Equiflexion - Laura Clinton - Equine Musculoskeletal Therapy

24/07/2024

The wonderful signs of release after spinal manipulation and realignment 😊

24/07/2024

Price change

I've put it off for a considerable amount of time, but with the current climate, and because it's years since I put my prices up, it is time for a price increase.

All appointments will be £60 from 1st August.

Mileage is at my discretion depending on location. Either 0, £5 or £10 which can be split across clients on the same yard.

Four or more horses on the same yard will receive a £5 discount.

Anyone already booked in for August will remain on the old prices.
Anyone booked in in September onwards will be at the new price.

02/05/2024

This handsome chap Jasper is off to Badminton Grassroots next week!
So he was having his pre-competition treatment today - sports massage, joint mobilisation and stretching. He's feeling fit and raring to go!

I've been treating Jasper for over 10 years, which blows my mind!

Best of luck to Rachel Basnett and the phenomenal Jasper next week! You two are an awesome team, very well deserved, enjoy it!

07/03/2024

Really enjoyed presenting this webinar tonight for the RoR - "The Musculoskeletal Journey from Racehorse to Riding Horse."
Thanks for having me!

💚 It’s nearly time for the last in our winter webinar series and it’s a really good one!

Laura will be giving an insight into the benefits of understanding horse anatomy and how this can improve your horses wellbeing and performance.

Book now 👇
https://horsemonkey.com/equestrian_event/51769/RoR+Wales+Online+Winter+Webinar+5-+Equine+Musculoskeletal+Therapist+%28Equiflexion%29

RoR Midlands
RoR South West
RoR Northern
RoR Scotland
RoR South East
Equiflexion - Laura Clinton - Equine Musculoskeletal Therapy

02/01/2024

📣Equiflexion update

📆 Diary open!

January is pretty full but still the odd space depending on location (there are a few people I need get back to, if that's you feel free to give me a nudge!)
So if you need Jan, Feb or even March appointments, please contact me:
comment below, FB message or text me. If you call or leave a voicemail it's easily missed. I'm not ignoring you, just much harder to keep track.

📌 Prices
Standard cost is remaining the same at this moment in time at £50.
Mileage is £5 or £10 depending on location.
The only change is the multiple horse discount.
Treatment cost was reduced to £45 for 3 or more horses, that will now only apply to 4 or more horses.
Mileage charges are at my discretion depending on location.

A reminder of what I do:
Fully qualified and insured (it would be pretty shoddy if I wasn't 😆) Equine Musculoskeletal Therapist i.e. I treat muscles and soft tissue and I manipulate joints including the spine.

I focus on optimum function of the musculoskeletal system aiming for a comfortable horse who can perform the job it's being asked to do. My other focus is helping to increase the performance of competition horses.

📍 Based in Rossett, primarily covering Wrexham, north east Wales, Chester and Cheshire West, South Wirral.

🕒 I treat horses on Wednesdays and Thursdays only, first appointment 9.30, last 5pm latest.

And lastly... Happy new year! 🦄

21/12/2023

That's me over and out for the year treating horses ✌️ Two weeks off, and I won't lie, I'm ready for the break 😆
Thanks to all my clients for entrusting me to help all your wonderful horses, whether it's been maintenance, increasing performance or rehab.
Look forward to seeing you all in the new year! 🩷

14/06/2023

Just a couple from last week...
Snoozing post treatment, the son of a stallion I also treat and a selfie sent to an owner who couldn't be at the appointment but we know each other well enough that he's happy to leave me with his gorgeous horse 💗

01/06/2023

I was so impressed with this mare yesterday, she made my day! 😍

She's had no ridden work for years but has been brought back into work slowly, mindfully and correctly.
Because she'd been out of work for so long, she had poor posture and a lack of strength and suppleness, and no topline, as you'd totally expect.

Carrot stretches are one of the tools we've used to help her.

