Libra Equine

05/03/2022

11/02/2022

Had the pleasure of this pretty little lady today. Molly regularly entertains children by her guest appearances at parties and events but today it was her turn for a pamper session. She thoroughly enjoyed her massage and is most definitely the star of the show!

29/01/2022

Saddle fit is so important

Living Bones

Many people believe that bones grow and develop upto a certain age, and from there don't undergo any physical changes other than those caused by trauma such as fractures or breaks. Contrary to popular belief, bones are ever changing and adapting to the demands placed on them by the body.

You've probably heard the term, a body in motion stays in motion, and seen instances where elderly people who are active on a daily basis have a greater bone density than those who live a more sedentary life.

Aside from density, bones will also change shape and in some instances, the body will even put down more bone in areas such as joints that suffer from ongoing instability. Kissing spine is a good example of the body working to stabilize the spine and reduce recurring trauma from overriding dorsal spinous processes.

Unfortunately, these changes in the bone don't resolve the issue and in turn create additional problems because stability is not a fix, not when it's imposed on the body with no consideration for adjoining structures.
Even something such as mounting from the ground can cause deformities within the ribs and spine.

This is why proper saddle fit is so important, because the changes to bone, unlike muscle, cannot simply be undone, and for the most part go largely unnoticed until it is beyond the point of no return, or in the luckier cases, to the point of requiring intensive medical intervention.

27/01/2022

Love this, the more you put in, the more you get out!

25/01/2022

Interesting read linking atlas/tmj with the pelvis

24/01/2022

Happy Monday everyone 😊

15/01/2022

Special offer for all new Clients!!
Book an alignment session before the end of February for yourself or your horse and receive a free £10 voucher to use on any future sessions. Want to learn more how spinal alignment can benefit you? Why not.....

* visit my page to read though my client
reviews
* read through my informative posts
* message a forwarding address for a copy of
my leaflet explaining the therapy in full
* message me, I'm happy to answer any
questions you have

15/01/2022

COMPETITION TIME!!
'Equine and human spinal alignment'
Spring is nearly here!! But just to cheer us up in the meantime I have a fab competition for all my existing clients to thankyou for your continued support.

Please share this post and add a pic of your special horse and a comment about how equine or human alignment benefits you. Winner will be drawn at random on 20th Feb 2022 and receive one FREE session for themselves or their horse!!
Also, for the most liked pic, they will receive a £10 voucher towards a treatment, human or equine.
Please post pics and comments on original post, good luck xx

12/01/2022

Equine and human alignment has lots of benefits. With equines I can show you areas of restriction and demonstrate the difference once the muscle has been released. I will explain how any why this will benefit your horse and am happy to answer any of your questions. Following a session you will get a written alignment report and a leaflet to look through at your leisure explaining things in a little more detail so you can identify areas of tension as they arise. Human alignment is equally important and can not only improve your overall core strength and balance when riding it can also eliminate pain and areas of restriction. Again I will explain everything as I go, and am fully mobile so can come to you in the Comfort of your own home. Human alignment sessions are charged at £30. Please get in touch to book a slot, my diary is filling fast for January but I do still have a little availability left x

02/01/2022

Happy new year to all my lovley clients, hope you all had a lovley Christmas. Equine and human alignment sessions will return next week starting from the 5th jan. All those with pre booked appointments i will look forward to seeing you, for anyone wanting to book a slot just drop me a message, diary filling up but I do still have some availability. Spinal alignment can have so much benefit for ourselves and our horses, from eliminating pain, restoring mobility, providing an overall spring in our step and reducing the risk of injury. For any further information don't hesitate to get in touch. Libra Equine keeping us and our horses happy and comfortable 😊🐴

06/12/2021

Christmas vouchers now available! Makes an ideal and very thoughtful Christmas present. Why not treat that special horse or person to a voucher for an equine or human alignment session? For all vouchers purchased the buyer will receive a free £5 gift voucher for themselves to use on any equine or human therapy session as a way to say thankyou for your purchase. All gift vouchers are presented in a beautiful festive card. Alignment sessions have so so many benefits for us and our horses so why not treat someone special today. Message for more info or to order your vouchers. Happy Christmas from Libra Equine xx

31/10/2021

Happy Halloween everyone, any 'skeletons' needing a realignment session just drop me a message. Human or horse, realignment can benefit everyone. Want to know how? Get in touch and I will post one of my leaflets explaining the therapy in full😊

20/10/2021

Another of my happy clients enjoying one of his routine alignment sessions. By maintaining our horses spinal alignment we can enjoy so much more from them, not only do the horses appear more happy and relaxed they can have enhanced improvement in their overall performance, scope and freedom of movement. This alignment therapy is also available to humans too so why not treat yourself and your horse and see how it can improve things for yourself. Any questions please just get in touch x

