Eggert Equine Sports Massage

01/31/2025

A day in the life! Earlier this week, I worked with a gaming horse and a retired gaming horse. Variety is something that I definitely love about what I do! Thanks for sharing some photos, Gene Werner!

01/28/2025

It's been a while since I did a Tip Tuesday!

Find yourself a slope or hill. It doesn't have to be super steep! Riding sideways along this hill is quite beneficial for your horse's hind leg joints, balance and coordination. It also benefits the stabilizing ligaments and muscles of the pelvis.

If your horse has a known weak side, or is dominant to one side, walk with the weaker side to the higher end of the hill more frequently. Otherwise, ride (or lead) your horse both directions across the hill for overall strength and conditioning. :)

01/23/2025

If your horse is having known stifle issues, this sling application with kinesiology tape might just be the support that they need! This one is also great for medial patellar ligament support, as well as for the gracilis muscle at the inner thigh.

Have you had success with any ktape applications? Any questions about its use? I'd love to hear!

01/19/2025

Newer scientific studies are showing that zone 2 cardio is the way to go for optimization of your mitochondria, increasing fat burning ability of your cells, and maintaining healthy longevity. I'm happy to tell you that active riding fits the zone 2 cardio description! Here's to us all riding into our 80s! 👏

01/07/2025

Looking for things to do with your horse when it's too cold or icy to ride? I've got some ideas! Join my monthly newsletter (link in the comments) to get a list of some of my favorites, scheduled to go out tomorrow morning!

12/30/2024

A little post massage walk to get the blood circulating in those muscles! If your horse tends to get sore after a massage, try adding a 5 min walk after their bodywork is complete....it makes quite a difference!

12/26/2024

Today we did a knee taping application for Tita. She's been diagnosed with arthritis in her knees. The goal of this taping application is mostly neurological with enhanced proprioception. By increasing proprioception, the body will be better able to provide support for itself and walk in a less compensatory fashion. Is arthritis something you struggle with in your horse?

12/10/2024

This is a great little passive stretch to help improve your horse's hind end! Have the horse release the lower leg and guide the leg back with the pastern relaxed and resting on the toe just a bit behind the opposing hoof. Once relaxed into the position, gently guide the toe back just a bit more if they're able.

If your horse wants to pick up their hoof right away, try simply resting your hand lightly on their leg to remind them to keep it in place. The longer they hold, the better the release.

This stretch allows for the hip to drop, releasing the lumbar back muscles and gluteus medius. It allows a stretch to the psoas muscles in the hip area (where I'm pointing in the photo) as well as allowing release in the stifle and hock.

Give it a try and let me know what you think!

12/08/2024

Sometimes, when a horse has muscular pain (whether visible or invisible to us), they will begin compensating and restricting movements to the point where they no longer appear to be "off" in the area of pain origin. Without being addressed, this continues until the point of injury - not always in the original area of restriction, nor always in a muscle.

For example, did you know that muscles are 90 percent more elastic than tendons? If those muscles become tight and restricted from unresolved issues, you can bet that tightness will eventually travel to the related tendon as well. This can lead to tendon injuries, which we all want to avoid!

So, as a bodyworker, the entire body is addressed...if only the visibly tense or painful areas are worked, all of those other restrictions are missed! As always, prevention is key!

(Unrelated photo of part of my favorite little herd, just because they're awesome 💕 )

11/27/2024

All that preventative maintenance I keep talking about... 😉

11/25/2024

Stifle weakness is a common issue that I come upon with bodywork sessions. Fortunately, with kinesiology tape, we can provide support for that with a stifle sling. This application can help with support/rehab and proprioception.

How do you know if your horse has stifle weakness? One common sign is difficulty stopping, or have a sort of bouncy stop. Other signs may include toe dragging, difficulty with canter work, struggling with trot/canter transitions, difficulty backing up, circumduction with the hind legs, and struggling with hills.

Now obviously, use your judgement on whether you feel these symptoms need some veterinary attention if not already being addressed.

There are some great exercises that will help your horse gain strength in this area, but the tape will help them with that correct movement through proprioception and the ability to gain strength as you progress.

What are some of your favorite stifle strengthening exercises? Feel free to share below so we can all learn together!

11/18/2024

11/15/2024

Do you sometimes find that your horse seems to be struggling with asks that are usually easy for them? Consider the fact that they might just be bored and need a change of scenery!

Get them out on a trail if you can; ride out of the ring around the farm; work in an open field, or even throw in a few days of ground work to give their brains and bodies a reset.

**Not to mention, this change up is also soo key in preventing those repetitive strain injuries I frequently talk about! 😉

11/13/2024

Does your horse have pain in their low back or sacrum that you just can't seem to pinpoint? Have you considered getting their teeth checked? Hear me out to see how this adds up...

Tooth pain directly causes tension in the poll and TMJ. This tension can travel all the way down to the sacrum via the dorsal and ventral longitudinal ligaments, various nerves, and the superficial dorsal fascia line. That's a lot of ways for that tension to travel down the topline!

If you are continuously finding tension in both the poll and any portion of the sacrum or back, despite no other evident causes, get their teeth checked by your local vet or equine dentist...that might just be the problem!

PC Tyra Wiegers featuring the ever expressive Zeva

11/12/2024

Frosty and I want to thank all the veterans for keeping this country free! Thanks for all you have done and continue to do!

11/04/2024

Last year, I got myself a nice black winter coat...ya know, one for nights NOT at the farm. ;) Well, I wore it to our trip to NYC, and only then realized how tight the shoulders fit on the coat. By the end of our day walking through the city, I was in SO much pain through my shoulders and upper back, but it was too cold to walk around without it!

In comparison, it's blanket season. At bodywork appointments, I often see more horses with tight shoulders, chest and wither areas during blanket season. If your blanket fits poorly, it can surely be a detriment to your horse's comfort, and in turn, their ability to move freely (both in and out of the saddle).

Make sure those blankets fit! Your horse will thank you! 💕🐎

PC Cheshire Horse

10/31/2024

Nut was so relaxed with his bodywork today, I unhooked the crossties so he could get all the stretches as he liked and eventually lower his head into a state of total calmness. I really do love this business! ❤️

10/23/2024

I like to surround myself with beautiful things!

Wyatt was hoping for a turn today too, but we had to ask him for a little more space after Charity snapped the photo ;)