Rejuvenate Bodywork Services, LLC

14/08/2024

So of course I am taking another course this summer💞🤦‍♀️

We’re nearly settled in our new home, and I’m getting back to the books. A good friend, practitioner,and veteranarian has encouraged me to take Craniosacral from the Upledger Institute for a couple years now. I registered before we decided to move, and in spite of having a lot going on, it does seem like the perfect course to take at this point.
I have a lot of course work to complete prior to traveling in October, but I am looking forward to it! So far, everything I have added to my toolbox has been a great experience and allowed me to better serve the horses. ♥️

https://www.myrejuvenate.org

14/08/2024

I absolutely love what I do and I pour my whole heart into it! I do my best to leave each client feeling good in their body and suggest exercises for strength training and building a balanced body. Karolyn Wangstad recently left this review☺️

“Tricia is a total professional whose love for horses shines through her work. She genuinely cares about each horse and rider. She asks questions relative to both challenges and progress. Her notes and insights are detailed and action oriented. She is a critical part of my horse Geo’s maintenance program along with the acupuncture my vet does monthly. Tricia’s personal quest for ongoing education in her field is impressive. In the time I have worked with her she has brought in a clinician to work with owners/riders on increasing flexibility and effective use of the horse’s body. She continues to achieve new certifications. The absolutely best example of the relationship she cultivates with the horses is not only evident in how well they go after body work but also in the the horses react. Geo sighs and relaxes when he see’s her…as if to say, “yes please”…”more”. She is amazing!”

https://www.myrejuvenate.org

28/06/2024

Such an awesome day working on the horses at Blackberry Stables in Hendersonville. The weather was cool with a light rain. Such a perfect day to refresh and Rejuvenate!
I am also loving my new sunshirts from Equestrian Team Apparel at Tryon! They always do such nice work!
♥️🐴🐴🐴🐴♥️

23/05/2024

“Unlike typical spa-day massages…”
I love this review from Rachel Childers! It really made my day. This is exactly what I strive for every day~ helping horses to feel good and move freely in their bodies. ♥️

11/05/2024

Another day doing what I love!🥰Always a great day at Twin Creek Equestrian Center♥️🐴♥️

09/05/2024

After two weekends of getting myself back into the show ring, and taking a couple light work days to prepare, I have had a very full work week this week. 😅 (Not to mention the clinics that are in the works) Thankfully, I absolutely love what I do!

It was a delight and an honor to add some of the upper level eventers in town for the competition at Tryon to my schedule!

This event is free to the public and a wonderful opportunity to support some of the nation’s top riders as they start competing today!

https://www.resort.tryon.com/events/tryon-international-three-day-event

07/05/2024

Referral Cups!

When I asked for a vote on social media, you helped me choose the green, so I went with that, but I ordered a few pink ones, too, for good measure💞
Although I share a lot here on social media, my business primarily comes through word of mouth. I truly appreciate when satisfied clients take the time to tell friends about my work, so I ordered these Yeti cups with the Rejuvenate logo as a thank you.

By the way, I got this idea from a childhood friend,Chris Spivey, who created Referral Cups as a thank you for referrals to his real estate business. Thanks, Chris!

Rejuvenate Bodywork Services, LLC

12/04/2024

08/04/2024

Three of the things I love about Rupert’s transformation are:
1. Rupert LOVES his sessions now. When he was uncomfortable in his body, he really didn’t want anyone to touch him.

2. He is breathing better. Stuck in a compensation pattern, he was taking very shallow breaths. Freeing up the back and ribs allowed him to breathe more deeply.

3. Lastly, look at how the back is changing. It’s much more parallel to the ground, and he no longer looks so ‘rump high.’ The top picture was his sale picture (pre-Kristin) Squaring him up and lifting his head masked some of the tension in his shoulders, but look how high he was in the hindquarters. As the muscular and fascial tension releases, his spine is coming into a more neutral position.

So much of what we accept as conformation is often posture. Realize, too, how this affects feet and lower legs. 😳 I’m so excited about this transformation, Kristin Clark!😊

Rejuvenate💞
www.myrejuvenate.org

08/04/2024

Woweeee!⭐️⭐️⭐️

Would you look at this progression?! Kristin Clark had me out last winter to work on her recently acquired OTTB, Rupert. I’ve got to tell you during the first session, it was hard to get much done. He was so incredibly antsy and fussy, but we did manage to make a little headway. He was just downright uncomfortable in his own skin. I left my Photonic Health red light torch and some specific instructions for grooming and handling then came back in a few weeks. There was some really good progress, and I could clearly see that Kristin was committed to showing up for this special boy.

