Ahead of the Herd - Equine Bodyworks

04/11/2025

Returning again as the on-site therapist. Looking forward to seeing familiar and new faces.

04/08/2025

This 💯

🪞🐴 A difficult truth, rarely spoken out loud -

👊❤The (Subtle) Emotional Punchbag Relationship❤👊

Some people don’t realise they’ve chosen horses not for real partnership, but to have something to release their deeper feelings on.

The horse becomes the one they can constantly correct, control, pick at, tell off. A living target for all the frustration, helplessness, fear, insecurity, or pain that they don’t feel safe expressing elsewhere. It's not obvious — it never looks like abuse. But it’s a pattern. A quiet, persistent drip of disapproval. A constant ni**le. An incessant chorus of clicking and clucking. A need to always win the conversation. They may even call it love.

But somehow, the horse is always wrong.
Too slow. Too reactive. Too stubborn. Too much.

It’s the age-old story of “kicking the dog” — except now it wears the latest matchy-matchy, made to measure boots and a designer saddle, and calls itself horsemanship.

The tragedy is that these people often believe they’re doing things “right.” They follow the techniques. They say the right words. But their energy tells a different story — one the horse hears loud and clear. Underneath the cues is a constant pressure: be better, be less, behave, shut down, sleep walk into a zombie state of learned helplessness.

But this isn’t partnership.
It’s projection.
It’s a power play, disguised as training.
It’s using a horse to soothe something unspoken — an ache, a wound, a need, a deep dissatisfaction they haven’t dared to meet in themselves.

And the horse becomes their emotional punchbag.

But here’s the thing: horses don’t exist to absorb what we don’t want to feel.
They aren’t here to regulate our chaos, prove our worth, or make us feel in control of a life that isn’t working.

They are sentient beings with their own stories. Their own thresholds.
They feel it all — especially what we won’t name.

So if we really care about our horses, maybe we need to ask:
Am I showing up to connect… or to offload?
To build something… or to dominate?
To relate… or to offload what I can’t stand in myself?

Because they know the difference.
And deep down — so do we. We owe it to our horses (and ourselves) to put these things aside when we arrive at the barn.

03/10/2025

Show season is almost here!!! Supporting an amazing club and all the great equestrians that will be attending this year ❤️

02/23/2025

It's been a very cold and frigid winter 🥶 While I've been busy with new rehab clients, I've also been working at keeping my regular clients on a regular maintenance program. Row is one of those maintenance clients. He's completely chilled while patiently waiting for his turn on my routine barn visit this month. He'll be ready for that springtime riding season along with those who have been regularly receiving bodywork over the winter.
If your horse hasn't been in a regular care program, it's not too late to start. Whether you're planning on competing in the upcoming show season or just ride/drive for fun, routine preventive care is key!!
It is important to note that I book well in advance (currently, only a few spots left in March), so if you're interested in securing your spot, do so quickly to get on track for spring 💐☔️

12/10/2024

Another Rehab Sucess Story!!
This beautiful mare (Autumn)and her owner (Cindy) had a horrible accident in which they were T- b***d while hauling to an event. Both sustained significant injuries as the truck and trailer were slammed and ended up resting on its side in a ditch.
Cindy reached out to me in hopes that Autumn's injuries could be rehabbed and she could return to her dressage career. Although she'd been cleared by the vet of any skeletal damage, she had soft tissue and nerve damage, an adema on her ribcage, cervical trauma, and physiological trauma. Her worst outward symptom was chronic headshaking.
I made a rehab plan after my initial assessment and worked with Cindy and the insurance company to provide the necessary information for Autumn's rehab to be covered. And got to work!!!
I'm happy to report that after a year, Autumn has made a full recovery!! It was a journey that required patience and dedication to allow Autumn to heal at her own pace. Physical trauma can be easy to rehab, but rehabbing psychological trauma can be a more daunting skill that requires not only knowledge but a compassionate space. I've worked with Cindy to understand that part of the process. As a final step, I spent a session teaching Cindy how to connect with Autumn through touch and energy. They're both learning to heal and reestablish their connection after the accident. I will continue to provide follow-up maintenance, but I'm excited to have been part of their journey ❤️
#

