Michelle's Equine And Canine Body Therapy

29/04/2024

Next week's areas so far 😀 :

Tues 7th : lethbridge

Weds 8th: Colac and surrounds

Fri 10th : winchelsea and surrounds

Some spare spots on each of those runs

29/04/2024

Video 3

29/04/2024

Video 4 home time

29/04/2024

Video 2
I can still see them 😆

29/04/2024

I'll post these 4 videos in order, (I'm an absolute shocker with anything tech related) 🙄 excuse me saying um all the time, terrible thing for someone who does alot of public speaking and teaching to do. My students used to tease me about all the time 🤣 enjoy the horses/dogs and scenery and hopefully the point I'm um 😆trying to make 😅
Video 1 : lift off !!!!

28/04/2024

I love this 🥰

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.
He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.
After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.
When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.
When he was close enough, he called out, 'Excuse me, where are we?'
'This is Heaven, sir,' the man answered.
Would you happen to have some water?' the man asked.
Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up'.
The man gestured, and the gate began to open.
'Can my friend,' gesturing toward his dog, 'come in, too?' the traveler asked.

'I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets.'
The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.
After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.
'Excuse me!' he called to the man. 'Do you have any water?'
'Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in..'
'How about my friend here?' the traveler gestured to the dog.
There should be a bowl by the pump.'
They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.
The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.
When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.
'What do you call this place?' the traveler asked.
This is Heaven,' he answered.
'Well, that's confusing,' the traveler said. 'The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.'
'Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell.'
'Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?'
'No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind 😇

Reposted 📸 Pitties R Us See less

27/04/2024

Happy World Veterinary Day to all the wonderful vets who go above and beyond for our animal family members. I'm blessed to have to have a great team of vets around me. Ones that I work with and ones who care so brilliantly for my babies when I need them. 🥰

25/04/2024

Anyone else have areas in your own house you can't access ?? 😆🤣🤣 one day we will get the couch back.....maybe 🤣

24/04/2024

23/04/2024

Absolutely this !!!

If your horse cannot carry itself correctly, is it fair to ask it to also carry you ??

So, what does that mean exactly

Well, we all know we shouldn't be riding our horses if they are in pain, lame or just say no when we want to ride, but what about before the obvious signs start to appear.

The first place I would look is when your horse is just being a horse in the field and see how it interacts with its surroundings, how does it move when eating, is it able to walk trot and canter/gallop at ease. (I also see so many fields where horses just cannot get up to full speed as there is not enough room)

Basically, a horse should be able to put one foot in front of the other with not too much trouble, if your horse cannot do this easily then there is no way I would even be thinking of asking the horse to then carry a rider.

Can your horse stand without too much trouble, you would be amazed at how many horses just find standing still uncomfortable, ever sat on a horse that just can't stand still have you ever been told its just bad manners or have a horse that doesn't like the mounting block have ever been told it may have bad association with it or just been told it must stand still, for me the question is always why, remember horses always opt for the easier choice so it their choice is to run, fidget, anything but stand at the block then there must be good reason

Horses are finely tuned animals designed to carry their own bodies they don’t have the genetic make-up to carry people we have bred them faster, flashier, finer but it comes at a price as we see more and more horses that struggle to do the thing, we want to them to do and also struggle to be able to even sometimes carry itself without difficulty.

So shouldn't we give them a leg up (pardon the pun) by making sure they are able to carry us with the least amount of sacrifice on their part. We need to prepare them with strength in balance, we need to prepare ourselves in the same way, we need to make the two meet together without detriment to the longevity of soundness in our horses.

If your horse is recovering from injury and is in rehab check that the rehab is suitable for your horse you don't want a generic plan when your horse has specific needs.

We often compare equine to humans how we can function with a certain injury, illness etc but as humans we are not having to do anything but carry ourselves. I get frustrated at the number of times human and equine therapy is quoted as the same thing it is not, humans have a voice, horses do not. We tend to overdo things it's what we do. When we do repetition with horses we need to be sure we are not causing micro traumas to the horses body.


For me the health and wellbeing and balance is a 24hr job with the horse, there is nothing more surefooted than a horse that has to work over different terrains. And it's easier to let your horse guide itself for the majority of the day as then you are fine tuning rather than overhauling.
If your horses are on a daily routine of soft rubber matting, then onto a soft school without ever feeling a different surface beneath them then how can they build strength and dexterity to be able to perform the moves we ask of them, the price tag of a horse should never come at the price of the horses physical and mental wellbeing

But the key to success is first get your horse supple, balanced, confident, before asking him to then carry us they must not only be fit in the body but willing in the mind.

