Integrated Veterinary Therapeutics

16/03/2025

So yesterday Jelly and I had a moment (well it was a very long moment actually!!)🤔

I did some pre ride exercises - walk poles, hind end activations and the bridge.🐎

As mentioned the other day the bridge and controlling his body coming down is a really big deal for him. 🦄

💥So we had done the bridge and he had some processing then walked off, licked and chewed and so I hopped on.
Generally Jelly picks me up and off we go.
But he didn't go!🫣

He just stood there in a deep state of stillness and processing.💫

🌱I have had this happen with Patch with the labyrinth which is an exercise of bending through a small pole maze.and have observed it many times in clinics often after you have allowed them to rest when they have done or are finding something very challenging and are very focused on a balanced awareness posture. 🌱

🤗I don't recall it happening when riding Jelly. We have had it happen plenty of times on the ground especially in the early days!!🥰

😴We stood for a long time!!!!

😇My mind went between chattering about my to do list, wondeting when he would move, to stillness and hypnotic like states where I could not keep my eyes open.🪷

🌱I kept kinesiology testing if i should get off or if he was ready to move but I knew what I jad to do as it is what I would tell my clients to do - Patience!! Wait!! Thus will be a pivotal moment in time!!💥
😍Jelly stood observing, resting, shifting, scratching and just a lot of stillness. It was actually such a beautiful moment with the birds, lizards in the grass (until the sun heated up!!) 💫

👏Eventually he walked off, I allowed him to go where he wanted, we walked around and around the dam, up and down the dam bank (not usually a favourite of him especially going down!!)🐎

🌱Then I asked for a trot on a loose rein- he pulled his head to the left - back to the walk until he could hold himself straight - this was also a big deal as I am often helping his straightness and his transitions still hold some slight tension but I thought no this is a time of re programming his nervous system so it is really important for him to find straightness in the transition!!🌱

We got it both ways with a lovely trot!!💥

🤯Often we (I) get busy doing the training/exercise/rehab but the magic happens in the stillness!! 💢

🧐Allow the rest and wait for them to find the motion - there are new neural pathways being developed and they need rest in the moment and then often overnight to develop 🥰

(The image is from the other day as i did not have my phone on me!)

11/03/2025

The top photo is pre treatment
Notice the steep angle at the base of the wither and the lumbar angle 🤔
⚠️ what you don't see is this horses inability to pick up his legs especially his hind legs
⚠️ his struggle to stand in one place due to a lack of postural stability
⚠️ the twist through his lumbar spine
⚠️lack of motion through his pelvis
⚠️The struggle with his balance in motion
⚠️the stiffness through his entire spine

The bottom photo is at the end of his 3rd treatment.
💫 Notice the improved outline of his topline and reduced tension on his pelvis and neck

What you don't see that has improved
❤️ his ability to pick up and flex his limbs with much improved lightness
💓his ability to stand still and square
💓his ability to control his walk with a lightness on the contact
💗The improved spinal motion and pelvic motion
💗 the softness that is coming into his face
💓His gratitude

The owner has done simple postural exercises
✅️focus on alignment of the spine and balance in walk
✅️ carrot mobilisations (gentle) within his range of motion
✅️raised his hard feed to promote a comfortable neutral posture

This horse is 18yrs old with significant dysfunction however the ability of the body to respond amazes me and find an improved state of health is amazing!! 🤗

His core is weak, this will take time but the change in function and comfort is the beginning 🥰

28/02/2025

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17/02/2025

Starting the introductory week this week for the Equine Functional Posture course!!
Join us!!
We have trainers/behaviouralist/horse owners/bodyworkers and podiotherapists to name a few!!
It's going to be a great level 1!!

Animal Biomechanics Osteopathy Equine Anatomy Equine Biomechanics Equine Functional Posture Equine Mobility Horse Posture Horse Stretching Exercises Horse Strength

13/02/2025

The other day I witnessed an amazing transformation after a session. 🥰
This 17yr old stock horse was thought to have not had bodywork before. 🙂
He had been blind by other horses in the past and has had dome tough times 💜
He is currently in rehabilitation for hoof issues The Barefoot Bloke who are absolutely amazing!!💖
I introduced myself before getting came into the arena, no interest really. He was there but just not showing interest in who I was or what I was doing or in his surroundings. 🫣🤔

About half way through the treatment he turned and sniffed my shoes and showed dome interest in what i was doing 🤗his body started twitching. (There was no response to flies before this)

His spine was very stiff and the treatment was so so gentle with a lot of patiently waiting allowing the life back to his spine.🌱

The second walk in his treatment his ears pricked up and he started to trot I took him so I could support him in his awakening.🪷

All of a sudden he was twitching flies and exploring! Ears pricked, eyes bright!💥

💫He explored;
✅️his body, scratching, turning his neck
✅️the grass on the outside of the arena
✅️he looked around him as if he had not seen it all before. Looking at the horses.
✅️Every object- us, the dogs, my equipment, the mounting block, camera.🦄

We were all smiling and laughing.🥳

💓It was the just the most beautiful moments that warmed our hearts as his nervous system came back on line and the start of a new journey for him in this world 💓

If you would like to learn more about the connection of behaviour to the body please Jon me on my next Online Functional Posture course starting 17th Feb!!

https://integratedvettherapeutics.mykajabi.com/store

13/02/2025

13/02/2025

X-rays and scans show the status of the tissues being imaged BUT they don’t measure pain.

Horses can, same as people, have severe changes but absolutely no pain or conversely have minor changes sadly suffering significant pain.