20/10/2021

Performance and alignment go hand in hand. Our horses can so easily pull a muscle which can go unnoticed in many. They could slip, land auqaurdly after a fence or simply twist when bucking in the field. The tension in the muscle won't go away, the muscle fibres will shorten and bunch up and as the muscles are attatched to the bones this can then pull vertebra out of alignment. Every vertebra of the horse is connected in a long chain from ears to tail so one misalignment will effect the full horse, no just his back. Over time the other muscles will have to work twice as hard making them vulnerable to injury too. The freedom of movement of the head will be restricted affecting bending and turning, the pelvic region will be compromised making compulsion and scope over a fence poor, the natural spring of the spine will disappear, making it vulnerable from the weight of a rider as concussion will not be neutralized so the limbs will then be put under extra stress. Undesirable behaviours can develop all because of that one strained muscle.... but it was just a slip...and he seems fine..... Alignment therapy has so many benefits and can keep your horse supple, correct and happy in their work. It can reduce the risk of injury and lameness and can allow your horse to perform as they should. I can visually show you any tensions before and after so you can appreciate for yourself how tensions can effect the horse as a whole. You take your car for an mot, why not get in touch to book your horse in for theirs, they deserve it x

07/10/2021

Had these beautiful horses today, all 5 of them get regular alignment sessions to keep their extensor and flexor chains working to optimum performance and maintain the spring quality in their spines which allows them to work freely and correctly. These horses range in ages and all benefit in different ways, from mobility maintenance to keeping cold back behaviours away. They really enjoy it and show their relaxation by licking, chewing and yawning. By regular sessions these guys benefit the most from the therapy as tensions are corrected before compensations and behaviours develop. I also treat humans so you can feel the benefits yourself. Message for more info on how Libra Equine can help yourself and your horse.

26/09/2021

The pectoral muscle.......
Located in the chest and girth area, this is vital for moving the horses shoulder forward and allowing forward flexion of the forelegs. Now imagine how restricted a horse will be if this muscle is already tight and then has a girth tightened up over it! This can cause a huge reduction in the horses range of movement, mis timed or poor ability over fences, difficulty in striding the correct lead in canter and overtime can result in bad temper when girthing up the horse. A quick test to see if this muscle is tight is to put your hand on the inside of the front leg and see how much room there is in the underarm area. If this feels tight and no space for your hand this could indicate a tension in the muscle which could be the start of future problems. Equine alignment can restore the muscle to a healthy state and improve your horses overall performance and mood. For more info on how I can help you and your horse inbox me and I can forward you a copy of my leaflet, explaining the therapy in detail.

21/09/2021

Had the pleasure of these two lovley riding school ponies, helga and rufus. Both ponies are dedicated to teaching children to ride and thoroughly enjoyed their session. It is vital to keep their alignment correct so they can work comfortably and to their full potential. Message me or have a look on my page to find out how equine alignment can benefit you and your horse.

13/09/2021

**special offer for combined horse and rider alignment sessions**

Have we paused for a moment to consider how our balance and pelvic alignment affects the horse when we ride?? As important as it is to get your horse regular alignment sessions it is equally important to get ourselves looked at too. If our pelvis is misaligned, which is much more common than we think, it can cause so many issues....back pain, neck stiffness, shoulder pain, restrictions in movement, knee and foot pain, the list goes on. This also has a major effect on our seat and riding position, stirrups are altered to accommodate the imbalance and compensations are made, but we still have a huge impact on our horses balance and alignment. That one rein they just won't bend on, that heaviness in the hand when they lean, that unbalanced canter, or constant difficulty in striding on the right leg can all be down to our personal imbalance and structural alignment. This is why it is so important to both get regular sessions to help to achieve balance and well being for yourself and your horse. Take away those constant niggles, aches and pains, which can all stem from the pelvis being misaligned. Feel the difference in your seat and core strength. Sessions take roughly 45 minutes and can have such a huge impact on our riding and well being. Running until the end of September any bookings taken for combined horse and rider sessions will be at a reduced rate of £55 (usually £65). I can come to you, So why not book you and your horse a slot to feel the difference and appreciate the benefits alignment can make for you both. Any questions please feel free to message me.

21/08/2021

Competition time!!
For a chance to win a £20 voucher for yourself or your horse.
To win.......

Existing clients...Comment below with a pic of your horse saying what you or your horse like most about your alignment sessions.

New clients....comment below with a pic of your horse saying why you or your horse deserve an alignment session.

