Saoirse Equine Physiology & Treeless Fitting

07/02/2025

SAOIRSE INVENTORY SALE

Hi guys, I will have items coming up for sale tomorrow including my pressure testing pad. These will be padding etc I use for clients and must sell at the set prices unless a bulk buy due to personal circumstances.

Is anyone interested in anything before I post?

Pressure pad (portable pressure pad)
Buck you English brown large (no shims)
Premier equine wither relief half pad
Blue western irons
Stubben string girth black
Thorowgood dressage girth (leather) black
Shires memory foam gp girth black

Other things I can't remember off the top of my head

28/01/2025

Don't be hard on yourself...

Life can throw us many curve balls. They appear at any given moment and can turn your world upside down, sideways and backwards in one fell swoop.

This week I've been a therapist as well as a physiologist and sometimes I'm required to be. One of my clients broke down in tears this week over the condition of her horse because she was caring for her elderly parents as well as working full time. She couldn't believe the change in her horse. She has given her permission whilst remaining anonymous to let others know life happens...

This client has been with me since I started up almost 2 years ago and we have to maintain continuous exercises to keep her horse able to carry rider weight via the APL Sessions using a Pivo Camera, I have 4 clients who use the Pivo even one in the USA it's a fab bit of kit, but I digress...

The client has done the right thing as well as she was able, cared for her parents, paid her bills, and put her horse on full livery to compensate so she was well cared for even if she wasn't there to give the care. She seen her horse 3 days a week in between caring for her parents and working, the yard she chose was brilliant, the staff well trained, she done the best she could in her circumstances.

I received a total of 18 calls from my client in devistation regarding the utter lack of muscle her horse now has. She was so upset that her middleweight polo pony had no muscle at all along her back (8 months into caring for her parents). To quote her: 'OMG Ash she looks like she's an old nag she's only 18!' Whilst breaking her heart over the phone I reminded her, 'you are doing the best with the situation you've been given'

As horses get older, muscle will waste quicker, I took every phone call to assure my client we will rebuild her lovely gals back but her main concern right now is her parents. How about someone to ride her instead to maintain, it doesn't have to be a lesson. We agreed on a short term sharer we both know who has agreed to ride her pony 4x weekly to keep the muscle turning over just hacking.
The tears were flowing moreso because she was harshly judged by someone she called a friend... This friend got in her head and made her collapse sobbing she was a bad owner and she should give up her horse ... No she damn well shouldn't.

My point (you all know how I like to over describe) is that sometimes we are too harsh on ourselves. Most horses don't give a s**t if their in the field every day for a year, the downside is yes unless it's a natural habitat style field almost with plenty slopes etc then yes they will lose muscle, but it's not the end of the line even for older horses.
G is the best living proof of this, he's went from having bad atrophy in his shoulders, back and rump, to being fully muscled up, carrying my fat ass without an issue and he is of course the Saoirse TCS Pressure Tester Pony.

Life happens guys, most of us have been there, I've been there! You all know I was in and out of hospital for a year recently, and by god G looked like he was an old nag, but I'm rebuilding him slowly, even rising 25 he will rebuild his back, chest, backside etc...

So please, let's don't be too hard on ourselves, you are all doing the best you can, no one has the right to verbally judge you. They are entitled to their own opinions, the problem with humanity now - we've forgotten an important phrase :

"If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all, get someone more diplomatic to say it"

So folks, keep your chin up, be kind, bring back the humanity I remember where we helped people before judging. Researched before hating, and thought before speaking. Enough is enough, bring back the proper horsey world with fully trained grooms who actually care, yard owners who actually care, horse people looking out for one another, friendly competitions without judgment. Bring humanity back guys...

Help before forming an opinion...

A. Bugla
Saoirse Equine

P.S. I got s**t for a fair few years for "having a kids pony a kid should have a love and I only done tricks and longlining with"
Hmm yes well that pony had an accident at 3yrs old, he was flipped on his back and his back couldn't carry weight PERIOD. However, the longlining done massive amounts for his bending and hill work exercises, and the tricks were a great stretch. Stop judging what you don't know.

Photo: my wee trick pony with the buggered back who I sadly lost this year to a broken leg. Drambuie, the one in a million pony who only caught for a few chosen people.

26/01/2025

Apologies folks! Weve been slightly busy clearing up after the storm at the weekend. The one time both of my careers merged after dragging the truck out to pitch in removing debris.

Luckily all horses are fine along with their owners. The house roof... Well ... Tbc lol!
I hope everyone faired well!

23/01/2025

To all our UK clients, be careful tomorrow! Stay safe! I've just dismantled my garden! My own horses will remain indoors tomorrow due to the high probability of overturned trees and flying debris as I am located in Edinburgh and the horses are close we are in the direct path from Ireland.
All zoom calls will continue on the basis my internet isn't down. I will of course try with other means, WhatsApp, phonecalls, video calls however please be aware I may not have internet. All appointments will be rescheduled should this occur.
Take care all!

19/01/2025

Massively Important!

