Majestic Horse Functional Therapy

01/01/2026

Happy New Year everyone! Hope you all had a lovely New Year's Eve and have the chance to relax a little bit today. As I have some new followers here, I thought I would repost this – as my core values are and ethos remain unchanged (and are as steadfast as ever). Looking forward to working with all my clients this year and to continue to share content here that may be of interest. Wishing you all the best for the year to come 💙

As the New Year begins and many of us are setting resolutions (some of which may or may not be kept 😆), I wanted to reflect on the core values that guide my work and my life. These aren't just business principles; they're the lens through which I make every decision.

My deepest desire is to enhance the lives of the horses I treat. I strive to create a safe and supportive space for horse owners, where questions are welcomed without judgment, and honest, respectful communication is paramount.

It’s safe to say that I have fallen in love with every horse I've encountered. I approach each horse as an individual – I believe in taking the time to truly ‘see’ them; to understand their unique personality, needs, and comfort level; and to work at a pace they can appreciate, because each horse is an active participant in their own healing process. Trust is foundational, and is built through gentle, respectful interactions.

My experiences volunteering with equine welfare and rescue organisations for many years have deeply impacted me. I have seen too many horses in their most vulnerable and fearful states, and my heart has broken more times than I care to admit. But it also ignited an unwavering commitment to their well-being. These experiences instilled in me a deep appreciation for a horse’s resilience and their ability to heal if supported; their capacity for trust if you can make them feel safe; and the profound impact our actions can have on their lives – kindness goes a long way! I carry this empathy into every interaction, treating every horse with respect and compassion, and always acting from a place of integrity. Each horse is treated as an individual; I make the time to build trust and understand their unique needs; and to let them feel at ease around me. My treatments are then tailored specifically for that horse; their health potential; and their current stage/phase of healing so that they are prepared appropriately to assimilate the changes that are being made. This is important to me and to the way I work because I am first and foremost an advocate for the horse.

I believe in clear and honest communication with clients, fostering a collaborative and supportive partnership in your horse's care – I value your trust just as much as your horse’s.

I respect the horse's inherent right to "be a horse" – to live a life that fulfills their physical, mental and emotional needs. I also respect the unique bond between horse and human and supporting that relationship in positive ways.

I am committed to providing high quality care for your equine partner and I take that responsibility very seriously. As such, I am happy to work alongside and collaborate with other equine professionals as part of a holistic care team. My approach is grounded in my post-graduate qualifications in equine osteopathy from a renowned international animal osteopathy institution, along with additional qualifications in equine myofunctional therapy and photonic red-light therapy.

I am deeply honoured to be entrusted with the care of your horses and committed to supporting their health and happiness in 2025 and beyond. If you would like to work together or to learn more about how I can support your equine friend, please email me at: majestichorse@outlook.com.au

Happy New Year to you all! 💙

24/12/2025

On this Christmas Eve, I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas tomorrow and a day filled with lots of happy moments that will become fond memories 🎄⭐🐴💙

22/12/2025

Balancing the incisors (and helping with the overall balance of the mouth) helps the horse to chew more effectively by maintaining proper molar contact for forage breakdown. Having proper occlusion, length and angles through the incisors also helps with jaw mobility and allows more fluid movement of the TMJs (thereby protecting the TMJs). Addressing the incisors as well as the molars (and the overall balance of the mouth) will help to prevent abnormal dental patterns from developing. Any issues with the balance of the teeth and mouth will always have a knock-on effect on the jaw, poll, neck and all through the body to the hind end (including internal systems). It really does impact the whole horse.

17/12/2025

Horses and the Goddess Epona 💙🐴💙

In mythology, Epona is the goddess who not only protects our equine companions but also watches over and protects anyone who cares for and works with horses. Tomorrow, December 18th, is the Festival Day of Epona. She was revered in Europe as the protector of horses, stables and horse owners, and symbolised the deep connection between humans and their horses, ponies, foals, donkeys and mules.

Statues and images of Epona were often placed in stables to safeguard the animals and the land. The Romans and Celts favoured placing her statue at the centre of their stable architraves along with inscriptions for guardianship and protection for the horses. To celebrate her day tomorrow, add some apples, carrots or oats to your snacks or meals (a slice of apple pie or carrot cake maybe?). I am starting the day with rolled oats and stewed apples to mark the festival day.

Images: Statue images of Goddess Epona taken from Google. Goddess Epona Art Print is available on Etsy at 'VGBStudio'.