Later, we added some postural work and corrective exercises to his program, and then things really took off! When I say “we” I mean that I gave Kristin the instructions and she ran with it. She deserves the credit for showing up day in day out and doing the work. It’s a simple 10 minute session but it’s 4-5 days per week. That’s the commitment. The bodywork released the tension, and the postural work is creating new habits for a better foundation.

Kristin also had a saddle fitter out and has recently started taking lessons with Susannah West Cord. Although I’ve still not met Susannah, I can clearly hear how well our work will come together in service of this pair, and I am so excited about that.

I am sharing a picture of Rupert in February, March, and April. The month taken is in the photo. I applaud Kristin, not only for her commitment, but also for her bravery and faith here. These are not lessons we typically get coming up through equine education, but she took the leap of faith. ⭐️

We went through a couple new exercises today. We’ll get him standing square next. I am so excited to be a part of this team!

17/03/2024

Horse show season is underway!

Don’t do hours of prep work for a show then show up with a horse that has tight hamstrings, or shoulders, or low back, or poll… There’s no need to swim upstream!

Rejuvenate will offer pre-competition and post-competition sessions! I’ll be offering these at area venues, but same day sessions are only available to regular clients. I’m happy to work on new clients the day before classes. If you’d like to schedule a treatment for your partner, be sure to plan ahead! My schedule stays full.

I’ve been riding myself for 48 years, and I’m a fully insured bodyworker with multiple advanced certifications including Wilson-Meagher Method from Jo-Ann Wilson and Myofascial Release/ Anatomy Trains. Before you enter the ring, be sure to !🦄

11/03/2024

Balancing the TMJ🫶
If a horse is clenching down on one side of the mouth more than the other, the resulting muscular tension may pull the lower jaw slightly to that side. Some manual therapy here allowed this horse to more naturally center the jaw evenly.

Rejuvenate Bodywork Services, LLC

06/12/2023

Rejuvenate has gift certificates for the holidays! Give the gift of wellness♥️

16/11/2023

For the love of a horse…

Travelling to Aiken last week, I was a bit nervous about how I would handle seeing the actual standing dissection process. I was a wilderness EMT years back and a vet tech, too, so I knew that I would be relatively at ease around things like this, but the ’standing’ part had me feeling a little reluctant.

I have to share with you that it was so incredibly beautiful to see such an extraordinary amount of respect and care given to our horse, Glee. In fact, it brought tears to my eyes on several occasions. When I first saw her, I immediately noticed that her tail had been braided and a bouquet of flowers had been woven into her tail. The husband of Glee’s owner and rider attended the dissection himself. As a trainer and farm owner, he knew her quite well. I was so touched by the care and concern shown for this beautiful horse. The entire three day process was an act of love and service.

I am just taking an hour this afternoon to reflect more. I am so very grateful for the opportunity, and I want to take the lessons learned at the Eq-Soma Osteology & Anatomy Learning Center(there were so many) and use them to strengthen my resolve, enhance my perception, and add to my network.

16/11/2023

Standing, whole horse dissection at Eq-Soma Osteology and Anatomy Learning Center, Aiken, SC

It has been truly amazing to see beneath the skin and feel/ move the muscles, bones, and fascia up close and in person on a once living horse. We are learning the beautiful story of Glee- a recently deceased Hannoverian X. It has been humbling, beautiful, and empowering. This dissection is telling her story, and Glee’s loving dad, and trainer, is present to speak on her behalf and to assist her translator, Dr. Sharon May-Davis.

When I told my husband, Dan, that I was hoping to attend a dissection this fall, his mind went back to high school and first year of college when many of us took a look inside bodies to see first hand. This is So, So much more than that. It is taking apart the layers piece by piece. We are learning what Glee ate, the condition of her organs, how she behaved, what she found easy and what she objected to doing. Then we consider… how each part affect another. The body tells a story, and it does not lie.