WHY ARE REST DAYS IMPORTANT

Rest days are crucial for horses because they allow their muscles, connective tissues, and overall physiological systems to recover and adapt to the stress of exercise. During exercise, muscle fibers sustain microscopic tears, which is a natural response to physical exertion and essential for building strength and endurance. Rest gives muscle cells the time to repair these microtears by synthesizing new proteins, which strengthens the fibers and improves their resilience. Without rest, continued strain can lead to cumulative damage, reducing performance and increasing the risk of muscle injuries.

Additionally, exercise depletes glycogen, which is stored in muscle cells and the liver and serves as the primary energy source for movement. Rest days enable the horse’s body to replenish glycogen stores, ensuring that muscles have sufficient energy for future work. If glycogen is not replenished, it can lead to fatigue, decreased performance, and even muscle breakdown. Tendons and ligaments, which support joints and muscles during movement, also need rest. These structures have a limited blood supply, making their recovery slower than muscles. Rest allows for the synthesis and alignment of collagen, which strengthens tendons and ligaments. Continuous strain without rest can lead to overuse injuries such as tendonitis or ligament tears.

Rest days also help prevent muscle fatigue and oxidative stress. During exercise, lactic acid and other metabolic byproducts accumulate in muscles, contributing to soreness and fatigue. Rest allows these substances to be cleared, reducing soreness and preparing the muscles for future work. Intense exercise also produces free radicals, which can damage muscle cells and lead to inflammation. Rest supports the body’s antioxidant systems in neutralizing these harmful molecules, promoting overall muscle health.

The neuromuscular system also requires rest to recover. Continuous exercise stresses motor units, reducing the efficiency of muscle activation. Rest restores the ability of nerves to send strong and coordinated signals to muscle fibers, ensuring smooth and efficient movement. This also helps improve coordination, reducing the risk of missteps or injuries. Furthermore, the process of supercompensation, where the body not only repairs but strengthens muscles and systems in response to training, happens during rest, not during exercise. Without rest, the body cannot fully adapt to increased demands, leading to stagnation and potential overtraining.

Rest days also support mental and hormonal recovery. Exercise increases cortisol levels, and if these remain elevated for too long, they can suppress immune function and hinder recovery. Rest helps lower cortisol levels, restoring hormonal balance. Mental relaxation is equally important, as horses benefit from a break in their routine to reduce stress and improve focus and willingness to work. Incorporating light, low-stress activities like turnout or walking on rest days can maintain circulation and promote recovery while still allowing for downtime.

By including regular rest days in a horse’s training program, you provide the necessary time for muscle repair, glycogen replenishment, tissue recovery, and mental reset.

18/01/2025

AMERICA ONLY (for now)

UPCOMING QUESTION TIME

TCS, Healthy Riding and Balanced Natural Equine Health.
It's your turn to quiz us! Join us for our very British pub night! Have a wine, have a beer, have a cigarette, a v**e, relax in your PJs and ask the professionals all your questions!

Saoirse are hosting a zoom event for our clients and beyond. We will be hosting other professions and we invite anyone with questions regarding horse and hoof health, along with the TCS to please save the date!
We are currently accomodating all the professionals and will decide a date soon.

This zoom is for YOU AND YOUR HORSE(S)
This zoom is centred around you asking us your questions!

This zoom will potentially (and almost definitely) be featuring:

Equine performance osteopath and sports massage

Remedial equine podiatry

Anatomy, physiology and treeless fitting

The owners of course of Total Contact Saddles

A human riding therapist whos background and certification is immense working with people with disabilities and people without.

And one for the remembrance, a client turned friend who has followed her instincts, put herself through school, didn't listen to the masses but fought against tradition with fantastic results and is very well versed in what these therapies can do along with her outstanding knowledge in equine nutrition!

If this seems like the kind of zoom for you, please feel free to let us know in the comments! And watch my business page for updates on Saoirse Equine Physiology & Treeless Fitting ☺️

12/01/2025

With Riders & Horses – I just made it onto their weekly engagement list by being one of their top engagers! 🎉

11/01/2025

I do love reading these ❤️

11/01/2025

One of our very first and most popular videos
Total Contact Saddle versus Treed Saving Saddle

We pressure tested both ☺️

11/01/2025

Out of curiosity, how many people are told to measure D to D? Did you know this is useless... D rings can be measured at the same distance on various tree widths...

09/01/2025

Did you know... ❤️

08/01/2025

All about our lovely mares 😂
credits: Pinterest

07/01/2025

So, what you all doing tonight 😉

07/01/2025

Personal thoughts: warning, you guys know I'm kinda blunt 🤷🏻‍♀️

I've been asked a very valid question from one of my clients who admits he thought I was a physiotherapist 😂 and giggled about it so I thought I'd post it with my response live on my page with his permission.

"Hi Ash, what exactly is an equine Anatomist and Physiologist? Are you a physiotherapist? And what qualifications do you have? "

Qualifications wise, I hold a Doctorate in Equine Sciences, and a foundation degree in Equine Anatomy and Physiology, Riding road safety certificate, ride leader certificate, and an expired instructor certificate from when I was sooooo much younger. 2 (now 1 💔) wobbly but happy horses and an old horse who is now non wobbly, rising 25 and still and always will be, ridden in a TCS.

