One of the things I find myself discussing many times a day with my clients is ‘Top line’ and developing ‘Core strength & stability’ 💪🏻
Over time I have been constantly evolving the way I explain to clients what I am seeing and feeling in their horse and what we would hope to be able to achieve with their horse in order to create a horse with a healthy posture both statically and in motion 🐎
Read MoreToday I wanted to talk a bit about Proprioception and Proprioceptive Conditioning.
This is something I talk to most of my clients about but for many different reasons.
But what is proprioception in relation to horses❓
Read MoreToday I wanted to share with you a little bit about how horses sleep 💤
They are very different to humans and other animal such as dogs and cats 🐕 🐈⬛
Most people know that horses can sleep standing up, thanks to a special combination of bones, tendons and ligaments in their body known as the ‘stay apparatus’
Read MoreOne of my clients this week, who incidentally has been around horse for more than half a century, mentioned to me that for the first time when watching the horse racing, and thanks to the wonders of slow-mo, they had noticed that as the horses were galloping their fetlock joints were almost touching the floor 😳
Read MoreAs a soft tissue therapist that works mainly with my hands I am only able to work on the superficial structures.
▪️Scarring from any type of invasive surgical procedure is not only going to be superficial, there will inevitably be damage to deeper internal structures.
Read MoreDid you know…….. your horse has 7 Cervical Vertebrae just like we do as a humans❓
Dogs and cats also have Cervical Vertebrae and all of us have much shorter necks than the horse 🐶 🐱
Cervical Vertebrae are the bones that make up the length of the neck.
The horse has huge individual bones with thin fibrous discs in-between ⭕️
Read MoreHere we have a case study of Sammy.
Sammy is a rising 3 year old Traditional Cob.
Earlier this year Sammy starting showing signs of a locking stifle in the left hind and a sticky stifle in the right hind.
Both of these terms are also known as Upward Fixation of the Patella.
Read MoreIn the images you will see Paddy 🐎
Paddy is an ex-racehorse 🏇
He is 12 years old and raced up until the age of 10.
He had a long career despite not always finishing in the top 3 🏆
I have been treating him and assisting in his training both groundwork and ridden since his owner purchased him in summer 2019.
Read MoreTopline
You have most likely heard people talk about Topline and how your horse should probably have more of it?
❓But what is Topline?
❓Why is it important?
❓And how can we help our horses develop it?
Read MoreMy Horse Is So Flexible In The Field.......Why Are They So Stiff When I Ride Them?
I was discussing with a client today (I am sure she won't mind me sharing) how her instructor was able to get so much more from her horse than she was.
I told her this was nothing to be ashamed of.
Read MoreOne area of tension I commonly find on horses I am treating is the foreleg extensor muscles.
These are the ones at the top of the forelegs on the front of the leg (see image for the arrows pointing to them on my young horse Eric)
Clients are often surprised when I tell them that their horse has tight forelegs, as it’s not an area many consider.
Read MoreI have a few client’s horses that I am treating at the moment that have a distinct lack of muscle tone or muscle atrophy for various reasons ❗️
What can we do to help?
Read MoreGorgeous Finn enjoying his monthly maintenance massage today ♥️
In this photo I am treating his hind legs.
Sometimes people are surprised when I start using massage and myofascial therapy to the legs but for me it is so important.
Read MoreI have been really lucky in the last few months to be invited to treat some beautiful retired and older horses ♥️
I love it when owners want to help keep their 'golden oldies' as comfortable and as mobile as possible in their retirement days, despite no longer being 'useful' as riding horses these guys have often given years of service to us and deserve the very best in their final years 🙏🏻
Read MoreThere a many massage devices on the market nowadays that are accessible to horse owners 👍🏻
This is fantastic as it allows horse owners to treat their horses to the various types of Massage Therapy at any time, and I absolutely recommended treating your horse to regular use of any of these devices (bearing in mind contraindications to massage - you can learn more about these on my website or contact your therapist or vet for advice) 📞 💻
Read MoreIsn’t it great that lots of horsey events are now back up and running 🤗
One event that is popular with many horse owners is fun or pleasure rides 🐎
An opportunity to explore countryside you would never usually get the chance to ride on and jump some fences without the pressure of competition 👍🏻
Read MoreI have had some gorgeous moments this week, where horses I have been treating with Myofascial work have stretched themselves unprompted upon release of the fascia 😍
Unfortunately this hasn't been caught on camera 💁🏼♀️
But I still wanted to talk about it........
Read MoreHorses instinctively know how to stretch and if you watch them out in the pasture or in the stable they will often stretch spontaneously, continually, and naturally, tuning up the muscles they need to use most.
Find out more about the benefits of stretching.
Read MoreTravelling our horses is something many of us do on a regular basis 🚛
There are a number of considerations when travelling our horses
But how may of us consider our horse’s musculoskeletal health and fitness and how it might affect their ability to travel and perform?
Read More🔸As part of Harvey’s new fitness and strength training he has started water treadmill sessions at Claire Dyson Equine Water Treadmill & Rehabilitation Centre Today was day one, he was so brave and the team at the yard were so lovely with him 🤗
Read More
