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Even Stride Equine Massage

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Even Stride Equine Massage

Level 4 Diploma in Equine Sports Massage located in South Devon
Fully insured, covering Devon Feel free to message me and I would be happy to help.

Hello my name is Emily Gilbert and welcome to my business page for Even Stride Equine Massage. I have a level 4 Diploma in Equine sports massage and lifetime of experience with horses. I have competed up to Elementary working at Prix St George however eventing is my true love having competed to Novice and have a young horse where I hope she will be my next eventer. My passion is working with horses to help them feel at their best and work with owners to maintain a happy partnership so they can perform at their optimum ability.

12/11/2025

Want a picture of your fine bottom like the beautiful Jemima? Here's a rather indignant look from my littlest client.
Taking bookings for December, spaces limited for November, but please call or message to discuss

14/10/2025

I keep promising to be good and keep you all in the loop, and then another busy week flies by and I realise I haven’t updated again, so my apologies

The last few weeks have been busy, I’ve meet all sorts, happy hacks, young and newly backed, and plenty of my lovely returning clients
This week has started with two returning clients, both with ginger ninjas, and both Arabs! Dear Malci is a bit of a one for getting into scrapes, and has have several pretty awkward accidents in his time. The plan with him is to unpick passed damage and make his as comfy and free as possible in his body
Then there is Foxy, who people who follow me may know about. He is a lovely boy, and a real credit to his owner and partner in crime, Haytor Endurance . Foxy had a rough start in life, as was an RSPCA case, but Vicki has conquered (literal) mountains with him, and just been placed 5th in the Red Dragon! Head to their page to read all about their adventure. Today is saw Foxy for a post event massage, it was a pleasure to ease out all the muscles for him after a tough race!

Huge congratulations to the pair of them

Please contact me for a chat and no obligations to book in for a massage

26/09/2025

What a busy, emotional and wonderful few weeks. I have met new clients from West to East Devon, been asked back by several people and continued with my lovely returning clients. I feel so lucky!

Taking this chance to wish a friend and wonderful client, Haytor Endurance, the best of luck for this weekend. I will be thinking of you and will see you for a post event massage. Have fun!

01/09/2025

This week has been very up and down, been very busy with work, Dory keeps on getting better, so we even had a lovely ride on the Moor, but, most significantly, there has been a loss

As many of you know, Charlie, my daft donkey, came to join the gang in January as a companion for Dory. He was an older chap, standing at a Diddy 10hhs with the usual ridiculous ears and the loudest heehawww you ever heard. On Saturday, I went down as normal first thing to bring in, but there was no welcome from Charlie. Dory came over as normal, but I could see a flat out shape and presumed Charlie was asleep. Shockingly, when I went to him and prodded him, saying get up lazy, it become obvious that he had died.
To say, it doesn’t seem real is an understatement. I’d only said goodnight and left them both lhappily munching the night before. He had become quieter in the last few days, but, other than that, there were no signs.
So, I am writing this to thank everyone for baring with me while I wrap my head around this, and as a memorial to the sweet wee man that was our Charlie. Here are a few interesting things about donkeys, so we can take something away from the heartbreak

Donkeys are very physiologically different from horses, not just the big ears and small hooves! The reason why miles (when a donkey and a horse cross breed) are infertile, is due to a horse having 64 chromosomes, and a donkey only 62.
Despite their small, structure, donkeys are very strong and sturdy, particularly in their necks, which are shorter and stockier than a horse, being built for traversing rough terrain and to support a large head! They have a large cutaneous coli muscle that supports the neck, and still have a nuchal ligament that attaches to all cervical vertebrae (something that is weak or absent in horses -future post to follow)
Stubborn. How often have we heard that phrase? But it is actually a donkeys stoic nature. Instead of a horse that is fight or flight, a donkey is more likely to freeze, making their body language harder to read than a horse

To dear, sweet, escaping Charlie boy.

18/08/2025

Hello from Even Stride headquarters!

