Hannah’s Equine Bodywork Services

05/01/2025

What are those lines? 🤔👀

Lines of Blaschko

Named after the German dermatologist Alfred Blaschko. These are patterns on the skin that reflect the migration of cells during embryonic development.

They can often show up during lymphatic drainage, which is why they can sometimes be seen during treatment sessions!

Pretty cool!

I took this yesterday whilst working on this beautiful mare, they came up after working on the fascia over her ribcage and had gone by the time we had finished her treatment 🥰

(I am happy for you to share your experience and knowledge of these lines for us all to learn from but please can i ask you be sensitive and respectful in the wording to not send my lovely client into a catastrophizing spiral!)

04/23/2025

💛

Turnout is one of the most polarizing topics in modern horse keeping. So, let’s skip the debate. We’ve gathered some results from veterinary science, peer-reviewed journals, and international welfare assessments. These are real numbers, from real studies, so you can make strategic decisions rooted in evidence, not tradition.

-A 25% reduction in soft tissue injuries was found in adult horses turned out for at least 12 hours daily, compared to those kept in stalls greater than 12 hours daily. (Reilly & Bryk-Lucy, 2021)

-Comparing turnout duration, a study found that horses with only 2 hours of turnout exhibited significantly higher energy levels, anxiety, and behaviors such as rearing, bucking, and fence running, whereas horses receiving over 12 hours of turnout were more likely to walk, graze, and remain calm. (Hockenhull & Creighton, 2010)

-Foals receiving inconsistent turnout (9 to 23 hours per day) had 4.6 times more musculoskeletal injuries than those with 24/7 access to turnout. Furthermore, for every extra acre of turnout, there was a 24% reduction in injury risk. (Brown-Douglas et al., 2022)

-A study on 2-year-old horses found that those kept in individual stalls required more time to get used to training activities and showed more unwanted behaviors, like resistance or agitation, than horses kept on pasture. The stalled horses needed an average of 26 minutes of training time, while the pastured horses needed only 19 minutes, to complete the same task. Additionally, the stalled horses were more likely to show unwanted behaviors during training (8 instances on average compared to just 2 for pastured horses). (Rivera et al., 2002)

-Stall-kept livestock experience a higher incidence of hoof-related issues, including uneven hoof growth and lameness, while those with access to turnout demonstrated healthier, more balanced hoof development. (Black, R.A. et al., 2017)

-A European welfare study using the AWIN protocol assessed 315 horses in group-housing turnout systems. Only 2.3% of these horses exhibited signs of lameness, compared to lameness rates as high as 33% in stalled horses across various studies. (AWIN Welfare Assessment, 2023)

-Within just one day of moving from group turnout to individual stalling, equine cortisol levels spike, and their white blood cell count shows significant changes, including a 25% increase in neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) and a decrease in infection-fighting cells like monocytes and T cells. Additionally, behaviors indicative of stress, such as oral manipulation, neighing, pawing, and apathy, became evident in most horses within a week. (Schmucker et al., 2022)

-Horses with regular turnout showed higher heart rate variability, indicating improved balance in their autonomic nervous system and greater stress resilience. (Rietmann et al., 2004)

-Welsh ponies who received daily pasture turnout in a herd exhibited fewer stress-related behaviors, were significantly calmer, less fearful, less reactive, more interactive with humans, and more adaptable in learning tasks compared to ponies housed in impoverished environments (stalls with limited turnout). Even three months after the study, ponies in the enriched group retained these positive behaviors and demonstrated higher curiosity and superior learning performance. (Lansade et al., 2014)

Can you find a single peer-reviewed study that shows horses kept stabled 24/7 are sounder, healthier, or happier than those with regular turnout? Even the most finely tuned, performance-focused horses are still horses. Just like any other, they require room to roam, stretch their legs, and engage in natural behaviors such as grazing and socializing.

