Balanced Horse Bodywork

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Balanced Horse Bodywork

Offering equine structural integration and bodywork to improve your horse's balance, elasticity and
(4)

07/04/2024

Took a short lunch break and Timber thought he’d join me 💕

14/02/2024

31/12/2023

Lovely horse folks… what are you proud of from this last year, or excited about in 2024?

This past year was a tough horse year for me. I didn’t ride much until the fall (fire season, work, life). I’m now riding consistently and taking lessons, but my pony has the winter spiciness 🌶️ and after a scary incident with a different horse, I’m struggling with fear.

I’m proud of myself for riding regardless.

I’m excited to feel like I’m improving my riding with help my lovely coach Shelley’s support and some lunge help and eyes on the ground from my friend Krystale.

I’m so grateful for my barn friends who are supportive when I say I’m struggling or ask if theres anyone who will ride with me for a boost in confidence or a quieter pony.

In the new year I’ve got my eye on some clinics and I’m already looking forward to longer days.

Tell me your wins, your challenges and what you’re looking forward to!

27/12/2023

Pony things 😂😈

Hope everybody had a lovely Christmas and didnt get coal!

24/12/2023

Moo. He was such a good boy.

I also wouldn’t complain if i got handed the reins to Vallegro :p

25/11/2023

😂😂😂

That's important to know your power 😁
credits: Online Dressage International

13/11/2023

🤷‍♀️😬😂

02/11/2023

This No Stirrup November, be judicious about no stirrup work. If you don’t do no stirrup work regularly, do jsut a few minutes here and there. It is hard work for both horse and rider. If you find your horse getting tight or sore, call your body worker 😜

28/09/2023

Always good information!

11/08/2023

I meant to post this a few weeks ago, but have been too busy!

I have very limited availability until early-mid September. As many of you know, I also work for Ministry of Forests. I have put my hand up to assist with wildfire response, which means leaving my regular job (and regular weekends and hours!) and slotting into wherever the need is. I have been fortunate to stay local and work at Kamloops Fire Centre and the Provincial Wildfire Coordination Centre. It’s great to be a part of it, learn and use some different skills and connect with other people from all over the province (and world! …with all the out of country resources we’ve had helping us in BC).

All to say, please be patient with me through early September. I dont like making folks wait to get their horses seen and am doing my best to care for your ponies! Please let me know if you do want a horse seen in this time, so I can figure out availability and get you slotted in!

18/05/2023

Just like this Pony!

14/03/2023

Police are investigating after 17 wild horses were shot dead on Crown land west of Kamloops.

12/03/2023

It’s Equestrian Christmas! Enjoy that extra hour of daylight in the evening ❤️

08/03/2023

Great research about that fine line between lameness and asymmetry. Asymmetry is common, and something we work on constantly to try and get more balanced!

Horses might show a slight asymmetry in their gait without being truly lame.

22/02/2023

Sad but true 😆
credits: Tumblr

18/02/2023

I’m a big fan of cross training, challenging my pony and trying new things, so tonight when Jessica asked if I wanted to try the flag we gave it a go. Pony figured it out pretty quickly, and we kept things slow and simple for her. So much fun!

28/01/2023

Thank you, horsie 😆
credits: Online Dressage International

16/11/2022

Pony and a thoroughbred both met a heel-o-matic… who figured it out faster?

14/11/2022

I’m not a huge winter fan, but do my best to make it work for me! I love my rope halter but hate tying it up in the winter cold. Enter a $3 snap and it’s as easy as any leather or nylon halter with gloves on

26/10/2022

Looking at making a visit to Summerland area Saturday, October 29. A few spots left, and it looks like the weather will cooperate!

24/10/2022

As a horse owning equine body worker, I’ll be the first to say it’s a bit like being the cobblers kid with worn out shoes. I sometimes forget to pamper my pony! She’s been going really well, and I feel like in the last two months our lessons with Shelley from Los Vientos Equestrian and Eiren from All Points Dressage have changed her way of going and challenged her physically.

