InStride Equine Bodywork

01/30/2023

My last few weekends have been busy massaging horses! This guy is quite interesting. He is older and has quite the swayback which pulled his hips forward. He also had uneven hips and a hip hike. He did improve a ton with myofascial release although he still has lots more to go. If you look at the after photos, his muscling and hips were a little more even (although unfortunately still not perfect!) and his hips were no longer being pulled forward. In the after, you’ll notice his sway back is less noticeable!

With his issues being as big as they are, I didn’t push it. The more massages he has, the more his fascia and muscles will relax and his body will be able to comfortably hold itself! He is one that will improve greatly overtime from a massage schedule and some stretches in between massages. As well as some under-saddle exercises!

01/16/2023

This weekend I did 3 massages on three lucky lesson horses!
This guy is a very steady eddy pony who is loved by all the lesson kids! He had some knots in his lumbar (you can see in the before and after) that I was able to release quite a bit of! As well as lots of good yawns at the end!

01/09/2023

A before and after from my massage on Saturday! This boy was lucky enough to win a massage from a raffle I participated in at an IEA show! He was such a good boy for his massage!
I like this before and after because you can really see the difference in his lumbar! In the picture on the left (before) you can see some spasms in his lumbar. On the right, you will see more of a “dip” in his back, showing his muscles aren’t tense and tight there anymore!
Schedule an appointment now so your horse can feel it’s best this new year!

12/30/2022

Did my second massage on this handsome man yesterday! As you can see in his pictures, his tmj was out, his hips were being pulled up and forward. He gave me so many good releases and really relaxed during his session!

12/30/2022

Can we please get rid of the stigma that massage is just to spoil the horse?
It does SO MUCH MORE!

Massage, mas·​sage
noun
manipulation of tissues (as by rubbing, kneading, or tapping) with the hand or an instrument for relaxation or therapeutic purposes.

Benefits of massage:
⭐️ Reduction of muscle tension and stiffness
⭐️ Relief of muscle spasms
⭐️ Increased blood and lymph circulation
⭐️ Reduction of inflammation and swelling in the joints
⭐️ Enhanced muscle tone and range of motion
⭐️ Relief of stress and aids in relaxation
⭐️ Injury prevention and increased performance

So the next time someone says "my horse doesn't need a massage, they don't deserve is," mention all of the benefits above. Every horse deserves a massage.
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12/25/2022

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from myself and my horses❤️
I wish you a day full of peace and joy

12/21/2022

Did you know over reaching Is actually a sign of your horse telling you they are sore??

I can help! book a massage for your furbaby today!

12/02/2022

Can’t think of a gift for a equestrian in your life? Here’s your answer, the gift of equine massage from InStride Equine Bodywork!

Not only a gift for the horse owner but also for their horse! Perfect for barn owners, instructors, trainers and horse owners!

Massage can help the horse in a multitude of ways, and will help the horse preform better!

Message or email me to get a gift certificate for the horse lover in your life!

11/24/2022

Happy thanksgiving from us!

We are so grateful for those who have allowed us to work on their horses and those who have supported us!

11/20/2022

When your working on almost a 19hh draft and her hips are out…🤣
This is what we mean when we say, dedicated to making sure your horse feels it’s best so they can preform at their best!!
Had to get creative to put them back in! She was not so sure when I tried adjusting them using her legs and hoofs and although I had to use a plastic stool for the rest of her massage, it was not tall enough! This did the trick and got this girls hips back in alignment for her! Before and after pictures coming soon!

*** Disclaimer, I don’t recommend doing this, I have known this horse since she was three and knew she would be okay with this. Please don’t do what I’m doing!****

11/04/2022

Yesterdays patient!
This guy had uneven hips and some overbuilt muscles!
In the before, you can see his hind end sloped down, and after releasing the muscles, it is no longer sloped down!
In the second photo, you can see his uneven hips and the overbuilt/spasming neck and shoulder muscle (the bulge), which after the massage, his hips were even and the muscles in his neck and shoulder were significantly smaller and no longer spasming!

Booking for end of november!

11/04/2022

Yes!! While no stirrup work is incredibly beneficial, it can also hurt your horse if done for too long.
Massage and chiropractic work can 100% help relieve any soreness in your horses body during this month!!

