Enigma Equine Massage Therapy

25/07/2024

Following on from the recent Strangals outbreak in the area…..

*Huge thanks to DEC for their honesty and transparency.
As horse owners we all dread this condition and will all wish the horse infected a very speedy recovery.❤️❤️

*It could be any one of our horses that could have contracted this and as horse owners, veterinary professionals, business owners and any other professional connected with the industry it is our job to help prevent the spread and also support each other while doing so.❤️

*future appointments at the affected yards will be put on hold. All other appointments at this time will go ahead but please be extra vigilant and if your horse is showing any abnormal behaviour please let me know before your appointment.❤️

All keep safe and let’s ride this out together in a supportive way ❤️❤️❤️

22/06/2024

04/11/2023

It was lovely to attend the talk at Gil Riley’s yesterdays with other practitioners. So lovely to see us all together and wanting to work as a team for the good of the horses ❤️❤️

31/07/2023

23/05/2023

Huge well done to this partnership!! Beth and Mia are very tuned in to each other and have worked very hard. Lovely to see the hard work paying off.
Well done Bethany xx

21/05/2023

What a good idea x

Nothing at all to do with hi viz but I have been meaning to try this for ages - worked like a dream! £1 sponge thing (Tesco) and fly spray. Wiped all over Moose (horse) with no complaints at all!

20/05/2023

🌿🌱🍀🌿🌱🍀🌿🌱🍀

12/05/2023

Preventing Cervical Arthritis

30/03/2023

Just love this little horse!
Making use of her dad’s shoulder while she has her treatment.
Safe to say she enjoys it xx

14/10/2022

Lovey to watch these pair compete in their first novice BD.
Well done guys ###

06/10/2022

So pleased with this little princesses progress! All credit to her owners hard work 💕 💕

25/07/2022

Even though grass looks mostly brown and dead at the moment this does not mean that it is low in sugar as well 🧐 In fact when grass is under stressful conditions it accumulates more sugar as the plant is still photosynthesizing 🌱 but as the grass isn’t growing the sugar is stored, rather than used. Fructan is the storage sugar in grass and is mostly stored at the base of the plant - precisely what the horse is eating when cropping close to the ground.

Whilst the amount of grass available to eat on a bare paddock does potentially limit the amount of sugar consumed, care should be taken with horses who have underlying insulin dysregulation issues and may be particularly prone to laminitis. Horses with insulin dysregulation don’t have a normal response to the intake of non-structural carbohydrate which is the sum of sugar or water soluble carbohydrate, fructan and starch added together. Insulin dysregulation results in higher than normal levels of insulin circulating in the blood and results in a higher risk of laminitis.

When we do eventually get rain 💦 the risk is still elevated but for different reasons. The grass can start to grow again and storage sugars are converted back to a form that the plants can use as energy to grow 🌱 This means there is more simple sugar in the grass which can be problematic for those with insulin dysregulation. Even though the amount of grass available initially to eat is still sparse, this could still be enough to trigger laminitis in susceptible individuals. As such, for laminitis prone horses and ponies it may be best to remove them from pasture when the grass starts growing and feed an appropriate forage based ration which contains less than 10-12% non-structural carbohydrate ideally.

For help and advice on feeding the laminitis prone horse 📞 call our Feedline on 01621 841188 or visit https://www.dengie.com/feed-finder/laminitis-good-doer/

15/07/2022

“HEATSTROKE IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY”

I’m compelled to keep posting this. I’ve learned of a number of dogs that have died of heatstroke in the recent heatwave.

If you see a horse or person or dog with heatstroke, then cool them down by hosing/spraying water from the outside or house water supply (usually 10-20°C). It doesn't have to be ice-cold to be effective as long as you put a lot on. You may well save a life!

And yes, I know there is a lot of advice about cooling horses, dogs and people which goes against aggressive cooling and advises ice packs in the groin or armpit and using tepid water! It's outdated and ineffective and if you follow it your horse/dog/person is more likely to suffer permanent injury or worse!

If you don't believe me, then listen to the people who do this for a living with people...