It’s important to recognize that no horse truly dislikes turnout. If a horse resists going outside, it’s due to improper conditioning, previous negative experiences, or being overwhelmed by a sudden change in environment: what’s known as "flooding." Horses who’ve been confined for extended periods or who’ve never had proper exposure to outdoor spaces may react with anxiety or reluctance. These reactions stem from fear, not from an inherent dislike of turnout. With patience and gradual exposure, every horse can be reconditioned to embrace the outdoors. After all, instincts tell them to roam, graze, and move, it's in their nature.

Of course, there are times when limiting a horse's movement is necessary, such as during health issues or transportation. In these instances, it’s crucial to understand the physiological and psychological changes that occur so we can minimize stress and discomfort.

Turnout is a biological necessity. To support our horses’ overall health and well-being, we must prioritize their freedom to move. After all, a healthy, happy horse is one that has the opportunity to be just that: a horse.

04/16/2025

I normally like to post about an upcoming event beforehand, and update on it after. This time the experience was going to be a lot different, and I honestly wasn’t sure exactly what to expect. Over this past weekend, I went down to Amelia’s place in Dowagiac, Motivity Equine Track Rehab Distefano Whole Horse Hoof Care where Lorre Meuller of Trinity Equine Services was hosting an equine dissection.

I went into it with the intention of having an open mind, and letting the horse be the teacher as always.

On the last day the significance of that really hit me on my drive in. The day before there had been a moment where I looked at the body of our teacher, and felt overwhelming gratitude. I could feel in that moment, that while she was no longer there, she was still with us, guiding us through her body.

Every horse has things to teach us. The magnitude of that increases immensely when surrounded by a group of horsewomen who are truly passionate about their own growth, and taking every drop of knowledge the horse can give. I again, have found a like-minded community, each with their own talents to offer, and the gift that that is, is not lost on me.

Thank you to Lorre and Amelia for making this happen, to Satin for giving us such an intimate learning experience, and of course all the ladies that attended that fueled such wonderful discussions. I truly appreciate all the connections that were made, and will be sharing bits and pieces as I process through them.

03/30/2025

Psst.

8+ weeks is too long.

I said what I said. 🤷‍♀️

Hooves grow an average of a 1/4" per month.

What's traditional is not always harmless.

Just because it "didn't kill them" doesn't mean it is optimal.

It isn't about "looking long" or not.

It's about the entire animal above the hoof. It's time to get curious about it.

It's the difference between damage control, good enough, and the best we can give them.

03/18/2025

Love this so much!

I often work with owners who are frustrated by the disconnect between their horse’s diagnosis and real-world movement. X-rays and scans provide valuable insights into structural changes, but they don’t tell the whole story. They capture what is visible—but not what is felt.

A horse can have severe degenerative changes but no pain or lameness.

Another may show mild abnormalities but suffer significant discomfort and restriction.

X-Rays Don’t Measure Pain—Only Structure

Key Considerations:

X-rays, ultrasounds, and MRIs only show what is imaged—they do not tell us how a horse feels or moves.

Pathological changes are often incidental findings—not always the cause of poor performance.

Horses, like people, have individual pain thresholds. Two horses with the same X-ray findings may have completely different experiences of pain and mobility.

Real-World Example:
I have worked with horses whose X-rays were “awful”, yet they moved beautifully because their bodies were mobile and balanced. Conversely, I have seen horses with minimal findings on scans but who were deeply uncomfortable due to tissue restrictions and compensatory patterns.

The Power of Whole-Body Mobility

We tend to hyper-focus on specific joints or injuries, but the truth is, a horse moves as a single unit from nose to tail.

When one part stiffens or compensates, the whole system is affected.

I’ve seen it time and time again… A horse with “terrible” X-rays moving beautifully because their body is mobile and balanced, while another with only minor findings struggles with stiffness and discomfort.

Pathology doesn’t always equal pain. Some horses adapt incredibly well to structural changes, while others suffer from compensatory patterns and restrictions that aren’t even visible on scans.

