Sunday’s Holistic Equine Bodywork

11/07/2024

08/06/2024

I had the opportunity to work with the sweetest mare ever today! Faith and I got to work on releasing a lot of tension today. Can’t wait to watch her progress with her awesome new owners! 😍

04/05/2024

“This is so basic I can’t believe it needs to be said”-

This is something frequently stated by commenters or auditors when I’m writing or teaching.

There’s a few things worthy of addressing here

1- I never assume anyone knows, or more, SHOULD know, anything.
You never know what someone’s background or education is, regardless of years of experience.

I learned plenty of not ideal things with horses growing up; and had to learn what I now consider very basic handling and facts as an adult. Should I have known better? Who’s to say? I had plenty of education, and I knew what I was presented with, until I was presented with better.

Should is irrelevant. You know what you know until you find better.

2- what’s considered basics to one is different for another. When people say something is a foundational skill, it’s all very relative.
My basics versus another persons basics may be completely different. So if someone doesn’t know MY basics, it doesn’t make them uneducated, it means they’re educated differently. I’m presenting a way of thinking along with a set of skills, but if you didn’t know them it is not a reflection of your ability - only a fact that you haven’t been presented with it yet.

3- just because someone thinks they know or are doing the “basics” well, does not mean they are actually doing them. Many of us need constant reminders or help doing our basics well, because bad habits are very easy to slip into. For example, I consider a basic skill being aware of your horse and surroundings, and yet, when I’m tired or in a bad mood or overwhelmed, this is the first thing to go. Do I know this basic skill? Yes. Am I doing it? No. Therefore I need reminders.

Those are just a few things to consider when presented with “basics” - it’s all relative, and we’re all human. Getting more aware of them and better at them will continue to pay dividends for years to come, and so it’s worth looking at reminders not as something “for other people,” but something to take to heart without judgement.

07/10/2023

The Stages of Equine Skeletal Development

A horse ages roughly 3 times faster than a human. So, a 90 year old human is a 30 year old horse. Both very old, usually arthritic, don’t have many of their original teeth left, and very likely retired and enjoying the finer things in life.

A 25 year old horse is a 75 year old human. Some are still happily working but some prefer retirement and an easier life. Often depending on just how hard a life they’ve lived.

A 20 year old horse is a 60 year old human. At that point where the body doesn’t work like it use to but the brain is all there and wants to be active.

A 13 year old horse is a 39 year old human. Middle aged, prime of their life where their knowledge and physical ability are about equal.

So let’s get down to the babies and work our way up.

A 1-1.5 year old horse is getting their first adult tooth, this happens at 6 years old in a human child.

A 3 year old horse is a 9 year old child. A child. Not ready for work by a long stretch. We have moved past sending children down the mines.

A 4 year old horse is a 12 year old child. Often will do odd jobs for pocket money, maybe a paper round, mowing lawns etc. Basically a 4 year old horse can start a bit of light work experience to learn the ropes.

A 5 year old horse is a 15 year old teenager. Think they know it all, cocky, and ready to up their work and responsibilities. Still quite weak and not fully developed so shouldn’t be at their physical limit but can start building strength.

A 5.5 year old horse has just cut their final adult tooth, this happens at 17 years of age in a human.

A 6 year old horse is an 18 year old human. An adult. Ready to work.

An 8 year old horse has achieved full fusion of their final growth plates. This happens at 24 years of age in a human. This is the age it is safe to push a horse for their optimal performance.

Pushing your youngster too hard too young will result in the failure of many body parts. Joints, spine, tendons, ligaments as well as their brains. Waiting another year or two at the beginning could give your horse an extra 10 years of useful working life. Be patient with your pride and joy!

Written by Vikki Fowler BVetMed BAEDT MRCVS Vikki Fowler

Graphic credit to Naomi Tavian

05/10/2023

Snuck in some time this morning to play with my boys and some things I’ve been learning! Check out the veins in the before and afters! 😱🤩

(I did forget to get a good profile shot of Jameson before, but thankfully I grabbed one of him nonetheless!)

I’m LOVING learning all the new things from Celeste-Leilani Lazaris !!

17/09/2023

24/08/2023

If tape helps with pain, will the pain return once the tape is removed?

It could, it will likely be less pain than before because the purpose is the tape is to break the pain cycle.

Tape minimizes pain by decompressing nociceptors.

Nociceptors are receptors that live under the skin at the base of the hair and their job is to communicate pain to the brain.

Tape will communicate with the nervous system to create long term
change, it is not a mask for pain.

The long term changes are that it will:

🫶🏻 communicate body awareness (research shows body awareness decreases pain)

🫶🏻 improve circulation (aids in healing)

🫶🏻 decrease fatigue

🫶🏻 support weak muscles

🫶🏻 improve soft tissue glide

All of these factors contribute to pain, so improving them improves pain.

There are absolutely immediate changes and improvements, but since we’re working with the nervous system, we have to treat it as a program.

Tape is a great, incredibly effective tool as part of an entire program.

