http://www.aplusequinebodywork.com/

A Plus Equine Bodywork, Walkerton, ON (2026)

07/27/2026

I can’t believe I have to make this post, but after some “drama” on a recent post, here goes.

I do not follow a specific trim method.

In fact, I don’t believe there is any one trim method.

I believe in constant continuing education for the good of the horse - even if it challenges our ideas.

I believe in NOT sticking to an “ideal” - as this is often to the detriment of the horse.

I think forcing a specific trim based on our ideals or even “our training” oftentimes does a disservice to the horse.

I do not believe in any one “hoofcare guru” or a certain “Way” in hoofcare.

I am absolutely not against learning from an organization or going through a hoofcare school, of course! I am a member of, and mentor for, an international hoofcare organization (PHCP), and one of the most amazing things about it is there is no one trim style or method in the organization - which allows all of us to discuss and collaborate on difficult cases across the world, to find solutions for our clients that we may not have originally thought of. That’s why I decided on that program.

I see every single horse as an individual, and decide what I’m going to do in a trim based on many factors:

-How the horse walks up for the trim
-How the horse chooses to stand/their posture
-How the horse shifts its weight when I ask for a hoof to be lifted
-How a horse rests their legs or feet after a hoof is placed down
-The depth of the collateral grooves
-The health of the frog
-The appearance of the sole (waxy? Chalky? Almost translucent? “Orange” colored? Flexible?)
-The health and appearance of the white line
-The horse’s ability to stretch each limb - whether just holding up a foot, or when asked to maneuver it away from the body to assess the soft tissue mobility
-The thickness and health of the hoof wall
-The horse’s diet
-The horse’s metabolic status
-The horse’s living environment
-The horse’s job and workload
-The owner’s ability to implement changes in management if needed

Any and all of these can affect what I remove, what I leave, and overall my plan and goal for the horse.

And even with all this information, we can be wrong. The HORSE is the ultimate judge - not a textbook, not the radiographs, not the heel height, not some instructor who has an idea of how the trim should be.

The horse tells us if the trim is right…. by their movement, comfort, posture, and soundness.

Are there landmarks in the hoof we can look to? Sure. Are they never-changing constants that should always be trimmed to? Absolutely not.

The internal structures, pathology, and distortion/inflammation can affect the external structures and landmarks, and even where they exist on the hoof.

I will never tell you what you MUST do in a trim. I will never say there is only one correct way.

And yes, I admit, I will get grumpy if you try to tell me there is only one way to do things and it works for all horses. And it may come out as defensive, or annoyed, or angry.

Because if I leave this hoofcare industry having left behind one bullet point, it would be this:

Horses don’t read your textbooks, blog posts, webinars, or courses - and they are living creatures in front of you at the mercy of whatever you decide to put them through.

Please make dang sure that what you put them through has their interests at heart.

❤️Your Grumpy FB Page Admin

07/27/2026

✨ Want to learn how to support your horse's body between professional bodywork sessions? ✨

Your horse doesn't stop needing support when your bodyworker leaves the barn. There are simple, effective techniques you can learn to help your horse stay comfortable, relaxed, and moving well.

This fall and winter, I'm booking small, hands-on horse owner clinics where you'll learn practical skills you can confidently use on your own horse.

Clinic Topics:
• Equi-Bow
• Equine Craniosacral Therapy
• Equine Acupressure

These aren't just demonstrations. You'll get hands-on practice with plenty of individual guidance so you leave feeling confident applying what you've learned.

Because I want everyone to have lots of one-on-one instruction and the chance to ask questions, I keep my clinics intentionally small.

✔ Host a private clinic just for you and your horse.
✔ Gather a few friends for a small in-barn clinic and learn together.

Whether you're looking to help your horse recover better after work, support an aging partner, improve comfort and performance, or simply deepen your understanding of your horse's body, these clinics are a fun and empowering way to learn.

Fall and winter dates are now open for booking! If you've been thinking about hosting a clinic, now is the perfect time to reserve your spot before the calendar fills up.

📩 Send me a message to chat about available dates and find the clinic that's the best fit for you and your barn.

07/25/2026

The sun is shining. The course is set. Come out and watch the working trail show at Brightside Equestrian Centre! Horses, vendors, food truck. Bring a chair and make it an afternoon!

07/24/2026

We just received a large shipment of Bug Off Balm (a natural alternative to Swat).

Catch us at the Brightside Equestrian show tomorrow or comment/send a message to claim your jar!

07/20/2026

If your horse is an athlete (and if you ride them, you should consider them one), then their body deserves the same thoughtful support we would give any other athlete.

Nutrition, appropriate conditioning, postural development, hoof care, recovery, and attention to tired or sore muscles are all important pieces of maintaining a healthy body. But a horse who is developing correct biomechanical alignment and gymnastic strength through a progressive program is less likely to experience early degeneration.

Supplements, joint injections, corrective shoeing, chiropractic work, massage, and other therapies can all play an important role when a horse needs them. They are valuable tools. But the goal should never be simply to manage the consequences of imbalance while continuing to create the same problems. A horse who is moving in balance, carrying themselves correctly, and developing strength over time is better equipped to protect their soft tissues, joints, and even their mental wellbeing.

But what happens when the horse has already been damaged? When you are rehabbing a horse, breaking the cycle of pain, discomfort, and compensation is the first priority.

A horse in pain cannot simply choose a better posture. Pain changes the way a horse moves, braces, and protects themselves. Making them comfortable is essential — but we must also be careful not to mistake the absence of pain for readiness. A horse who suddenly feels better may still lack the strength, coordination, and understanding to perform movements their body is not prepared for.