"Active cooling via Cold Water Immersion (CWI) is now the standard of care and should be done immediately. This is a Grade IA recommendation.5 The patient should be immersed in ice water 1 to 3°C." http://www.emdocs.net/heat-related-illness-how-to-cool-em-and-what-to-do-after/

23/06/2022

• What does a noseband do?

• Do riders know WHY they use them?

• More importantly, is the desired outcome truely being achieved by the action of using them?

I have found all cases of horses nashing, opening the mouth, being inconsistent or heavy in the contact, head tilting, hollowing, etc, is about having the correct bit that the horse finds comfortable. It is also about the riders hands & the way they use them to communicate via the horses mouth. These are the two things that need correction/attention & NOT the addition of a noseband.

So to correct a horses ‘mouth’ you shouldn't try to ‘stop’ an undesirable trait with restriction (i.e.: tighten the noseband, or worse still, tighten a secondary strap below the bit) - this would cause further discomfort & resistance for something the horse is already expressing is not comfortable, therefore it cannot accept it with a quiet mouth.

And a quiet mouth is NOT a ‘shut mouth’. No living mammal on earth goes around with it’s jaw closed & teeth together - it must remain relaxed & open. Optimum performance cannot happen any other way.

Therefore the conclusion is simple - the noseband really should be a fashion piece, treated like a browband - it serves no purpose/benefit to be ‘used’ to do anything, as any tightness or restriction from a noseband simply makes peak performance impossible. Any horses ‘winning’ with this gear…. imagine how amazing they would truely be WITH A LOOSE NOSEBAND! & here is why:

Did you know:

– On an equine dissection (yes, like an autopsy) any pressure applied in the horses mouth or to the jaw (which causes the hyoid bone at the base of the tongue to move up and/or back in the jaw) renders the hind legs restricted (difficult to move by a human) with effects also evident in the hips, yet the leg can be freely moved when the jaw is released (when the hyoid bone is allow to sit lower & forward in the jaw/mouth). This is fact.

– The job of the jaw is to act like a pendulum to give the horse correct balance & allows the horse to have awareness of limb placement. This relies on the TMJ (temporomandibular joint) of the jaw to be pain & pressure free.

– The jaw of the horse is a reflection of the pelvis. If the jaw is stuck, the horses pelvis will be too. This is seen in the obvious evasion of head tilting to allow the pelvis to move if the jaw cannot.

– closing the mouth & closing the gullet (over-bent) when riding causes the hyoid bone of the tongue to become blocked, which is directly connected to & tightens the muscles at the base of the neck through to the chest. This also makes it hard for the horse to swallow - causing excessive saliva/foam to pour from the horses mouth.

So in light of these facts - here is the positive side of having a loose, caveson noseband (or none at all!):

+ The horses mouth becomes a reflection of it’s acceptance of the reins aids & how much they understand the communication of their rider

+ The horse has nothing to resist against - as there is no restriction.

+ A calm yet mobile mouth means they are light on the reins & relaxed through the neck so they can easily swallow

+ Freedom to the jaw will allow freedom in the pelvis & hind legs

+ Your horse has 100% chance of giving you it’s best performance!

It’s time we all stopped just using items of gear, because that’s what they sell in the shops ~ but really think about how we are trying to train our horses to understand us & give them the best chance of producing what we really want ~ HARMONY

© Love Your Horse

17/06/2022

I always say that walk is the best way to build your horses up xx

12/06/2022

Yesterday I watched a rider tack their horse up. The horse pinned their ears, swished their tail, danced on the cross ties and nipped at the air as soon as the saddle pad came out.

Even though the horse was CLEARLY communicating, the rider continued to tack up without hesitation.

Without going into extensive detail about the horse or the rider- just know that the rider, horse and trainer are not novice or inexperienced.

⁉️Why is this acceptable?

There are SO many educational resources that tell us this behavior is concerning. That these are potentially pain responses. (Having witnessed the event in person I can say with confidence that I believe they were).