Entries close at 7pm on 30th September.

Spinal alignment has so many benefits to horse and rider, please feel free to take a look at my page to learn more or inbox me to receive a leaflet describing the therapy and its benefits😊good luck🍀🍀🐴

25/07/2021

Had the pleasure of this lovley lady the other day. She thoroughly enjoyed her session and was chilled and falling asleep throughout. When I had finished she stood and yawned 5 or 6 times but what does this mean? When a horse yawns in this way it can signal a release of tension. Also she did lots of licking and chewing and her breathing became very deep at times. All of these signs are signals that the horse is processing any corrections and the areas of tension are being released. Correct alignment equals a happy horse. Regular sessions can ensure this and allow your horse to perform to the very best of their ability in complete comfort.

22/07/2021

Equine alignment sessions can be very enjoyable and relaxing for your horse. In this case, a little too relaxing😂

10/07/2021

Diary filling very fast over summer as will only have limited availability due to children being off school and going away plans. If you or your horse are due an alignment bodywork session please get in touch so I can fit you all in. Love the difference this therapy makes to horses and their riders. Why not book a session and enjoy the benefits yourself. Feel free to have a read through my reviews on my page 😊

10/07/2021

Come on England 🇬🇧 its coming home🍀

24/06/2021

We have all been here, sticky situation, did we stay or did we go? Either way every fall, trip, slip or near miss can have an impact on alignment, which won't repair on its own and will in time create numerous problems to ourselves and our horses well being and performance .....so why not take advantage of my July offer.....any bookings for horse and rider who recommends a friend who also books a slot can enjoy a 25% discount for their booking, and if their friend makes a second booking they can enjoy a 15% discount for their second session. It was the longest day this week so let's bring a little something to keep that summer feeling in the air🌞🌞🌞

24/06/2021

We are all loving this beautiful weather but it has left us with some very hard ground. Did you know by your horses alignment being in good condition it can reduce a lot of concussive forces to the limbs and help reduce the risk of injury? My sessions will pinpoint areas of tension and show you the visual releases afterwards....and if you would like to benefit for yourself I also do rider alignment sessions so you too can be pain free, been getting some fantastic results, why not have a little read through my reviews and see for yourself .....

24/06/2021

Have we ever stopped to consider what good spinal alignment actually means to our horses well being and performance.. .

If our horse looses it's alignment it also looses the spring quality in the spine. What this means is that all the forces of concussion go directly to the limbs. The picture illustrates how alike our limbs are to the horses, just over evolution horses have lost the extra digits we have. Now imagine our full body weight relying on the support of our middle finger! A healthy balanced spine holds the limbs in suspension and greatly reduces stresses to the ligaments and tendons, take this quality away and we are in danger of strains, sprains and even breaks due to the amount of force being put on the legs. When a horse jumps a fence, the forelimbs at landing point are responsible for supporting two and a half times the horses body weight so you can understand just how important it is to maintain spinal alignment and strong and healthy limbs! A lot of our horses havnt been as busy as usual due to lockdown but as things ease and fitness regimes start up why not book an appointment to ensure your horse is in optimum alignment. This will prevent potential injuries and allow your horse to gain fitness in the most effective way as muscle development will be balanced and performance levels will be at their best.

27/05/2021

Now my new business cards have finally arrived you can have a reminder card for when your next sessions are due.

27/05/2021

When was the last time you had your horses alignment checked?
Maintaining this is so important for your horses well being. This is not just a back treatment, this addresses the whole horse. One tension or restriction will always have an impact on other areas. A simple atlas misalignment can put the entire spine in torsion, restricting the pelvis in such a way it can show up in many ways. Sudden stubbornness, unwilling to work in an outline, biting while being girthed, reluctance to be caught or have a bridle/halter on, knocking or refusing fences, grumpy, lack lustre attitude, the list goes on. These can all be caused by something not being quite right. Some horses let you know straight away, others work through it, going unnoticed but gradually compensating more and more until the pain gets too much. I will highlight any restrictions i find and then show you the differences once released. We have been having some fantastic results with lots of great reviews. Why not feel the difference for yourself too, as also doing body alignment sessions for all you riders. Sit straighter, be balanced and have a more secure core and seat. Message me for any more details, I'm happy to answer any questions.

