26/04/2022
Bodywork is not just for lame, injured, or severely sore horses: the idea is to prevent these things from happening.
𝙿𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚒𝚜 𝙺𝚎𝚢.🔑
Horses are prey animals and will do anything they can to conceal themselves from appearing weak. If they are out in the wild trying to run away from a lion, they’re not going to say to the lion, “oh wait, I have a sore extensor, can you let me go for today?”, they’ll run like the dickens and let their body figure it out! 🏃♀️🦁
They’re body is going to adjust, compensate, morph to make it happen.
It’s in their nature to be stoic and with that often comes compensatory patterns to make up for the area(s) they are sore, lacking strength, feeling tight, etc.
And now, think about what we ask of them today: they’re athletes, and most of them, athletes that want to please us. We’re asking for more from them, and in turn, the industry has been and is doing more and more to extend their longevity. WHICH IS AMAZING🤩 – but living longer means more time to ride them, more time to perform – which also means more strain on their joints, the musculoskeletal system; their entire body.
Not all injuries are avoidable. They’re horses and we can’t bubble wrap them (as much as we all wish we could😅), but do what you can to prevent the soreness that causes lameness that leads to injury.
𝑀𝑦 𝑔𝑜𝑎𝑙 with owners is to create a viable plan that helps the horse reach their top level of performance, whatever it may be. First we find and address any problems, then rehabilitate through movement patterns and management plans that will strengthen the body, preparing it to move sustainably and prevent future injury.
Together, let’s 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 and prevent the pain, 𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘸 the tissue and nervous system, and 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘦 the body through a sustainable exercise, stretching, and maintenance program.