It's that time of year again! Here are a few tips to make no-stirrups work beneficial for you...and your horse's back!

DO: Do no-stirrups work on a horse you feel safe on, and work with a coach especially if it's something new for you.

DON'T: Go cold turkey. Removing your stirrups completely for your whole ride could lead to fatigued riding and bouncing...which could be hard on your horse's back

DO: Take breaks. Unless you and your horse are super fit, an hour of no-stirrups sitting trot is only going to turn in to a sloppy bouncy situation which isn't going to benefit either of you.

DON'T: Feel pressured to canter or jump without stirrups if you aren't ready.

DO: Ride "toes up" (i.e. dorsiflex your ankles). This helps to stabilize your calf.

DON'T: Feel bad if you can only manage a few minutes at first. It takes times for our muscles to adapt to new patterns.

DO: Experiment with rising trot with no stirrups. Hello thigh muscles!

DON'T: Ignore signs that your horse may not be enjoying the work. Ears pinned, head tossing, nappiness, tail swishing, hollowing the back, etc are all signs that they have had enough for one session.

DO: Warm up in walk and rising trot before going into sitting trot without stirrups.

DON'T: Expect miracles in one month. It takes a while for our bodies to develop new balance, movement patterns and strength. Use NSN as a launching board for developing your seat continually throughout the year!

DO: Have a "holy $ #!%" strap in case of emergency. An old flash strap across the D-rings works well! 😉

DON'T: Stop working on improving your seat. It is everything! Book a rider biomechanics session to improve your alignment, balance and stability in the saddle 💪

DO: Treat your horse to a chiropractic visit to ensure their back is feeling its best! ❤

11/03/2022

Do you have questions about equine massage or bodywork?
Ever wonder if it will help your horse?
Now is your time to ask! Comment your questions and I will answer, wether it’s under your comment or in a post!
No question is a dumb question, all are welcome!

10/25/2022

This! It is SO important to know how much not working properly effects the horses muscles!

10/04/2022

Nice big release from this mare!
Did you know just how many things equine massage can help resolve? Here’s just a few of the many:
-overreaching
-bucking
-crosscantering or picking up the wrong lead
-bending
-lameness
-not tracking up/moving forward
And much much more! All of those can be worked on through massage and possibly help to fully resolve the issue! Book now!

09/27/2022

Happy Tuesday!
This before and after really shows a big difference in this guys hips! He was out of alignment pretty bad, as well as lots of spasms in his lumbar! After using myofascial release to help his hips realign and some myofascial and regular massage on his lumbar he was feeling much better! This was only his first massage with me, and it’s safe to say he not only loved it, but benefitted from it!
When you choose to keep a horse in a massage schedule, it helps to avoid misalignments and avoid spasms that can cause the bones to be out of alignment!
Booking for October! Message me to book🐴

09/22/2022

Here’s a quick glimpse of how much just a single massage will do! His right side isn’t massaged yet and his left side is. You can notice his left side looking much more relaxed.
At the top of his hip, you will notice is glute muscles, his left is massaged and now sits Lower than his right side because it is relaxed.
If you look at the sides of him, his right side looks very rigid and bumpy, which is all caused by tension. (or tightness) His left side is smooth and round, which is what you want!
Booking for October! Message me to book🐴🐴

09/18/2022

This this this!

I get asked so many times (usually by non horse people) why a horse would need a massage. The horse is an athlete, it is asked to preform with a human on its back most of the time!

I usually ask people to imagine being asked to run/workout with at least 100lbs on their back and imagine how sore you would be! Aside from being lame/bucking or kicking, they can’t necessarily tell us what hurts, or when it hurts most. I can feel hands on any tightness or soreness, muscle spasms, vertebrae/bones out of alignment and more.

Horses are performance athletes and being in a consistent massage schedule will only benefit them and how they perform!

09/13/2022

Saddle fit and placement play a huge role in how the horse will move. Too far forward will restrict the horses shoulder, cause soreness on their withers as well as putting the rider in the incorrect position. Saddles too wide or too narrow will also cause lots of soreness in the withers and down the spine!! Getting your saddle fitted is so worth it for you and your horse!

