Nobody knows your horse better than you, so you will know if something doesn't feel right. This is my horse, and I try and treat her every 4-6 weeks if I can. She was last treated 2 weeks ago, and although we are not setting the world alight with our dressage, I have been asking for more lateral work when schooling. The last couple of times we've been in the school she just didn't feel like her usual self, so decided to massage again. I couldn't believe how much tension she was holding, especially on the left side. Some great releases and random tongue sucking 🤣, but just goes to show that you need to listen to what they're telling you 🥰🐴 #ardenequinetherapy #equinebodywork #salttherapy #EquineBusiness
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Lungeing is a great way to watch how your horse moves. I use an Equiami when lungeing, as having an ex racehorse she needs no excuse to drop on to her forehand, and I find this really helps her use her hindquarters, but also rewards her by releasing when her head carriage is relaxed. There are lots of training aids out there that can help each individual horse.
Back to lungeing, you can watch how your horse holds themselves and also watch their footfalls. Do they fall in or out on one side more than the other, do they tilt their head or turn hindquarters in. All this is really good information you can pass on to your massage therapist, that will give them an idea of where any tension could be. Its also good to know this for when you're riding so you can ride accordingly to try and get your horse straighter 🥰🐴 #ardenequinetherapy #equinebodywork #salttherapy #equinebusiness
Great releases here whilst working over the rhomboids and trapezius 🥰🐴
I've had the pleasure of meeting this gorgeous boy this week for his 3 day cleanse. Sam has suffered with a dry cough and sometimes is seen to be heaving, he also has been quite itchy this year which he hasn't been before. He was a little anxious to start with, but soon settled and I was quite happy to see some white discharge coming from his nostrils, this shows that he has an allergy which could possibly be from surrounding farmland planting wildflowers but its been such an odd summer weather wise aswell. He definitely seemed happier after his salt, and I'm looking forward to going back in a couple of weeks for his top up🥰🐴 #ardenequinetherapy #equinebodywork #salttherapy #equinebusiness
Making the most of the morning 🥰🐴
#ardenequinetherapy #equinebodywork #SaltTherapy #equinebusiness
A great lesson today with Justine Hare Coaching at Exbury Equine going over some poles. We were working on straightness today as we do tend to drift out through the shoulder, and when I finally realised that if I look up we don't drift quite as much 🤦♀️ we got some great work. So pleased with how she went, even the canter was so much better. Love a slow mo video, it really shows how the poles work the range of movement and encourage engagement of the core, which is why I always encourage my clients to include this within their routine as it's something that can be done either ridden or in hand 🥰🐴 #ardenequinetherapy #equinebodywork #salttherapy #equinebusiness
I went over to Truesdale Equestrian Centre yesterday to have a lesson with Hannah Irons - Riding Instructor, Confidence Coach and Biomechanics Trainer over a few poles and to try using the Franklin balls. I had heard about Franklin balls but I really didn't know what to expect, but WOW what a difference I felt. Just a few adjustments in the saddle and I could really feel myself sitting differently and my legs felt longer and stiller, which in turn altered the way Wam moved. I hadn't realised how much my position was actually blocking her movement. That was just an introduction and I can highly recommend both Hannah and trying the Franklin balls. I tried to replicate the feeling this morning, and although didn't quite get it exactly, I was definitely more conscious of where I was sitting in the saddle. #ardenequinetherapy #equinebodywork #equinebusiness
My ginger diva has had some quite hard training sessions recently and I have definitely felt she was getting a little tight in some areas. Her right shoulder has always been a bit sticky, but she has had to work hard at trying collection and starting to bring her head, neck and shoulders up for more jump to her canter, and self carriage. She has been an absolute star and really tried her hardest, today there were tight spots along her back and pectoral muscles aswell as her hamstrings. Some great signs of release here and as always the yawns and deep sighs come after the camera is put away 🤦♀️🤣 love her 🥰🐴 #ardenequinetherapy #equinebodywork #equinebusiness
Got the chance to work on my 2 today. Bruce is retired and loving life, but I still keep up his maintenance massages. I do find it really difficult this time of year after he has wintered out and now his coat is changing. I find massaging just gets in one big hairy mess 🤣 I also struggle to get good friction with the thickness of his coat. So instead I use my trusty rubber curry comb. I use good circular motions on his muscles around his shoulders, along his back and over his hindquarters to promote his circulation, then follow this up with a sweeping motion as I would in a massage. 🥰🐴 #ardenequinetherapy #equinebodywork #equinebusiness
The lovely Dash having his massage pre Christmas. 🐴🥰 #ardenequinetherapy #equinebodywork #equinebusiness
Finally a little bit of sunshine this afternoon and the school had thawed out enough to have a play. I haven't ridden since the frosty days started over a week ago, so I thought I'd practice my long reining. Although I am the first to admit I'm not that confident doing it, the ginger one was an angel. I put a few poles out to go over and around to practice my turning and circles, which I think we just about got by the end. Long reining is a really beneficial form of exercise as you can watch your horse from behind and see what you feel when on board. You can also work on your horses straightness and work on specific things without a rider on board to complicate matters 😆 It's great for a horse in regular work to have a session without a rider as well as a great way to bring them back into work after some time off.
Big thank you goes to the youngest member of Arden Equine for his patience and camera skills 🥰🐴 #ardenequinetherapy #equinebodywork #equinebusiness
And release! 🥱😍 when you get these great signs of release it is so amazing, you know you have hit the spot and the tension is being released 🥰🐴 #ardenequinetherapy #equinebodywork #equinebusiness