When do we draw the line between someone not being educated or knowing any better, to their actions being unethical?
Unethical for riding a horse in pain, unethical for not investigating the behavior further, unethical for putting their own needs before the horses for the sake of showing/jumping/training/riding.

These questions need to be asked so we can attempt to break the cycle of normalizing this behavior.

✨The horse should comes first- not the rider’s agenda.

10/06/2022

STICKY WEED....SHOULD OUR HORSES EAT IT?
Sticky W**d for Horses, also known as Sticky W***y, Clivers, Goose Grass or Cleavers (Galium aparine). This is a very useful 'w**d' and most horses love the taste.
Sticky w**d supports the lymphatic system and is a diuretic. This means that it is particularly good for flushing out swellings and inflammation.
Cleavers are a great 'tonic' herb and can benefit horses with filled puffy legs, horses on box rest and as a Spring tonic ❤

28/05/2022

Sometimes a low water height is perceived as not working the horse as hard as a higher water level, but it is just as good, if not more (depending on the horses history and how they react to the treadmill) effective. 🏊🏼🤿🐠

🌊 stimulates flexion of the pelvis
🌊 engages the stifles more, rather than the hocks
🌊 improves straightness
🌊 strengthens back and abdominal muscles
🌊 improves the horses ability to engage their hind quaters

🌟 We cater to every horses needs! 🌟

24/05/2022

We are a fully-equipped mobile equine-only veterinary practice servicing the beautiful South West region of Western Australia, based out of the beautiful Margaret River.

24/05/2022

Something I ALWAYS go on about!!
(and yes I hate hydrogen peroxide)!!!

24/05/2022

Where has all the grass gone?...

“But there isn’t any grass on the field…” We hear these words a lot at this time of year, from the exasperated owners of fat horses fighting what sometimes seems like a losing battle with their horses’ weight.

Have you ever wondered why horses on a seemingly bare paddock can still gain weight?
It is worth keeping in mind, the picture of the un-grazed side of the field below. Of course, it can be very difficult for owners to monitor what a horse is taking in, but one thing is certain: when that side of the field is full of horses, it won’t look like this! That grass would be nipped off as soon as it poked up high enough to be nibbled!

Sarah Stoneham BVSc Cert ESM MRCVS gives this very good explanation of the problem which helps us to understand and monitor the amount of grass that the horse is consuming.

“UK grass growth figures (grass check GB) indicate that over the last week (ending 16.5.22), average grass growth in the north west has been high. At the moment a small well-managed paddock, the size of a 40x20m dressage arena will be producing an average of 22.5kg of grass per day. The dry matter content of grass is currently only 20% which means it is 80% water, so a 40x20m area produces 4.5 kg of grass on a dry matter basis each day.
This has a calorie content similar to 4.5 kg of a conditioning hard feed. The grass is also high in sugar, 17.1% on average last week. So, the 4.5 kg of grass on a dry matter basis will contain approximately 770g of sugar!
If your paddock is still looking as bare as it did earlier this year it is because your horse has eaten all the new grass each day.”

So, where has all the grass gone?... its inside the horse!

19/05/2022

Hi Guys,
As hard as it is for me to admit defeat I am going to have to put a hold on all treatments for the near future 😞😞
I have now been referred for an urgent MRI on my lower back and until then (and I get some answers and hopefully treatment) I just can’t work.
I’m so so sorry to all the clients that are booked in and that are also due treatments.
I will be back up and running as soon as I can.
I will help you as much as I can and if you want to send me updates of your horses via video I can advise as best I can. 💕💕💕

17/05/2022

TRAINING AIDS......
Q re: PESSOAS
NO I do not recommend these for rehabbing from a KISSING SPINE diagnosis.
Research so far hasn't proven them to be of any great help in some key areas.

