SPEC Therapy

30/10/2024

That’s a wrap to my first year at McTimoney College! All assessments have been passed, and the amount I’ve learned is incredible. Although this year has been one of the toughest years, I’ve managed to keep going with the course, learning new palpation points, neurological assessments and more! Bring on next year, where I’ll be treating animals (under tutor guidance!) so excited to carry on learning this technique. Watch this space!

And a massive thank you to all my new and existing clients who have been very patient with bookings and also allowing me to palpate during our sessions 💞

17/09/2024

Summer is now over with dark nights creeping in 😭
Good part is exams are over, and except waiting for results, I have completed my first year of animal chiropractics!
I have gained new clients through this summer and I can’t wait to see the improvements made through each session 🥰
Photos of Ronnie on an evening and Charlie after a (very bad) haircut (by me 😂😭)

17/08/2024

As many are aware, I lost Loki at the start of July, and devastated is an understatement for this tragic loss. However, a new addition has arrived in the family!
Meet Ozzie 🐴 Ozzie is a 10 month old ID X Warmblood. Any suggestions on his colour? 😂
Posts have been slow due to the hectic few months but hopefully more posts are to follow!

04/06/2024

If your showing at South Staffs Show and Midlands Breeders Association over the weekend I’d like to wish everyone good luck and an amazing time! 🥰 I will be about on foot at both shows, so don’t hesitate to come for a chat or ask questions I will be happy to help. Look forward to seeing everyone there! 🥰

03/06/2024

Currently busy with write ups and studying, and everyday tasks. But can we take a moment to say how good of a boy Loki is, showing off palpation points assesses with Mctimoney. The second picture shows the atlas, T5, T12 and T18, as well as the dorsal and dorso-cranial aspect of the Tuber coxae. The third picture shows off the Tiber sacrale. All these points can be adjusted, which will allow for a more comfortable pony 🥰

01/05/2024

Exciting!✨
I have an amazing opportunity to be sponsoring two shows this year!! South Staffs Show and Midlands Breeders Association ! Both these shows cater for all horses and it is a privilege to be able to have this opportunity. Hence why, any members from either of these shows will get a discount this year on all therapy treatments, whether it’s to ensure comfort when leading up to a show for optimal results, or rehabilitation after injury.

Flyers will be available at the next shows and I will be available at some shows for any tips or advice.

Let’s make this showing year an amazing one!

11/04/2024

What is happening here?

As we can see, Ronnie is completely square, and a straight line should be able to be drawn from between his withers to the end of his tail. However, you can see that in the pelvic region, the line starts turning right. Looking at the pelvis, the right side seems more ‘forward’ compared to the left. This would imply there has been a pelvic shift which will affect his way of going, creating a domino effect for more issues, like muscle tightness and pain. Through palpation, a pelvic rotation on the right was concluded.

What would be the next step? Comment below what the outcome should be after finding a pelvic shift ✨

10/04/2024

Giving Ronnie a massage Monday, unfortunately the time lapse cut out 😩

He had tension in the poll, which you can see me releasing at the start of the video, and tension in the subclavion muscle (located at the front of the shoulder)

If you look closely, you can see A LOT of licking and chewing which emphasises the release of tension. I wish I captured all the yawning as well 🤣

But what a good boy he is 🥰

20/12/2023

I have been keeping a secret for a long time and I am super excited to share the news!✨

I have decided to take the next step in my career, and will be doing my masters degree in Animal Chiropracting in 2024! This career path is something I’ve been wanting to do while studying my animal therapy degree, after seeing chiropractic work on my own horse. I am so excited that I now get to experience this!

This does mean that I will be taking less bookings while studying, however I will be sharing my experiences through this page to keep you all updated with my new findings.

Bring on 2024 and I hope everyone is having an amazing December and Christmas 😁😊

01/10/2023

As many are aware, I’m a qualified and insured animal therapist and I’m doing a deal through winter with discounted prices. I thought I would talk a bit about what I offer and the discount itself.

The discount is an initial or follow up assessment with either three or more horses on the same yard or three/more dogs in the same house/area for a discounted price.

An initial assessment/follow up assessment will be done, to see the animals way of moving and strengths and weaknesses in the musculature. Manual therapies, including massage techniques, stretches and exercises will be used where appropriate. This is amazing for horses with tight or sore spots.

Massage is great for pre and re-habilitation, or competition preparation, which will inevitably reduce injuries and promote healing.

I also send an in-depth report after every initial assessment to owners so they also have access to all key findings and exercises are also written so the owner can always look back on.

If this deal sounds like something you are interested in, feel free to drop me a message or a question and I am more than happy to help 😊

08/08/2023

Last chance to book onto the summer special! Limited spaces available so message to avoid disappointment! 🐴🐶

11/07/2023

Summer Special!