Anyways...

Every time I visit a client I mention my preference for using an Osteopath and when I find issues, I can only fix these issues after your horse has been seen by a body worker, (who then reports to me they are fit for their physiology) preferably an osteopath... As Physiology is the exercise plans contoured to your own horses development based off my own observations via Zoom or in person, and their report. E.g. your previous saddle caused atrophy in the thoracic trapezius, which affects the Spinalis Cervicis, it's my job to rebuild and unlock those muscles using a variety of self planned exercises ridden or in hand to redevelope these muscles in order for your horses back to gain the straight to carry tack and rider.

My reasons for vouching more for osteopaths started and continue with this absolutely amazing, talented, smart, caring awesome human being who kept my absolutely fecked heartpony Drambuie comfortable to live out his days as my wee trick pony and field cuddlebug, after her finding all the things the other equine body workers had missed including physio therapists and vets.
This lady of course is Gwen Lindsay who is the owner and sole practitioner of Lothian Equine Advanced PerformanceTherapy - The Osteopathic Approach. And I aspire to be as great as she is one day!

I urge all my clients no matter where in the world you are to follow this wonderful humans page, Instagram page. Ticktock (or whatever it's called lol) and listen, just listen to her, contact her and ask her opinion on something that worries you and watch the difference in her answer. In my mind from my own experience and from what I've seen, she is one of the small handful of practitioners who actually care more about the horse than the money, and will adapt her technique to fit your horse's body instead of keeping the treatment 'textbook' which a lot of my clients will verify I do deviate from textbook to help our harder clients. Osteopaths for me, are a combination of all body workers.
And please don't get confused, I'm not a physiotherapist, I'm an Equine Physiologist and Anatomist before everything else. I fit treeless saddles but only deal with a few I believe in and have personally pressure tested, my main of course being the Total Contact Saddle.
My clients (the horses and their mamas or daddies) physiology is massively different in every horse so the chances of padding being the same are rare, they happen on healthy backs, similar builds etc but they are rare.
Padding for the TCS, once placed in the proper position (just directly behind the wither) should be a reflection on what muscles need worked on and strengthened, and what helps the rider balance and build core, and also feel safe and secure.
Feet are also a huge part in if your horse or pony has any issues, are they just filed flat, or are they shaped to accommodate the angle they should be at? For that reason I use Balanced Barefoot, Steven, who is a Remedial Equine Podiatrist. My own horses feet have never looked better and their pelvis and legs, back and withers, spine and neck hold straight and true without the added pressure of odd angled feet.

So there you have it, Physiology and Physiotherapy are NOT the same thing.
Have a look at Gwen's page I've tagged it above, Lothian Advanced Performance Therapy. Listen to your gut with your horses always. Believe in your ability to research and understand ☺️

Ash

07/01/2025

Remember, remember, saddle position matters no matter what saddle you use!

03/01/2025

I've come across a lot of clients recently who's saddle fitters have been placing their tree'd saddles far too far forward to accommodate rider size.

Some horses, cob and pony types, are ultimately short backed which is what helps them carry weight however ... It doesn't mean you can put a 17' saddle on a 13hh short backed pony and pull it forward to achieve the sale. As saddle fitters you should be saying to your client I'm sorry this is where the tree points should sit, in turn this makes the saddle fitted to your size and riding style too long. Please consider other options.

And of course, vice versa...

Other options being... A 14.2 cob has a shorter slightly weighty owner. Weight wise the cob can handle his owner without an issue remaining within the 20% including tack. Length wise the pony's back cannot cope with the pressure past the last rib. The alternative would be a TCS first and foremost as this allows the rider (without the help of a tree, to sit in the correct place on the pony as you sit where you would ba****ck, therefore keeping weight before the last rib.

Please ensure you are within the 20% weight limit, please check where your saddle sits on your horse. If you can't get a traditional saddle, for your ponies sake please consider other options. Also PLEASE be careful and research treeless saddles carefully, there as only a handful I will fit, others I will not entertain as a lot of people have jumped on the bandwagon without nessesary pressure testing.
We offer saddle pressure testing here at Saoirse.

It's not treeless Vs treed, it's what fits the horse and rider.

Below for my tree'd clients, are drawings done with full credit to saddlefitting.us indicating the types of tree needed for your horses shape, another thing we have been missing on saddle fittings, just because your told to get "a wintec wide 17'" doesn't mean the tree is the correct shape.

To all the fitters our there doing their thing and doing it properly with the clients horse and the client in mind...keep going we need more of you 🎊

We are busy here at Saoirse just now with hypertrophic backs on the rise.
Technically I shouldn't exist if you think about it...

Food for thought...

03/01/2025

AMERICAN LIVE 🇺🇸

Zoom call coming soon ☺️
Why not come and pick our brains with myself and a possible special guest ☺️

Paid entry, love questions and answers regarding equine health, Treeless Saddles, TC Saddles and Physiology!

03/01/2025

15 Zoom Consults completed! Physical examination tomorrow, another 6 zoom calls over the weekend.

We currently have 4 available spaces for Zoom consultations at our new year reduced rate of £45! Grab it whilst you can!