Beyond Glee’s personal story, we are also considering how a variety of tack influences the horse in general. For example, many of us have been told over the years that there is an intimate connection between the mouth and hind limb, and many of us have gone on to feel how just a gentle squeeze translates to a pause in the hind limb. Today, during the dissection, we actually put a variety of bits and bridles on our teacher, Glee. Then we took turns moving the hind limb and feeling how pressure applied to different bits translated to the hindlimb. I was actually able to peek up into the chest cavity (we hung a lantern) and watch the connection. Then we did similar work with a variety of girths. In the taking apart of the body, we were able to more clearly see just how intimately various parts of the body are connected. I am forever grateful for the beautiful people hosting this dissection. They have committed their life in service to the horse, and I am so thankful for the openness with which they share. We are all doing this to honor and care for the horse. We owe these beautiful beings so very much. ♥️🐴♥️

Photo credit:
Eq-Soma Osteology & Anatomy Learning Center
www.equus-soma.com

06/11/2023

A client who is not on facebook left me this review today, and it brought tears to my eyes. 💜

“Tricia has been treating my horse Little Girl for over two years. LG has suffered several major injuries and was in constant pain. I was preparing to euthanize her when I decided to try massage therapy. It made all the difference! It is truly amazing what Tricia accomplished in a short time. Now LG is comfortable and content, and it shows in her much more pleasant demeanor! I truly believe Tricia's expertise, coupled with genuine compassion and patience, have helped prolong LG's life. I highly recommend Rejuvenate Bodywork Services to anyone who loves their horse!”

~ Aleta Bollinger

This is LG getting her Zen on in front of her fan after her session🥰

Rejuvenate Bodywork Services, LLC
www.myrejuvenate.org
A Wilson-Meagher Practitioner

30/06/2023

How can massage/ bodywork benefit my horse?

One truly big benefit of massage is that it supples and frees up the body to allow for better, more functional movement. THEN training and workouts can more easily build stronger, more balanced body. It’s not an “either/ or.” The two work together. My work makes that functional movement more accessible; therefore, results come more easily and more timely.

I’ll elaborate…
When a horse (or human) has been moving in a dysfunctional way for some time, correcting that dysfunction is not an overnight matter. When certain of the horse’s muscles are chronically tight, or hypertonic, the solution that the rider seeks will not be available - at least immediately. I actually see this quite often in horses that are new to me, especially up near the poll, in the shoulders, and hips/ pelvis. Bodywork helps to free up those areas and thus the horse is able to move in a more balanced, correct manner. Then, the rider can more easily begin to develop a better muscular balance. Over time, this better movement with regular bodywork helps these horses to develop new movement patterns.

If you are in the habit of thinking that your horse “doesn’t want to bend” when riding, try asking him to bend his body before you even tack up. I meet many horses that for one reason or another can not flex their neck laterally, for example. That is not a “won’t bend.” That’s a “can’t- or can’t right now.” Unless there is a veterinary issue, and sometimes there is, freedom of motion can be restored and maintained in these horses though regular sessions.

Consider adding massage to your horse’s care. I have limited openings in the second half of July. Reach out if you’d like to get on my schedule.

www.myrejuvenate.org

https://www.facebook.com/100069845053277/posts/573646261640204/

Exploring the intersection of equine training & wellness since 2012.

22/05/2023

This Rejuvenate pair has really leveled up! 💫
Fran and Santo are really hitting their stride in the jumpers☄️ I love it! 🤩
I am so very excited for all of my clients out there doing their thing this weekend! Horse shows, hunter paces, clinics, lessons, breakthrough schooling rides at home, trail rides, enjoying retirement… I am thrilled for everyone out there living life and making progress towards their dream! 

16/05/2023

Tuesday’s tip! If your horse seems tight around the stifle, he may just be weak. It is important to develop balanced muscle tone in the hind quarters.

I love raised cavaletti for strengthening these muscles, and I wholeheartedly believe that a good fitness program is so important not only for performance, but also longevity. Sometimes it’s muscle weakness rather than muscle tightness that is getting in the way of performance. Not only does a weak muscle underperform, but a weak muscle will also be overtaxed, and the result of that is muscle tightness.

Fhaonna Dohaney’s lovely mare, Apple, is really blooming! She has incorporated raised cavaletti into her program and is slowly and deliberately walking Apple through them on a regular basis. They are really helping to balance the muscle tone in the hind quarters.

It is important to set the right distance for your individual horse, and be to mindful of the number of repetitions. Too many sets can be actually be quite fatiguing, and that’s the opposite of what you want to do. Slow and steady progress for the win✔️

Jo-Ann Wilson wrote a really good article for Practical Horseman back in 2005. Check it out!

https://www.sportsmassageinc.com/Articles/AHSSE_merged.pdf

Rejuvenate Bodywork Services, LLC
www.myrejuvenate.org

10/05/2023

Why Wednesday???

I use the “Why Wednesday” posts to introduce possible reasons and solutions to common obstacles we face in relationships with our horses. It is never as simple as this equals that, but learning about relationships can help us begin to uncover truths.

