Blue Ribbon Bodywork

18/04/2024

Check out www.blueribbonbodywork.com for updates to the services we offer!! Which now include groundwork training!! More updates in the works!

30/03/2024

Just wanted to hop on here and say hello to my new followers! In the next month we should have more content and blog posts! I’ll have time to play on the computer since I will be at home for a few weeks.

06/03/2024

Hello I just wanted to let everyone know that my surgery was moved to April 5th due to having Covid a few weeks ago. I would like to do all clients between the 1st and 3rd of the month so that they are set up for the month! Contact me with any questions!

08/02/2024

Hello I wanted to let everyone that I will be having surgery on march 7th. So I won’t be able to do services for 2-4 weeks I’ll be playing it by ear and will update people once I can work again. I would like to do everyone between march 1st-6th. Contact me to schedule!

21/01/2024

A year later this horse just attended his first off property show! I’m excited to see him next week.

19/01/2024

Exciting news!
We are now on LiveEQ the app and EquineProConnect! You can contact us on LiveEQ to ask questions or schedule sessions. On EquineProConnect you can schedule sessions, ask questions, and now receive a session report for your horse. Go check us out!

03/01/2024

These are great tools when used with body manipulation! However like stated these will not break up muscle adhesions and restricted fascia.

Okay before you attack me, I’m not saying PEMF (Bemer, Magnawave etc) doesn’t work. It just doesn’t do what a lot of people think it does.

PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnet Field Therapy) is said to help stimulate cell growth and repair. There’s a whole lot of science behind it that I’m not going to get into, but my brief search of studies hasn’t found a ton.

What I’m getting at is I’ve seen and heard people using PEMF as a primary body work modality and skipping others. PEMF will NOT break up muscle adhesions or restricted fascia. Manual manipulation of these adhesions using a purposeful technique is what’s going to free up these muscles.

Bottom line, PEMF is a great tool and if you’re able to use it, great! Just know that only using PEMF isn’t going to replace your bodyworker or magically fix your horse.

As always though, listen to your horse and do your own research.

31/12/2023

Reposted as with a lot of horses being kept in longer and exercised less due to wet weather, it is important to keep an eye on our horses muscles.

A little diagram to highlight the importance of monitoring gluteal muscle mass. The gluteal muscles are truly a window, providing a view in of the quality of exercise and the bodies response to training. Atrophy or weakness can have an unzipping effect, causing other areas of the musculoskeletal system to be compromised and at risk of injury.

It should also be noted that this solely considers muscle mass, and not tonicity; where a muscle should be well developed, this shouldn’t compromise on the quality of the muscle.

20/12/2023

One of my favourite stretches for decompressing the cervical spine, and stretching out muscles that are commonly tense as a result of reduced forelimb protraction.

Visualising the release, mobilisation and stretch of these muscles is super eye opening to how this can be so beneficial for horses that have tension in these muscles.

From saddles that are too narrow, to navicular syndrome… these muscles develop tension to compensate.

It is also good to visualise why holding a stretch for 15 seconds is so important for effectiveness.

19/12/2023

This is why I recommend ground pole work to a wide variety of clients!

12/12/2023

👅 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐇𝐲𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬 👅

It’s not just a bit.
It’s not just a bridle.
It’s not just a tongue sticking out the side.
It’s not just a contact evasion.
It’s not just “but they just don’t like to work in a contact”.
It’s not just “because they’re a mare”.

All of the inconsistencies or problems encountered with a contact, are all related to this very complex array of relationships between the tongue, hyoid and associated muscles.

To learn more, I am launching a webinar on The Hyoid, The TMJ & its Relationship to Neck Tension! https://vetphysiophyle.co.uk/product/winter-webinar-the-hyoid-tmj-and-its-relationship-to-neck-tension/ 🤍

01/12/2023

I have noticed a disturbing trend lately: I see a lot of people asking for chiropractors when what they really mean is that they need a bodyworker. This use of the term “chiropractor” as an an all inclusive category for bodyworker leads to miscommunication, as some people use the term correctly and some don’t. It also leads to the perpetuation of the idea that the best or most comprehensive therapy for horses is chiropractic, when in fact many horses would benefit more from massage with myofascial release or from alternating between chiropractic care and massage therapy.

This misconception likely stems from the fact that many people don’t understand the what the different therapies do for the horse. Here is one way that I like to explain the difference between a chiropractor and a massage and myofascial therapist:

Imagine a you have a lovely sturdy box. Now, you use this box for all the things it was made for. You put things on this box, you put things in it, you use it for all the jobs you bought the box for.

Over time this lovely box begins to show a little wear. It stretches out in some places, gets a little squashed in others and the shape of the box becomes distorted and crooked.

A chiropractor can square the box back up. But if you don’t smooth out the kinks and re-tension the straps the support the box it’s not going to stay squared up for long.

This is where massage and myofascial work comes in. Massage re-tensions the straps and smooths out the kinks in the sides of the box. In fact, you’ll find that many times, if you regularly adjust the straps to maintain the correct support, the box will be able maintain its own correct shape indefinitely.

I believe the key to ensuring optimal care for our equine friends is to educate those responsible for their care. How do explain to people the difference between musculoskeletal therapies, and the benefits of each, to the people around you?

Learn why massage might just be the best therapy for your horse - https://koperequine.com/why-hands-on-massage-is-the-best-way-to-for-sore-care-muscles/

01/12/2023

Another reason why bodywork is so important, it helps keep your horses gut happy! Tension affects more than just the muscles 😉

Did you know that deep muscles are connected with the digestive, respiratory & cardiac systems?

Learn more about how here - https://koperequine.com/deep-muscles-are-connected-with-the-digestive-respiratory-cardiac-systems/

23/06/2023

22/06/2023

https://forms.gle/V3KeMAngEVeE9Pud7
Registration is open! Get those teams together!
Payment accepted at registration table.
Looking forward to seeing everyone!

22/06/2023

Calling all pacers joining us at Mainecrest Equestrian Inc. modified hunter pace at New York Equestrian Club! I have been welcomed as one of the sponsors for this event. For a limited time only all participants will receive $15 off of a consultation and $15 off of your first month of subscription until July 8th.

22/06/2023

Calling all pacers joining us at Mainecrest Equestrian Inc. modified hunter pace at New York Equestrian Club! I have been welcomed as one of the sponsors for this event. For a limited time only all participants will receive $15 off of their first consultation and $15 off of your first month of subscription if signed up by July 8th.

05/02/2023

Often times a horses pain is interpreted as behavioral or training issues. It is important that we know what the signs of pain are so we can find the root cause to insure happy and healthy horses. So here is a short documentary about the 24 signs of pain.

“The question we asked was: can we determine, by looking at facial expressions and other behaviors, whether the horse has musculoskeletal pain?”– Dr. Sue Dyson Click to watch for free now By Padma Video in partnership with The Train with Trust Project This documentary has been brought to you f...

05/02/2023

Here are 8 ways equine bodywork can help your horses!

04/02/2023

Check out our new website!

Blue Ribbon Bodywork is an equine bodywork service in Madison county and surrounding areas. We specialize in myofascial release and acupressure.

04/02/2023

Hello everyone! Welcome to Blue Ribbon Bodywork's page. This page will include pictures of our clients, information about equine bodywork and care, as well as updates on traveling and cancelations due to weather, etc. We specialize in myofascial release and acupressure services, our number one goal is to make your horse more comfortable. we work on all types of horses from retired to performance horses. Contact us today with questions or to schedule a session for your four legged treasure!