Steph Lockwood Equine Performance Bodywork

01/03/2024

28/02/2024

Spring is a season of hope and of new beginnings. It's also a really great time for bodywork... easing the tensions of a busy winter season, preparing for the busy summer season ahead or just relaxing an older body....

Get in touch to book a bodywork session 🐴🐴

13/01/2024

01/01/2024

I found this post about the treatment of encysted redworm really useful x

*** ENCYSTED REDWORM ***

I first posted this in 2019, but after reading a LOT of worrying comments recently about how people don’t worm their horses at all, as they do worm egg counts, I thought it was time to do a little encysted redworm refresher, with some updates!

1. Redworm can kill your horse.

2. You need to worm for encysted redworm AFTER they encyst, and before they emerge, so NOT in the Autumn! Wait for a good, frosty cold spell.

3. Encysted small redworm are NOT DETECTABLE in worm egg counts.

4. The larvae of small redworm, “encyst” or burrow into the gut wall. These can cause fatal consequences when they re-emerge.

5. Redworm appear as tiny pieces of thread in your horse’s droppings. They are very short and thin, and can be hard to see. They are white if they haven’t yet fed, and red if they have fed.

6. A horse can appear completely normal and healthy whilst carrying a large redworm burden. However, weight loss and diarrhoea may be early indicators; don’t ignore these signs.

7. Most wormers DO NOT target encysted redworm. Only TWO do: Fenbendazole and Moxidectin.

8. Lots of combination wormers contain IVERMectin. This WILL NOT have any effect on encysted redworm. The only wormer that contains MOXIDectin, is EQUEST. The Pramox (blue) version will treat tapeworm at the same time. Don’t use Pramox if you have treated separately for tapeworm, or used a saliva or blood test for tapeworm. Use the normal Equest (green) if this is the case.

9. Redworm are eaten by the horse during grazing. The larvae start to burrow into the gut wall as temperatures drop. Treating for encysted redworm whilst temperatures are warm, is not the optimal time, as the larvae may well not have started to encyst. Treating after a few hard frosts, also reduces the level of reinfection from larvae already on the fields.

10. The larvae stay in the gut wall during the winter, and are then triggered to emerge from the gut wall as the temperatures warm up in the Spring. If the horse has not been treated for redworm during this redworm “hibernation” stage, he/she is at risk of developing CYATHOSTOMINOSIS.

11. Cyathostominosis has a mortality (death) rate of up to 50%. It presents as colitis; profuse diarrhoea and colic. Contact your vet immediately if you see these symptoms in your horse at any time of year, but it is more likely to be due to redworm if this occurs in the Spring.

12. Ensure you have treated for encysted
redworm before temperatures start to increase as Spring arrives, incase of a large encysted redworm burden that may suddenly emerge.

13. There is a blood test for all stages of redworm, including encysted. This detects antibodies, so may be positive if your horse has had a high burden in the past 6 months, even if he currently doesn’t, but worth discussing with your vet. I would not be recommending this route for high risk redworm horses ie horses in herds with no poo picking, or rescue cases.

14. 5 day Panacur Guard (Fenbendazole) is the only other wormer that can treat the encysted stage of redworm. There was widespread resistance to this wormer, and a huge move towards everyone using Moxidectin for encysted redworm. It is my wormer of choice for very sick or poor horses, due to its milder action over 5 days. However, there is some evidence that it may cause more damage to the gut than Moxidectin, so more research is definitely required!

15. Poo picking daily is perfect pasture management, but does not mean that your horse is worm free! You still need to egg count/blood test for all worms and/or worm.

16. Herbal wormers do not work.

17. Worm egg counts do not detect encysted redworms (or tapeworm/bots/pinworm). I realise I am repeating myself, but this is something that lots of people still do not realise.

18. Do not UNDERDOSE when worming, as this will aid resistance. If in doubt, add 50kg to the weigh tape weight of your horse. Wormers are very safe with regards to toxic doses.

19. The Mole Valley wormers are NOT the same as Equest!!!! I saw this misinformation posted yesterday! They contain Ivermectin, which will NOT treat for encysted redworm.

20. Do NOT overuse Equest. Moxidectin (Equest and Pramox) should only be used ONCE in a 12 month period. So know when to use it!

This is not an exhaustive review of redworm, and I may add to the list if I think of anything else, but I hope this is of some use! Worming regimes and what worm egg counts detect, seems to cause lots of confusion amongst horse owners, and even yard owners.

Blood tests currently used for tapeworm and redworm, measure antibody levels to the worm. The saliva test also measures antibodies. The concern here would be false positives. This means the test coming back as positive when your horse has been clear of the worm in question for months. Antibody levels remain high for months following successful treatment for the worm being tested for. However, a negative obviously means the horse has been clear for a good few months, and would not need worming.