We need to be aware of any signs of pain but also be aware that there is not automatically pain, as the changes can be incidental findings.

I had two cases today demonstrating this point. One with severe osteoarthritis of the hind fetlocks and one with very advanced kissing spines. If you over-read their x-rays you’d have thought the pain would have been extreme and end of the road for them. In both horses the severity of the changes in the x-rays were a complete surprise to the vets and the owners.

Future management plans and training expectations have been modified as a result of the findings. However both horses are staying in work with very caring owners and an a multi-disciplinary team supporting them.

At the moment the plan is to ride the horse in front of them each day, look out for but don’t anticipate clinical signs that are not there.

If your horse has a diagnosis, remember to care for them as horse first, pathology/injury second and take each day at a time.

07/02/2025

Vet Clinics of Nth America: Traumatic Muscle Traumatic Muscle Injuries which is now available online with author corrections incorporated. It has a focus on intrinsic traumatic muscle injuries, broadly divided into exercise-induced muscle damage, including delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and muscle injury, including muscle and musculotendinous tears. It is an area under represented in the veterinary literature, but an extremely important area for all athletes

The article is free before March 22, 2025 see:

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

04/02/2025

FREE WEBINAR - REMINDER!! REMEMBER TO REGISTER!!

Wednesday 5th February 7pm AESDT
The Equine Hip Dynamics: Biomechanics, Pathologies & Rehabilitation
The Hip is a area of common biomechanical alterations yet it is rarely a place of lameness diagnosis due to the diagnostic challenges.
Perhaps it needs to be considered much more!
Join me for this free webinar to explore the dynamics of the hip joint and its anatomical connections!!
You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
When: Feb 5, 2025 07:00 PM Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/wckF8g6xQSuVrYt2jLIVQw

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

03/02/2025

🤗Pelvic rounding (pelvic flexion, can be a very useful exercise especially when coupled with pelvic extension🤗

🐎This is one of the many exercises/assessments that we discuss in the Online Equine Functional Posture Course!!🐎
🦄The next one begins Feb 17th!!🦄

https://integratedvettherapeutics.mykajabi.com/store

This exercise can be utilised;
✅️ To assess lumbosacropelvic comfort and range of motion couple with pelvic extension (I use it in this way pre ride with Jelly - If he steps away or it is crooked I know I need to attend to it before expecting him to be ridden)
✅️If it is functioning well I can then use it as a part of my pre work activations
✅️As a lengthening exercise it can be utilised post work with a gentle hold to ensure you have left the lumbosacropelvic function as optimal as possible post work (A fav for Jelly and usually accompanied with some lovely breathing)

⚠️It is very important that you stand in a safe position.
💥With a horse that is functional it is quite a gentle scratch but in a very specific point

If your horse is difficult to create this motion and you have to scratch hard;
❗️ There could be a restriction in the lumbosacropelvic area, hip or associated muscles

❗️You are looking for a relaxed response, if there is discomfort, brace, moving away there is a reason!!

31/01/2025

🤩I was amazed at the difference in this horse yesterday and then I looked at the photos and was blown away!! The difference in his topline, head and nevk position, balance and symmetry!!🤩

It was his 3rd treatment with me yesterday. 🥰

⁉️After the 2nd treatment I left thinking - how am I going to help this horse and owner shift his nervous system.
⁉️ He was so very sensitive, super responsive to his owner, but not connected to his body and his ability to control it. Persistently high head carriage - he was bred to be a carriage horse. His body was not a safe balanced place for him to be. 🙃

🫣He also doesn't allow new people in his circle (a few special ones with treats!).

❓️The owner said yesterday "I haven't done much so not sure if it's worth you seeing him"

❗️But she had done the most critical part of her homework - I asked her to not pull on him to move, to ask for him to relax and then wait for him to initiate the movement. She waited for half an hour and a few shorter sessions her and there. He also had as lib hay in that time which has likely contributed to the transformation!✅️

💯For me it is very important that horses recognise they are in control of their owm body and balance and that they feel.safe in their body - This creates huge changes in behaviour!!💯

🦄The horse yesterday that greeted me not only looked different but felt so different under my hands. The first 2 treatments although I stayed light it felt like I was working "on him", it took a long time to get responses and his nervous system was a closed tight circuit. 🐎

💖Yesterday it was open, he was relaxed. As I moved through his body asking questions it was all yes answers and I had earned a place in his circle!!.💖

🌱At the end I did an exercise of awareness of each limb, he was able to hold his balance in the walk, opening his head and neck without being asked and choosing to stop if he felt out of balance. 🌱

💥It is a process for both him and the owner to now create new pathways in all gaits and with being ridden. We often have to change the input to create new pathways and avoid reverting to old patterns. 💥

I love going on these journeys with people who are willing to take the time it takes and transform their own mindsets, patterns of movement and training in the process. 💖

If you would like to start your own postural.journey with your horse please join my online course starting FEB!!

https://integratedvettherapeutics.mykajabi.com/store

24/01/2025

Yay - now you can have this on your computer!!!

Now available for phones, notepads and computers!
Visit www.equiinkpublications.com
Our unique equine anatomy app supports The Anatomy of Equine Bodywork text, for learning purposes! You can review the book plates on your device and self-test your knowledge of equine anatomy. Pronunciations of the muscle names and skeletal system have been added along with a search engine and 64 new muscles! Apps are purchased directly from the Google Play Store or iTunes App Store, and are available in Android and iOS format for use on mobile devices. For laptop and computer use Windows (PC use) which is 14.99USD and for Macbook Pro, Macbooks, iMac use the macOS operating system which is 17.99USD.