I wouldn’t go to the gym one time and leave with a six pack.
Therefore I wouldn’t use one piece of tape and expect full recovery.

Just like all rehab and injury prevention modalities, it works best when done regularly and consistently. Learning how to correctly, safely, and effectively tape your own horses usually yields the most consistency.

The immediate improvement sure is nice though. 🙂

19/03/2023

Day 2 inflammation taping for Tank. 💚 swelling has gone down a little, but still has a bit more to go!

19/03/2023

Cody had a great afternoon 🥰

A little biceps and TFL taping for relief of his stifle support muscles! 💚💙

19/03/2023

19/03/2023

18/03/2023

Tank is getting some inflammation relief today! 💚

02/01/2023

And I am here to help your horse feel their best as they are getting in shape! 🥰 I offer options that prevent injury, help relieve soreness and or stiffness, and so much more! Let me know how I can help you and your horse! ❤️

Just like with people, horses don't respond to fad diets or fitness plans.

There is no magical cure to getting your horse fit or competition ready. It takes TIME which is not something people like to hear.

The body needs TIME to build, rest, recover, grow and strengthen.

Your horse can be stronger this season but you will need to start bringing them back to work now.

📸: .tales.photography
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18/12/2022

Just because your horse is not LAME does not mean its SOUND.

It's time we separate soundness from lameness. Its part of our daily conversations with owners. They have seen multiple vets, trainers, and are even competing their horses because they are told the horse jogs and flexes fine so it is sound. There are a lot of horses showing that are not totally sound.

Lameness is defined as an impediment to walking due to feet or legs. Soundness is defined as the state of being in good condition. This is an important distinction we need to start addressing in horses. Just because your horse jogs and flexes without concern does not mean your horse is sound. We need to raise the bar in what we consider acceptable to horses soundness and overall well being. Horses are amazing creatures, that tolerate a lot from us. They try to express their discomfort but sadly most go unheard. If their message goes unheard for too long, they often become behavioral or checked out. One of our most common calls is that the horse is increasingly difficult to work with and is becoming dangerous but the owner have been told there is nothing wrong. They are at a loss for answers.

It is NOT okay they pin their ears, constantly swish their tails, get fidgety, are bad for the farrier, bite at or look at themselves, unable to lounge, buck/rear/spook, get cast, sit on the wall, bank shavings, toss their heads, kick out, are not be able to back up, avoid collection, hop into transitions, hate to be brushed, chronically shift their blankets/saddle, or stand abnormally. ALL of these are signs of discomfort.

Its not their temperament. It is their expression of PAIN! We need to stop excusing it as thats just the way they are or they are difficult/fresh/jerks/wimps. That is not normal behavior for horses. They are trying to tell you they are uncomfortable and they deserve for us to listen to them.

We owe it to them to look at their whole presentation not just how they jog/flex on their legs. We owe it to them to not ride them when they are clearly trying to show they are in pain

Its time we are better to these amazing athletes.

DeClue Equine

14/12/2022

Thanks to Karen Sanchez with DC Crafts for my new apparel! 🥰🥰

02/12/2022

Thank you Angel's Animals - Holistic Care and Seminars for such an honor! ❤️

Claire is an equine bodyworker in Willard, North Carolina

01/12/2022

When your friend’s massage across the barn is so good, you start yawning too!

29/11/2022

27/11/2022

Some great information about Kinesiology Tape! I know it has certainly helped me personally many times! 🤩

24/11/2022

Happy thanksgiving! 🦃🍁

What are you thankful for this year??

11/11/2022

Some of the many faces of Jameson during his post-workout massage! Lots of big releases today during his massage and his taping!
We are working on building up the muscles supporting his stifles. Looking and feeling like some great progress for him! 🤩

29/10/2022

Tank is pretty happy with his new set up for the weekend!
Back relief for the week ahead, and some inflammation taping tonight for his recent leg injury acting a fool!
💙💗💙💗💙💗💙

15/10/2022

Jameson getting some hind end relief and support 💚💙

14/10/2022

Sometimes you just need a good mid-session hug 🥰

27/09/2022

My Equine Kinesiology Tape certificate came in the mail today too! 🥳 all official now!

27/09/2022

Thank you Corey Antos for my logo!! It is a silhouette of my heart horse, Rory, aka Sunday’s Lion. 💙 hence the name, Sunday’s Holistic Equine Bodywork!
This kid was my everything and we did everything together. Now that he has crossed the rainbow bridge, I am honoring him in working my hardest to help take care of others’ four legged best friends!
I am currently certified in Equine Massage Therapy, Equine Craniosacral Therapy, and Equine Kinesiology Taping.
Let me know how I can help your best friend today! 💗

20/09/2022

Someone is looking mighty colorful! Massage and then taping for back, SI, and hind end!

20/09/2022

And my third certification is complete!! 🥳

I am now certified in equine massage, craniosacral therapy, and kinesiology taping! 🤩❤️

SE NC friends, let me know how I can help your horses feel their best! 😍🥳