😏 The pessoa aims to encourage correct “rounding” while collecting the hindlimbs with the most popular placement leading between the front legs to adjoin to a ring on the girth of the roller, designed to “stretch the topline” while engaging the hocks.
Hmmmmm
👇👇👇👇👇👇👇
Walker et al. found dorsoventral displacement (topline and core) increased with pessoa use when set at shoulder level, with greater lumbosacral joint extension during hindlimb retraction, suggesting greater back movement. However, the highest point of the horse changed from the poll to the crest, suggesting a high degree of cervical ventral flexion, which is not ideal for horses with neck pain and, is not indicative of a more uphill, engaged, and collected frame.

Other research noted the pessoa on setting 1 on a treadmill did not increase core muscle use, which also supports previous research finding no increase in long back muscle use with a pessoa, it does not assist with spinal stabilisation, and a horse should already have good back and core musculature prior to use for collection.

Additionally, Mackenchnie-Guire et al. found high pressures below rollers with a training aid such as a pessoa, thus indicating use during kissing spine rehab may be counter-intuitive when pressures are highest at T11-T12 which are key kissing spine locations.

So do your horse a favour and learn ground work from someone reputable.

👉🌟You can also learn some techniques to help start your horse off correctly on my 2 day horse owners course. June is full but JULY & AUGUST dates added on the events tab on my page.
It's not a course specifically for horse owners with ks horses but I may organise one for the end of the year, however you will learn some very useful information and techniques as a horse owner whether competitor or happy hacker that will be invaluable.

Links:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0737080618301035?via%3Dihub

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/comparative-exercise-physiology/article/abs/effects-of-training-aids-on-the-longissimus-dorsi-in-the-equine-back/7A61B5273E88DBFD9FC1FEB8FB7DEE33

https://animaltherapymedia.co.uk/the-effect-of-the-pessoa-training-aid-on-equine-rectus-abdominus-workload-on-a-treadmill/

https://facebook.com/events/s/horse-owners-empowerment-cours/216833067598885/

Image from Google

20/04/2022

Keep a close eye xx

⚠️ WARNING ⚠️

I know I’ve done a few posts on this but I keep seeing people posting about horses coming up short, uncomfortable or lame and they’re assuming it’s an injury but it’s more likely to be grass right now.

The grass in the UK is currently lethal and horses need to be managed very carefully if they’re on grass. The reason it is so deadly at the moment is the days are sunny, which activates photosynthesis and then the temperatures overnight drop to below 6 degrees which means the grass is storing the sugar rather than using it to grow. This is a trigger combination.

Until the temperatures overnight reach 6 degrees consistently we will stay in this cycle.

Think about adding salt and magnesium oxide (magox) to your horses’ feed to help counteract the effect of the grass.

06/04/2022

Love this x

Read , let it sink in, then read again :

“No. 1. Get your tack and equipment just right, and then forget about it and concentrate on the horse.

No. 2. The horse is bigger than you are, and it should carry you. The quieter you sit, the easier this will be for the horse.

No. 3. The horse's engine is in the rear. Thus, you must ride your horse from behind, and not focus on the forehand simply because you can see it.

No. 4. It takes two to pull. Don't pull. Push.

No. 5. For your horse to be keen but submissive, it must be calm, straight and forward.

No. 6. When the horse isn`t straight, the hollow side is the difficult side.

No. 7. The inside rein controls the bending, the outside rein controls the speed.

No. 8. Never rest your hands on the horse's mouth. You make a contract with it: "You carry your head and I'll carry my hands."

No. 10. Once you've used an aid, put it back.

No. 11. You can exaggerate every virtue into a defect.

No. 12. Always carry a stick, then you will seldom need it.

No. 13. If you`ve given something a fair trial, and it still doesn't work, try something else—even the opposite.

No. 14. Know when to start and when to stop. Know when to resist and when to reward.

No. 15. If you're going to have a fight, you pick the time and place.

No. 16. What you can't accomplish in an hour should usually be put off until tomorrow.

No. 17. You can think your way out of many problems faster than you can ride your way out of them.

No. 18. When the horse jumps, you go with it, not the other way around.

No. 19. Don`t let over-jumping or dull routine erode the horse's desire to jump cleanly. It's hard to jump clear rounds if the horse isn't trying.

No. 20. Never give up until the rail hits the ground.