11/05/2021

Bonnie was booked for a session with me which she enjoys regularly, although can be a little expressive at times we get there with a little extra reassurance and patience. On my latest visit, her owner holly had reported that bonnie was resisting contact and just didn't feel right. Also that she wasn't engaging her hind quarters properly and seemed reluctant to do certain exercises. I found bonnie to have restrictions on her atlas which had tightened her front flexor and extensor muscles. The misalignment of her atlas had also resulted in tension in her diaphragm from a very restricted pelvis and tight gluteal muscles. Following the session Holly reported that bonnie was like a different horse. She was able to enjoy a nice relaxed canter on both reins which is something she can struggle with. She also managed some lovley walk to canter transitions and seemed to noticeably enjoy her work. Although bonnie is a regular client she had pulled herself in the field whilst in season and this had caused certain areas to lock up and other compensations to be made. Regular sessions find and treat any slight tensions before time develops behaviours. Let's hope Holly and bonnie can have lots more fun together, another happy client, thankyou for using Libra Equine

28/04/2021

Had this lovley little lady booked in for her routine alignment therapy session. Bloo is 19 and still enjoys her work, although on her first session we found an atlas misalignment which had restricted her pelvis and sacral ligaments. She also had a lot of restrictions in her shoulders. On this session we found her atlas to be in good alignment and her shoulders were much more supple and free. Although there were a couple of tensions here and there she has certainly improved so much since we first started with her. Bloo thoroughly enjoys her sessions and her owner has reported that she feels a lot more forward and her freedom of movement has been enhanced. Also that she feels a lot lighter on the bit and her jumping has improved. She feels a lot happier in her self too. Great news and lovley to hear, thankyou for using Libra Equine

19/04/2021

Had a routine visit for April today, as always she was very well behaved. She thoroughly enjoyed her session and we had lots of licking, chewing and yawning. We also had lots of abdominal and intestinal releases today. Regular sessions can enhance the horses well being by keeping everything in good alignment and maintaining the muscular balance. It prevents any issues arising as any tensions are unwound before the horse has to compensate, keeping your horse happy and comfortable.

15/04/2021

Lovley sunny morning spent with mollie and zelda. Both were very well behaved and thoroughly enjoyed their session. Mollie had some restrictions in her ribs and some slight poll tension, zelda had a reduced spring to her spine caused by restrictions stemming from the sacral ligaments and some neck tension. Had some lovley releases, lots of licking, chewing and yawning. Oh and not to mention my little assistant prince, great help as always. Look forward to hearing how these lovley girls get on Pepper Dogs Raw Foods Lucy Collins, thanks guys Libra Equine

11/04/2021

SPECIAL APRIL OFFER
with everything getting back to normal and horse events going ahead why not take advantage of my combined horse and rider alignment offer? Any bookings made before april 30th can enjoy a reduced price of £55. This is for horse and rider. Did you know that by you being out of alignment it can have a massive effect on your seat and balance and actually have an effect on your horses alignment? The benefits of equine alignment are huge and my clients enjoy the differences it makes to their horses performance, behaviour and overall well being. So why not both get booked up so you and your horse are all set for the upcoming events that we have all been looking forward to. If anyone would like any more info just drop me a message x

18/03/2021

What is EQUINE ORTHOPATHY all about?
Horses use their muscles every day and are vulnerable to strains which can misalign the horse. Any misalignment causes muscle pairs to work unequally, meaning one side will be weak and one side will be over worked, hence being susceptible to injury. EQUINE ORTHOPATHY is a unique soft touch therapy which focuses on improving the function and mobility of the whole horse. The skeleton, muscles, ligaments, joints, organs and fascia are all addressed. We have evidence from years ago that all body systems are intrinsically linked so it is vital they are all functioning correctly for the horses overall well being. It is very unlikely a problem in one system will not have a detrimental effect in another area so equine orthopathy evaluates and treats the whole horse. This therapy is most effective if done routinely as it can address an issue quickly, before other areas are effected. A muscle in tension can easily go undetected until it has had an effect on other systems and the horses alignment has got to a stage where behaviours develop, which is not ideal, but can be fixed. Regular sessions prevent this. Equine orthopathy is an adaption of human osteopathic techniques to treat horses. It uses the knowledge of anatomy, neurology and physiology to provide a complete rounded therapy which restores the suspension and spring of the horses spine by natural, symmetrical alignment which allows the horse an enhanced freedom of movement and optimum performance. Equine sessions are charged at £40 per visit, any questions or to book an appointment feel free to message me x