I’ve lost count of how many horses had their hocks injected with minimal improvement—yet when their entire body was mobilized, their movement returned to normal.

If your horse has a diagnosis, remember:
💡 Care for them as a horse first, pathology second
💡 Focus on whole-body mobility—not just the problem area ⚠️
💡 Take each day as it comes—because movement is more than what an X-ray can see!

03/17/2025

Even Loading

When we look at the horse’s body, we’ve got to remember just how intricately everything is connected. Small amounts of pressure on the tongue and hyoid can completely change range of motion in the hind end. Changes in tooth balance can affect hoof angulation and alter gait. The fascial system is around every muscle and organ. It allows muscles to slide over one another. It wraps around and even through bone, literally connecting the entire body, front to back and top to bottom.

If we’re looking at tension in one area, and trying to address it, we need to also look at where else in the body may be affected. When fascia is restricted, there is without a doubt tension at the opposite end of the chain, and along it as well.

When addressing horses who are closed at the A/O, or dropped through their spine, it’s a key indicator for me to also look at the hind feet. There is a finite amount of tissue — the body can only stretch so far.

Things like under run heels and NPA tend do go hand in hand with postural issues.

When the body is frequently in a defensive, upright posture, that brace pulls everything else forward.

I often see pelvic tilts and a number of axial rotations below when a horse is used to bracing over their cervical spine, which is a natural place to guard as a prey animal.

When we follow this down to the foot, we often see the horse camped under themselves, and weighting their toe due to the pull from above heel engagement becomes difficult. Remember, there’s a finite amount of tissues to stretch. When this happens, the caudal foot cannot engage properly, the joints no longer load straight up the limb, and then suspensories are not able to do their job and offer the spring/suspension the joints and body need.

I see a lot of farriers/trimmers thrown under the bus for being at fault with under run heels. Many times, we really need to address what is going on in the body, or the feet cannot be used correctly, and will not grow a good caudal foot as they should. If the farrier is not blamed, it is often thought that the horse has weak feet, or that their feet are just s*** due to their breed or discipline. Rarely is this ever true when on a good diet and getting adequate movement.

If there’s any sort of hoof pathology, look at your cycle. If it’s longer than 2-3 weeks, you will most likely have a hard time getting ahead of the dysfunction.

Then address the use of the foot. If we’re trying to make changes to the foot, we also need to change how it is being used. If we don’t make any change to the movement, how will the growth change?

Encouraging a horse to use its digital cushion, and load itself evenly over the foot, allows them to find better movement. We often look at the upper body when working, and fail to realize just how important loading is from the ground up. If we’re off down below, the joint spaces will not line up, and nothing above will have full function either.

Therefore, if we’re looking at impulsion, lift, softness and engagement through the topline, we must also be looking at foot placement. Is the horse stepping in a way that loads evenly, and distributes the forces well from both above and below? Is there rotation anywhere in the limb standing or in motion?

If the horse is not loading correctly, can we truly expect their thoracic sling to engage? Can we expect the hind end to provide power and support?

Probably not.

When addressing the body, we should also be looking to the feet, and how best to support them. Do they need more frequent trimming? Help with proprioception and loading? Relief from the stress of rotation? More shock absorption if their body is failing to provide it?

If there’s an opportunity to inspire better movement, better posture, better biomechanics, we truly need to support from every angle possible. All of the pieces of the body work together. We cannot address the distal limb and body alone and expect to achieve the same results as improving both.

03/14/2025

Another day, another learning opportunity! 🐴

03/13/2025

The body of wants to heal.

Navicular Rehab and Hoof Adaptability

Looking at these photos, which are of the SAME FOOT by the way, you think I’d be ecstatic with the change in the back half of the foot (and corresponding progress to soundness for this horse).

But to be honest, I almost get a little angry.

I get angry that so many navicular cases like this case are given up on or told to be euthanized just because they have such a weak foot, without attempting to strengthen it or take the time to grow in a healthier hoof.

