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Integrated Equine Muscle Release for improved performance. The Masterson Method works with the horse Does your horse have an uneven stride?
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Is your horse stiff on one side? Does he/she frequently go disunited? Or does your horse just feel 'off'? Combined Equine can help! At Combined Equine we provide your horse with a bodywork session based on a system called the Masterson Method™

The Masterson Method™ is a unique system designed to work below a horses natural bracing response to uncover and release areas of tension and restriction.

Unlike other bodywork modalities, the horse guides the session and is encouraged to actively participate in the release of accumulated tension in the key junctions of the body. Whether your horse is a performance equine or a happy hacker they can benefit from a MM™ bodywork session .

15/12/2023

Shoes get blamed for a lot of problems with horses, which is weird, as they’re just an inert bit of metal applied externally. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying having metal on the bottom of your feet is a good thing, I’m just asking if the shoe is really the problem…

Shoes are usually applied to solve a problem. Which means, there’s a problem there already. I’d rather look to solve the root cause of the problem.

Applying a shoe solves the problem of there being no shoe.

Very rarely do I hear someone saying the problem is that their horses feet don’t have shoes. They tend to say the problem is the growth is too slow, or there’s too much wear, or wear is uneven, or the horse is footsore (lame – footsore means lame. Lame in all 4 feet).

All those problems can be covered up by a shoe, but not solved. By covering the symptom up, you allow the problem to persist and even deteriorate.

Hoof Health Laid Bare is a comprehensive course to help you understand how horse health affects the hooves, so you can worry less and get the strongest hooves possible. Find out more, here
https://hoofgeek.com/hhlb/

15/12/2023

15/12/2023

15/10/2022

Is the source of pain distracting us from the actual cause!?

The horse is very good at making compensations for physiological issues. Initially these are good, relieving the structures in question. However, when these compensations become long term, secondary issues can ensue. Very often the secondary issues are more painful then the compensated for causation!

When investigating the discomforts that respond to palpation or indeed diagnostic analgesia, they become areas for primary treatment. However are they the actual cause!?

In the recent webinar with Dr Shultz she stated that "often pain is a lie" and agreed with my research and opinion, looking at the picture more holistically using and understanding the myofascial system can elucidate the timeline of causation.

Below is a relationship that has become the focus of my personal research, with the concurrent pathologies I found associated with negative plantar angles. Poor hind hoof conformation has been linked to pathology along the dorsal myofascial line, therefore research has questioned either the hoof balance or the pathologies along that line as primary. However, looking at the bigger picture, the posture associated with the links is a product of a contracted ventral line!!

Where do the ventral and dorsal lines connect? At the TMJ/upper cervical and the hind hoof. Two major proprioceptive input centres.
Beautifully linking to a previous webinar with Dr Gellman on proprioception and posture.

As we further apply the laws of biotensegrity, and study the myofascial connections we will start to really uncover the true causations of physiological issues in the horse. Holistic understanding means holistic treatment.

A couple (of many) articles for further reading here..

https://www.theequinedocumentalist.com/post/bio-tensegrity-and-farriery-the-foreword

https://www.theequinedocumentalist.com/post/the-unacceptable-norms-of-equine-management-and-the-inevitable-paradigm-shifts

These webinars can be seen at these links...

https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/courses/proandpos

https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/courses/myofascialkinetic

15/10/2022

What is the Viscerosomatic system and how does it affect your horse?

During the earliest development in the womb, your horses' neurological system is the first thing that forms.

The three germinate layers that every structure in the body forms from begins in the same place. The endoderm (the gut and its associated structures), the mesoderm (Cartilage, muscle and bone) and ectoderm (skin and nerves). All the tissues in the body are created from here.

They develop in segments, each into dermatomes (Skin), myotomes (muscles) and viscerotomes (organs). These segments remain forever connected via the autonomic nervous system, no matter where in the body the developing tissues will finally end up.

The nervous system of the body has two major parts- the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for unconscious body function and the somatic system, responsible for innervating muscles and delivering senses. The autonomic system itself is split into three major systems, two of which are the sympathetic system and the parasympathetic system.

Via all of this interconnection and frameworks, the horses (visceral) organs can influence its muscular (somatic) output and function and vice versa!!

Add to this the fact that many of the deep muscles are connected directly to organs via fascia and connected by myofascial lines and we have two systems that can profoundly affect one another!
These connections help us to understand the similarities between the myofascial lines and acupuncture meridians too!!

The image below shows the viscera, some of the main deep muscles and the nervous system.

and once again... This effect can be seen in postural changes!

