 🐎
Little snippets of my session with Supido Beauty, “Nellie” today 🙌🏼
Here’s a little step by step session with Nellie as we work on regaining her flexibility over the hamstring and gluteal and align the hips and pelvis.
1. Every session always starts with some massage, some light massage to get the horse comfortable and stimulate muscles followed by deeper techniques. This technique is known as cross fibre raking and works by moving across the muscle fibres to encourage extension and relaxation.
2. Horses should have quite a large range of motion, however Nellie demonstrates general discomfort and is also not willing to pick up or stretch the hind limb at all.
3. Here we start small by stretching the abductor and tensor muscles through the hind end to encourage lateral movement.
4. Pelvic rocks; before picking up the hind end again we want to create a more comfortable and mobile environment for Nellie. Pelvic rocks ensure the flexibility in the hindquarters is maximised by mobilising the pelvis and helping the hips move in a better manner.
5. Using stretching, massage and mobility movements before alignment will ensure comfort for Nellie but also allow a greater range of motion around the hips and sacroiliac joint- allowing alignment. Nellie demonstrates alignment through her mannerisms- licking and chewing, softening of the eyes, lowering of the head and shaking her head.
6. Check flexibility and notice what does/does not change. As we can see Nellie is happier to lift the hind end and stretch forwards in a passive stretch. Nellie still grabs at the end, however this is a big improvement from video number 2.
It is important to remember that your horse may not get 100% on the first session, breaking habits for your horse, stretching of the muscles, increasing mobility and range of motion around the joints takes time. Through repeat sessions, stretches and ridden work, overtime a horses muscular and skeletal system will adjust to the new “norma
Stretching your horse 🐎
Carrot stretches are well known in the horse world, however more often then not they can be used in the least effective ways. 🥕
Stretching should be completed after normal work or massage as this is when the muscular system in warm and flexibility is higher. Using stretches on a regular basis will improve mobility of the skeletal system but also improve flexibility of the muscles, boosting comfort. ❤️🩹
More effective stretching VS less effective stretching 🤩
This video is mainly stretching the brachiocephalic (main muscle down the neck).
✅ This first video is an example of a better stretch because:
- Her head stays mostly vertical; allowing the muscle fibres to be stretched effectively
- No pacing backwards
- She is quite comfortable and happy to stretch
❌The second video shows a less effective stretch:
- She uses her nose to flex around to the shoulder making the stretch less effective over the brachiocephalic (cheats the stretch)
- Stepping backwards
- Doesn’t seem comfortable with the stretch and is avoiding the correct technique
Ways to fix your technique and better the stretch for your horse:
- Regular stretching will encourage the muscle fibres to stretch and overtime become more comfortable
- Stretch after regular work as this is when the muscular and skeletal system is most mobile or flexible
- Practice, practice, practice
- Flexibility issues may be due to misalignments; talk to your body worker
- Sometimes habits are the reason that our horses won’t stretch properly (ie; they are expecting the muscle to grab and cause pain and therefore they avoid stretching to this point) stretching to break this thought process can be useful in some cases
Bringing your horse back into work after a winter spell?
- Get them checked out
- Ensure they are free from pain or discomfort
- Can’t stop thinking something is just not right?
- Have the peace of mind that they are comfortable
- Have them performance ready for this seasons competition
Go to my page to find out more about bodywork, or send me a message 📲
📍Leeton/Griffith trip pending numbers- 15th of September
📍Wagga, Harden and surrounds
LAST MINUTE AVAILABILITY IN GRIFFITH/LEETON TOMORROW
- Due to an unforeseen circumstance, I have availability tomorrow morning in the Griffith/Leeton area
Let’s talk about flexibility 🙆🏼♀️
Flexibility is the ability to stretch to a normal range without discomfort and “without breaking.”
Flexibility is different in all horses due to genetics and old or current injuries. However, flexibility is affected by the muscular and skeletal system. When muscles tighten; naturally the joints surrounding are pulled out of line or vice versa. If the joint comes out of line the surrounding muscles, ligaments and tendons start working in different ways causing discomfort and eventually pain. Because of this FLEXIBILITY IS LOST.
The video below shows the mare after massage but before alignment. She is clearly uncomfortable with the passive stretch on the hind leg. Signs that lead me to think such discomfort was being experienced included short stepping on the hind end, general moodiness and becoming shorter and shorter with her stride in a canter- along with being uncomfortable.
After alignment and massage the passive stretch is clearly bearable and comfortable for the mare. This goes to show that the hip and sacroiliac joints where out of line and therefore affecting the flexibility of the hind legs. Causing pain and soreness when in ridden work.
Flexibility is a major component for comfort when in the paddock and ridden work, it is clear alignment and massage not only loosened the muscles and aligned the joints, but the mare was able to regain any flexibility lost!
@Equiline Bodywork