This photo brings me so much joy because she's never been able to stretch her head between her legs, engage her core and lift her back.
She would avoid the movement by bending a front leg, and shoving her bum in the air like she was doing downward dog, which is not what we wanted.

This photo doesn't 100% capture it, but she can now DO IT!! This represents the massive progress she's made and is also kudos to her owner who has been committed but has been sympathetic and not rushed her.

This is why I love my job ☺️

09/05/2023

Hi everyone!

I'd be grateful if you could complete this quick questionnaire for me to do with your experience in having exercise plans left for you for your animal by an animal physical therapist (this is not about me as a therapist!)

It's going to help shape what comes next for my other business Equicantis (exercise prescription app) because there are still some pain points I need to address from my Equicantis audience (physios, massage therapists, musculoskeletal practitioners, chiros, osteos etc) and you, the animal owner.

Thank you!! 😘

p.s. please take me 'equine musculokseletal therapist Laura' out of the equation, this doesn't make any difference either way if you're an Equiflexion client of mine or not. Exercise plans are an industry-wide issue that I'm trying to address from all points of view.

This questionnaire is to help establish your feelings regarding exercise and rehab plans set by an equine or canine physical therapist i.e. physiotherapist, sports massage therapist, musculoskeletal therapist, osteopath, chiropractor. The results of this questionnaire are to help steer this industry...

12/04/2023

How do you think your horse feels?
Your horse could be subconsciously compensating, subtly changing their movement patterns to make up for niggles elsewhere.
The horse won't notice they're doing it. And neither will you.
My job is to nip these niggles and subtle compensation patterns in the bud before they become really obvious and much more difficult to correct.

18/01/2023

A wee bit chilly out today! The hot drink top ups were appreciated! ☕

04/01/2023

Great to be back to it today after a lovely 2 week Christmas break!
Five horses today across Cymau, Leeswood, Pontybodkin and Northop Equestrian.

24/12/2022

The last ponio of the year from Thursday 🥰
Thanks to all my Equiflexion clients for another fabulous year! I love treating your horses and seeing you all 😊
Nearly two weeks off me, back out again on Wednesday 4th 🐴

12/12/2022

Me & Bill living it up under the heatlamps today! Soooo grateful!

23/11/2022

Black Friday!!

Many of my clients will know, I love Epiony products and use them regularly in my treatments.
So I'm offering a 15% discount on the Epiony Massage Mitts and Massage Balls from now until Monday 28th Nov.

Massage Mitts - 9 balls rather than the 7 you see in other mitts, and shaped to the hand for better contouring around the horse's body. Great for all round massage in between treatment sessions.
RRP £10.99 - I have 5 available for £9.35

Massage Ball - includes a gel inside which means when placed in warm or cold water it will hold the temperature to allow you to provide warm or cold therapy. I love it for helping to relax tight muscles.
RRP £19.95 - I have 5 available for £17.

I can also pre-order if needed.

You will also see Epiony products featured in my exercise prescription app Equicantis so animal physical therapists around the world can use them when setting exercise plans for their clients.

TO ORDER
Message me - if you're a client I'm due to see soon then I'll bring with me. Or postage cost will be required.

24/10/2022

🐴 North Wales or Chester availability this week!

💛 Has your horse worked hard over the summer?
Are you having any ridden niggles?

⏰ Time to get them checked and treated!

Wednesday and Thursday both have space for a couple of appointments in these areas, and there a couple of slots left next week.

Let me know asap if you'd like one.

🐎 Treatments can include a combination of static assessment, movement assessment, and sports massage, trigger point release, myofascial release, stretching, joint mobilisation and manipulation, spinal manipulation.

Message me to discuss your horse and book.

27/07/2022

📣 Last minute availability!

🐎 Equine Sports Massage & Spinal Manipulation Therapy.

🗓 This Saturday morning has become available!
None of my waitlist can do Saturday so I'm throwing it out there! (Which basically never happens!)