I am so glad that the temperature has dropped, and we’ve even had a few spots of rain. It makes exercising the neddies so much easier, not having to be out at daybreak before it’s roasting hot and avoiding being plagued by hoards of flies. It certainly makes treatments easier, the horses aren’t so fractious and being annoyed by biting things, flies or just generally hot and bothered ! The same can be said for me, climbing into work clothes built up a sweat before I’d even got my hands on the horses.

I had the pleasure of another new client with an older Arab, Zel. Zel was quite a character, quite nervous and clearly very smart. I was told that he had had a bad experience with a bodyworker and was consequently, wary and a little explosive with new experiences. It’s one way to test my focus and ability to regulate my emotions. Zel was a dream, he was so responsive and , once he realised that I was there to make him feel better he relaxed and we were able to work over his whole body. I choose not to treat areas for his first time, and simply notice things, but keep the session as a calming and gentle experience. He certainly enjoyed a little snooze in the sun!

It really highlights how much we as therapists have to put into our work. You can’t go in to a session thinking about what you’re going to eat later, what you did at the weekend, and, no matter what, you have to be an oasis of calm for the horse to lean on . I wouldn’t change what I do, I love watching the effects a treatment can have the reward I get from seeing a nervous horse start to relax and trust is amazing, but i needed a moment to take stock and recharge after this session, it can be really emotionally draining!

If you feel that your horse would benefit from a massage session, or would like a chat, please feel free to get in touch

04/08/2025

Another Monday's come around, I really don't know where times going another busy week and I've been lucky enough to have another new client start with me and her two gorgeous horses, unfortunately, I yet again forget to take some nice photos of them so attached below is a picture of me with returning customer Chilli. Chilli is a gorgeous young lady who hasn't yet started to be ridden but we are working on keeping her functioning and in a correct posture before we even start to put the pressure of a rider on her this is such a lovely little mare and I feel truly honoured to be working with her she is very strong in her opinions but the sweetest kind of little girl and gives the best reactions when you hit the “sweet spot”.
And so now, here we are at the start of a new week! I am getting busier, but am still happy to take on new customers, again, first massage free (within half hour of Bovey Tracey) and 25% off if you refer a friend. Feel free to message me to discuss
I also thought I am start doing some common problems as a post if people would find that interesting?

20/07/2025

Taking a backwards step

Not something that anyone wants to hear or do. But, sometimes, it can be the best cure.

I have been really struggling with Dory since our fall. She has always been big and expressive and very athletic, and so, when she spooks, we can be turning on a pinhead and back the way we’ve come before you’ve had time to whip out your swear word of choice. Since last August, these spooks have got worse, and more frequent – who knew raindrops on leaves were a thing – and, to be honest, I have been in tears multiple times. Put her in a school and she’s laser focused I can’t fault her, but out and about, it is like the world is out to kill her. PTSD? Probably, but adding in my paranoia of slipping again, and you’ve got the perfect storm.

So. At the end of my tether, I did the opposite of what my instincts told me; I dropped the reins. I kept focussed on talking tonher, loosening my hips and shoulders and keeping pelvis in neutral. We went round the block she knows and armed with a pocket of sweeties, we made it home with out any tears. The first time, she wasn’t perfect, but, when i had warnings of a spook, we just stopped and looked. When I felt her calm, she got a treat and off we went.

We have now done the same ride, the same way, 4 times. Deadly dull, and nothing to write home about, but do you know what? Today, her “surprise spooks” (killer pigeons) were still there, but not as turn tail and run as they were. We even managed to have a no contact swinging trot. A trailer went passed with rattling beer kegs and she stood and watched.

On top of the saner rides, I can feel her starting to enjoy being with me again, her back swings, her Stride lengthens and she drops her nose down. We arent waiting for the other to do something stupid

Taking what feels like a massive backward step was a real confidence blow at first, but, after just 4 rides, I feel like I’m on top of the world, this is the election I normally get when we come home in the ribbons. To summarise, listen to your horse, trust yourself. To quote a rather famous scientist, “insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting change”

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