12/08/2024

⚠️ GRAPHIC PHOTOS⚠️

DId you know as an Equine Holistic Practitioner, herbal support isn't just about what goes into the feed pan.
I'm constantly testing and making products to support all aspects of wellness. Wound care is definitely a regular part of equine husbandry. I wanted a salve for wounds that had everything to cover the important aspects of healing and protecting vital tissues that are exposed to injuries.
And of course, when I've put together a product I'm confident will not only do what it's intended but also my clients will love ❤️ I have a horse that decides to make sure it passes the most rigorous tests.
Lightning decided to somehow give himself a deep laceration to his front limb and on the heel bulb (that's his specialty😉). So, if you're wondering if this works Day 1 on the bottom when I found him to Day 3 of only the wound being cleaned, then packed with salve and bandaged.
All organically source, natural products infused with small batch homemade calendula oil along with mango butter and a few other trade secrets. Maximum ANTI-BACTERIAL properties as well as a thick enough consistency to provide maximum coverage with or without bandaging!!
So introducing our all natural organic wound care product - ⚡️HEALS LIKE LIGHTNING ⚡️
Yes, I thought it only fitting that we name it after the horse who gave me the reason to create this 🤣🤣 because - He doesn't pay his bills - didn't sound quite as catchy 😉
As a side note, it's great for dogs and amazing for humans as well (my hands and feet never felt better😉) it's HYPOALLERGENIC too!!!
AVAILABLE IN 4oz ($25) OR 8oz ($40) tins
Makes a great stocking stuffer🎄🎅

12/07/2024

Recent research has shown that to massage can stimulate the release of myokines, signaling proteins released by muscle tissue that play an important role in regulating inflammation, metabolism, and tissue repair.

Massage can influence cellular activity in muscles and surrounding tissues, and promote the release of myokines like IL-6, IGF-1, and certain myostatin regulators. These proteins are involved in muscle repair, anti-inflammatory effects, and overall tissue health. Massage also enhances circulation and lymphatic flow, indirectly supporting the biochemical environment necessary for myokine production.

Massage Promotes Healing - https://koperequine.com/how-massage-promotes-healing-massage-increases-the-production-of-cytokines/

11/19/2024

Massage/Bodywork is not just about 'a feel good spa day'. Healing all aspects of the body is an important part of the process.

Neuro Affective Touch is a therapeutic approach that combines elements of touch therapy with insights from neurobiology and affective (emotional) science. It focuses on the relationship between the body and emotions, aiming to address early developmental trauma and deep-seated emotional patterns by working directly with the body’s nervous system. This method integrates the emotional and physical aspects of healing by using touch to help regulate the nervous system, resolve trauma, and promote healthy emotional integration.

Learn more here - Massage With Myofascial Release for Building Self-Confidence - https://koperequine.com/massage-with-myofascial-release-for-building-self-confidence/

11/18/2024

From heartbreak to stealing hearts 💕 This sweet guy is a recent success story I'm excited to share.
I originally assessed him and had a few sessions with his previous owner, who decided to go in a different direction with purchasing another horse and sold him. 9 months later, while I was working with a client, I noticed a familiar face watching from his stall. When I asked my client if the familiar face was who I thought he was, she verified it with his new owner. She also said he was struggling with unknown issues, and she had started to give up on him ever being what she'd hoped for. After a quick chat, she quickly jumped at the chance to change that outlook. The first session wasn't pretty, but by the end, she saw a glimmer of hope. We set out a groundwork rehab plan and regular rehab bodywork. She is a therapist's dream and did the homework as prescribed 😊 The improvements began to show in every aspect of their relationship, and for the first time, she had hope that she was giving him what he'd been trying to tell her he needed but she wasn't able to understand (she had him vetted, chiro and bodywork from another person with no improvement).
Once his pain and dysfunction were corrected, we moved on to rehab riding - she's a champ and took the feedback on what she needed as a rider to strengthen and change in her own body. She was so invested in the process that she had a chance to watch him be ridden by my daughter (who does all my rehab riding /biomechanical retraining work - ). Building a relationship from the ground up for these 2 has been a wonderful experience to have been a part of (and continue to be).
In a few months, not only were they rocking the barn trail rides. They did the planned camping/trail ride trip she was unsure about doing initially (the previous year, shortly after she bought him, they went, and it wasn't a pleasant time). These two have become a beautiful example of how I approach every horse and owner. It's about the complete rehabilitation process - physical, emotional, mental, and the relationship between horse and owner. Happy trails to you both❤️

11/17/2024

When you get messages like this, it is a reminder that following my passion to make a difference in the industry and in the horses I've had the pleasure to work with was the right decision.
Thank you to all my wonderful clients 🥰

10/21/2024

It's been a very busy summer and we're enjoying the fall season and these foggy mornings.
Don't forget that although show season has finished bodywork and nutrition are important going into the winter months. It's the perfect time if you're not already making this part of your horse's routine to start!!

08/26/2024

To decrease the amount of messages requesting dates, I thought it was time to start letting potential and regular clients know how far ahead my schedule is booked.
I'm booking a minimum of a month ahead. SEPTEMBER IS BOOKED . OCTOBER has approximately 10 open days ( I do this full-time year round ) available. Bookings are booked with regular clientele getting priority. Emergency/urgent spaces are available upon request.
Thanks to my wonderful clients ❤️

07/21/2024

Kinesology Taping can improve performance as well as aid recovery. My clients are discovering the benefits of taping!

07/01/2024

Enjoy the Canada Day long weekend 🇨🇦