Rehabilitation requires patience. Pain must be addressed, but strength, mobility, and balance must be rebuilt slowly enough that muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints have time to adapt.

A healthy posture is not simply a pretty frame. It is a body that is organized and capable.

It involves equal flexion and strength through both hind limbs — through the hip, stifle, hock, and pastern — along with core stability strong enough to lift and support the back. It involves a neck and shoulder connection that remains free, relaxed, and supple rather than rigid and braced.

A horse in pain will almost always find ways to compensate. They may tighten through the neck and shoulders, hollow the back, avoid using a hind limb, or create tension elsewhere in the body to protect the painful area.

This is why true rehabilitation is not only about reducing symptoms. It is about finding and addressing the source of discomfort, then rebuilding the horse’s body so they can move with strength, confidence, and balance.

07/20/2026

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Brightside Equestrian Centre working trail show this Saturday. While we aren’t competing, I will be there with a booth. I will have Red Horse hoof care products, Goldride red light devices, Scoot Boot Hoof Boots, and will be offering discounted PEMF sessions (message me to book your time)!

07/19/2026

With the air quality challenges many of us are facing due to wildfire smoke, our horses' respiratory systems can be under extra stress, even if they don't show obvious signs right away.

In this video, I'm demonstrating a simple Lung meridian and acupressure routine that can be used as a gentle way to support the respiratory system during periods of environmental stress.

This sequence includes the Lung meridian along with four traditional acupressure points: LU1, BL13, GV14, and LU7.
This is a calming, non-invasive technique that can be added to your horse's wellness routine alongside good management practices like:
✔️ Reducing strenuous exercise when air quality is poor
✔️ Providing plenty of fresh water
✔️ Minimizing dust exposure
✔️ Following your veterinarian's recommendations

Remember, acupressure is intended to support the body's natural balance. It is not a replacement for veterinary care. If your horse is experiencing increased respiratory effort, persistent coughing, nasal discharge, fever, or any signs of respiratory distress, please contact your veterinarian promptly.

Have you noticed your horse being affected by the smoke this year? I'd love to hear how you're helping keep them comfortable. Share your experiences in the comments below. 💚

Part 1

07/18/2026

☀️ Summer Hoof Care Tip

Dry weather can be just as challenging for hooves as wet weather.

Fluctuating moisture levels can contribute to:

▪ Cracks

▪ Chipping

▪ Reduced flexibility

Hydro Hoof helps support the hoof's natural moisture balance, keeping hoof horn healthier and more resilient.

Available through me 😊

07/18/2026

What if it's not the farrier's fault?

Can we just talk about feet for a moment?

After looking at these two photos side by side, it really got me thinking about feet (not in a fe**sh way 😂) and the forces being placed upon them from higher up in the body. I think these pictures illustrate it perfectly.

At our first appointment, we discussed the angles of her feet and how underrun they were. This wasn't a criticism of the farrier, just an observation of where she was at and something we hoped to improve over time.

In the top image, you can see how the directional force through her body is sending weight into the back of her heels in the front feet.

Now look at the hind legs. The way she had to stand to find some degree of comfort meant she was effectively sitting back onto her heels there too.

So how can we expect to develop a more upright hoof capsule when the body is continually directing force in a way that encourages the opposite?

If we had added wedges or pads at that stage, my concern is that we would simply have increased the directional force and stress on an already compromised system.

The changes would have had nowhere to go. Her body was stuck in that pattern and wouldn't have allowed meaningful adaptation. We can't force posture.

Now look at the second image. We still have work to do, but the body is beginning to find more balance. The directional forces are more evenly distributed (the right hind is still further forward as that limb had its own issues), but to me there is noticeably less crushing force from above, she appears more lifted and soft, than strapped down. The white arrows represent the direction of fascial pull ( this is how my brain functions 🤓)

Of course, feet don't change overnight. It takes around 6–9 months to grow a new hoof capsule, so I'll be fascinated to see how her feet continue to develop over the coming months now that the force patterns are changing.

I think hoof care professionals sometimes get a hard time for not "fixing" feet, but if the feet don't have the space or freedom to adapt, how can we expect them to?

This is a team effort. Free the body, work with the feet, assess the saddle, address dental balance, improve biomechanics and then repeat the cycle. We leapfrog each other, with every professional contributing to the overall change.

But first, the body needs the space within the system to change.

07/12/2026

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is that deeper pressure equals better results. While deep tissue work certainly has its place, it's not always the most effective approach, especially when dealing with long-standing pain, compensation patterns, or chronic dysfunction.

The body is incredibly intelligent. When muscles are tight or guarding, they're often protecting an underlying problem. Using force to push through that tension may provide temporary relief, but it doesn't necessarily address why the body created that pattern in the first place.
This is why I incorporate techniques such as Equibow, myofascial release, and craniosacral therapy into my bodywork sessions.

These therapies work with the horse's nervous system and fascial network rather than against them. By encouraging the body to release restrictions naturally, they can:
• Reach deeper, long-standing restrictions without force.
• Address the root cause of dysfunction instead of simply reducing muscle tension.
• Help unwind compensation patterns that have developed over months or even years.
• Improve movement, comfort, and performance in a way that is often more sustainable.
• Leave horses feeling relaxed and willing, rather than sore or guarded after bodywork.

It's important to remember that muscles don't work in isolation. Fascia, the nervous system, joints, and old injury patterns are all connected. Lasting change comes from working with the whole horse, not just the area that is showing symptoms.

Sometimes the gentlest techniques create the biggest changes.

A Plus Equine Bodywork

07/27/2026

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07/25/2026

07/24/2026

07/20/2026

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07/12/2026

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