Elements Equine Bodyworks

23/08/2024

Here’s a little before and after sternum magic. ✨ This is why I love nerve release! Even with a little high/low hoof asymmetry, we were able to achieve chest balance and a wider stance with bodywork alone after 1, one hour session. My hope is this will set in motion healthier biomechanic patterns for this mare, leading to more even hoof growth.

01/07/2024

This has been a labor of love! I'm thrilled to announce I'm officially a Lazaris Nerve Release Practitioner and am beyond excited to be able to offer this amazing modality to as many ponies as possible!

I cannot thank Celeste-Leilani Lazaris and Katherine Lowry enough for all of their kindness, support, and knowledge over the last 6+ months. My practice as a horsewoman and bodyworker has grown in so many ways and I cannot wait to see where this beautiful community takes me in the future!

Also, a HUGE thank you to all of my wonderful clients that lent me their horses for case studies over the past few months, I couldn't have done it without you!

www.elementsequine.com

26/04/2024

TALES OF LOUIE - THOROUGHBREDS, SORE FEET & LIFE UNSHOD

Up until recently I had sort of the ignorant notion in the back of my mind that all thoroughbreds have sore feet. Maybe because it was so very unusual to see one that had a heel and some mass to it. I was told once crushed, it was over for the digital cushion and a life of therapeutic shoeing was all there was .

When I was on the track they would scrape and pare those little feet out every 4 weeks taking large chunks of sole and bar and anything else that might possibly lend some integrity to the foot. You would not see much growth of this hard little piece of keratin and collagen and what not stuff that was responsible for not collapsing into despair sandwiched between the 1000lbs of gravitational and the equally daunting ground reaction forces - what's a foot to do ??

On the racetrack a horse might never walk on a surface harder than a dirt path that gives way under these forces.

Foot sore ?? No worries just slap a shoe on it, it will be fine.

I was told over and over that Louie could never ever be barefoot.
He would be too sore
It was INHUMANE

I wondered if he was sore barefoot does that mean he is sore with his shoes but he just doesn't feel it as bad?

Periodically I would try to answer these questions by blocking his feet, would he look different ?? Would that help me 'know' if he was in pain?
The blocks did not change him and I was able to take that data and say well then his feet must not bother him.
But then why was he so braced in his front end ? so tight in his shoulders ?? still in extension with his spine and angry when I would move towards his chest to ask him to shift his center of mass back ( AKA pillar 2)

How could I ever know if his feet were hurting all the time and he was just 'coping' as many of them do??? This bothered me greatly to not be able to answer this.

I have learned that there is no better feeling in the world than the ABSENCE of pain - damn, it feels good to not be in pain !!!

I know now that for the first time since I have owned Louie he is not in subclinical foot pain. His stride, his posture, his demeanor and muscle tension are all completely different.

You can see in the pictures how he was 'bracing' against the ground - we have all felt that way if you have ever been in shoes that didn't fit right and you sort of energetically scrunched your foot so that it could not expend any more in the shoe - tensing the muscles in the upper part of the leg to support this

Louie spent 5 years doing that
Till we took off the shoes and gave him a trim that was able to biomechanically absorb and recoil to those gravitational and ground reaction forces
SO he could stop bracing against those forces that were trying to implode his foot

I don't claim to know much about being a farrier or a horse but I do know a lot about pain, and it sucks

Pain is low priority in a horse's world. It comes after minimization of dural torque, staying upright and the ability to respond to stimuli - it can be very very hard to identify the contribution of subclinical pain to the whole picture when working with horses - add this to their ability to check out into freeze state, we often have to be dedicated detectives to solve these types of issues.

And sometimes it isn't until after you finally solve the problem that you begin to realize just how bad things were.

Seeing Louie pain free and no longer bound and braced in his feet is likely one of the most interesting and exciting events of my career.
It excites me to begin to better understand LIFE UNSHOD, the transition, the management and the benefits !!!

Settled and sound for the win !!

07/10/2023

This is such a great visual on correct muscle development! We are always striving for SMOOTH musculature.

28/11/2022

Great new paper on how hind foot hoof balance affect limb posture!

14/08/2022

Feb 2022 —> July 2022
Posture matters! 5 months of changes from Balance by Movement Method, intentional bodywork, and returning back to groundwork/horsemanship fundamentals.

Not only has her neck and shoulder tension greatly improved, her new found thoracic sling strength has allowed for her withers to life and her body posture to be less downhill.

The mare has had years of gait asymmetries, lack of forward movement, and resistance to work. All of this has transformed into willingness, effective communication, and partnership between horse and rider. 🙌🏻

21/04/2022

Feb —> April changes

For the last 3 months I’ve been diving into thoracic sling dysfunction thanks to masterclass. .

It’s been a humbling experience learning how critical this structure is to our horses overall well-being and how often it is in dysfunction.

By the use of bodywork and groundwork exercises this mare’s pectorals have finally begun to activate and her chest is starting to be less pinched. Even the smallest changes are good changes!

My biggest takeaway? Your horse’s lower neck muscle MUST be relaxed in order for their pectorals to turn on. Period.

If this peaks your interest please reach out! I’m happy to chat about it at our next session together. ❤️

04/03/2022

Equine safety and wellness is my top priority. Due to the recent outbreaks of EHM, Elements Equine will be performing the following safety precautions:

- Hand washing and sanitation between horses
- Limiting the amount of barns serviced per day
- When multiple barns are visited, a full change of clothes will be performed

This could potentially affect all equestrians. Please be aware.

27/11/2021

Happy !
To everyone that has already supported me this year, THANK YOU! Shopping small and supporting local businesses has always been a priority for me, but even moreso now that I am a business owner myself.

How can you show support?
Book a session, purchase a gift certificate, or refer a friend! New clients receive 10% off their first session for signing up for my newsletter!

Can’t financially support this year?
That’s okay! Share, like, or write a review. Anything and everything helps! 😀

& this year!

17/11/2021

Discover what scientists are learning about footing and its connection to lameness and other horse health issues.

08/09/2021

Feeling grateful ❤️
The hours I spend working on your horses are special times for me. I’ve always been on the quiet side and the unspoken communication that happens between humans and horses is one that I will forever cherish.

01/09/2021

More before & after magic ✨
It’s been a while so here you go!

Drastic changes like these are the easiest to see and are sometimes seen as the most impressive. However don’t be concerned if your horse doesn’t exhibit this type of before & after. Every session can also have invisible changes that are only felt underneath my hands. Tissue, temperature, and tension can all subtly change with no visible “wow”.

11/06/2021

It’s Friday!!

What are you up to this weekend? Any exciting plans?

I’ll be spending the next few days with horses, pups, and working on my summer newsletter!

08/05/2021

Post bodywork sweets with a side of pole dust. 🍭 🍬

Hope your Saturday’s lip smacking good!

11/04/2021

Happiest 23rd Birthday to my Jordon!

She’s been my best friend, show partner, and banana loving girl for the past 19 years. Definitely one of those once in a lifetime horses.❤️

24/03/2021

Cross training!

I love utilizing ground poles and cavallettis in my horses conditioning programs. Every horse, no matter what discipline can benefit from pole work.

Why do I like it so much?

- it’s keeps things interesting and new!
- Strengthens proprioception of limbs
- Establish rhythm and cadence
- They are forced to pick their legs up higher = building strength in all areas

What are some of your favorite cross training exercises? Share with me below!

19/03/2021

Although this study came out a little while ago, I always think it's a good one to share.