Longevity Equine Bodywork LLC

06/07/2024

06/07/2024

Things your riding instructor wants you to know:
1. This sport is hard. You don't get to bypass the hard…..every good rider has gone through it. You make progress, then you don't, and then you make progress again. Your riding instructor can coach you through it, but they cannot make it easy.

2. You're going to ride horses you don't want to ride. If you're teachable, you will learn from every horse you ride. Each horse in the barn can teach you if you let them. IF YOU LET THEM. Which leads me to…

3. You MUST be teachable to succeed in this sport. You must be teachable to succeed at anything, but that is another conversation. Being teachable often means going back to basics time and time and time again. If you find basics boring, then your not looking at them as an opportunity to learn. Which brings me to…..

4. This sport is a COMMITMENT. Read that, then read it again. Every sport is a commitment, but in this sport your teammate weighs 1200 lbs and speaks a different language. Good riders don't get good by riding every once in awhile….they improve because they make riding a priority and give themsevles opportunity to practice.

5. EVERY RIDE IS AN OPPORTUNITY. Even the walk ones. Even the hard ones. Every. Single. Ride. Remember when you just wished someone would lead you around on a horse? Find the happiness in just being able to RIDE. If you make every ride about what your AREN'T doing, you take the fun out of the experience for yourself, your horse, and your instructor. Just enjoy the process. Which brings me to...

6. Riding should be fun. It is work. and work isn't always fun.....but if you (or your rider) are consistently choosing other activities or find yourself not looking forward to lessons, it's time to take a break. The horses already know you don't want to be here, and you set yourself up for failure if you are already dreading the lesson before you get here.

7. You'll learn more about horses from the ground than you ever will while riding. That's why ground lessons are important, too. If you're skipping ground lessons (or the part of your lesson that takes place on the ground), you're missing out on the most important parts of the lesson. You spend far more time on the ground with horses than you do in the saddle.

8. Ask questions and communicate. If you're wondering why your coach is having you ride a particular horse or do an exercise, ask them. Then listen to their answer and refer to #3 above.

9. We are human beings. We make decisions (some of them life and death ones) every day. We balance learning for students with workloads for horses and carry the bulk of this business on our shoulders. A little courtesy goes a long way.

Of all the sports your child will try through their school years, riding is one of 3 that they may continue regularly as adults (golf and skiing are the others). People who coach riding spend the better part of their free time and much of their disposable income trying to improve their own riding and caring for the horses who help teach your child. They love this sport and teaching others…..but they all have their limits. Not all good riders are good coaches, but all good coaches will tell you that the process to get good is not an easy one.

*thank you to whoever wrote this! Not my words, but certainly a shared sentiment!

06/02/2024

Kinesiology tape is a physiotherapy treatment and has various applications. It can be applied between (but not during) competitive elements of many international equine events (it may improve speed recovery & endurance). In recreational riding, it can alleviate discomfort from acute and chronic injuries. Other benefits include:

Support Muscle Strain or Tear
Reduce Muscle Stiffness
Minimize Post-OP Recovery
Reduce Inflammation
Prolonging the Effects of Acupuncture / Body Work / Myofascial Release
Improve Movement
Rehabilitate, Manage and/or Prevent Movement Dysfunction

06/01/2024

Equine massage is a type of therapeutic massage designed specifically for horses. It involves using various techniques to manipulate the soft tissues of the horse’s body, such as the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, to promote relaxation, improve circulation, and relieve pain and tension.

Equine massage can be used to help maintain a horse’s overall health and well-being, as well as to address specific issues or injuries. Some benefits of equine massage may include an increased range of motion, improved performance, faster recovery from injuries, and reduced stress and anxiety.

Benefits are doubled along with other modalities, such as:
KT Tape
Cold Laser
TheraPlate

Benefits: (just to name a few)

Increased Circulation

Improved Range of Motion

Pain Relief

Stress Reduction

Improved Performance

06/01/2024

“Each person is born with a calling. It is your task to discover what that calling is and find a way to make that calling a reality”.
-Lucy MacDonald

I feel so blessed/grateful that helping horses with their quality of life is my passion/calling.

06/01/2024

Equine colic encompasses a wide range of abdominal and intestinal issues that can affect horses. Recognizing the signs, being familiar with various types of colic, and understanding preventive measures can all contribute to a faster and more effective recovery.🐎

https://www.aqha.com/-/colic-101 %20is

05/30/2024

Did you know…

An 1,100-pound horse needs to consume a 2-pound block each month just to meet minimum sodium requirements in moderate temps and in no work.

TWO POUNDS of a salt block every MONTH! For reference, the small rectangle salt blocks are 4lbs each.

Many horses are sodium deficient, which is concerning since sodium is important for nerve and muscle function as well as hydration.

By top dressing your horse’s feed with plain white loose salt at a rate of 1 tablespoon per 500lbs per day, you can help meet your horse’s daily sodium requirement.