09/08/2022

Good luck to all competing at The Pines Horse Shows Derby Day this weekend!

THANK YOU to Amelia of InStride Equine Bodywork for donating two equine massages to two lucky Pines Derby Day recipients!

In Stride Equine Bodywork offers Equine Sports Massage Therapy and more! We are dedicated to making sure your horse feels it’s best so it can perform at its best!

09/07/2022

We are currently in search of shows that need sponsors! If you know of any shows looking for a sponsor please send them our way! Can be fall/winter/summer series!
Preferably local to CT
Thank you!

09/06/2022

A few of the lovely horses I worked on at or before the woodstock fair!
All the horses performed beautifully after their massage with multiple placings in classes of 20+!
Congratulations to everyone who participated in the show, thank you for everyone who allowed me to work on their horse, I’m glad I was able to help your horses preform feeling their best☺️

09/03/2022

We are here at Woodstock Fair! We have a table out by our stalls and I will be walking around wearing shirts with my logo on it! Feel free to come up and talk more about a massage for your equine friend💗 if you can’t find me, there is a sheet on the table to write down your contact info and I will contact you!

08/29/2022

I only have 5 spaces left for massages at the woodstock fair!! $35 off the original massage price!

I will also have a table out with business cards, flyers, and more in depth information about massage and what I do!

Wednesday is the FINAL day to book with me for woodstock! Message now
Woodstock Fair Horse Show

08/23/2022

This this this!

𝙰𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚎? 👂

It is instinct for horses to hide any weakness in order to survive. Horses are stoic and will do as much as it takes to avoid looking like prey.

𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯, 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘺:
📍 Show changes in behavior
📍 Suddenly becomes difficult to catch
📍 Begins to struggle with exercises he's used to
📍 Suddenly dislike certain activities
📍 Start showing changes to posture
📍 Have changes in facial expressions
📍 Become cinchy or dislike being tacked
📍 and others!

This is why I continually say, "be your horse's advocate". You know your horse better than anyone and as his owner, it's key to address slight changes before they become bigger issues.

08/23/2022

Yesterdays client horse! This guy was quite expressive! Before and afters coming soon!

08/22/2022

Got the chance to work on my own personal horse on friday! This is my guy Axel, who is an ottb! He has a few different issues, one being very noticeable in before and after photos!

He has what is called a “hip hike” meaning one hip is higher then the others. This is common in ottbs and ”fixable” with myofascial release! He has a big difference in his, so to get it perfect it will take a few massages, but it still is much better now then it was! This is shown in the first photo!

Booking for September! Book now to help your horses!

08/20/2022

This guy had a funny release! He did this between yawns throughout his massage.

When I first started massaging this guy, he wasn’t sure what to think. He stood tense and cautious most of the time as he didn’t know what I was doing. He didn’t release until I got to his right hind (which is the last area to massage)

This is my 3rd massage with him and I’m so glad he now LOVES his massages and trust me!

Want to help you horse? Book now! Booking for September!

08/19/2022

This handsome man had his monthly massage yesterday!

I’m glad I was able to do even more help to him with the myofascial release!

In the first picture you can see his neck, top is before and shows a ton of tension and tightness, it’s hard to tell from the picture but there is also a big bump there as well! His poll was quite tight, after some myofascial to help his vertebrae and his neck massage, almost all the tension was gone! The bump is also smaller (although the lighting isn’t doing that part justice😂)

Aside from that, his back is much more relaxed and he was more willing to stand square after his massage! I also used some myofascial on his hips as they were just slightly out of alignment!

He should be feeling great today!

08/17/2022

Because I got another certification and am adding in more to the massage, I am increasing my price for the massage! I have also added in another appointment option, My last post goes into more detail about both these additions to my services!

I do have quite a few ways to get $ off your massage, here are the ways!
1) leave us a review and you will receive $5 off
2) recommend us to a friend and have them book a massage with us and you will get $5 off
3) keep your horse in a consistent schedule and receive 10% off future massages. (these need to be booked within a week of the massage in order to count.)
All of these will count after your first massage!

Thank you all for understanding and I can’t wait to start working with you and your horse☺️