Preferably Wrexham/Oswestry direction but I can probably make Chester and North West Wales work too.

P.S. sorry if you're on my waitlist and I've missed you off 🙈

Message me 😉

27/06/2022

Just a bit of a housekeeping post...

A lot has changed recently, for me, for the economy, and for many of you on many different levels too I'm sure.

But I just want to let you in a bit to have an understanding of how things roll in my world....

I work full-time but only work part-time treating these days. I run another equine-related business (some of you will have had some awesome looking exercise plans from said other business, Equicantis, and I have a family which includes two young boys who are 1 and 4. I am also creating an online membership so I can still offer some knowledge but from my laptop. I like to be purpose and time efficient ;-) Feel free to join the community group here before the membership launches...
MASSAGE & STRETCH Tips & Techniques For Your Horse

The economy. Fuel. Jeez the fuel! And as you know, I put my prices up in April to balance some of this out, but it's still a bit dicey. (No I won't be putting my prices up again don't worry, but please continue reading).

It then all boils down to the organising of appointments. It's like a dark art. It is time consuming. It is pencilling people in, it is trying to get different people in a similar area booked in on the same day, it is sending umpteen messages between different clients to get everyone to tie in before I can confirm times. It is spending a stupid amount of time on Google maps figuring out logistics and timings whilst trying to multi-task making dinner or watch some tv with my husband (because that is allowed). (And also, I know we're all busy, this isn't a 'I'm busier than you' post because I hate that rubbish, just letting you know some of my world).

So back to the fuel situ, it is imperative that I'm not tear-arsing around from one side of the county to the other. A dream day for me is horses all on one yard in one day, heaven! But also not always real life.

Please trust me when I say I try really hard to get you and your horse in on the right day at the right time to suit you. But it also has to suit me. More so these days. And it has to suit the person that came before you, and the one after and the one after. One cancellation or rearranged time sends the whole Jenga tower of a day tumbling down. And often causes me to swear. A lot. So I promise I'm not being awkward when I say I can only do this day at this time or that the next appointment is in four weeks, because that will legit be the next time I can sensibly get to you.

So if I ask to rearrange an appointment that we had scheduled, it's usually because I can't make it work logistically. I might have you 30 minutes in one direction but no one else scheduled in the area but four people waiting 30 minutes in the opposite direction. I have to be sensible time-wise and money-wise.

If you message me and I don't reply for a couple of days, it's usually because I'm trying to work out the diary to see where I could make it work alongside other bookings before giving you a time. But also, I am only human and sometimes I read it when I'm busy and I forget. So please nudge me! I'm never deliberately ignoring anyone. (But on the other hand, don't message me at 11pm on a Friday night and then again at 8am Saturday morning. That really did happen a few weeks ago. And yes I did swear then too).

So what I'm really saying is, I'm running a business and trying my best. I try to be as flexible as I can so I just ask that I have that in return.

Big love x

11/06/2022

Lots to work through with this boy today. But lots of processing and releasing. He was zonked!
Looking forward to seeing him again next week and making more progress.

31/03/2022

Well done to my sponsored rider Rachel Basnett and Louie! 👏

🌟𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭｡𝟮𝟬𝗺❟ 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝟮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀! 🌟

🥇 Rachel Basnett riding Louie
🥈 Rachel Tudor-Davies riding Oscar

Thank you to everyone today, we look forward to seeing you all in 2 weeks time!

Do remember our first BS show outside is on Tuesday 5th April, entries open now!

28/03/2022

So pleased with the improvement in this mare! Two treatments, 4 weeks apart.
When backing up, I'm looking for the horse to be able to move its legs in diagonal pairs, be able to lift its back, and stay straight.

In the first video notice how the above simply doesn't happen, the horse just looks uncomfortable.

Second video, we tick all the boxes! Much more comfortable, beautiful diagonal pairs, back life and straight!