I get angry that the navicular bone damage or DDFT/collateral ligament/other soft tissue damage is blamed for lameness, without the health of the frog or hoof capsule taken into account.

I get angry that people constantly blame genetics or conformation for things like low heels, long toes, thin soles.

I get angry that people say that the digital cushion and back half of the foot “can’t improve” once it has atrophied.

I look at these photos and see this beautiful gelding trotting by soundly, rehabbed back to ridden work last year walk/trot/canter after so many gave up on him, and want to scream it from the rooftops: diet and movement can mean the difference between crummy feet and rockcrunching feet, proper hoof rehab can mean the difference between, quite literally, life and death.

That’s my drama post for the day.

Photos both show the same untrimmed foot mid-cycle (first was after shoe pull, before hoof rehab), which was the previously lame foot on a navicular case with bone damage and corresponding soft tissue damage, as well as other body-wide compensations. Apologies for the dirty mud season foot 🙃

(If you want to learn more about how we rehab navicular cases, I have an entire ebook on it here - print copy is sold out and on backorder currently) - https://thehumblehoof.com/product/navigating-navicular-disease-an-optimistic-guide-for-a-pessimistic-diagnosis-ebook/

03/11/2025

Respecting “No”

Thinking about a horse telling you yes or no may sound a bit bizarre. To those that have already worked your horse’s yes’ and no’s into your day, kudos to you!

When working on a body, horse or human, respecting its boundaries is integral. A horse can communicate with extremely subtle body language. To be successful with horses, one must be in tune to the smallest nuances they display. The swivel of an ear, the scrunch of a nostril, a hitch in the breathing pattern, the speed at which blinking occurs – these are just a few “words” to such a quiet language that I am constantly interpreting when I work.

The more adept the horseman or woman at reading these signals, the more efficient they tend to be when working with a horse. Many often get labeled as a “horse whisperer”, which in a way they are.

With bodywork, working through a “no” can cost the entire session, and even set you back.

Working with a “yes”, can lead to some very profound and meaningful changes.

For any body to make changes, the nervous system has to be on board. For better or for worse.

Think of the nervous system as having two distinct sides, the parasympathetic and sympathetic.

When working with a horse, we should all want them to be in the parasympathetic, or the rest and digest state. This is where learning and positive change can take place.

To better understand this, let's talk about the sympathetic nervous system. It is activated by stressors, and is responsible for things like increased heart rate and blood pressure, inhibiting digestion, and muscular tension with the fight or flight response. Posture actually plays a very large role. Poor posture leads to increased stress response, disruptions in nerve signaling and sensory processing.

When we, or our horses, are stressed we take defensive postures. Long term, these postures are not great for our health. For example, crossing your arms. If you cross your arms long enough, your body’s stress response will increase. Whether noticeable to you or not, your heart rate elevates, your breath quickens, and your digestive system slows down. Historically, this system is what keeps us safe in dangerous situations. The same goes for our horses. Now that we live in the modern world, seemingly small stressors still activate our fight or flight response. The difference is today, that stressor may be an important phone call, and not a bear. Your brain is designed to keep you safe. The new, unknown, or scary situations, throw us into our sympathetic nervous system. Most of us have a variety of things throughout our day that trigger this.

For horses, they are prey animals, and outside of our cushy pastures and stalls they depended on this system for survival. It’s a place of reaction and instinct, there is very little to no room for learning nor relaxation.

Try to recall a problem horse you’ve seen or dealt with. The anxious. The hypervigilant. The spookiest of the ponies. Think about a time your saint of a horse is worried. 👻🐴

In one way or another, they struggled to find comfort in their bodies. The posture was defensive. They probably had a very upright, tight neck. Just writing this makes me tense.

Now envision that good steady eddy. The one that’s somehow always sound, has a soft eye, easy movement, and relaxes through all the things.

How different is that horse’s posture from the stressed horse?

Probably very.

What this simmers down to, is purely the body’s design. Using force is going to be a stressor. Pushing through pain is going to be a stressor. The energy behind the action of ignoring a no is going to be a stressor.