Join myself and Dr Neidhart as she takes us into a journey of discovery into this subject..
https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/courses/Applied-neurology-viscerosomatic-posture

15/10/2022

How is the knowledge of myofascial lines being applied to treating horses?

Congratulations to my friend Tuulia Luomala for her recent publication 🙌

The clinical application of myofascial therapy..

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749073922000360?dgcid=author

I had the pleasure of hosting Tuulia for a webinar discussing how the human and horses myofascia can affect one another!!
Absolutely fascinating!! With some incredible dissections…

Follow this link for the webinar…

https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/courses/horseriderconnection

15/10/2022

22/09/2022

How and why does a rocker shoe work?

Putting together the lectures of Dr Uno Yxklinten and Dr Ramon Batalla from the IFRS symposium 2022, we can understand the physics involved in how rocker shoes or SAPAS work.

Due to the weight of the horse and the pull of the deep digital flexor (DDFT) the pressure acting through the hoof capsule enters at the point of balance (PoB) which is a point in between the centre of rotation (CoR) of the distal interphalangeal joint and the extensor process of P3. So to create equilibrium of the hoof capsule, by way of an evenly distributed GRF, where it would neither rotate forward or backward, you would need to balance around PoB.

A correctly fitted rocker shoe has its belly under the CoR which is caudal of the PoB. Because of this a flexing moment is created around CoR which creates an air wedge.

so I guess another question you could ask is, does a rocker shoe really allow for self adjustment, or does it create a forward rotation according to the laws of physics?

Either way, rocker shoes, or shoes with high level mechanics that utilise an "air wedge" in this way, are brilliant tools for building hoof mass and creating favourable phalangeal alignment.
In feet with low heels and a compromised digital cushion, especially when presenting with grade 2 or above NPA, suffer from reduced blood perfusion to the caudal hoof and entire solar corium.
This can also be partly explained by the opposite (from above) moment created by imbalance around the PoB from an increased lever arm at the toe, creating increased pressure on the heel area with the increased GRF distribution caudal of the PoB.

So rocker shoes flip these physics with huge benefit to the foot.

Join Dr Ramon for his outstanding presentation on utilising the rocker shoe for low heels.
https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/courses/how-to-manage-the-low-foot-with-a-rocker-shoe

And Dr Uno's part 1 and 2, to better understand the physics at play in hoof balance..

https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/courses/how-to-balance-a-hoof

https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/courses/How-do-different-shoes-affect-the-force-distribution-on-the-solar-surface-of-the-hoof

08/09/2022

RIP your majesty ❤️

08/09/2022

31/08/2022

A joint is a connection between two or more bones, allowing for motion in a specific direction. Joints are stabilized by muscles and ligaments. When a joint becomes sore, through overuse, trauma or age-related degeneration, it stops functioning appropriately. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is res...

31/08/2022

31/08/2022

Stronger core = improved posture = more balance = happier horse = better performance

31/08/2022

What is a club foot? To understand what a club foot is, requires an explanation of two concepts: dorsal hoof wall angle and hoof pastern axis. In previous blogs, I have written about both the ideal dorsal hoof wall angle (53°) and low dorsal hoof wall angles (below 48°). However, some horses have ...

31/08/2022

For many years I have always long reined my own horses. It’s a concept I have started to bring into my freelance work, teaching owners about the benefits of such a simple exercise that produces extraordinary results. Long reining is an invaluable tool for educating horses of any age & ability. Not...

23/08/2022

19/08/2022

Did you know, how your horses teeth meet (dental occlusion) can affect its global posture!?

In humans and horses alike, Postural adjustments, consisting in slight sways of the body are informed by visual, vestibular and samatosensory inputs, integrated into a complex proprioception mechanism.
Head position is maintained by a balanced tension between craniocervical bones, myofascia and… dental occlusion.
The upper cervical spine is then a informative connection between the head and trunk creating an integrated system.

Studies have also shown how malocclusion affects spinal posture and thoracic, lumbar and pelvic tilts! These changes in posture then affect how the hoof is loaded!

Here is an exercise for you. Courtesy of Dr Gellman.
Stand up and relax with your arms by your side. Have your jaw hanging neutrally. Then move it side to side and front to back…. Do you feel subtle changes in your body? Does it gently sway in response? Can you feel the changes in how your feet are loaded?

Now think, what would this malocclusion in the pic possibly create in the horses body?

For an in depth journey into this world you can watch this webinar with Dr Gellman..

https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/courses/Dentalandperform

19/08/2022

𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗦

🦴 Bone is living tissue with nerves and blood vessels that contain proteins and minerals, such as calcium and phosphorus.