03/03/2021

Calling all riders........If alignment therapy has so many benefits to my horse can it help me as a rider? The simple answer is yes! We are infact very similar to our horse if we look at our skeletal system and muscles. If we imagine our spine as a stack of teacups, all interlinked together, with muscles on each side pulling at equal force to keep the stack in perfect vertical alignment. When a muscle is pulled, it goes into a spasm and shortens, this results in an unequal pull to one side and the stack of teacups is pulled to one side. This results in pelvic and spinal misalignment. So easily done in this sport. Because the teacups are all interlinked, just like the vertebrae of our spine, the whole stack is affected, this in turn has an effect on the whole body. This misaligned posture can result in a poor riding position as it becomes painful to use your back properly, affecting your seat and balance. Mounting, doing girths or stirrups can result in sciatic pains. We may find we ride with unequal stirrup lengths to compensate for our unequal posture. We will then ride stronger on one side which will show in our horse as he will be stronger on the same side, resulting in a poor rein on our weak side. The body will compensate best it can but if we then take into account daily stable duties and the odd fall, they put extra stress on these weakened areas too. These can show as knee or shoulder problems, lower back pain, sciatic pain and general stiffness, the list goes on. Alignment therapy for riders can help reduce or eliminate these pains. It restores our overall balance and alignment so as a rider we can have improved posture, a stronger lower leg, a balanced back and pelvis which will improve our seat, a stronger core, we will ride equally which will help enhance our horses alignment and balance too. We put our horses first but by helping ourselves we can help them too! My rider alignment therapy sessions are £20 and we are getting some great results. Any questions just drop me a message, I will be happy to help

24/02/2021

Why would a musculoskeletal therapy benefit my horse? She goes perfect so clearly there is nothing wrong........
And chances are they might not be...right now. However, if we consider our horses as athletes, they carry us over varied terrain,sometimes very wet or deep, jumping fences, occasional slips and trips, the odd crazy turnout day in the field, bucking and twisting, the stresses and strains of day to day life, all combined put a huge stress on the muscles and skeletal system of the horse. All muscles work as pairs. If a muscle is stretched beyond its natural limit it remains in a strained state, calcium doesn't flow properly, the muscles bunches up and shortens, not working as it should. This results in its pair having to work twice as hard to compensate as the horse still needs to move. Overtime other muscles will need to help out as the one working overtime tires easily. Muscle groups are put under stress and support muscles may end up supporting and flexing as the flexor muscles are too weak, for example. This has a huge impact on the horses flexor and extensor chains and the muscles in spasm can pull vertebrae out of alignment. At this point the spine will be put in torsion, loosing its spring quality putting excess stress on the joints, lameness can develop with no obvious sign in the limbs as it is coming from above. Mobility is restricted, steroid injections are available but will mask, not cure a problem. Movement can become painful as its manual and stiff instead of being free and natural. Typical areas affected are the pelvis and poll. Restrictions create discomfort and pain. Horses are different, some put up with it, others say no, it is those horses which then develop behaviours, they suddenly start to nap, not bend easily, resist to bring tacked up, can be grumpy or generally quirky and difficult. When all this could of been avoided by keeping up with our horses alignment and musculoskeletal well being, just as we do their feet and teeth. Regular sessions result in any tension in the muscles being identified and released before they have this detrimental effect on our horses. Tension in muscles won't go away, it will only get worse over time. In some cases pain is remembered and behaviours are difficult to reverse. The results of regular alignment and muscle quality assessments are so beneficial to our horses and can prevent so many issues and restrictions arising. Keep your horse in balance and alignment and see and feel the difference of a horse able to move and use itself properly and appreciate the freedom of movement it allows.

05/02/2021

Would just like to say a big thankyou to all of my lovley clients who have taken the time to leave me such lovley reviews on my page. In these uncertain times when trying to build a business up your support means so much. I've had the pleasure of working with some fantastic horses and its lovley to hear how I have helped them in so many different ways. Remember as well as equine I also do human alignment too. By us being level it can improve our posture and balance and be really beneficial to our seat. It will also compliment your horses alignment and can take away the pains from day to day mucking out and past injuries. Thanks again guys, your support means a lot x

05/02/2021

Why would my horse need alignment therapy? The answer is it will benefit every horse from foal to veteran. This therapy doesn't just address the horses back, it treats the horse as a whole, taking into account both flexor and extensor chains working along side each other. I can highlight areas in tension and show you a visual change after treatment. I also take time and explain to all of my clients what I'm doing and why. Usually the horse finds this therapy extremely relaxing and the changes I make are processed by the horse and expressed by licking, chewing, yawning, closing their eyes, deep breaths and gurgling. The results are noticeable, horses appear more free and forward in their movement, bending and outline improve, scope can increase, general vitality and well being are enhanced. A horse can only try to tell us when something isn't quite right by behaviours, once these develop a horse is usually in pain, listen to them. A horse in alignment uses his spine correctly and can move freely. Alignment creates happy horses. Please get in touch for any questions or further information and I will be happy to help.