Ignoring a no, spoken or observed, throws the body into the sympathetic.

Horse or human, it does not matter.

The changes we are trying to make, whether in bodywork or training, must be made in the rest and digest state.

When we push past a no, and the body enters the sympathetic, the body will take on defensive posture. Instinct will overrule the ability to think and process.

Defensive postures themselves will continue to drive the body into the sympathetic side, even when true danger is absent.

To move a horse away from the sympathetic, and invite them into the rest and digest state is to invite them into a place that positive changes can be made. Listening and acting on the yes a horse gives, allows us to truly help them release tension through bodywork, and incorporate healthier patterns. It allows us to train in a way that creates trust and confidence.

Something to ponder the next time you pull your horse out – or don’t, because it’s a “no” . . .

The next time you have your bodyworker, massage therapist, physio, chiropractor, or osteopath out, have a conversation. If you see someone work past your horse’s no, I highly encourage you to advocate for your horse. If you’ve ever been to a chiropractor, I’m sure you’re familiar with breathing out and relaxing your muscles before an adjustment. There’s a reason for that, and it applies to your horses too. 💛

03/07/2025

I am so excited to be able to take part in this today! I’ve followed Dr. Rachel Heart for a long time, and her work is nothing short of incredible. I’m grateful to practitioners like her who make continuing education so accessible.

📝🐴

CLASS IS OPEN !!!

I love experiential learning
I can have someone work on my body or watch someone work on horses and can often then turn around and duplicate the experience without ever having been 'taught'

I do not enjoy creating power point presentations and then selling them and never getting a chance to interact with my 'students' because its that interaction that gets me all fired up and passionate about healing and horses.

I never would have imagined that teaching on zoom could reveal so many things about how to effectively rehabilitate horses. The best part is how much the owner/handler/ trainer can accomplish with easy instructions

All this to say -

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE LIVE CLASSES FRIDAY MORNINGS AND ANYONE IS WELCOME TO AUDIT !! ( for a fee of course ... )

Each Friday at 10 AM CST we will have a different case that will be announced earlier in the week.

If it sounds interesting and you want to watch how we approach and make a plan for long term healing you can sign up at the link and join us on zoom !

Live sessions will last 90 minutes and you should be able to ask questions or comment on observations
This will be followed by a 30 minute Q and A or have a discussion

sign up at this link

https://www.heartequine.com/service-page/well-adjusted-collaborative-classroom

This weeks case will be announced tomorrow !!

Spoiler Alert - I will be guiding the one and only Dr Marthe Wildsmith DVM on a case she is working with - so it will be 2 for 1 fun as you can see how myself and Dr W collaborate !!

Get Well Adjusted !!!!!

03/06/2025

What is LNRT?

Lazaris Nerve Release Technique is the first of its kind. It has a focus on releasing suspected nerve impingements throughout the body, with primary locations being the brachial and lumbosacral plexus.

Nerve release can help your horse downregulate from their sympathetic to parasympathetic nervous system.

Have a horse that struggles with anxiety, hypervigilance, headshaking, pawing, etc.? This could be a game changer.

When working with the nervous system, you open doors to facilitate healthy posture and development. No horse or human has perfect posture, but this sure can help make improvements! Think about going to the gym; repetitive good motion is great for your body, but repetitive bad motion is detrimental. The same goes for horses!

Optimizing posture is key to long term wellness, especially for an athlete.

Get that body talking!

When there is restriction over nerves, there is restriction over the body’s ability to communicate. Releasing this restriction allows the body to increase its proprioceptive skills. This is great for every horse, from helping improve range of motion and stability, to helping horses with neurological conditions that affect their proprioception, like EPM and similar.

In the unique way that it is used, LNRT can help with undiagnosed lameness, increase performance, and so much more. This comprehensive method targets the entire body to restore healthy nerve function through both manual therapy and movement exercises.

📸Lacey Schoendorf