KD Equine Massage

08/01/2025

Hi everyone 🤗 just a quick update and a cute Jangie moustache to go with 🥰😂

Unfortunately I think I will have to take a break from massaging during the next stage of my treatment, not something I have taken lightly and very sorry to have to cancel everyone again that I had booked in for January. As hard as it is for me to admit I should probably prioritise rest and healing which will hopefully make the whole process faster and easier 😊

I just want to say a huge thankyou to everyone for being so supportive 🥰 you are all amazing and I'm very grateful! I am going to use the downtime to read alllll the books, articles, do all the cpd 😂 and come back with as much extra knowledge as I can cram in 😂

💕💕💕 .

25/12/2024

Wishing all my clients a very Merry Christmas ⛄🎄🎁✨

07/11/2024

Pleased to report that surgery went well 😃 and I am back home to rest and heal ♥️ Thankyou for everyone's well wishes and to the excellent team at Glenfield!

30/10/2024

Hi everyone 🤗
Just wanted to do a quick update and let you know I'm doing ok ☺️ and my surgery has now been confirmed for the 7th November, the outcome of which will determine further treatment.
Im estimating about 4 weeks off from massaging, possibly a little more. ( I have promised to be good and not do too much too soon 😂).
As everything has been a bit all over the place for the last few weeks that leaves me with quite a lot of rebooking to do. Now I have a bit more of a timeframe to work with I will be in touch to get everyone rebooked when I can,
Thankyou again for your continued support and patience 💕

01/10/2024

So unfortunately I have some bad news to share 😞 I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer last week, which came as a massive shock.

At this point I am waiting to find out the plan regarding treatment and I am hoping to retain as much normality as possible. That being said please be aware I may have to cancel/ rearrange appointments at short notice, or take a break from treating altogether
I'd like to say a big thankyou to everyone around me who has been so supportive 🥰, I'm feeling very loved and I know I've got you all in my corner for this fight 💪

And don't worry about treading on eggshells around me, I'm all good ( my sense of humour definitely still intact) 😊 just treat me like normal, and if you want to ask about it I'm happy to talk about it, especially if it helps someone else down the line ❤️
Thanks again
Kate

30/09/2024

Definitely feeling like winter is fast approaching 🥶😫 if we even had a summer this year? 🤔
Why not treat your 4- legged friend to a massage treatment? Full body treatment for 60- 90 mins depending on the size of horse and the amount of tension present. I'm sure he will thank you!🥰
Discount available on multiple horses at the same yard, fully qualified and insured, covering South Leicester. Drop me a message to book.

26/09/2024

Some great exercises for an in hand core workout! I like to set these ( or some variations) out all together in the school so I can move around the exercises, change the rein etc, keeping him thinking and guessing what is coming next. I also prefer to do the staircase exercise a small distance away from him on the lunge line so that he really has to figure out himself where he is putting his feet and control his own rhythm.
I also often include some backing up along the fence line of my arena in between the exercises.

Video from EJM Equestrian on Youtube, lots of helpful content on there 🙂

Welcome back to my channel guys I hope your having a good week so far. I’ve got 4 new in hand...

24/09/2024

Want to improve your canter? Work the flexor chain? Recruit those abdominal muscles?
🤩🌟Raised canter poles 🤩🌟
I actually really like this video as it shows you how to build it up from the beginning but also really clearly how the movement changes between the flat and the raised poles.

The raised poles make him push off with both hind legs together, rocking his weight from front to back, really encouraging flexion of the back through recruitment of the abdominal muscles, flexing of the hind leg and using the thoracic cling muscles to catch himself on landing.

Would definitely recommend you have some help on the ground if you can as horses that are new to this exercise are likely to knock poles and you may have to adjust the distances between poles.

How to improve your canter with raised poles with Kirstin Kelly. This is one of the best exercises to teach the horse to lift his shoulders and engage his h...

21/09/2024

Some excellent exercises to do with any horse, even just working the joints through a small range of motion, when done regularly, can really help keep tissues supple and mobilised 🙂

Video from Horses Inside Out Youtube Channel

Gentle, relieving mobilising, suppling exercises suitable for older horses.

19/09/2024

Great exercises to add into your grooming routine!

Join our online academy for more tutorial videos like this: www.horsesinsideout.com/academy In this video I share top tips for performing exercises using ref...

16/09/2024

Carrot Stretches🥕🥕🥕
Carrot stretches are really helpful, especially in horses with back issues or previous back pain. This is because they stimulate the Multifidus muscles along the spine.

The multifidus muscles are postural muscles that work to stabilise the spine, when back pain is present these muscles unfortunately start to ' switch off'. This leaves Longissimus Dorsi to try and stabilise the spine, which as a large gymnastic muscle, intended for extension and lateral flexion of the back, it is poorly equipped to do. This then tends to lead to the Longissimus becoming short and tight, sore, and the horse adopting a hollow posture, leading to further problems.

Once back pain has been resolved, carrot stretches are a great way to ' wake up' multifidus and get your horse mobilising his back and neck. If your horse doesn't have any back problems it is still very helpful to do carrot stretches a couple of times a week to keep his back healthy. I like to do them after he has been worked so the muscles are warm and I think it feels quite good for him after he's had a workout to stretch it off afterwards.🙂

14/09/2024

Little Pumpernickel doing some raised poles 😍 he's so cute!
Definitely recommend doing raised poles unridden, especially if your horse is not that well practiced at them. This way we are not interfering with his balance at all and making it easier for him to really lift his back without the extra weight of the rider.

If your horse is not very confident with polework it is also a good idea to leave 1 or 2 poles on the ground at the beginning of each set, or to start with them all on the ground before raising them up mid-session. Again much easier to do if you are on the ground!

Video from Horses Inside Out Youtube Channel.

Our Blue cross adopted pony Pumpernickel, demonstrates his skill and agility during a Poles for Posture, polework session. Learn more about Poles for Posture...

13/09/2024

Bit late to post these but a very sleepy Adam from Sunday, enjoying his treatment 🥰

31/08/2024

29/08/2024

Some pics from Sunday's treatments 🥰
Lovely Millie, still going strong in her later years ❤️ getting fully into the zone 😄 using the stable door as a much needed head rest 🤣

And handsome Cosmic, who enjoys his massages, but not quite as much as he enjoys a good scratch at the end 🤣 he's so funny 🥰

Thankyou for the photos Richene!

28/08/2024

🥰🥰🥰 A rare ride on my boy last night 😁

22/08/2024

💪Thoracic sling Exercises 💪

So here are my top exercises for working that thoracic sling;
1. Raised walk poles - they don't have to be raised by much and if your horse is not used to them start with ground poles ( a lot of people say ' oh my horse just knocks them all over so we don't bother!' Persevere! He will get better) I prefer to do walk pole workouts from the ground so he can really use himself without me weighing him down, also much easier to put poles back if he knocks them!

2. Walking slowly downhill - one to use for out hacking. Walk down the hill slowly for maximum push up through the wither to balance himself. Again doesn't have to be a steep gradient!

3. Lateral work - having to move the limb across the body targets the muscles we want, another good one is crossing over a long line of poles every few steps. He must lift the leg over and away. Try and make sure each side is worked equally.

4. Gymnastic Jumping + Raised Canter Poles - The thoracic sling must absorb the impact of landing to keep the horse upright. Focus more on rhythm and technique than height, we want him rocking from the front limbs to the back. The grids encourage him to be quick with his feet and will get the front end lifting as he has to sit back of the hindquarters.

Have fun! And remember to keep all exercises within the reaches of you and your horses' ability! Progress comes with practice 😄