No. 21. Young horses are like children—give them a lot of love, but don't let them get away with anything.

No. 22. In practice, do things as perfectly as you can; in competition, do what you have to do.

No. 23. Never fight the oats.

No. 24. The harder you work, the luckier you get."

~Bill Steinkraus

30/03/2022

NETTLES.
Lots of young nettles coming up now they are a powerhouse for your horses. If you have them on your land you can cut them down let them wilt for a few days on the ground and let your horse hoover them up.
Or pick your own to dry them for future use, pick on a dry morning and hang till dry feed a good handful daily. The sting will be gone once fully dry.
Excellent spring tonic, blood builder and helps with shedding out.

15/03/2022

Before backing your young horse, please read -

I wrote the first version of this post many many years ago now, every spring I tweak it, update it and reshare as owners are beginning to think about starting their youngsters. It has been stolen thousands of times, usually without the image, which irritates me as Naomi’s image was my inspiration to write this piece and I feel the words lose a lot without it, so please share rather than steal.

There are strange tables around that lead the reader to think horses age more quickly when they are young and slower as they get older. There is no evidence to support this. Why would the horse be the only animal in the world that ages in a non-linear manner? It doesn’t even make sense. It is an excuse for impatient owners to justify working their immature horses.

Sitting on a horse before they are mature is risking kissing spine, especially if the horse is not conditioned slowly. Sending a horse away as a 3 year old to go from unbacked to ridden daily in 6-8 weeks is a recipe for disaster. Riding in circles on 3 year olds damages the hocks. Jumping large jumps on 4 year olds is asking for stifle injuries. Pounding the roads pulling traps with 2 year olds damages every joint in their legs. Any joints asked to take excess pressure before maturity increases the risk of irreparable damage. Perhaps a young horse puts down more long bone in response to work, but a child heals quicker than an adult, it’s no excuse to cause them damage. An adult is still fully capable of adapting to the work load, just slower, without the collateral damage to the rest of the body.

For every horse that is backed at 3 and lives a long working life until they are 30, I can show you thousands, tens of thousands that are euthanised before they hit their teens because their bodies are broken. The exception makes the rule.

Now for the post -

A horse ages roughly 3 times faster than a human.

So a 90 year old human is a 30 year old horse. Both very old, usually arthritic, don’t have many of their original teeth left, and very likely retired and enjoying the finer things in life.

A 25 year old horse is a 75 year old human. Some are still happily working but some prefer retirement and an easier life. Often depending on just how hard a life they’ve lived.

A 20 year old horse is a 60 year old human. At that point where the body doesn’t work like it use to but the brain is all there and wants to be active.

A 13 year old horse is a 39 year old human. Middle aged, prime of their life where their knowledge and physical ability are about equal.

So let’s get down to the babies and work our way up.

A 1-1.5 year old horse is getting their first adult tooth, this happens at 6 years old in a human child.

A 3 year old horse is a 9 year old child. A child. Not ready for work by a long stretch. We have moved past sending children down the mines.

A 4 year old horse is a 12 year old child. Often will do odd jobs for pocket money, maybe a paper round, mowing lawns etc. Basically a 4 year old horse can start a bit of light work experience to learn the ropes.

A 5 year old horse is a 15 year old teenager. Think they know it all, cocky, and ready to up their work and responsibilities. Still quite weak and not fully developed so shouldn’t be at their physical limit but can start building strength.

A 5.5 year old horse has just cut their final adult tooth, this happens at 17 years of age in a human.

A 6 year old horse is an 18 year old human. An adult. Ready to work.

An 8 year old horse has achieved full fusion of their final growth plates. This happens at 24 years of age in a human. This is the age it is safe to push a horse for their optimal performance.

Pushing your youngster too hard too young will result in the failure of many body parts. Joints, spine, tendons, ligaments as well as their brains. Waiting another year or two at the beginning could give your horse an extra 10 years of useful working life. Be patient with your pride and joy!

Written by Vikki Fowler BVetMed BAEDT MRCVS

Graphic credit to Naomi Tavian , check her out on Pinterest