🦴 Bone is the second hardest substance in your horse's body after tooth enamel. 🦷

🦴 A bone consists of a hard outer cortex, encasing a spongy cavity.

🦴 The surface of the bone is covered by the periosteum - a tough protective membrane, which provides the attachment of ligaments and tendons.

Discover more about equine anatomy at www.horsesinsideout.com

17/08/2022

Today’s spotlight shines on Anne Deadman, from East Sussex, UK.

Anne began riding at six years old. She has been around horses ever since and has been working with them for over 30 years now. She currently owns three and regularly competes with them all. She loves a challenge and has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. Her work criteria has always been that she refused to stay anywhere that she wasn't learning something new or helping things to change for the better. This led her to jobs in many equine disciplines including trekking, showing, showjumping, dressage, eventing, hunting, and point-to-point; and has enabled her to have an understanding of horses from a rider, trainer, and handler's point of view.

Her greatest love has always been to improve the life of the horses around her and to help develop a better understanding between them and their owners. She is a firm believer that horses want to co-operate but sometimes, due to pain or a lack of understanding, they feel they can't. Having worked extensively starting youngsters and re-training older horses with "issues, " she found that if you first ensured they were comfortable, the rest of the training was a lot easier!

She has had first-hand experience with many different therapies from acupuncture to Shiatsu, which all seemed to work at different times on different horses. Then while in Australia, she had a horse that had trouble keeping true canter. After trying various schooling exercises and enlisting the help of several excellent equine therapists, a bodyworker friend passed on one of Jim's DVDs and said: "why don't you give this a go?" After only a few sessions the problem was resolved and she was soon asked to help with the other horses in the yard!

After returning to the UK, she became a Certified Masterson Method Practitioner and set up her own company - Combined Equine - which operates throughout Sussex, Surrey, and Kent. She finds the most rewarding aspect of The Masterson Method® is that it consistently produces significant measurable results and the horses all absolutely love it!

To find out more about Anne, go to the following link:
http://ow.ly/IwNH50KjlvW

14/06/2022

Earlier this week we asked you for your thoughts on what percentage of horse owners didn’t realise their horse had laminitis because the signs had been so subtle?
The answer - 45% of horse owners*.

Laminitis can cause extreme pain, lameness and permanent damage to the hooves. Being aware of the more subtle signs of laminitis can help you act faster, meaning there will be a greater chance of aiding recovery.

📣Please read and share the information below to help us reach more horse owners and carers. To request a FREE A4 COPY of this poster to display on your yard contact our Horse Care & Welfare team on [email protected].

To learn more visit: https://www.bhs.org.uk/advice-and-information/horse-health-and-sickness/laminitis

* https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/evj.12704

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This Caroline’s mare, April, who I visit monthly. April has improved a lot since I first met her and with the correct riding and training, she is coming along nicely and we have consistently seen improvements in her body. Here she is having a little yawn 🥰

Here is Flynn enjoying a yawn, too. Flynn is a retired event horse and is now living out his days in the lap of luxury with regular sessions with me :)

Here is the lovely Bugsy. He is 25yrs young and still enjoys being ridden two to three times a week! You can see him doing some lovely yawns in the video. This is exactly what we’re after during a session as the horse relaxes and starts to release their tension. Often you will find me taking moments like this to pause the session because the horse works with me to release the tension in their body. Some sessions will take longer depending on how relaxed and willing the horse is feeling. The sessions are still priced the same, though :)

🥂🎄🥂🎄 Woohooo!! Christmas Day!! 🥂🎄🥂🎄 Happy Christmas to all of my wonderful clients and the gorgeous horses I have had the privilege of meeting. Thank you everyone for your continued support and helping me grow my business! I wish you have a lovely Christmas with your equines and also a fabulous New Year. Here’s a final video - see if you can spot your horse in this one!

🥂🎄 Christmas Countdown 🥂🎄 This is Caroline Arnold’s April. I first met this little horse less than an year ago. Lovely mare but due to past history, very tense and inflexible. After several sessions with me and appropriate training with knowledgeable experts - just look at her now!! Competing in her first BN at Hickstead!! What a year! Well done April and her lovely mum Caroline 🙂

🎄🥂 Countdown to Christmas 🥂🎄 Here is the lovely Pepper who used to belong to the equally lovely Charley! Pepper has now turned her hoof to life in a lovely riding school. ❗️Please don’t try the last picture at home 🤪

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