12/12/2025

Another year in the books 🙂

As the year draws to a close, I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of my wonderful clients and followers. Your support, kindness, and friendship this year has meant the world. It’s been a big year working with your gorgeous horses and an enjoyable one, and that’s thanks to you. You’re not just clients—working with you and your horses is the reason I love what I do! I’m genuinely grateful for every moment spent with your horses and for the trust you place in me to do my best for them.

For some of you, there will be a touch of sadness as some much-loved equine friends gained their wings this year. My thoughts are with those of you missing them this Christmas. To the magnificent horses who started the year standing with us but are now running free in open fields—you will always hold a treasured place in our hearts.

I am finished for the year but will be back working from Friday, 2nd January. At this stage, I am almost completely booked through to 15th January (with the exception being a few appointments still available), and my schedule is filling quickly, so please message me if you would like to book in for the middle to end of January to avoid disappointment.

From my family to yours, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy, safe, joy-filled New Year. I hope you get a well-earned break and some quality time with those you love. Here’s to a New Year full of health, happiness, and plenty of precious moments spent with your horses doing what you enjoy. I’m already looking forward to what 2026 might hold 💙🐴🎄⭐️

29/09/2025

I love working with horses of all ages, but there is something extra special about working with the young ones (foals, weanlings and yearlings). An osteopathic approach can significantly benefit these younger horses by supporting balanced development; improving proprioception and posture; and preventing functional restrictions before training even begins. By identifying and treating imbalances and somatic dysfunctions that occur as a result of birth trauma, slips and falls, growth spurts, and daily activity, an osteopathic approach helps to ensure a healthier, more balanced horse that is better prepared for being brought into work when the time comes.

Birth Trauma: Foals may experience birth trauma as they move through the birth canal, primarily due to the pressure from uterine and abdominal contractions. Even in normal births, this trauma can occur, and it may be exacerbated if the foal is not correctly positioned during the birth process. The fact that a foal can stand and walk soon after birth does not mean it is free from trauma—common issues include problems with the ribs, brachial plexus, limbs, pelvis and sacroiliac area, head, as well as general muscle soreness and tenderness. Birth trauma can also result in neurological "scarring" or altered neurological function, which often does not resolve without intervention. Early treatment is therefore essential to prevent lasting impacts on the horse's development (Bidstrup, 2022).

Slips and falls: Young horses are naturally energetic and curious, making them prone to injuries from activities such as ‘zoomies’, spooking, slipping on surfaces, collisions with gates or fences, and pull-back or flip-over incidents. Early osteopathic treatment can be helpful in addressing some of the dysfunctions that arise from birth or from the activities of a young, growing horse. This intervention can prevent dysfunctions from becoming chronic as the young horse matures and is brought into more work/exercise/training.

A wide range of gentle and effective osteopathic techniques can be employed to address the unique needs of the younger horse. Technique choice and treatment length is tailored to suit each individual, taking into account the young horse’s level of handling experience and their comfort with being touched in various areas. The surrounding environment is also carefully considered to ensure it supports effective treatment while prioritising the safety and comfort of the young horse (and the handler etc).

It is crucial to note that if there is any suspicion of injury in a foal or young horse, a veterinarian should always be consulted first. Those trained in osteopathy can then collaborate with the veterinarian to address any dysfunctions, provided the vet confirms that the young horse is ready for manual therapeutic intervention.

Working with foals and young horses whose growth plates are still maturing means that only qualified practitioners should be involved who are fully aware of their specialised needs and all contraindications (either to treatment or to technique choice, or to potential pathology etc).

An osteopathic approach offers numerous benefits for young horses. It supports balanced growth and musculoskeletal development; helps the young horse understand their own body in space which leads to better coordination, balance, and posture; and identifies and treats any emerging restrictions/dysfunctions so that they don't become larger, more chronic issues down the track. If referral to another equine professional is needed, this will also be addressed as part of the osteopathic management plan. 💙

Reference:
Bidstrup, I. (2022). The Impact of Birth Trauma on Horse Welfare and Performance, Horses and People Magazine.

09/09/2025

I love this post of Lucy’s (for many reasons). In any manual therapy, the true skill is in being both precise and gentle. When you have a clear understanding of the anatomy; know exactly which structures you are influencing and why (locally and globally); and can feel how they are responding (and therefore know when a change has occurred), you don't need to use force. Precision and finesse allow you to achieve the right amount of change without doing too much or too little.

Softness then – as Lucy writes – is a strength because along with this skill, you are valuing and honouring the horse’s experience throughout the process as well. Softness, calmness and intentional movements and energies are always appreciated by the horse. And as they are the ones who are ultimately doing the healing (the therapist is simply removing the barriers to health so that the horse can self-heal), their experience throughout the process should be in line with an approach that creates the best environment in which to heal.

If you have followed American horse trainer and author Mark Rashid's work, you will know how highly he also speaks of developing internal and external softness (in both working with horses and in how one approaches life in general). And this is because softness transforms – it’s about having the sensitivity to feel the changes the horse makes (both internally and externally). Developing softness whilst also mastering ‘feel’ takes time and a dedication to the work. The experience gained as manual therapists trained in osteopathy is through a significant amount of time spent touching the horse and understanding the different feel of fascia, muscle, ligament, tendon, bone, joint, barriers, and so on. Having this developed sense of feel and then applying it with softness, precision and intention is a game-changer (and this cannot be achieved from machines and gadgets). A treatment session is an ongoing two-way communication – in which the therapist is ‘asking’ certain things from the horse’s body and the horse's body is ‘answering’. The subtlest of responses and changes needs to be received and understood. Often the softer you are in your hands, in your body and in your mental awareness, the more you receive the feedback. Softness allows the ‘awareness’ of the therapist to be available to all the layers of communication the horse is giving so that only the right level of touch is used to illicit the desired change (and then we step away – ‘find it, fix it, leave it alone’).

Furthermore, the softness of your own presence—your way of being in the world—is equally important. It lends itself to compassion, kindness, empathy, and respect, all of which ultimately deepens the connection, which is vital in a therapeutic environment.

Nicely written Lucy and so very true! 💙

Working with horses every day has taught me so much about softness, not as a weakness, but as quiet strength.

Horses don’t respond to force. They respond to presence, to patience, to genuine connection.

As an equine osteopath, I’ve learned that real change doesn’t come from pushing harder, it comes from listening more deeply, holding space, and meeting each horse exactly where they are and where they need to be.

In a world that often feels hard and fast paced, I’m choosing to stay soft and kind. To lead with empathy and stay true to my values, even when it’s not the easy route.

So if you’re someone who feels deeply, and treads softly, keep going. You don’t need to toughen up to make an impact.

Softness heals. Authenticity connects. And there’s real power in that.

08/09/2025

This week’s webinar, #4 of the Business Education Series offered by the ETAA. Presented by Teresa Tidball, who did a brilliant job on our first webinar of the series!

Being such an important topic for any business owner, this week’s webinar is well worth attending 🙌 FREE for members.

For our 4th webinar of the Business Education Series, we will be welcoming Teresa Tidball back to talk about GST & Record Keeping!

Promo code available for all current ETAA members - please contact info@equinetherapies.net.au to verify your membership and get the promo code. Registrations now open via the Eventbrite link below:

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1661571889249?aff=oddtdtcreator

GST & Recordkeeping: Your Key to Staying Compliant (and Stress-Free!)

Learn the essentials of GST and the recordkeeping practices that keep your business compliant, efficient, and audit-ready.

Teresa Tidball, FIPA FFA is an award-winning accountant with a specialist focus on the equine industry. As the Director of Tidball Accountancy Pty Ltd, she brings over a decade of experience in public practice along with a lifelong passion for horses. Her deep understanding of the equine world—from breeding and training to competing—makes her a trusted advisor to horse owners and equine-based businesses across Australia. Teresa’s dedication to empowering women in business and her innovative, environmentally conscious approach have earned her multiple accolades, including the Australian Ladies in Business Initiative’s Business Lady of the Year for 2023 and Earth Keeper for 2024. Her ability to blend professional excellence with niche industry insight sets her apart as a go-to expert in her field.

06/09/2025

I am thrilled to have been recently voted in as the President of the Equine Therapies Association of Australia (ETAA) Committee. I love being involved with this association and am passionate about the ETAA's mission to:
• improve recognition, education and standards of equine therapies in Australia
• ensure the client receives services from a fully trained and qualified therapist
• maintain a high standard of practice and code of conduct by all its members.

Horse owners across Australia can find all ETAA-registered therapists (from many different therapeutic modalities) on the association's website. The therapist listings provide the peace of mind that every equine therapist has verified their qualifications and carries the necessary insurance to cover them for the work they do. There are also many resources available for members 💚💙 www:equinetherapies.net.au

05/09/2025

A wonderful opportunity has opened up to expand your skills under the guidance of an experienced, knowledgeable, respected and kind trainer. Nicolette at Cavit Equine is not only a talented rider and trainer— she's a true horsewoman. She understands that a horse's well-being during training is about more than just their physical body; it also involves their mental and emotional states, and how each horse can learn effectively and calmly. Nicolette also acknowledges all the factors that influence our equine partners and athletes, as well as the important role each individual rider plays in getting that balance right. No matter where you are in your current journey—whether you're returning to the saddle; fine-tuning your techniques; or setting your sights on new heights—Nicolette will meet you where you are at and guide you toward your goals 💙

🌟 Exciting opportunity at Cavit Equine 🌟

Nicolette is thrilled to share that she now has some openings for regular lessons and, for the first time in a while, a rare training spot for one horse has become available! 🐴

As an FEI dressage rider and trainer, with extensive training in the ESI system plus competition experience up to FEI, she brings a kind, clear approach to every horse and rider combination. Whether you’re looking to build confidence, refine your training, or step up in competition, Nicolette would love to help you achieve your goals.

📍 Based in Jimboomba
📲 Contact Cavit Equine here, on Instagram , or call 0421 252 853 to secure your place.

Spots like this don’t come up often – get in quick to join Cavit Equine Crew! ✨

29/08/2025

Is your horse afraid of the chiro? Try an osteopathic approach instead.

Many owners have shared with me that their horses, who are anxious about the chiro and don't respond well to the forceful 'thrusting' involved, are much more relaxed and comfortable with osteopathic techniques. In my experience, the gentle yet powerful osteopathic approach is very effective for all horses, but especially for those who are prone to being more sensitive or nervous.

This is likely because an osteopathic approach to treatment uses a wider range of techniques to improve mobility and function in joints, bones and vertebrae, the nerves, the internal organs, the muscles, fascia, ligaments and tendons, and bodily systems — all without the ‘need’ for forceful adjustments. There is no hammer or rubber mallet involved, so if your horse is sensitive to the more intense chiropractic techniques and tools involved, they might find the application of osteopathic techniques to be a far more comfortable and positive experience.

Some horses can have trouble tolerating the short-lever HVLA (high-velocity, low amplitude) techniques that chiros use. HVLAs can be utilised in an osteopathic treatment session too to engage the restrictive barrier, but if your horse does not tolerate this technique well, there are many other osteopathic techniques that can be employed such as LVHA (low velocity, high amplitude) techniques; long lever techniques; Balanced Ligamentous Tension; Functional Method Technique; Fascial Unwinding, cranial osteopathy; craniosacral; pumping techniques and lymphatic pump; vibratory force techniques; soft tissue manipulation, visceral manipulation – all aimed at restoring overall whole-body balance, mobility and functionality, and to reduce any pain and discomfort.

After a thorough case history and assessment, I take into account not only what your horse needs physically, but also what will work mentally and emotionally for your horse too. If your horse has been afraid of the chiropractic techniques, I will take that into account and choose a technique that will deliver the desired results while also keeping your horse calm. I work with your horse and want them to have a great experience.

An osteopathic approach to treatment also has a broader scope and focuses on the whole body and the interconnectedness of the systems; and in helping to restore the horse's natural ability to self-heal and self-regulate towards homeostasis (by removing the barriers to health, mobility and function). While the practice of chiropractics stems from the early beginnings of osteopathy (the founder of chiropractic, Daniel David Palmer was a student of osteopathy's founder, Dr Andrew Taylor Still), osteopathy differs in its philosophy to that of chiropractic. To put it in very simplified terms, chiros tend to centre around the alignment of the spine, and how it affects the nervous system while in osteopathy, the guiding principles acknowledge that the body functions as an integrated whole, and disturbances in one area (local) can affect overall (global) health. How the muscles, joints, joint capsules, tendons, ligaments, bones and vertebrae, nerves, fascia, viscera, fluids and systems of the body all inter-relate and communicate is of importance. Osteopaths understand that structure and function are reciprocally interrelated and that a change in one will affect change in others. Mobility and function are important, as is the body’s innate ability to heal itself if the barriers to health are removed. The practitioner trained in osteopathy is that ally to help identify and facilitate the removal of those barriers.

So, if your horse doesn’t respond well to chiro treatments (and if you find yourself having to have the chiro out very regularly to make adjustments), and you're looking for a gentler way to help your horse feel their best for longer, let's chat. Send me an email at: majestichorse@outlook.com.au or text me on: 0466077561. You can also contact me through my website: majestichorse.com.au 💙

22/08/2025

My clients know I love the respiratory diaphragm…..but why exactly?