Happy reading!

Please share, as this is really something that all horse owners should know, and still don’t!

No prizes for spotting the hundreds of redworm in this photo!

29/11/2023

I'd like to say a big thank you to my clients for their continued support throughout 2023 🙂

If I've visited recently you will already know that I'm changing the way I work...I'm happy to provide written reports on request but feedback has indicated that most clients are happy with verbal feedback during the session. I'll continue to make notes for my records and to refer back to if necessary.

From January 1st 2024 session rates will be increasing slightly from £40 to £50. New horse consultations will remain at £60.

🐴🐴 Stay warm and well 🐴🐴

Steph x

03/11/2023

26/10/2023

Wise words x

Skills every horse owner should know:

I’m a big fan of promoting independence in my students. My hope is that you don’t NEED your trainer or other professionals, but that you can access them for growth and learning when you need it. This is not to say they should be eliminated- I have a team of professionals I benefit from in my barn, but I hope that if one can’t come, or in the case of emergency, I’m not up p**p creek, as the saying goes.

Feel free to add to this list in the comments!

So here’s a few things I think every horse owner should know how to do:

-Basic trim.
If your farrier can’t come or is delayed, every horse owner should have a basic handle of a rasp to maintain a hoof to keep their horse in good shape, or “good-ish” shape until their farrier comes.

-pull a shoe
Even if you don’t believe in shoeing, you never know when one needs to be pulled. You might be the person who can help out with that

-hook up, drive and back up a trailer
Don’t rely on others to haul- you never know what situations might come up. Fire, flood, middle of the night colic- if you’re gonna drive it you need to be able to back it up, too. Don’t wait for an emergency to practice this.
And obviously, the ability to LOAD the horse!

-basic saddle fit assessment
This is not to replace a qualified saddle fitter, but you should have an idea if your saddle is even in the ballpark of fit. You should have some grasp of what to look for to keep your horse comfortable

-some grasp of nutrition
Again, not to replace a qualified nutritionist, but don’t just read the tractor supply grain bag and follow the chart- know what your horses are eating and what they actually need given their lifestyle

-know how to assess and treat wounds
Obviously I’m not saying your vet shouldn’t come out, but if you can safely and adequately treat and dress small wounds, you can reduce a lot of your own anxiety and take better care of your horse

-know how to check vitals:
Temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, digital pulse, etc. Be your vet’s friend and know what the baseline for these things are

-a cursory understanding of anatomy and fitness;
Essentially knowing what’s under the hood so you can have realistic expectations, know how to leg up safely, prevent injury, and the ability to keep your horse sound.

What else do you guys think should be on every horse owners toolkit?

13/06/2023

The other horses in my herd often want to join the Masterson session, they're curious and find it relaxing... perhaps this is a little too close 😂 your turn next time Banner

20/05/2023

Anyone interested in hosting a Masterson Method weekend seminar? Meet a great bunch of people and get your horses treated for free 🙂

Hosting a Beyond Horse Massage Weekend Seminar-Workshop at your facility is one of the most rewarding experiences you can share with friends, family, and horse lovers from any discipline.

16/02/2023

Use a simple set-up with two poles to fine tune hoof placement and motor control. This is a useful exercise during inclement weather or periods of lesser act...

22/01/2023

I'm proud to be a Masterson Method Certified Practitioner 😀 it's quite a journey but well worth the effort.

06/01/2023

Definitely worth a watch x

24/12/2022

Merry Christmas to my clients and their lovely horses 🎄🎄see you in 2023!

01/12/2022

Wow! It's been a busy Masterson week.

I've seen some fabulous improvements from very dedicated owners. Your horses are truly testament to your hard work and commitment.

Thank you for allowing me to be part of the journey. Keep up the good work 🙂

17/11/2022

This is really good example of why Masterson Method practitioners work on the whole horse rather than looking at specific issues. One issue creates many more...

Listening to the horse is so important. At last the equestrian world is finally becoming aware of the benefits of treating the whole horse x

The radiographic diagnosis of kissing spines has become so prevalent that some veterinarians are making the assumption that it only matters if the horse is clinical. I’m assuming ’clinical’ means painful in the area that’s abnormal on the radiograph.
How does the body respond when things are rubbing against each other and it hurts ? It tries to stop the rubbing by contracting around the area and adding in more tension to the soft tissue structures. These will then start to pull on other areas as they work to stabilize the area that hurts.
This creates compensation.
When a horse tries to stabilize the withers they will contract lots of muscles. I just named a few on the picture - but these muscles will pull on other muscles. Soon the fascia around the lower part of the neck gets involved and the lower cervical vertebrae start to move a little ( red bones at base of neck). That movement causes the muscles in that area to contract as they must stabilize these vertebrae. Pretty soon those 1st couple of ribs also feel a tug - the second rib is red, you cannot see first. What’s in that area ? Well a giant nerve plexus. As the horse starts to press his leg into the side of his body to stabilize and he presses on this plexus and it gets inflamed and the horse starts acting girthy and short striding. At this point the withers feel fine but the horse has compensated creating other areas of pain.
This is the problem with making assumptions about how a horse feels about something. They prioritize, they compensate, they internalize and shut down, they act out.
Kissing spines are the result of too much tension in the system. Treat the whole horse when treating kissing spine.