If 4 or more horses at one yard need a massage and you book in between now and September, each horse will have a discounted price for their massage

Each horse will be given the following:
⭐️ Initial Assessment - to target strengths and weaknesses in your horses posture and way of going
⭐️Full Body Massage - A range of techniques used all over the body to relax muscles, aid repair in injured muscles and encourage muscle healing and muscle growth
⭐️Treatments - This is to optimise the results of the massage, and can be given as exercises - both on the ground and ridden; and stretching work

I am also offering longer sessions for the same price for younger horses - for those being ready to be brought into work - to ensure that they will be comfortable and at their best ability to start their learning and training career

Contact me for more information and I will be happy to help 😁🐴

15/06/2023

What is manual therapy and why massage?

Manual therapy is a ‘hands on’ type of therapy, so no equipment is used. It ranges from massages to stretches and is tailored to your horses needs to get the best outcome.

Although the massages don’t ‘look’ to be doing a lot, as a therapist, we have deep understanding of the muscles and tissues, and can feel even the slightest of changes within the tissues. You can feel a trigger points, tight muscles, and over/under-toned (hypertrophied/atrophied) muscles - all of which will affect your horses posture, way of going and your rides. The massages can release trigger points, relax right/sore muscles and even help build muscle tone with different massage techniques (how cool is that!) making their way of going better

As a manual therapist, we can also help stretch muscles through stretching techniques, increase joint motion through mobilisation and suggest exercise to enhance the well being and performance of your horse or dog.

To conclude my long post, I believe massage is essential to your horse and dog, to keep them comfortable, free of pain and to get the best out of their movements and exercises.

06/06/2023

Little posters advising what I do! For more information on the types of manual therapies I cover drop a message!

06/06/2023

“Ohhh this horse just has a little arthritis in his left hock, it doesn’t seem to bother him too much.”

Horses are prey animals and therefore great compensators; they will create alternative locomotive patterns to continue movement.

So, say this little bit of osteoarthritis causes a reduced range of motion of the tarsal joint. In an attempt to maintain stride length and hide this dysfunction to potential predators (because you never know when a lion could be waiting around the corner... or a flapping plastic bag!) the tarsal (hock) joint is rotated medially (inwards) during the swing phase of the stride. This results in asymmetrical & medial weight bearing through the digit (hoof). This places additional stress through medial hamstring muscles, resulting in muscle tension and trigger points. And this is all something that is potentially going on in the affected hindlimb.

A hip hike/drop can occur at corresponding phases of the stride, placing the sacroiliac joint under stress, resulting in paraspinal and asymmetrical gluteal tone/pain.

Decreased impulsion from the left hindlimb leads to increased weight bearing through the right forelimb diagonal. This can create tension and hypertrophy to the right pectoral muscles and related fascial planes.

The spiral of compensation could continue on further, affecting cervical muscles that become hypertonic as a result of weight shifting, digit shape and size, TMJ pain, head tiling, hyoid dysfunction, asymmetric tail holding...

Check ligaments may strain on the overloaded limb, saddles may slip, mouths may open, head shaking may happen. And that doesn’t mean we have to put on a flash noseband, non-slip saddle pads and wear spurs to get more impulsion from the left hind that is through and through p a t h o l o g i c a l.

Often it can be the case where I see a horse that is a chronic stage of compensation and it can be difficult to find the true cause especially when the horse may appear just overall “stiff”.

I liken the rehabilitation of chronic cases to peeling the layers off an onion; one layer at a time and piece by piece to unravel and rewind the compensation spiral. 🐴

If this sparks a thought in anyone’s mind that actually, their horse may be suffering with this kind of pain presentation — follow your gut, trust that you know what is best for your horse and have your vet, physio, farrier, nutritionist, saddler, trainer all work with you and your horse to improve their comfort 🥰

18/05/2023

Other therapies can do wonders for your horse, but if your horse has sore muscles, those muscles need addressing 💕

I often see people posting about their horse having muscle knots and being muscle sore, talking about having the chiropractor out, Pemf and red light, kt tape, vet’s been out and still the horse is not better, why?

My question is; why are you doing everything you can think of to help your horse feel better EXCEPT the one thing that actually addresses those sore, tight muscles directly?!

Other therapies are NOT stand-ins or substitutes for massage - they do different things for the horse.
Learn why massage is the best therapy for your horses muscles -
https://koperequine.com/why-hands-on-massage-is-the-best-way-to-for-sore-care-muscles/

Massage is one of, if not the, most effective muscle and myofascial therapies available and it can be customized to meet each horse’s physical needs. Leaving it out of your regular care and exercise routine leaves a huge hole and a missed opportunity.

Koper Equine, LLC
Equine Massage and Bodywork
Happy, healthy horses.

17/04/2023

A lovely review from an amazing client 🥰 doing something that you’re passionate about makes every minute of this job worth it 🥰

‘If you choose a job you love, you never work a day in your life’ ~unknown