The lovely Snapper processing a REALLY nice jaw and hyoid rebalance…. He couldn’t believe how different it felt !! The horses jaw can have a huge affect on many many other areas of the body, and in turn can be influenced by problems elsewhere, always important to check its functioning properly.
Was very good to be out and about in the DRY weather too, Lordy it’s been wild.
When you move your horse onto a less churned up area of his paddock, and then watch him immediately churn it up 😐
Roll on summer.
For those that missed my amazing day at Hikumutu Valley Horsemanship - Kaipaki Horsemanship here’s the video again….
Beautiful horses Nz style…..
Who am I and what the heck do I do?!
I’m Jo Stutton and I’ve been a qualified human Osteopath since 2001 and then did another 1 year post grad in 2007 to become a fully qualified equine osteopath.
I did all my training in the UK before moving to NZ in 2008 with my then husband and our 2 boys. I live in Cambridge in the beautiful Waikato but travel regularly and am always happy to do new destinations for groups!
To become an Osteopath I did a very intense 4 years full time study in anatomy, physiology, neurology, pathology, biomechanics and osteopathic principles and techniques.
My equine study involved further equine anatomy training, dissections, equine biomechanics and techniques specific to the horse patient. My full “title” is Jo Stutton Bsc(hons)Ost PG Dip Animal Ost. Quite the mouthful.
I love my work, I love unraveling the sometimes complicated “why” of what is causing your horses change in performance or behaviour.
I will take a full case history including asking you about feed, shoeing, dental, tack and workload questions.
I will look at your horse A LOT (infact from the moment I start yabbering with you I will be watching your horse!).
How does he stand? Is he a fidget ? Is he super alert and panicked or half asleep? What do his feet look like? Is his coat looking healthy? What’s his weight like? How does he react to someone new around him? Any obvious conformation problems?
I’ll get you to walk him up so I can see him move, I might get you to trot him, I might get you to pop him on the lunge, it all depends. I may ask to see him under saddle (less likely on a first visit). This is so I can assess his movement on the whole and also note how each limb is moving, the freedom in his stride, how straight he is, does he load up one leg more than the other etc etc.
Next I’ll do my palpatory assessment…. I start at the poll and work my way down and along all areas on both sides.
I’ll check his feet, check his teeth, move him this way an
Sooooo much fun today! Mac had a blast. Thanks @equisport_nz for dragging me along! Twas a hoot! #therapistsunite #changingitup #didntdoditchesthough #ottbsofinstagram
Up up and away on Macaroni airways!!!! Starting to look rather good!!!! #wednesday #macaroniponi #equineosteopath #gettingthebasicsright
Day 6653369 of pneumonia. Tried a wee foray out of bed to the kitchen table. Didn’t go to plan so here I am wasting yet another GLORIOUS autumn day in bed. Medical support dog is plugged in. Mexico SJ is on. Plotting my comeback……
Walk…. My most favourite of paces!!
So often under utilised and “skipped” over so we can move onto trot and canter.
Check out Macs huge relaxed swinging walk….. look at the rippling movement from hind end through to relaxed head nod…. Everything is working, everything is “swinging”. This is what I love to see.
I always spend at least 10 mins walking at the beginning of a ride. It allows the horse time to warm up and loosen his back, find his balance, adjust to the weight of the rider. If you launch straight into trot the biomechanics are totally different… trot is a “fixing” movement…. Very little spinal movement in the trot gait…. If you don’t feel your horse is relaxed and swinging at walk, why ask for trot or canter? Use lateral movements, bend, changes of rein to improve suppleness and responsiveness. Use the time to let your own body relax and swing too…. Loosen your lumbar spine, relax your hips and lower leg….. relax your knees, roll your shoulders and BREATHE!
Happy Thursday.
Social media is a help and a hindrance. I’ve fallen into its deep dark hole in the last few weeks thinking I was “behind” where I should be with Mac, that I’m not doing it right, that I need a new supplement/bit/gadget to magically make things better.
Slightly annoyingly (sorry John Stutton) my husband came up with one of his bi annual pearls of wisdom. I hate to admit he’s right, but I will in this case. He said “well, if this was a horse you were treating, what would you tell the owner”. Damn him…
So. I followed my own advice! Stuck true to my principles, gave Mac allowance for age and stage and back ground, and within a week we’d gone from potential salami to the best track session I’ve ever had on him. To canter 3 laps on a buckle with no leaping, pulling, changing leads etc is a massive high for me!
Wins don’t have to be literal ribbons and rugs, they are the things that you have found hard that then become less hard. The moment something clicks, the new connection with your horse. Sometimes these “little” wins mean more than the seemingly bigger ones.