Sometimes riders tell me that their horse feels clamped in the jaw or tight in the hyoid area. One of my first questions is always, “Are you aware of your own jaw and tongue when you ride?” Our horses often mirror us, so when our jaws or tongues are tight, theirs may very well be tight, too.

One surprising cause of tension in our tongue is our internal dialogue. When we’re trotting round thinking to ourselves, whether it’s anxiety about what our coach will say, or how the upcoming show will go, or even how we will complete our to-do list, our tongue muscle actually involuntarily engages. It is part of the autonomic nervous system, and you cannot override that. Our body is literally preparing for speech. A key to relaxing the tongue, jaw, and throat is quieting the mind and being present.

There are some great releases for the tongue, however, like pressing it to the roof of the mouth, just behind the teeth. Press firmly, then allow it to relax. Breathe and allow it to relax even more. If/when it tenses again, simply repeat the process. This is definitely about allowing and not forcing. The same thing with our minds. To keep a soft mouth and jaw, we need to redirect our minds to the present and truly connect with our horses.

Try this, and as you feel your own mouth relax, notice what is happening in your horse’s mouth as well. It may not be as simple as this equals that, but when considering tension in the horse’s mouth, jaw, hyoid... this is a good place to start.

Fun fact… This is a feedback loop. More tension in the tongue will actually stimulate inner dialogue while a more relaxed tongue will help to quiet it.

26/04/2023

The power of putting together a strong program and maintenance plan…

This is really where the power truly is. As owners we all want to do our best, and it gets so tempting to fall into the trap of searching for that magic elixer or that magical moment that will change everything.

What I have found as a rider is that my horse’s growth and development is built on lots and lots of magical moments, wonderful elixers, and hours upon hours of hard, hard work. That’s it.

I will let you in on a little secret that will better demonstrate this shift in thinking. When I was bringing my mare, Viviane, along, my trainer would ask me to please schedule a bodyworker. At the time, I was not a believer, and so for many months I simply dismissed her. This was a well-accomplished trainer that had ridden under Hilda Gurney at the Sugarman Ranch, by the way ,while I was struggling with first level. Sadly, I thought I knew better. I was looking for a magic fix.

Finally, I did schedule that bodyworker- and a dentist, and I bought a different bridle. I finally understood, on a deeper level, that it really is putting all of the pieces into place in order to give our horses the best chance. It really does take a village.

I had many more hitches in the road with Viv, but we did alright, and we always did things in the best service to her. I am extremely grateful for the trainers and mentors I have had over the years.

This fall I plan to start shopping for my next horse. I am SO looking forward to the somewhat agonizing but always incredibly rewarding process of riding well.

https://www.myrejuvenate.org

23/04/2023

I am working in Gray Court, SC this Friday, the 28th. I had a couple spots open up, so I thought I would share here. I won’t have a lot of time to travel far outside of Grey Court on Friday, but areas like Simpsonville, Fountain Inn… are totally doable.

I am back in Simpsonville and Woodruff the following Friday with one spot open that day as well.

Let me know if you’d like to learn more about how I can help your horse work more comfortably.

https://www.facebook.com/100063835184005/posts/657295316408302/?mibextid=afzh1R

https://www.myrejuvenate.org

A tight muscle functions. It just doesn’t function well.

The process of building muscle and fitness necessarily involves enacting stress on the muscle. The microtears that occur to a muscle during a workout and the subsequent repairs done by the body afterward are quite literally the muscle building process.

Ideally, we take the horse’s body just to the point of stress, find just the right amount of “push”, and as we do that again and again, slowly over time, we create a stronger body. This is just one of the ways a really good trainer helps.

Sometimes as we are building fitness in our horses or in ourselves, certain muscles become tight. When this happens, the fibers are simply too close together, and therefore less blood and nutrients are circulating through the space between the fibers. When a muscle is tight, a horse may prefer to compensate, which as we know, can become problematic.

This is where massage is so helpful. It can restore and rejuvenate the muscle and therefore help to restore freedom of motion. Massage does not build the muscle. Exercise builds the muscle, and ideally exercise with a really good trainer will help you and your horse build muscle in a healthy way. Massage prepares the body for work. It frees the muscle to be of the greatest use. Quite simply, it helps the horse to feel his best.

There are other uses for massage, but certainly a very strong one is maintenance massage. Relieving key areas of muscle tension simply allows the horse’s body to be the most functional during exercise.

https://www.myrejuvenate.org

20/04/2023

A tight muscle functions. It just doesn’t function well.