12/11/2022

I'm really looking forward to exploring this!

11/11/2022

I'm in Unthank, Holmesfield, Dronfield and the surrounding areas on Friday 25th November 2022. Spaces available for new clients in the area.
For more information or to book a session please either send me a message or phone on 07540 427089.🐴🐴🐴

Unthank Equestrian Stubley Hollow Farm

17/10/2022

It was fabulous to see these beauties in action at the National Ploughing Championships.

Masterson Method equine bodywork is perfect for all equines regardless of size or discipline.

The diary is now open for November and December bookings 😊

05/10/2022

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

28/09/2022

The 'Bladder Meridian' BM is a very simple but powerful technique. When I meet a horse for the first time, this is my technique of choice to start the session.

🐎The BM is a major acupuncture meridian which connects all other meridians

🐎 The BM runs through the major junctions in the body which are the focus of the Masterson Method

🐎Starting with this technique allows me to establish 2 way communication with the horse. I can see the horses response to touch and alter the pressure that I use accordingly

🐎The horse has an opportunity to read my intention. The BM sets the tone for our interaction.

🐎This technique is very relaxing and calming

🐎The aim of Masterson Method bodywork is to work under the brace and bypass the fight or flight survival response. Once the horse is relaxed it is much easier to release muscular tension

🐎This is a great technique for owners to practice in between bodywork sessions. It's slow and quiet and the perfect way of connecting with your horse. Practiced on a regular basis, the BM technique can also bring favourable changes in behaviour

27/09/2022

Please bear with me!

After spending a week on the Isle of Barra I'm just about adjusting back to normal life...

If you are waiting for session feedback or have sent me a message I will be in touch soon 😊

15/09/2022

🍂Während der Weidesaison machen sich die meisten Pferdehalter nicht allzuviele Gedanken über die Fütterung ihres Lieblings. Das Pferd steht auf der Weide, hat eigentlich alles, was es braucht, die Welt ist in Ordnung. Aber spätestens mit dem Herbstfellwechsel und der Umstellung von den abgenagten Weideflächen wieder auf Paddock und Heu, machen sich die meisten Gedanken, ob das Pferd jetzt noch mit allem versorgt ist, was es braucht, denn die die Bildung des neuen Haars ist nicht nur eine Belastung für die Entgiftungssysteme sondern dem Organismus darüber darüber hinaus Mineralstoffe entzogen.

🍁Was dein Pferd in dieser Zeit benötigt, erfährst du in unserem frisch veröffentlichten Artikel:
↓👇 ↓
https://wissen.sanoanimal.de/2022/09/12/welche-mineralien-braucht-mein-pferd-im-herbstfellwechsel/

07/09/2022

The diary is now open for October!

Perhaps you've had a busy summer and your horse is ready for a little R and R?

Perhaps you and your horse are preparing for a busy autumn and winter season?

Regular maintenance bodywork plays an important part in the care of the whole horse.

The benefits of bodywork..

🐎Relaxation🐎
Bodywork releases endorphins. These hormones increase feelings of pleasure and also reduce pain and discomfort. Release of muscular tension aids relaxation, improves willingness to work and enhances comfort 👇

🐎Improved Comfort🐎
Muscular tension causes pain and a build up of tension can contribute to lameness. Bodywork can work to release this tension, maintain flexibility and range of movement and enhance performance 👇

🐎Enhanced Performance🐎
Bodywork reduces accumulated tension and can identify and address tension patterns that may negatively affect performance

21/08/2022

16/08/2022

🐎🐎🐎 How can the light touch of Masterson Method be so effective at releasing tension?🐎🐎🐎

The horse's natural instinct is to block out pain and discomfort. They compensate for injuries and just get on with life. Cumulative tension causes issues which may only become apparent months or years later.

To release this tension we must bypass the bracing 'fight or flight' sympathetic nervous system and work with the 'rest and digest' parasympathetic nervous system.

Working 'under the brace' Masterson Method practitioners follow subtle body language to identify and subsequently release areas of tension. We call this process search, response, stay, release (SRSR). This technique, combined with gentle movements focussing on key areas of the body forms the basis of Masterson Method equine bodywork 😊