After another fantastic ride today I spent 15 minutes just doing some simple releases for her. She’s always been extremely responsive, as you can see in this video 💕

09/09/2022

Half a bottle of quiksilver and we were portrait ready the other night! Didn’t hurt she was still half clean for our first dressage lesson with Eiren Crawford tonight! I love getting new perspectives and new tools, and I’m excited to do some homework with Pony 💕

15/08/2022

Last weekend we completed our first 50 mile endurance ride, and this weekend resumed (light) dressage training and gymnastisizing in another fantastic clinic with Shelley Mills. It’s nice to see our conditioning program come together!

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As a horse owning equine body worker, I’ll be the first to say it’s a bit like being the cobblers kid with worn out shoes. I sometimes forget to pamper my pony! She’s been going really well, and I feel like in the last two months our lessons with Shelley from Los Vientos Equestrian and Eiren from All Points Dressage have changed her way of going and challenged her physically. After another fantastic ride today I spent 15 minutes just doing some simple releases for her. She’s always been extremely responsive, as you can see in this video 💕

When you’re packing for the #endurance ride 🤷‍♀️

That squeal tho 😂 … spring is in the air, and this was after our ride…

Who else is riding dragons right now? This one has been breathing fire🔥for weeks now 🙄 #ponypower #ponydragon

And more Piggy Pony behaviour from this weekend!

This lovely lady got to be my first session of 2021! She’s such a sweetheart; I’ve had the opportunity to get on her bareback in a halter and couldn’t have had a nicer, more sensitive ride. She could outdo anyone in the pleasure ring, when she’s not busy doing tackless as riding demos. After the session she got some #redlighttherapy and a #backontrack sheet, and she’s feeling pretty damn good these days!

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What is Equine Structural Integration? How can it help my horse?

Structural integration is type of bodywork that focuses on freeing up the fascia, or connective tissue, in the body. Fascia surrounds muscles, muscle groups, nerves, blood vessels and organs. You know when you handle a raw chicken or turkey breast, and there’s that stretchy filmy stuff? That’s the fascia. It is supposed to be smooth and elastic, but ageing, repetitive stress, and injuries can cause it to tighten and shorten, which can then cause pain and restricted movement. Structural integration works to restore that elasticity to the fascia, and relax and lengthen the connective tissue, through a “series” of sessions designed to balance the entire body.

Freeing up the fascia improves elasticity, suppleness and performance in our horses. It allows them to move more naturally and freely. After receiving a series, I’ve found horses more willing to engage physically, as well as connect more with their human loved ones. Through my structural integration training, I helped rehab and bring back Chevy, my Canadian/Morgan cross. As a 7 year old, he had a subtle injury that several vets had trouble accurately diagnosing, despite using a spectrum of diagnostic tools. He spent the next 4 years hanging out in my field while his right hindquarters atrophied from a guarded movement pattern. With his newfound freedom in his body, careful and slow conditioning, targeted exercises, and a great vet and farrier team, Chevy has returned to under saddle work.

My own horses have benefited, but I’ve seen big changes in the horses I work on as well. A teenaged horse I worked with in 2018 had suffered a kick to the hamstring and gaskin area a few years prior, and had a very large, firm scar tissue patch, 10” x 8” that was limiting his movement in that hind leg. Over the course of a series, his scar tissue released and revealed the muscle damage deeper underneath, which let me address the root of the problem. The techniques used were gentle and non-forceful, and he’s moving more freely and comfortably now. Another gelding I worked with had a tough background in his early life, ended up going through the auction, and was rather tense and emotionally closed off. After a series, his tissue was soft, his shoulder and hips more free, and he was more engaged with people and willing to receive touch. The gratification of seeing a horse connect more deeply with its owner, or feel good in his body and playful after a session, is unparalleled.

For more information, check out the Balanced Horse Bodywork website at www.balancedhorsebodywork.com or feel free to get in touch and see how I can help you and your horse.