05/29/2024

Insulin resistance, insulin dysfunction and equine metabolic syndrome are among a collection of rapidly increasing endocrine conditions affecting the horse population in the United States today.

05/29/2024

If exercise or turnout isn’t an option, massage is a great way to keep your horse’s lymphatic system effectively working which movement from turnout would naturally do. The increase in circulation, one of the benefits of massage, helps nourish muscles that are now at rest but perhaps still a bit challenged from the activities of the past year. Massage is always helpful and one of the best things you can do in your horses regular care regimen. Side effects include fewer serious injuries.

05/28/2024

All too often, we wait until a problem rears its ugly head before we realize our horse needs some form of therapeutic intervention. Your horse does not have to have an existing problem to reap the benefits of massage therapy. As noted above, regular maintenance massage can provide your horse with numerous benefits not associated with an existing injury. Regular maintenance massage is a powerful preventative measure and a wonderful way to keep your horse in tip-top shape.

Equine massage can have a profound effect on the nervous system of the horse. Some of the benefits of equine massage therapy, to name just a few, are pain relief, stimulation of the motor nerves, relief from restlessness and sleep disturbance, and improved proprioception. Massage is also thought to help calm nervous horses or horses in unfamiliar surroundings and/or stressful conditions.

Benefits Of Equine Massage:

Pain Relief

Improved Proprioception

Stress Relief

More Efficient Movement

Improved Posture, Circulation, Hair Coat, Muscle Tone

Increased Flexibility and Range Of Motion

Immune System Support

Injury Prevention

Increased Benefits When Used In Conjunction With TheraPlate, KT Tape, Laser and Other Modalities.

05/27/2024

🇺🇸 On this 𝙈𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝘿𝙖𝙮, we pause to honor and remember the courageous men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Their bravery will always be remembered.

Our offices are closed today in observance of Memorial Day, but we look forward to serving you tomorrow, May 28.

05/27/2024

During massage sessions I can help you learn to properly stretch your horse. Not only will your horse benefit, but your farrier will be much happier.

Equine Stretching Benefits

Stretching in horses offers both visible and invisible benefits. For one, it enhances the sensory nerve endings in the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints (also known as “proprioceptors”) that give the brain information about movement and body position.
For instance, after an injury, proprioception is modified by sensations of pain and lameness. The body tries to avoid these unpleasant feelings by limiting movement or by using other muscles to do the job. Stretching helps to “reset” the proprioceptors. By holding a stretch for a minimum of 30 seconds, you can help jump-start the body’s remodeling process. This can restore positive responses instead of reinforcing negative ones.

05/26/2024

I'm feeling so blessed to be doing what I am doing and helping horses. I want all of my clients' horses to do as well as my own. I'll always do my best to help you reach your goals. It takes a team. ❤️

05/25/2024

Let’s talk about back pain. One thing your horse will not do as a response to back pain or tightness, by the way, is buck. He needs to round or flex his back to buck, whereas his normal reaction to pain and tightness in his back is to move away from the discomfort by hollowing.

What’s Hurting

The muscles whose tightness is frequently a cause of these signs are the longissimus dorsi the longest and largest muscles in your horse’s body and a powerful extensor of his spine and the longissimus costarum, which lie below the longissimus dorsi across the ribs on each side and are important in lateral flexion of the spine and in breathing.

Signs of back pain:

Flinch or sink away when you’re saddling him.

Trave with his head elevated and/or his back hollowed.

Canter less freely than usual.

Experience a decrease in coordinated power.

Trail his hind end rather than stepping under himself.

Jump flat rather than with a rounded bascule.

Drift sideways, either on the flat or over jumps.

Resist lateral work.

Pain relief: It is well known that massage therapy reduces and relieves muscle tension in humans, and it can do the same for horses. And with muscle tension relief comes pain relief. Areas of scar tissue can also benefit from massage. Massage loosens scar tissue gradually, helping the horse move more freely and reducing the associated pain. Massage and stretching can help restore a horse’s mobility after an injury by reducing tension as collagen fibers heal and realign themselves post trauma.

05/24/2024

A correctly-functioning temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is essential to your horse’s overall well-being. Any misalignment, trauma, inflammation or other problem in his TMJ affects not only their ability to chew, but also their digestion, their balance, the function of their neck and back, and much more. Equine massage is an effective way to help your horse’s TMJ get back to normal function.

TMJ issues – causes and effects

Problems with a horse’s TMJ can have more than one cause.

Trauma is certainly one, and can result in subluxation (misalignment) or sepsis (infection) in the joint.
Horses can get arthritis in the TMJ as a result of dental issues. Horses spend many hours a day grazing and chewing, and if there is a constant imbalance in the mouth, it will put undue stress on the TMJ.
Issues such as a bit that doesn’t fit properly, incorrect balance in the feet, and poor saddle fit can also cause problems in the TMJ over time.

Massage for TMJ

Massage can be a very useful tool for helping to restore proper function to the TMJ, as well as addressing the compensatory issues that occur as a result of any issues.