The process of building muscle and fitness necessarily involves enacting stress on the muscle. The microtears that occur to a muscle during a workout and the subsequent repairs done by the body afterward are quite literally the muscle building process.

Ideally, we take the horse’s body just to the point of stress, find just the right amount of “push”, and as we do that again and again, slowly over time, we create a stronger body. This is just one of the ways a really good trainer helps.

Sometimes as we are building fitness in our horses or in ourselves, certain muscles become tight. When this happens, the fibers are simply too close together, and therefore less blood and nutrients are circulating through the space between the fibers. When a muscle is tight, a horse may prefer to compensate, which as we know, can become problematic.

This is where massage is so helpful. It can restore and rejuvenate the muscle and therefore help to restore freedom of motion. Massage does not build the muscle. Exercise builds the muscle, and ideally exercise with a really good trainer will help you and your horse build muscle in a healthy way. Massage prepares the body for work. It frees the muscle to be of the greatest use. Quite simply, it helps the horse to feel his best.

There are other uses for massage, but certainly a very strong one is maintenance massage. Relieving key areas of muscle tension simply allows the horse’s body to be the most functional during exercise.

https://www.myrejuvenate.org

11/04/2023

Tuesday’s tip

When you’re tacking up, pay attention to where the buckles of the cheek pieces sit on your horse. If the cheek pieces are long, they may sit right on the TMJ, temporomandibular joint. Since this area is quite innervated, it’s much nicer for the horse if the buckles sit on the fleshy mandible muscle.

If you realize that your buckles are sitting right on this joint, and your bridle fits really well otherwise, try swapping out for shorter cheek pieces. 👍

https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/equine-cranial-nerves-model-part-i-0dda2e20bb5147febc66e98b08ad7929

Photo credit: 1. PS of Sweeden catalog
2. Britanica.com
3. Vet Physio Phyle

31/03/2023

Jackie at Eq Graphics is amazing! She designed the logo for Rejuvenate Bodywork! I love keeping up with all her cool projects!

Custom Horse Logos Individually Hand-Crafted for Equestrians, Veterinarians, Farms & Equine Businesses.

29/03/2023

The Maintenance Massage…
I am always so excited about what the Wilson-Meagher Method can do for horses! It is truly profound. I see horses regain ease of motion daily.
It’s easy, sometimes, to forget that this work is a wonderful preventative, too. Even when you’re not feeling anything stiff or tight, maintenance massage is a super tool to add to your equine’s management program.
This is a photo collage of some of my clients doing what they love to do🥰

https://www.myrejuvenate.org

15/03/2023

Horse show season in NC looks like it will be a big one! I see venues are filling up quickly!

Rejuvenate will offer pre-competition and post-competition sessions! I’ll be offering these at area venues, but same day sessions are only available to regular clients. I’m happy to work on new clients the day before classes.
I’ve been riding myself for 48 years, and I’m a fully insured bodyworker with multiple certifications including Wilson-Meagher Method from Jo-Ann Wilson. The goal of the Wilson-Meagher method is always to restore ease of motion. Before you enter the ring, be sure to !🦄

Photo credit: Payton Adams Photography
This is a client and friend on her heart horse, Paxton♥️

14/03/2023

So I took the day off to go to the Phillip Dutton clinic at TIEC with a friend. Since I knew I’d be doing this, I worked on a post last night and I started on my schedule for April. (I work a lot.) I’ll have to share that post another day.

Over lunch, Taylor asked me about my vision for Rejuvenate. I am, by nature, a goal oriented person, and I’m a bit of a perfectionist. Of course I do have goals for my business, and I’m happy to put in the work. What I realized though, upon some reflection, is that I have built a very healthy business, and I am honestly good at what I do. I worked hard to be able to say that. I spend my days helping horses and thereby help their people, too. I have a lot of really wonderful clients, and I enjoy our relationships.

Sometimes, just sometimes, I remember to look around and breathe. Sometimes I can just sit back and appreciate it all. Today my heart is full of gratitude.

Below is a picture of my sweet friend, Taylor with her heart horse, Paxton.♥️ Sadly, Taylor lost Paxton some years ago. This connection is what it’s all about. Thanks for helping me to remember one of the biggest reasons behind the whole thing.

Photo credit: Payton Adams, Taylor’s sister, took this picture. She is truly gifted. http://paytonadams.com

10/03/2023

The more you know...🤓

https://www.myrejuvenate.org

16/04/2021

Beyond thrilled to have this for my office! 💞🐴🐶💞