A Plus Equine Bodywork

02/25/2026

Why Short Trim Cycles Matter 🐴

Even a few millimeters of hoof growth can change everything. Just take a 👀 at the before and after above. Once a upon a time we would think, yep that hoof doesn't look "long" or in need of a trim ...but look at the cannon and fetlock posture. There's not much hoof right under that limb, so the fetlock and surrounding soft tissue structures have more load. So we need to tailor trim cycles around each horse and the season of life they are in.

In high hoof growth seasons, or during rehabilitation, many horses need trims every 2–4 weeks. In slower growth seasons, like winter, 4–5 weeks may be appropriate. Waiting longer might seem harmless… but small changes in hoof length can shift how your horse loads their limbs.

When the hoof capsule migrates forward or flares, it alters how the limb stacks. That changes how the bony column lines up — and when alignment shifts, so does force distribution.

Those subtle changes don’t just stay in the foot. They travel upward through the body via the myofascial kinetic chains, influencing posture, muscle tone, and movement patterns.

Your horse feels those changes long before you see lameness.

Consistent, shorter trim cycles help maintain balance, support clean joint alignment, and keep the sensory feedback from the foot clear and organized.

Small growth. Big impact.

If you’re unsure what trim cycle your horse truly needs, let’s talk. 🐎

Better yet, come join us at the Canadian Equine Hoof Care Association May 8-11th in Orangeville ON . 🔗in bio. Early bird prices are available until February 28th 🥳

02/25/2026

https://equi-bowcanada.thinkific.com/courses/equi-bow-foundations-online?ref=ebdcb8

This sale ends on February 28th. If you’ve been looking for a way that you can help support your horse in between professional appointments, this is it!

Using the code WINTER2026EBO you can get Equibow Foundations online for $350 (regular $625). You have lifetime access to it and it doesn’t expire.

When you’re ready, you can also add on a group or private hands on day to compliment the program.

Message me if you’re interested in more details!

02/25/2026

Horse Welfare Is Not a Sales Strategy.
ITS. THE . BASIC. STANDARD.

I want to take a moment to talk about something important in our industry. This is a recent saddlery’s post looking for reps that has a lot of us raging- and rightful so.

The normalization of “saddle sales jobs” without fitting qualifications should concern every horse owner and raise a major red flag.

There is a significant difference between a saddle sales representative and a trained, independent saddle fitter. (Please read that sentence again!)

A sales role is designed to move product.
A qualified independent fitter’s role is to evaluate the horse first — conformation, muscle development, asymmetry, movement, rider balance, and long-term comfort — before ANY brand or sale enters the conversation.

When a saddle appointments become primarily sales-driven:
• Brand loyalty can override fit suitability
• Inventory can influence recommendations
• Pressure can replace patience

That is not horsemanship. That is retail.

If your saddle professional cannot explain:
• Tree geometry
• Panel pressure distribution
• How the horse moves differently left vs. right
• Why a specific tree angle matches your horse’s shoulder
• Girth placement
•etc.

Then you are likely receiving a sales appointment — not a fitting.

A saddle is not just a product. It directly affects:
• Back health
• Muscle development
• Behavior under saddle
• Performance longevity
• Pain response and compensation patterns

When sales goals are prioritized over biomechanical assessment, horses can suffer — and often quietly.

Independent, trained fitters:
✔ Work brand-neutral when possible
✔ Assess the horse in motion and at rest
✔ Understand pressure mapping and panel balance
✔ Recommend what fits — not just what sells
✔ Sometimes advise not buying anything at all and knowing when to walk away from a potential sale for the benefit of the horse.

That is not anti-business. That is ethical horsemanship.

If you are investing thousands of dollars in a saddle, make sure the person evaluating your horse is trained in fit — not just trained in closing a sale. This also goes for tack & saddle repairs!

A saddle is not a handbag. It is orthopedic equipment for a living athlete.

Horses are absorbing the cost of industry shortcuts and it’s time the standard be raised.

— Nicole
Between The Tree LLC 🖤

02/25/2026

02/25/2026

SNOW. DOES. NOT. REPLACE. WATER.

Cold weather does not change equine hydration requirements.

An adult horse still requires tens of litres of water per day in winter.

Snow is mostly air. Its water density varies widely depending on temperature and structure.

Even if a horse consumes snow:

• The water yield is inconsistent
• The volume required is substantial
• The body must expend energy to warm and melt it before absorption

In cold conditions, horses are already using energy for thermoregulation. Increasing metabolic demand while providing an unreliable water source increases physiological risk.

Veterinary guidance is clear:

Horses should have access to fresh, unfrozen water at all times, including during freezing temperatures.

Snow consumption may occur.
It is not a reliable hydration strategy.

Winter comes with real challenges and added work. Keeping fresh water available in freezing temperatures involves genuine hurdles. It does not change what horses require to stay healthy.

Water is a survival requirement. Access to it is non-negotiable.

02/23/2026

To my self-employed friends — I see you. I am you.

And for those who are not self-employed, this is educational.

When you see a service fee, understand that roughly 30% becomes take-home income.