Michael Jackson • Smooth Criminal (2012 Remaster)

28/03/2022

I've been to one of Justine's talks before, very informative, so if you're free try to go, I'm sure you'll learn loads!

https://www.equinebehaviourist.co.uk/events/understand-your-horse-kelsall-28/04/22

25/03/2022

Hi everyone, sorry that I've not been very active on here for a good while, covid, baby, maternity leave and another aligned business on the go! I've kinda let my Equiflexion socials slide. But I am here, treating horses as ever!
This was taken by a client a couple of weeks ago in the beautiful North Wales sunshine 😎
I hope you're all enjoying the lovely weather!☀️

21/03/2022

Hi everyone, just to let you know that come 1st April there will be a price increase.
Sorry guys, but I've had to make this business decision based on current economic climate, and I've not increased my prices for years, so long ago that I can't even remember! My experience and skillset has also increased significantly over the years.

Historically I have had separate prices for initial assessments and treatments, and follow up treatments, however my style of treating has changed over the years so the pricing structure reflects this.....

All appointments will now be £50. There may be an additional mileage cost of £5 depending on location.

So:
Initial assessment and treatment - 1.5 hours - remaining at £50
Follow up treatments - 1 hour - increasing from £40 to £50

Those with confirmed appointments after 1st April will still be on the historic rate but future appointments will be at the new rate.

04/01/2022

A bit late to the happy new year party, but 'Happy New Year!' I'm super excited for 2022, to be getting back out and treating your horses and for what we have in the pipeline my exercise prescription app, Equicantis! Thank you for all of your support so far. Let's all make it a good one!
Laura x

25/11/2021

Did you know today is the first ever National Dog Breeders Day? The founder is a wonderful friend of mine and the breeder of my sproodle dog Ringo who many of you will have met!
She's really transforming the dog breeding world and has loads of talks on this week as part of her online National Dog Breeder Convention.
Check it out here https://www.facebook.com/Pupstartsbreeders
Here https://bit.ly/nationaldogbreederconvention
And here https://pupstartsbreeders.com

Discover the dog breeding courses that answer all your dog breeding questions. Get clued up, prepared and feeling confident in your dog breeding business.

16/11/2021

This is how a shoulder groove should be 👌 Zero soft tissue restrictions, beautifully free fascia creating freedom for that big scapula. Just what you want, particularly in a dressage horse.
Looks a bit weird mind!

09/11/2021

📢Announcement! Please watch!📢

05/10/2021

Hi everyone! Long time no speak!
I will be officially back from maternity soon and I'll send out another post about that later this week... but in the meantime, can you all help me out with something please...

Do you think having exercise videos (like the one below) to watch would help you better perform the exercises?

The idea being you have something to keep re-watching to make sure you are performing the exercises correctly, and therefore helping your horse recover/increase performance more quickly.
Can you comment below if you think this would be helpful to you as an owner.

Thanks!
(This has also gone out on my personal page so apologies if some of you are seeing it twice!)

20/07/2021

Perfectly put. Unfortunately these things are rarely a quick fix, it takes time to release and retrain muscles and improve a horse's way of going. It takes patience and understanding from the owner that one session doesn't solve a problem, but in time, with correct treatment and following an exercise plan, you can end up with a very different horse - stronger, more comfortable and more able to do what you're asking of them.

Equine back health Top Tip💡

The root cause of back pain in horses is very often associated with an incorrect way of moving.

This needs correcting through exercise but before you ask your horse to move in a different way you should consult an equine massage therapsit or physical therapist to release the muscles you will be asking them to engage.

In therapy we call this 'release and activate'.

As you ask your horse to move with a more rounded back they need to stretch over their topline to allow that to happen. If the muscles of their top line are contracted (which they most likely are), then as hard as they try to please you, they will not be able to soften and round their back. This is a mechanical restriction.

Corrective exercise is a very positive way to prevent back pain and injury in horses. If you are working with your horse to improve their way of going then make sure you consult a massage or physical therapist to 'release' the muscles before asking for 'activation'.