Touch-n-Go Equine Performance Bodywork, LLC

10/05/2025

Sometimes a horse gets man-sour. Give them air: long trot outside, a different job, a lighter day. Protect the try and you’ll keep the horse.

www.AlDunning.com

10/04/2025

09/27/2025

Imagine going about your day but not being able to talk. How would you communicate your wants, needs, successes, pain…? 🤐

Your only way of communicating is really through your actions.
But you can only communicate with trusted people, if you make a misjudgment and choose the wrong person you will be [at best] ignored.

Horses can only communicate in this way; through their actions, expressions and behaviours. If they have no trusted people (ie. no one that listens OR someone who misinterprets), their actions will get louder and louder.

There are then 3️⃣ paths;
💛 You realise and you listen to your horse, responding as needed.
🖤 Your horses communication efforts are ignored, they get more in dramatic with their actions & behaviour, becoming difficult and dangerous. Pain memory territory.
💔 Your horses communication efforts are not only ignored, but negatively reinforced in ways that mean your horse must get on with it. So they shut down and learn to not communicate.

Listen to each and every communication your horse makes with you, open up for a two way conversation. Imagine the relief you would feel to have someone that would listen to you?

Pain and dysfunction can manifest in so many forms;
🔸 Twisting to the right? Poll tension, jaw pain, dental problems, tack fit, compensation patterns…
🔸 Fine on right rein but struggling left combined with sensitive right flank? Hindgut/digestive issues…
🔸 Fidgety to saddle? Ulcers, preempting discomfort when ridden, poor saddle fit (yes, even if you’ve just had it checked), incorrect girth design
🔸 Unhappy in the field/stable? Freedom, friends, forage - are these needs being met?
🔸 Stiffness? Pain, lack of movement (no, not always ridden)

Just because they can’t vocally say “my pain/struggle/discomfort is HERE”, doesn’t mean it’s not there.

I’m constantly working to refine my understanding of his communication, and also dissolving other opinions along the way that are not helpful.

If you have ever for even a moment put a ❓over something about your horse, listen… zoom in… see what makes it better, what makes it worse… & if you’re not sure, ask a trusted professional 🤍

📸

08/08/2025

Make space for greatness. It starts with saying “no” more often.
🚀 Full episode here → https://youtu.be/Wh-Ouvt5Zvc

08/01/2025

From September 2025, the Danish Equestrian Federation will restrict double bridles to level 4+ in dressage, part of sweeping horse welfare reforms.

07/22/2025

Have a relaxing day! Contact me if your horse needs to release some tension and relax with a Masterson Method session!

07/15/2025

Love the grind. It’s where joy is born.

Are you content or just complacent?
🎥 Watch the full episode now → https://youtu.be/u0ouF88H2g4

07/10/2025

Truth!

An important quote from William Steinkraus, USA Olympic Gold Medalist - "We must never forget, every time we sit on a horse, what an extraordinary privilege it is: to be able to unite one's body with that of another sentient being, one that is stronger, faster and more agile by far than we are, and at the same time, brave, generous, and uncommonly forgiving."

07/08/2025

I am so fortunate to have such a sweetheart of a client. Love this kind gentleman and he loves his Masterson Method sessions!

07/04/2025

So true! All the changes we make to a horses life matter to them and have impacts we may not always keep in mind.

Sometimes the crash comes AFTER the stress

You bought a horse that seemed sound, well adjusted and well trained. You get it home and the poor thing is lame and crawling out of its skin.

Were you conned ?

Maybe

But there are two other possibilities

1- the horse was adjusted to a certain routine, manner and frequency of riding, diet, etc and is now struggling outside of that routine that has helped to keep going - now the horse might feel like a border collie in an apartment without enough opportunity for movement.
(lots of articles have been written about this and it’s well worth looking into)

2- the horse was under some form of stress that has now ended and turned into another -
The stress of decompressing.

Brains are wired to keep us alive. Bodies are made to keep going.
Horses are incredible survivors - they can keep going and being pretty athletic under incredible duress. They are wired to not stop and say ouch at every pain and tweak, even with lameness and developing dysfunctions - because they NEED to. They can look sound when they are under stress. All you need to do to understand this is imagine a lion chasing a horse and know they will run until they are caught or free - and if the lion is the training, the lifestyle, the expectation, they will hold together until they can’t anymore .

So then they are purchased and pulled from this intensive lifestyle and now living in the lap of luxury - they have no reason to be stressed, so we think -

Now they face the lengthy decompression period. Compensation mechanisms are falling away and the horse is left naked here. They don’t know what to do. What to expect. Everything is upside down. The compensations that have kept them tight kept them safe too, and now they are wobbly, insecure and naked.

This is where they need HELP, not just supplements and bodywork and kindness. They need time, sure, but they need guidance. Not knowing what to expect can drive a horse half crazy.

They need some form of structure. A stable herd. A stable guiding hand that can clearly show them the new ropes. Not too fast in expectations but don’t wait too long to show them the new ropes either.

Your language is likely very different. Maybe your goals totally upside down from the training they’ve had. You might be changing everything from head to toe, thinking you’re offering a soft landing, which you likely are - but think of the confusion in their upside down experience - help clarify, guide, explain, show, and support.

And of course, continue giving them supports- maybe the gut needs help right away, or some dietary changes. And of course it can take time, but there are some things that can be helped and should be helped right away.

06/19/2025

If you would like to purchase raffle tickets for the Idaho Horse Council Fundraiser, I do have a few with me so contact me. They are also available through the IHC directly. $10 ticket or 5 for $40. Drawing in November.

06/11/2025

My new friend really enjoyed his Masterson Method session yesterday.