The other 70% sustains the infrastructure required to operate legally, ethically, and professionally.

* Secure booking systems
* Website hosting
* Licensing and mandatory continuing education
* Liability and commercial insurance
* Facility costs and maintenance
* Vehicle, travel, and farm expenses
* Technology platforms and software
* Sanitation standards
* Payment processing fees on every transaction

In my case, fixed annual overhead exceeds six figures before I pay myself. That does not include corporate and personal tax, CPP (both portions as self-employed), accounting, legal fees, marketing, or equipment replacement.

It also does not include the educational investment behind the work.

To date, that investment is approximately a quarter of a million dollars:

✅ BSc in Kinesiology (UBC)
✅ Human Kinetics diploma (Langara College)
✅ Regulated healthcare license (RMT from WCCMT)
✅ Human Osteopathy diploma in progress (CSO)
✅ Multiple equine certification(s)

**And over 25 years of clinical experience

Maintaining credentials is ongoing.

Initial education is a capital investment.
Continuing education is a recurring operational cost.

And then there is time......

👉 A one-hour human appointment requires nearly another hour behind the scenes for charting, sanitation, billing, and communication.

👉 An equine session includes travel, vehicle costs, assistant support, video review, report writing, and follow-up.

👉 One educational webinar can take 150 hours from research to delivery.

Fees reflect the entire structure — not just hands-on time or one-one time.

Self-employment means carrying the whole system: compliance, risk management, infrastructure, sustainability.

Revenue only exists when work is performed.
Expenses exist regardless.

Pricing is not about what an hour feels worth. It is about sustaining a system built on depth of training, experience, and responsibility.

That is the cost of doing business.

02/22/2026

Still lunging as a primary form of exercise?

This movement research helps explain why repetitive circling is strongly associated with strain patterns in the equine spine.

The horse’s vertebral column is regionally specialized:

• The cervical spine is the most mobile region and absorbs a large proportion of flexion, extension, lateral bending, and rotation.

• The thoracic spine is comparatively restricted due to rib attachments and its role in trunk stability and force transmission.

• The lumbar spine functions primarily in load transfer and propulsion rather than large segmental motion.

When a horse is worked repeatedly on small circles, the majority of available motion is forced into the cervical region while the more stable thoracic and lumbar regions contribute less.

Over time, this concentration of movement can increase mechanical stress on cervical joints and surrounding soft tissues, which helps explain the high prevalence of neck pain and arthritic change observed clinically.

Although this biomechanical research is not new, it is still frequently overlooked in conventional training systems.

The key takeaway is simple:

The horse is anatomically designed for forward locomotion and large, variable curves across terrain, not continuous tight circling.

If we want soundness and longevity, exercise selection must reflect biology, not tradition.

Research link in comments (FB) and stories (IG).
Full Blog link in comments (FB) and stories (IG)

02/21/2026

New episode: Common Doesn't Mean Normal 🎙️

"Oh, that's just how horses are."
But is it, though?
In this episode, we're exploring things we've collectively accepted in our horses; things like contracted heels, tacking resistance, tension under saddle, simply because we see them everywhere.
Common isn't the same as normal. And the language we use shapes whether we accept things or actually address them.

This one might change how you see your horse (and the horses around you).

Let me know what you think about the episode!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2wqNnt97SfXjp6Z1dUQeG5?si=d01259da214e45f8

Head to Hoof · Episode

02/20/2026

This!!!!

02/18/2026

I’ll be placing a Red Horse Products order next week! 🐴

In preparation for the wet, muddy spring season, now is the perfect time to stock up on your hoof and skin care essentials before the thaw hits.

I’ll be at the Ontario Equine Expo all three days and would be happy to bring your order with me so you can pick it up there and save on shipping.

As we head into mud season, constant moisture creates the ideal environment for thrush, white line issues, soft weakened horn.

A few of the most popular products I recommend this time of year:

Artimud
A powerful, sticky clay designed to stay in place and support stubborn thrush and deeper hoof infections. It’s especially helpful for central sulcus cracks and areas that are harder to keep clean during wet conditions.

Sole Cleanse
A liquid antimicrobial spray that’s great for flushing out frogs, white line, and sole crevices. Perfect for daily use when hooves are exposed to mud and moisture, helping prevent issues before they start.

Stronghorn
Formulated to help strengthen soft, weak hoof horn. As moisture levels rise in spring, hooves can lose strength and become more prone to chipping and damage. Stronghorn helps reinforce and toughen the outer hoof wall.

HoneyHeel
A soothing, antibacterial cream made with medical-grade honey. It’s excellent for supporting skin healing in cases of scratches (mud fever), minor wounds, and irritated skin caused by wet, muddy conditions. It helps protect the area while promoting healthy tissue repair. It’s a great staple to have on hand before spring turnout.

If you’d like anything added to this order, send me a message by February 28! I’m happy to help you choose what would best support your horse heading into mud season.

02/18/2026

You can use the code APLUSEQUINE to get an additional discount on top of the sale price!

Red light lumière rouge

02/17/2026

Happy Year of the Horse! Hope you got to spend some quality time with your ponies today! ❤️🐴