We must always be working to the horse We want in the future and what we do with them now will set in stone their future, I always say don't let the last owner pay for the first owners mistakes

23/04/2024

Met this gorgeous boy a week ago and he's had some forelimb and shoulder issues. I'll be forever grateful to have learnt this technique from the master equine practioner Dr Kerry Ridgeway after following him around for a few weeks many years ago before he unfortunately passed away. Such a great example of getting some facial release along facial lines and how both limbs can be affected even when addressing one side of the body. This boy was absolutely gorgeous to work with 🥰🥰

16/04/2024

Support crew activated today whilst treating this beautiful boy 🥰

10/04/2024

Love having a laugh at work 😄
Turned up to treat this gorgeous boy today and noticed his tail looking a bit different to last time I visited 🤔 it would appear hair dying misshaps are not just in the human world but animal too. A bleach meant to turn the tail white before upcoming comps gone awry 🤣🤣🤣 time to get the black dye out now and try that !!! 🤞🤞🤞

09/04/2024

My beautiful boys 🥰🥰

02/04/2024

Sorry ....I had to 🤣

27/03/2024

Hoping the client takes her time getting her horse so I can keep playing with these 2 🥰

22/03/2024

Good info here !

Autumn is here, and it’s slowly but surely getting to the time of year for autumn dewormings. If you’re thinking about purchasing your pastes ahead of time, remember that to target bot fly larvae you need to use a paste containing an avermectin.

There are three avermectins: ivermectin, abamectin and moxidectin.

This autumn, for routine treatments choose a dewormer containing ivermectin or abamectin. Brand DOES NOT MATTER, it is the active ingredient that matters. Read the fine print on the box. Do not ask me for a brand recommendation – I do not have any, I will instead repeat “Look for a wormer containing ivermectin or abamectin”.

Now I’m going to go against the advice of vets and saddleries and pharma companies and advise AGAINST the use of moxidectin (Equest (Zoetis) and Ultimum (Virbac)) for routine autumn treatments. Moxidectin is the most potent of the dewormers we have for horses and as such should be saved the most to prevent drug resistance. Once there is resistance to moxidectin there is resistance to all avermectins – and resistance is slowly but surely developing. The drench boxes claim an egg reappearance period of 14-16 weeks, in reality it is closer to 10 weeks and I have had samples come through with high EPGs at only 7 weeks. Moxidectin should be saved for use in young horses, sick horses or those with very high burdens. Think of moxidectin as your fancy white show breeches – you don’t wear them out on a trail ride, you save them for when they are needed. Or if you do wear them out the trail, how many rides do you get before they’re ruined? And then you lament because you bought them in Europe on that one holiday you went on and they cost 350 euros and you can’t find the same again here in Australia.
That’s sort of how drug resistance works except finding new drugs is a lot more expensive and complicated than replacing your breeches.

Just remember – to kill bot fly larvae you need to use a paste with ivermectin or abamectin.

21/03/2024

This is the movie that started my love affair with buckskins 🥰 so it was great to treat little Denny(named after the bucky in the movie) today out at G.C. Natural Horsemanship ! Gorgeous boy a real sweetie 💕

19/03/2024

When you are not allowed to write up your notes bc you must continue the butt bowen therapy 🤣🤣

14/03/2024

A lovely client of mine sent me the first video of her new pony concerned about his movement and what looked like a sticky stifle. I saw him yesterday and during his treatment I found a really significant muscle tear in his hind end and a ridiculously tight and hard ligament in the same area. I did my best to help him and despite him being just a bub and a bit nervous especially with it being his first treatment he was sooo sweet and trusting and I fell completely in love with him. So to get this second video tonight and this lovely message has made my heart sing and made me so happy !! He's an absolute sweetheart !! Love my job 🥰🥰🥰

13/03/2024

I love this horse ! Crackers by name and nature 😆😆 and never ceases to crack me up 🤣

12/03/2024

Going for a peaceful ride this morning when my friend decides to pull over and mess with Fabio's glorious locks 🤣😆 poor hunty 😆 at least he could see where he was going for the rest of the ride 😂 although the second pic suggests he is tired of our s**t stirring 😆

08/03/2024

06/03/2024

My Tella Bella thought it was a much better idea to cuddle than to put a bridle on. Love my mare to bits 💓

04/03/2024

Met these gorgeous ones on my walk this morning 🥰

04/03/2024

We've all been there 😂😂

26/02/2024

So so proud of Fairfield Equine Services !!
Amazing effort and Susie is one awesome horse 🥰🥰 Go the Standy's !!

23/02/2024

Lovely morning treating horses at Fearless Farmhouse which is an NDIS approved therapeutic farm based in Bellbrae. They practice using the principles of animal assisted therapy (AAT) and nature based therapy. The horses here are treated regularly as they have a very special important job ❤️
I was not ready at all for the next level cuteness of meeting Doris and her 3 week old bub, loved my cuddles with them 💖 💓

19/02/2024

Fun morning at Fairfield Equine Services treating the gorgeous Princess' Susie and Skye before their big trip to the Canberra Royal where I am sure they will do incredibly well. Xanny loves to catch up with his bestie Flynn too 💕 I also just love how clean I stay at work too 🤣🤣

18/02/2024

My poor boy Hunter had to do his own body work tonight bc I was exhausted after a big day in the field 🤣🤣