05/23/2024

U͟N͟D͟E͟R͟S͟T͟A͟N͟D͟I͟N͟G͟ W͟E͟S͟T͟E͟R͟N͟ S͟A͟D͟D͟L͟E͟ F͟I͟T
*** MAY 23rd @ 6:30PM MST ***

Danna Golden is the owner of Saddle Up, a western saddle & tack shop in Gilcrest, Colorado. Her dad started Saddle Up over 25 years ago as a retirement hobby, Danna teamed up with him in 2009 and purchased Saddle Up in 2014. Today the shop has over 300 new and used saddles and they offer saddle fits onsite and offsite for all horse owners.

Be sure not to miss this next webinar and discover how the right saddle can truly transform your horse's comfort and performance, as well as improve your relationship with your equine companion.

More details & Zoom link here: https://www.rockymountainbch.com/events/educational-webinars

Attendees will get access to a special coupon code for discounts at http://saddleupcolorado.net.

05/20/2024

Calling all horse lovers! Did you know that getting your majestic equine friend a massage can work wonders for their well-being? It’s not just about pampering; massage has numerous benefits for their physical and mental health.

Physical benefits of massage include:

Improved circulation
Decreased muscle stiffness
Decreased joint inflammation
Better quality of sleep
Quicker recovery between workouts
Improved flexibility
Less pain and soreness
Strengthened immune response

Other mental benefits include:

Lower stress levels
Improved relaxation
Improved mood
Decreased anxiety
More energy
Increase feeling of wellness

05/18/2024

TheraPlate can help you and your horses in so many ways! These are just a few of the benefits seen in users of the TheraPlate:

Performance/Maintenance:
Increased joint mobility & flexibility
Reducing stress & anxiety in performance horses Helping your horse's balance
Reducing inflammation and swelling after work
Help your horses focus during training
Clients experience improved performance and statistics with their horses from their TheraPlate with regular use

Rehabilitation:
Up to 50% faster healing through increased production of ATP
​Horses on box rest or downtime can maintain muscle and bone density
TheraPlate could reduce further injuries,
Safely use TheraPlate straight after surgery to excel your horses healing rate
Help horses with abscesses, arthritis/joint stiffness, broken bones, cellulite, Ligament Injuries, colic, hoof issues, laments, Navicular pain, back soreness, splints, wound healing and many more!

Conditioning:
Build lean and even muscle distribution throughout the whole body
Discover new bone growth with consistent use
Help hoof function and quality
Increasing digital cushion circulation
​Greater joint, ligament and tendon function

05/17/2024

Did you know? The percent of a nutrient is relative to how much you feed.

Let’s say we have a 14% protein feed. One handful, one 3 qt scoop, and one 50lb bag each provide 14% protein.

But does the horse actually consume the same amount of protein in all three?

(Insert a collective chorus of “no” 🙃)

If the horse ate the handful, they would eat significantly less total protein in grams than if they ate the scoop.

However, 1lb of a 30% protein and 2lbs of a 15% protein actually do provide the same grams of protein!

I’m unsure why the feed industry only talks about percentages; ask any fitness person what their daily protein intake is, or read the label on any protein shake, bar, etc, and you’ll find out the protein in GRAMS. An 1100lb horse in light work requires a minimum of 700 grams of protein per day.

Moral of the story, percentages are meaningless without knowing how much is being consumed.

05/15/2024

We know massages feel great but what do they do?

Massages can enhance blood flow to the muscles, which delivers essential nutrients and oxygen necessary for muscle repair and growth. Increased circulation can also help remove metabolic waste products that accumulate in muscles during exercise, potentially reducing muscle soreness and fatigue.

Massage therapy can help alleviate muscle tension and tightness by loosening up knots and trigger points. When muscles are less tense, they can move more freely and efficiently during workouts, potentially leading to better muscle activation and growth.

Massages are commonly used as a recovery tool by athletes and fitness enthusiasts. By reducing muscle soreness and inflammation, massages can accelerate the recovery process after intense workouts, allowing for more frequent training sessions and potentially greater gains in muscle mass over time.

Massages can induce a state of relaxation by reducing stress and promoting the release of endorphins, which are natural painkillers and mood enhancers. When the body is in a relaxed state, it can devote more energy to repair and rebuilding processes, including muscle growth.

05/15/2024

Hot weather puts horses at risk not only for dehydration and heat stress but, just like humans, the skin damage and discomfort that accompany a sunburn. Horse prone to sunburn are also at a higher risk for a cancer called squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) which is associated with UV light exposure.

If your horse has reduced pigmentation (pink eyelids or pink tissue) around the eye, be sure to use a fly mask with greater than 90% UV light protection. Many of these masks are not sold at your local tack store but can be purchased online (examples include Equine Sun Visor, Kensington Uviator, Equivizor, Nag). If a mask advertises UV light protection but does not specify the amount, contact the company that makes the mask to get a definitive answer.
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Brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee