Alexa Linton

04/10/2026

On Elderhood

Tonight in a session with my Whole Horse Collective group the concept of elderhood came up. It felt important to chat about here. We live in a culture, for horses and for humans (especially women), where aging is not seen as a gift, but rather a burden to bear. Where our worth and value to our community diminishes as we age and as we can no longer “perform” as we once did. In seeing through this, frankly, patriarchal capitalistic lens on value, we forget something critical.

Wisdom comes from experience. Wisdom comes from age. And elders are the very backbone of our communities. Watch any herd with an elder horse, one who has been there and done that, who has lived with many horses and watched years come and go. They are an anchor, a teacher, a balancing fulcrum point in a herd. They bring something deeply valuable - harmony, confidence, experience. They support younger horses to find their feet, to understand how to live well and in health. When they go, the space they leave is palpable, like a gash in the matrix - in the herd their value, their worth is never questioned. Only by us. Only by us.

Because many of us were taught that aging is bad, that we should try to slow it down at all costs, but those costs are indeed very high. In our fear of aging, our resistance to natural processes occurring, we forget to embrace what it truly means to age, the goodness and importance of it, and in doing so we may easily become old without becoming wise. We fear becoming a burden and end up never learning to be cared for by our community, one of the greatest teachings of all, the ability and humility to lean on others. I watch my mare Diva, now 27, and she ages like fine wine, becoming more beautiful, more whole, more clear and communicative with each passing year and I feel honoured to walk with her on her journey. She shares her needs with such clarity and I love being able to meet them well, as an embodiment of my love for her.

This year, I stopped cutting and dying my hair and finally welcomed the grey. I embraced my wrinkles. A sore joint here, an early bed time there, more refinement and clarity in my work. Wisdom building in my body, my mind, my spirit. What a gift to gather understanding, to continue to unravel this great mystery of life, not fighting the process but trusting, allowing and being in awe of this journey.

I see now that the truth is that elders are the most needed members of our horse and human communities and that supporting and caring for them (and ourselves) is some of the most important work we can do.

So love on your elders. Horse and human. Shower them with care. See their value and share it with them. Honour their process and listen to their needs. Ease their way. And learn every little bit you can from them, for they contain the wisdom of a lifetime and they won’t be here forever.

xo Alexa

03/19/2026

When I first learned Applied Kinesiology 22 years ago during my equine sport therapy training with Dave Collins, I was not a fan. Not because it didn't work and not because it wasn't helpful for horses. But because it pushed me way outside of my comfort zone. I had been raised to think in black and white. I had just spent 5 years getting my Bachelor of Science in (ironically) Kinesiology. And I had zero space for the intangible in my tool kit. Or so I thought.

A part of my training was to work with 20 horses each month between classes to practice our new skills, among them AK. I resisted, I doubted, I fought, I avoided. And yet, the horses would bring me back. Diva came into my world 2 months after I started my program - she started to break down my walls and beliefs. At the time, I was convinced that there was nothing outside what I could see and feel. That the physical was the only thing that counted.

Diva would soon prove that theory wrong, showing me in no uncertain terms that the intangible was real, that soul contracts were a thing, that our relationship was both physical but also very energetic and even spiritual. Dozens of horses entered my life as clients at that time to show me the same thing. I used AK with them as a bridge to communicate and they showed me over and over again that it worked, and worked well. Slowly but surely, the resistance melted away, leaving only a sense of awe about what was truly possible.

Since this time, it's been my go-to tool with thousands of horses, and I use it every single day with my herd to connect and communicate with them and keep them well. I am grateful to my past self for getting over her self-doubt so that she might be able to be in relationship with so many horses in such a magical way. I even created a course teaching others 20 years ago, Kinetic Communication, which has helped hundreds of folks learn how to use Applied Kinesiology with their own animals.

If you've ever wanted to add this tool to your tool-kit to work with the horses in your life, you can join me from April-June in the Whole Horse Collective (now open for monthly membership!) for a deep-diving course on this exact topic including the three comprehensive live webinars and supportive video tutorials, and of course, access to the Kinetic Communication course. For the first time ever online, I'm going to be teaching the WHC community how to use this tool effectively to support your equine body work and energy work, and we'll be getting into the nitty gritty of priority testing, pendulum work and more. And you'll have the opportunity to join me for the Whole Horse Collective Retreat here in the Cowichan Valley in June to try your new skills out with the Raven Moon Herd.

Details for signing up for the Whole Horse Collective are in the comments (FB) or in the link in my bio (IG)! Share with a horse friend you'd love to learn this skill with.

Hope to share this amazing skill with you over the next few months! Alexa

03/17/2026

Any other horse people out there love to thrift, up-cycle, re-use and re-purpose? How about in your equine habitats? Many times we can find alternatives to purchasing products new, while saving things from the landfill, giving them a different purpose, and putting money back into our wallet for things like feed and footing.

Here's some of my favourite things to re-use and upcycle - would love to hear your ideas!

- Most tire shops are more than happy for you to take used tires off their hands! I like to use smaller tires for stepping obstacles (fill with dirt/gravel) and larger tires for pedestals or stairs.
- Spare logs or wooden rounds? Use them! Horses love the enrichment of eating bark and wood material, stepping over, and more.
- No need to throw away old lumber or rotting posts. Use them as obstacles! Remove any nails, staples or screws and place in zones for stepping over. Or if in better shape, use old lumber and plywood to make obstacles like pedestals, bridges and teeter totters or enrichment like herb bins.
- Here on the west coast we have access to used fishing net and it is wonderful stuff! With 1” holes and very soft material it makes excellent haynets.
- I have a large chest freezer for my feed and it works perfectly to keep the rodents out. I have also used an upright cooler with sliding doors for the same purpose.
- Well-used brushes and curries make great scratching posts! Add to a scratching enrichment space at just the right height.

Just a few easy (and very affordable) ways to make your equine spaces better for all. Want to learn more about creating amazing equine habitats? Find the link to the Build a Horse Track System Online course in the comments (FB) or in the link in my bio (IG)

03/16/2026

Yesterday marked one year at Raven Moon Farm here in the Cowichan Valley. It's surreal to wake up here every day, look out at the forests, listen to the ravens and the creek, snuggle horses and ponies and continue to deepen connection with this land we are so lucky to steward and call our home. I am deeply grateful for this dream come true. We've already built and created so much in one year. Here's to many more years to come!

02/22/2026

On the importance of supporting the viscera…

After my acute pancreatitis episode almost four years ago, a part of my pancreas died. It was a very unfun time! Combine that with my initial abdominal surgery post infection and all the ensuing scar tissue and it is safe to say my insides were a bit of a mess. Fast forward five months and my scans came back normal.

Someone asked me the other day how I healed my pancreas and abdominal cavity. On the spot, I talked about supplementation, diet, red light therapy and time, but I actually forgot about my secret weapon! Osteopathy.

I had my first osteo session within days of coming home from the hospital and then every 1-2 weeks for the next several months. I was blessed to have my amazing colleague Irene Borecky come to our house, as I wasn’t able to drive or travel. In our five year program we spent almost two years specifically focused on working with the viscera/organs and boy, was I grateful for this body of work as I moved through my healing process.

What do we, as osteopathic practitioners, do with viscera exactly? Well, the most important thing is that we understand that the functional movement, vitality and vascularization of all the organs and related structures is critical to overall health and vitality. In my program (and not all osteopathy programs are created equal!), we were taught how to include all organs/viscera in our assessment and treatment plan. We work at the level of the tissues and fluids gently and effectively to support these structures and everything they might be affecting.

Daily in my own practice I see visceral issues affecting the structural and vascular systems and beyond - for example, a restriction in the lung, liver, uterus or colon affecting the mobility of the pelvis or sacrum. Or scar tissue from a C-section, hysterectomy, mastectomy affecting the movement of the pelvis, thorax or even cervical spine. Almost none of the clients I see with viscera-related scar tissue have had this addressed therapeutically post surgically, not because they don’t want to, but because they don’t know it is possible and necessary for healthy function of the rest of the fascial system and body. This is not common knowledge although I hope to see that shift!

This was why, after my laparoscopic surgery and my pancreatic necrosis (causing its own scar tissue), I prioritized regular osteopathic treatments. I still get an osteopathic treatment every 4-6 weeks almost four years later with my colleague Michelle at Ladysmith Osteopathy. I truly believe this has been a major contributor in my healing process, helping my organs, viscera and other systems to function at their best to allow the fullest expression of my health and vitality. In my practice, it is an area I focus on because I know first hand how supportive it can be to overall health.

If you live in the Cowichan Valley these are the osteopathic practitioners I recommend for visceral therapy (all went through the same 5 year program as me) - Michelle Sutcliffe (Ladysmith), Trisha Gilks (Cobble Hill), Peter Schreurs (Cobble Hill).

And of course, I would love to see you here at Raven Moon farm (booking link in comments).

02/04/2026

It's been a good long minute since I've introduced myself here, so here we go!

I am Alexa Linton, geeky, quirky, curious, always learning and a life-long horse devotee. Get me in a conversation and you will quickly learn, she is obsessed with all things horses and can wax on for hours about them and their care. The obsession was only heightened by landing on our dream property 10 months ago in the Cowichan Valley and bringing our herd of three mares Diva, Raven and Gwynna home, and then adding Reykur the Icelandic gelding to the mix. I should add hermit to this description, because I love it so much here I never want to leave, and since I work and practice from home I don't really have to!

These last few years have been full of growth and discovery as I uncovered some deeper truths about my nervous system and wiring and stepped into a bigger role of supporting others to navigate similar journeys. Turns out a big health crisis combined with perimenopause is quite the catalyst for self-discovery!

You may know me as the host and creator of the Whole Horse Podcast, guest on many other podcasts, author of a book on navigating pet loss, regular contributor to Horse Community Journals, facilitator of many workshops/courses, equine therapist, animal intuitive, osteopathic practitioner, student, horse/dog/cat mom, dancer, artist, or friend. I've been accused of wearing too many hats (and I am indeed a hat lover, like the sequined heart one in the photo), but I believe I wear the perfect amount to keep things interesting!

To say I'm a geek is an understatement - I've taken over 17 years of post-graduate study including, most recently, 5 and a half years to become an osteopathic practitioner. It currently feels very weird to not be in school but I do try to take regular post-graduate course work with my recent focus being endocranial brain work to support around post-concussive symptoms, migraines, whiplash, back injuries and nervous system challenges. I chose osteopathy precisely because there is always something to learn - I hope to be treating into my old age, as I love this work so much!

I love creating - as my marketing coach Tad says, I'm an artist and not truly an entrepreneur, but I do my best to mix the two! My most recent creations are the Whole Horse Collective, my first membership community, hosted along with all of my online courses on my new site Outside the Box Equine, which I built entirely myself (because I may also be just a wee bit of a control freak).

I credit my partner Patrick for helping make my big dreams a reality and co-creating something amazing here on Raven Moon Farm with me - together we envision retreats, workshops and more, surrounded by forest, horses and nature. Together we work hard to create the world we want to see, honouring the natural world, welcoming and supporting humans from every walk of life, holding up the values of inclusion, compassion, love, care and equality for all. We share our land with our two dogs Reilly and Solo, our cat Makwa, an elk herd every now and again, and the occasional cougar (but that's a story for another day!). This land fulfills a promise I made to my heart horse Diva to finally bring her home to her forever spot after journeying together for almost 23 years - my hope is that we still have many more years to spend learning from each other.

Thanks for being here on this page and supporting my work and dreams. Thanks for being a client, a listener, a reader, a friend. I appreciate each and every one of you and look forward to connecting in the future.

Alexa

01/31/2026

Can we talk about patterns and horse-keeping?
As a neurospicy human, I can't help but notice patterns, how one things reflects or mirrors another, how one thing shows up looking remarkably like another thing. And then I can't help but wonder what connects these things, and have they been connected before and how. And of course the bigger question of what it all means. Some patterns are resonant, like the estuary of a river and the capillaries in our body. They hint at a level of connection we may not have considered.
Let's look at this photo of Reykur and the forest. Do you see the pattern? The connection? Here there is an alignment and a coming together of two seemingly separate beings, a tree and a horse. When I look at this photo I see and experience resonance, the sense of two frequencies harmonizing. Like with great harmonies in music, there is an experience in my body of this resonance, and a sense of calm.
Why does this matter? In a time where we can be taught to separate things, what is the impact of acknowledging a mirroring or a resonant connection? Well, in the case of horse-keeping and land-keeping, I would suggest that this resonance might give us clarity on the presence of deep connection and common ground (pardon the pun) between horse and land, that they are inextricably inseparable. That, in good horse-keeping, we would also consider the health of the land, and consider the quality of this connection as a part of caring for our horses. And that we should always consider that the land, and it's care, is a key part of not just our horses well-being but also our own. Because how I care for and steward and think about land reflects how I care for horses, and also, how I care for my community and myself - am I extractive or collaborative, am I destructive or regenerative, am I entitled or humbled, do I love with strings or without, do I move towards more life and spirit or less? I truly believe that our horses and the land are supporting us to move towards more harmony, quite literally - a pattern of resonance, if we take the time to listen.
I heard from a teacher long ago that how we do one thing is how we do everything. Notice your patterns, the good and the bad. Notice the patterns that are all around you and be curious when you witness and feel resonance - the learning is all around you if you choose to see.

08/16/2024

I am excited to be able to offer two full scholarship and two half scholarship for this year's Whole Horse Apprenticeship (a $997 and $499 CDN value) to four committed horse lovers (no horse required), who would benefit from this program and may be experiencing barriers around accessibility (financial, racial, health, location or otherwise).

I have decided to offer double the scholarships this year in honour of the ninth and final year of this experience (in its current form) and my desire to support as many people as possible to take part before we complete.

Join myself (Alexa Linton) and over 25 guest instructors including Amy Dell, Susan Waite Tenney , Kim Hallin, Holly Barnett, Lucie Klaassen, Heather Nelson and Brittany Ashworth (plus pre-recorded webinars with Celeste-Leilani Lazaris, Dr. Tracy Rainwaters, Felicity Davies, Carmen Sp****la, Lockie Phillips, Shannon Beahen, Hannah Weston, Sarah Schlote, Hillary Schneider, Wendy Murdoch, Elsa Sinclair, Josh Nichol, Kerri Lake, Elisha Edwards, Sarah Griffiths, Elisse Miki and many more!).

This online-based 6-month Equine Wellness Immersion, designed as a venue for horse lovers and stewards of all ages, interests and locations to explore the many aspects (physical, emotional, energetic, spiritual and more) of wellness in their horse-human relationships (no horse required, just a love of horses), begins on September 15th, 2024 (registration closes September 10th).

Apply at http://bit.ly/whascholarship2024 by Sunday August 25th, 2024 (scholarship recipients will be announced on Wednesday August 28th).

Please share with any inspired and inspiring horse people in your world who would benefit from being a part of this 6-month program dedicated to horses and our relationship with them! More details on the Whole Horse Apprenticeship at http://alexalinton.ca/whole-horse-apprenticeship

Thank you for applying! If you would like more details on this program and what it includes please visit http://alexalinton.ca/whole-horse-apprenticeship. I will be in touch by Wednesday August 28th with news about the recipient of the two full scholarships and two half scholarships. If you have any...

07/26/2024

I wrote this article on desensitization a little while back so I reread it today. Wouldn’t you know it, it’s pretty good! If you’ve got five minutes have a read and let me know your thoughts on this important topic.

“Desensitization” is defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as: to make emotionally insensitive or callous; specifically: to extinguish an emotional response (as of fear, anxiety, or guilt) to stimuli that formerly induced it. READ: Is Desensitizating Your Horse Helpful? HERE: https://www.horsejournals.com/riding-training/general/schooling/desensitizating-your-horse-helpful

11/19/2023

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐈 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐬?

Because fluids are life!

One of the guiding principles of osteopathy, is the 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐮𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞. This rule explains how fluidic restrictions trump other tissue restrictions because blood, lymph, and CSF, are required for them to function in the first place. In this case we do not have a chicken-egg situation but rather a clear path of what needs to come first and what is primary in the treatment plan.

𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

When taking an osteopathically informed approach, one must understand the order of hierarchy within the physiological systems of the body.

Any vessel; artery, vein, lymphatic, CSF (which sustains the entire nervous system) that is impeded will have an effect on all the tissues it feeds. In the case of the spinal cord, consequences may be even more widespread than peripheral compression due to the vast network of neural tissue housed within the cord itself.

This is why you will often see me working on primary spinal junctions over singular tight muscle groups. We already know the muscles that are tight are lacking fluids, that is part of the reason they are tight in the first place. But in order for them to retain full function they must first be provided the cellular building blocks which is held in the fluids. Therefore restoring flow in and out of major spinal junctions can be more primary than treating the secondary (tight muscles).

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡.

This is but one of the many osteopathic principles we cover in our Certification Programs and why we are passionate about sharing this knowledge. Before I had this understanding, I often felt as though I was swimming upstream, sifting through assessment results. But now I have a clear understanding how to prioritize regions and make informed decisions in treatment plans. And more importantly, I understand the “why” behind what I am seeking to accomplish and able to communicate the relevant anatomy to my clients.

If you often feel you are applying techniques and they do not resolve the issue, restore function, or you are not sure exactly what the physiology behind the technique is in the first place, we hope to illuminate a clear pathway forward for you as our schools once did for us.

Now intaking for 2024, we hope to see you on inside 💫

Alexa Linton Elisse Miki

08/30/2023

I am excited to be able to offer one full scholarship and one half scholarship for this year's Whole Horse Apprenticeship (a $945 and $470 value) to two committed horse lovers (no horse required), who would benefit from this program and may be experiencing barriers around accessibility (financial, racial, health or otherwise).

Join myself (Alexa Linton) and 25 guest instructors including Celeste Lazaris, Dr. Tracy Rainwaters, Felicity Davies, saddle fitter Claire Marshall, Carmen Sp****la, Christine Walker, Lockie Phillips, Wendy Murdoch, Sarah Griffiths, Elsa Sinclair, Josh Nichol, Kerri Lake, Elisha Edwards, Susan Tenney, and Elisse Miki (as well as her Manual Therapy for Animal Owners course)!

This online-based 6-month Equine Wellness Immersion, designed as a venue for horse lovers and stewards of all ages, interests and locations to explore the many aspects (physical, emotional, energetic, spiritual and more) of wellness in their horse-human relationships, begins on September 15th, 2023.

Apply at https://bit.ly/whascholarship2023 by Tuesday September 5th, 2023 (scholarship recipients will be announced on Thursday September
7th).

Please share with any inspired and inspiring horse people in your world who would benefit from being a part of this 6-month program dedicated to horses and our relationship with them! More on the Whole Horse Apprenticeship at http://alexalinton.ca/whole-horse-apprenticeship

Hello and welcome! This is the spot for the Whole Horse Podcast and Apprenticeship updates, news abo

08/24/2023

I was chatting with Elsie Reford today about what she felt was most helpful for her about the Whole Horse Apprenticeship and why she’s coming back for her fourth year this year.

Her answer echoed something that I have heard from quite a few horse people - she knew what she had been taught about caring for and training horses was not working for her or for them, and she didn’t really know where to go to find another way forward. Somehow a post about the apprenticeship found her, and she took a leap of faith. Four years later, she’s now assisting with the program, she’s become a published author sharing her story about her journey with her mare, and her horses and her relationship with them have transformed in a beautiful way. She’s also formed several great and lasting friendships, created connections with trainers and professionals that were a part of the program and stepped into a space of wisdom when it comes to her horses and life. It’s not all the apprenticeship, not by a long shot, but opening that door for herself and making that choice connected her to a community and a world that propelled her forward in her horse journey and supported her horses in the process. Which makes my heart so happy.

So if you’re at the edge of what you’ve known, and you find yourself wondering where the path is for you, perhaps this six month journey dedicated to horses is just what you’re needing. We start on September 15th! Learn more about it at https://alexalinton.ca/whole-horse-apprenticeship

This video is a sharing from Elsie about her experience