Rowena’s Equine Pulse Therapy

01/12/2025

One spot has just come up for tomorrow around 11.30 in Karaka. Pm the page for more info

Pulsatilla charging up

30/11/2025

PEMF vs Biofilms — The Future of Healing?

Antibiotic resistance is one of healthcare’s biggest challenges, especially when it comes to post-surgical infections and orthopaedic implants.

A new study found that PEMF therapy can disrupt bacterial biofilms (the tough layers that make infections hard to treat) and even enhance the effects of antibiotics. 🧬✨

In other words, PEMF didn’t just support recovery, it actively helped break down the barrier that keeps infections resistant.

It’s early-stage research, but the results are promising: PEMF may become a powerful ally in preventing and treating post-surgical and implant-related infections in both humans and animals. 💛

📚 Source: Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm inhibition by Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields, 2024

29/11/2025

Great to see Pulsatilla get the chocolates yesterday. She’s an absolute favourite of mine to pulse and ride. Congratulations Team Clotworthy and Westbury Stud

Pulsatilla winning the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial 3YO (1500m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.  Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Pulsatilla powers to spectacular Ellerslie victory Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING.NZ NZ News Desk 29 November 2025 A rails-hugging ride from Warren Kennedy has provi...

28/11/2025

Great to see Andy get the win tonight after his PEMF session earlier in the week. Well done to connections 👏👏

28/11/2025

Equine Bodywork in Summer

As we are now in to the warmer weather our horses are more susceptible to heat stress, dehydration and muscle fatigue. Your therapist should be adjusting their treatments so they remain supportive and safe during this time.

To regulate core temperature the blood vessels near the horses skin widen directing heat out of the body. This means blood flow is directed away from deeper tissues, such as muscles and towards the skin. Active muscles will therefore receive reduced oxygen and nutrient delivery. Meaning muscles can fatigue more quickly.

Horses sweat like people, not many animals do!! They rely on sweating to help cool themselves down. Sweat contains more than just sodium. Chloride, potassium and magnesium are also lost through sweat and are critical for muscle and nerve function. Intense sweating can lead to electrolyte imbalances so it's important to feed an electrolyte at this time of year if you are training hard. Electrolyte imbalances can result in muscle cramps, lethargy and poor condition.

Muscle soreness and stiffness can result from dehydration. This is due to reduced plasma volume, impairing circulation and reducing metabolic waste removal. It's worth mentioning I see more deep fascial reactions pulsing in summer and I believe this is possibly due to electrolyte imbalance. So if I've ever noted on your report your horse has had a fascial reaction it's worth considering if you are feeding enough electrolytes.

Heat exposure increases baseline cardiovascular effort even at rest. Your horses heart may remain elevated for longer after excerise. Make sure you have a really good cool down routine for hot weather. This may include walking for longer and cooling off under water for longer. The rise in respiration rate to facilitate heat loss also increases metabolic demand. Bodywork can promote relaxation helping your horse switch over to the parasympathetic nervous system but body workers need to be aware of not over heating the horse as well.

Signs of heat stress include

Excessive sweating
Increased respiratory rate
Elevated heart rate
Lethargy or weakness
Reduced appetite or interest in water
Dry hot skin- horses experiencing advanced heat stress may stop sweating!
Behavioural changes

Signs of dehydration include

Reduced skin elasticity
Dry or tacky mucuos membranes - check gums they should be moist and pink
Sunken or dull eyes
Dark or reduced urine
Elevated heart rate

Body work sessions in summer may be shorter as therapist are aware they dont need to warm muscles up so much and may choose to focus on problem areas rather than risk over heating or over stimulating a horse with a full body session. It's important to provide shade and a well ventilated area for your therapist to work in. Working out of the heat of the day if possible is also very worth while.

Photo credit - LoveRacing of clients horse Aftermath running 3rd in the Counties Cup on Saturday

27/11/2025

26/11/2025

Great to sit in on a couple of webinars last week. What we know about kissing spines now has really evolved and we are trying new treatments that seem to be working well.

It also worth while noting it’s never usually just a back problem. There will be dysfunction in other areas of the spine wheather that be at the neck or sacroiliac.

Horses doing nothing being sedentary can develop kissing spine! So having a healthy topline, working on your horses posture, core and fitness is always a good thing to do.

25/11/2025

Did you know that there is a direct link between gastric disease, hoof balance and posture?

Posture has been shown to be reflective of autonomic nervous state. A sympathetic posture, high head and neck carriage and camped under, you will also recognise as an abnormal compensatory posture, and a parasympathetic nervous posture, head and neck relaxed and a normal neutral posture. See the postures in the image.

In a sympathetic state the body is in flight or fight mode, increased cortisol levels and the body is focusing blood supply and nutrients to the musculoskeletal system.
In the parasympathetic state, the body is in the rest and digest mode.

Hoof balance has been shown to directly impact static posture, and can put the horse into either of these states! In fact anything that creates a stress response can move a horse into the sympathetic state. Feed, confinement, psychosocial deficit, Domestication itself!

See the ethological series of webinars for a dive into what creates each state..

https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/collections?category=courses&page=4

What's important to understand, in that light, is that in the sympathetic state, visceral function rapidly declines, leading to disease such as gastric ones, that lead to further sympathetic activation. The cycle ensues!!

This is why gastric disease is ubiquitous in the equine world, often blamed for behavioural issues. Sometimes it is the start of the cycle, sometimes its the symptomatic scapegoat for the rest of the horses world, including hoof balance.

Join myself and world-renowned Dr Ben Skyes for an upcoming webinar where we delve into these relationships!
Live Nov 26th 8am GMT. Recorded for anyone who cant make it live!!

Link below👇

https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/courses/egus

22/11/2025

22/11/2025

Great to see team Clotworthy have an absolute day out at Pukekohe Park today with 2 winners and a 3rd in the counties cup.
I’ve been lucky enough to ride a few pieces of work on the winners and pulse them.
Well done to all involved 👏🥂🏇🏿

21/11/2025

Great to see Memory get the win last night for Brooke and team Purdon. Congratulations to all involved 👏👏

20/11/2025

Great to see Falcon get the win for team Matty White. Well done to all involved 👏