Well, put simply, because the respiratory diaphragm has such a massive influence on the health and wellbeing of your horse. I often refer to it as the ‘pump’ of the body. In an osteopathic approach to treatment, fluid flow is SO important – it directly impacts tissue health, immune function, and the body's natural healing processes. When the diaphragm is restricted from optimal movement in any capacity, the results can be far-reaching. For example:

🐴 Interrupted fluid flow: Fluid exchange is vital for normal physiology, as all the necessary processes of the body occur because fluids flow. If you don’t have good fluid flow (through channels, spaces and across membranes), all systems of the body are impacted and the return to homeostasis is significantly impeded resulting in a reduction in vitality in the body. When this occurs, disease shortly follows. If the respiratory ‘pump’ is not working optimally, then the blood flow (specifically the aorta and vena cava which pass through the diaphragm) as well as the lymphatic, interstitial, and cerebrospinal fluids are affected.

🐴 Postural and functional change: Beyond fluid dynamics, a dysfunctional respiratory diaphragm can lead to significant postural and functional issues. When the diaphragm isn't working optimally, it can influence the mobility of the ribs, creating a cascade of knock-on effects as other muscles compensate for this impaired function. Periarticular muscles like the intercostals may have to work harder than they were designed to, leading to their own dysfunction over time. Other key muscles such as the erector spinae and latissimus dorsi, can be impacted as well as the thoracolumbar fascia. The result is often wider myofascial issues and postural changes.

The Phrenic nerve which innervates the diaphragm originates in the cervical spine, so if there is dysfunction in the diaphragm there can also be dysfunction in the neck and vice versa (as the phrenic nerve also receives information from the fascia covering the organs). The spleen, liver and pancreas are all in communication with the diaphragm (as are many other organs eg. heart, lungs, stomach) so they may also be influenced by dysfunctional diaphragm action.

If there is restriction in the lumbar vertebrae, there may be an issue with the diaphragm (as the crus of the diaphragm attaches into the lumbar vertebrae). The crus of the diaphragm connects into the hindlimb (via the lumbar and psoas connections), so there may be pelvic changes and hindlimb issues. *I write “may” as each horse must be assessed for their individual presentation and the influencing factors (internal and external) taken into consideration as well. We could also hypothesise that if you have an anxious horse, they are most likely not using their diaphragm correctly (and may instead be using their scalene muscles more).

🐴 Cavity pressure gradients and gaseous exchange issues: The interaction between intrathoracic and abdominal pressure is a key component of spinal and pelvic stability. A dysfunctional diaphragm action may affect cavity pressures which can then affect peristalsis through the digestive system (directly impacting the gastrointestinal system). The diaphragm's movement is also fundamental to creating the pressure gradients that drive the entire process of gaseous exchange. An issue with the action of the diaphragm can lead to reduced lung capacity and oxygen intake, and inefficient gaseous exchange. If you have a horse with asthma, you will automatically be thinking about the lungs and respiration, but there are many ways that the horse can experience diaphragmatic disorder with instances of shallow, laboured, inefficient breathing, intermittent coughing etc, occurring every day that might not be noticed because the horse ‘seems’ fine. These horses however may be labelled as ‘lazy’ during exercise because they either fatigue quickly or don’t appear as athletic as others. It could be that their diaphragms aren’t working optimally, and they aren’t breathing efficiently or effectively.

As mentioned earlier, the diaphragm influences fluid flow (and as fluids also act to provide structural support helping to dissipate forces throughout the body and enabling improved shock absorption), if your horse has arthritis, having a functional diaphragm is imperative to help with this shock absorption and support.

So, everything in the body is connected and in constant communication and correlation. Structure and function are reciprocally interrelated (a core osteopathic principle) – if you have a change in one; you have a change in the other. There is also more than one diaphragm in the body and when one diaphragm is impacted; all are impacted – pelvic floor, thoracic inlet, tongue, tentorium cerebelli. This can create a domino effect, leading to multi-layered issues throughout the body.

Just like us, horses are a ‘fluid body’ and fluid mechanics is vital to health and balance. For the restoration of homeostasis; the ability to respond quickly to illness, disease and injury; and the maintenance of health and vitality, we need to have the optimal functioning of the whole body and a large ‘influencer’ on that is the functionality of the diaphragm. The same is true for humans as much as it is for horses.

There are several different osteopathic techniques for addressing the respiratory diaphragm and the choice and application of these will depend on each individual horse’s presentation and current state of health 💙