Back to Balanced, LLC

06/04/2020

This is the first in a series of blogs sharing top tip videos and extracts from my book Pilates and Stretching for Horses. As we are all restricted in what we can do with our horses at the moment, these are exercises which you can do with your horse at home. First we will look at the basic principle...

28/08/2019

How many times have you wished your horse could understand English so you could teach them to tolerate grooming? “Believe me, this fly spray will get rid of those pesky bugs…just relax and I’ll help you!” or “Once we get all that gritty dirt and sweat off, you’ll be soooo much more comfo...

20/07/2019

Stiffness in the poll region can quickly lead to a tense neck and eventually a tense back, which negatively affects the quality of movement. If left unchecked, the issues in this area can cause stiff movement, lacking the relaxation and lightness we want in the collected horse.
https://holistichorsemagazine.com/issue-121/23/

22/06/2019

As a therapist I regularly see horses with signs of ulcers. Acupuncture points for Horse's with Ulcers and Gut Pain. From an equine therapist point of view often after treatment these points are still

21/06/2019

A horse’s history and his current environment, can influence behavior, so removing stressors from your horse’s life may be the best calming agent of all.

02/05/2019

Myofascial release is becoming an integral part of equine healthcare. Learn about fascia and how it protects the inner structures of your horse’s body.

22/03/2019

Horsewoman Amy Skinner describes the hazards of creating a 'bombproof' horse. With discussion of this ultimate horse insult: Rider Fear.

28/02/2019

Great article describing the different ways you can treat inflammation naturally.

Muscle soreness is a fact of life. Inflamed muscles may result from exercise, ill-fitting tack, improper shoeing, and bad riding techniques, individually or in combination.

16/02/2019

Much of horses’ immune systems and hence overall well-being is regulated in the large intestine or hindgut, which, although endlessly important to your horse’s health, also is one of our horses most vulnerable organs. Enter Slippery Elm (Ulmus fulva/rubra), one of nature’s wonder herbs, excell...

11/01/2019

Learn how the equine stomach works and how chewing and saliva help buffer gastric acid - and reduce the risk of ulcers.

23/12/2018

Big yawns!

16/12/2018

Draw it Out liniment gel and concentrate make great gifts for your horsey friends! Contact me to place an order so I can extend my wholesale pricing to you. 🎄 Happy Holidays!

02/12/2018

Murdoch Minute No. 89 Check for a Level Seat by Wendy Murdoch Photo 1. This saddle is too far forward on the horse’s withers causing it to be unlevel. It will concentrate the rider’s weight at the anticlinal moment when sitting and on the shoulders when jumping.Do you have trouble staying balanc...

01/12/2018

LATERAL CERVICAL FLEXION Does your horse bend in the neck more easily to one side than the other? Does he brace against the bit on one side, or does he “cork...

08/11/2018

Some say beauty is only skin deep, and that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But what horse lover doesn’t notice (and perhaps drool a little) when confronted with another horse on the course with way healthier skin than their own horse’s and a coat so dazzling it's nearly blinding?

01/11/2018

This is one of the most common issues I see in the horses I work on. Ulcer maintenance is so important!

Gastric (stomach) ulcers are commonly caused by lack of forage & stress. Learn how to protect your horse with these 7 actionable solutions.

01/10/2018

Belly lifts are beneficial for strengthening your horse's back. Here's an alternate way to upward finger pressure at the girth area to help your horse do this exercise.

31/07/2018

Short title for an incredibly complicated topic. There are many different types, causes and pathways for pain. For the purpose of this blog I will limit the discussion to acute and chronic pain t…

27/07/2018

Consistent bodywork makes the world of a difference for this mare!

20/03/2018

Bud sporting his kinesiology tape after his massage! And just in time to go outside and play with his pony friend 😂

04/03/2018

Shae is loving her Sunday afternoon massage!

26/01/2018

Okay, so I am a total nerd and love this stuff. I've been reading a ton of books since I was certified, and I found a really cool technique that I can't wait to try on the horses!
**SPECIAL** The first person (new client) to comment on this gets $10 off their initial session for their horse. My existing clients will get this add-on technique for free during their next appointment! 😁

17/01/2018

Sarah Ralston, VMD, answers this reader question.

09/01/2018

Progressive stretching and strengthening exercises that target specific muscles and ligaments can keep this important joint in peak condition.

08/01/2018

Massage therapy can:
~ improve circulation
~ enhance muscle tone
~ reduce inflammation
~ alleviate soreness, strain, and tension
~ release natural pain relieving endorphins
~ increase range of motion and improve joint mobility

07/01/2018

Some before and after pictures of Shae. It’s amazing what a little massage maintenance can do for your horse!

07/01/2018

For those that know me and my horse, Touché, or “Shae,” know our story and know how I found myself on the path of becoming a certified equine sports massage therapist. But for those that don’t it may seem a bit odd. “You massage horses? You’re kidding, right?” Nope. Not kidding. I massage horses.
I found Shae in Ohio. For whatever reason, I saw her online and in the following weekend I was driving over four hours to go see this horse. I rode her for about 30 minutes in the warm up area at a horse show and knew she was my horse. And of course she was a tough ride - quick, anxious, and an overall hot mess, but I could tell she had a huge heart and a ton of talent and I knew if anyone could help me “fix” her and get us into the jumper ring my trainer, Leslie, could. So we were “the circle”, and then cantering without getting run away with, and then trotting jumps, and eventually cantering some (and some days I never thought we’d even get there!). Baby steps. But then I started to notice Shae felt a little off. We started dealing with an intermittent weird lameness. Vet bills, X-rays, supplement changes... we couldn’t figure it out. Some days subtle lameness, other days head bobbing lame. WTF??? Willing to try anything I called out a holistic vet. It was different, but she figured it out. Shae has an old injury to her stifle and the scar tissue surrounding it was causing huge adhesions in the muscles in her hind end. It was painful and causing all sorts of issues. The hind end problems coupled with Shae’s overall tense and defensive demeanor caused Shae to have muscle soreness everywhere! I started having an equine sports massage therapist out and noticed an immediate improvement. But with Shae’s injury the maintenance every couple weeks was getting pricey, so Leslie (in a roundabout way 😏) gave me the idea to go to school to learn it myself. Huh?? More school?? Ugh...
So here we are - certified equine sports massage therapist and happy horse. And when I say happy horse, I mean completely different animal. For me, I never imagined this path but helping Shae and working with these wonderful animals is so rewarding. So yes. Really. I massage horses.
Thank you, Shae. Thank you, Leslie. Thank you, Beverly and Christy(my awesome instructors!). And thank you to everyone who is supporting me on this path and making this business possible.

05/01/2018

We are finally up and running! Working on the horses has been so much more fun than working on the page. Can't wait to post some of the before and after pics of the horses.

05/01/2018