Integrated Equestrian Healing

12/16/2023

12/16/2023

Did you know: the tuber coxae is a main part of many attachment points in a horse’s abdominals, and a couple of the main oblique muscles. If this isn’t released, the horse’s pelvis can’t get comfortable. I used a technique to help unlock this on two of my favorite clients tonight, and the results were unbelievable. Palpating each horse’s back before and after releasing this important attachment point was like night and day. If your horse has an achy back or pelvic instability that saddle fitters and other work can’t fix in the long term, check out this attachment point.

12/07/2023

I often see people posting about their horse having muscle knots and being muscle sore, talking about having the chiropractor out, Pemf and red light, kt tape, vet’s been out and still the horse is not better, why?

My question is; why are you doing everything you can think of to help your horse feel better EXCEPT the one thing that actually addresses those sore, tight muscles directly?!

Other therapies are NOT stand-ins or substitutes for massage - they do different things for the horse.

Massage is the only one of these therapies that physically manipulates the muscles, fascia and skin to ease tight, sore muscles lengthen and supple myofascia, free painful nerves, improve circulation, increase range of motion and bring balance and biotensegrity back to the body to improve performance and soundness.

An equine massage therapist …

Learn more about how massage can benefit your horse -

https://koperequine.com/why-hands-on-massage-is-the-best-way-to-for-sore-care-muscles/

12/07/2023

Our hard work’s paying off. We’re working closely with a vet, chiropractor, and farrier, along with equine biomechanics and massage. Groundwork with a Spanish cavesson has been our friend this season, and through these comparison photos, you can see how well she’s developing. The wooly photo was a couple weeks ago, while the other was over the summer.

Lola’s top line is growing, she’s more fit, and her shoulders have more movement. Her muscles are getting sore, as she learns to use them correctly. Now all we need is to continue to strengthen that pelvis!

Post visit from Turning Point Vet, I was tasked with upping her massages. She’s thriving! I’ve also added to my education, and continue to learn and add to my toolbox. The most recent additions are craniosacral massage, TMJ work, and sharpening skills with palpations and trigger point work.

I’ve been really focusing on helping her loosen her longissimus dorsi muscle, as well as the brachialis and pectorals. It helps her workouts become more meaningful and keeps her happy and loose.

If you’re interested in what I can do, don’t hesitate to reach out. Helping my horse and the horses trusted to me by my wonderful clients is my passion.

12/07/2023

The answer is always yes, they need a massage.
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12/07/2023

Yesterday I watched a rider tack their horse up. The horse pinned their ears, swished their tail, danced on the cross ties and nipped at the air as soon as the saddle pad came out.

Even though the horse was CLEARLY communicating, the rider continued to tack up without hesitation.

Without going into extensive detail about the horse or the rider- just know that the rider, horse and trainer are not novice or inexperienced.

⁉️Why is this acceptable?

There are SO many educational resources that tell us this behavior is concerning. That these are potentially pain responses. (Having witnessed the event in person I can say with confidence that I believe they were).

When do we draw the line between someone not being educated or knowing any better, to their actions being unethical?
Unethical for riding a horse in pain, unethical for not investigating the behavior further, unethical for putting their own needs before the horses for the sake of showing/jumping/training/riding.

These questions need to be asked so we can attempt to break the cycle of normalizing this behavior.

✨The horse should comes first- not the rider’s agenda.

12/06/2023

Fascinating.

11/30/2023

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-wood-7b0ba01a2?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

The human behind this profile. I am so not texchnologically savvy!

10/06/2023

Great read.

I'm going to ruffle some feathers here but hear me out.

A while ago I saw a post that said any bodywork was good, it didn't matter what level or experience the practitioner had. That post has stuck with me for a long time... because I disagree, and here is why.

Bodywork can cause damage when used incorrectly.
Improper techniques or excessive force can result in strained or torn muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Misapplied pressure can lead to bruising or even more severe injuries.

If the therapist lacks proper knowledge of anatomy and physiology, they may inadvertently target sensitive areas or apply pressure on joints in a way that can lead to discomfort or potential damage. Not to mention when bodywork should NOT be applied to horses - yes, there are contraindications.

The industry has become pretty flooded with massage therapists. In the USA there is no governing body for equine massage which means not all schools are created equal.

When looking for a bodyworker, ask questions. Ask for their qualifications. Look into the schools they attended and who taught them.
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09/10/2023

Hi all, let me introduce you to my reason for starting this business. This is Lola. She’s a 10 year old appendix quarter horse I’ve been lucky to be owned by for the last 5 years.

When I got her, we were trying to figure ourselves out as a team; trying new disciplines, learning from and with each other, setting up her care team and journeying together on a long healthy life. When she was 8, an issue arose I searched high and low to fix. She needed lymphatic work, Chiropratic work and massage, to help her through this. I got her saddle fitted, we balanced her lymphatic system and her chiropractor worked her bones and did acupuncture. She was still missing massage. So, I took it upon myself to learn for her, and i’m so glad I did. She became my case study at school, teaching me how similar human bodies are to horse bodies. We still have our differences, but the work is complimentary and goes along way.

In the fall of 2021, I started school to get licensed in the state of Ohio, graduating 11 months later, passed the licensure exam and became a licensed medical professional in Ohio. My work had just begun.

Recently, an old injury was exacerbated. She wouldn’t bend right. I had someone come and evaluate her hair and movements, to see what I could do, and I discovered a restriction in the serratus muscle. She was off for two weeks while I did biweekly massages and now I have a completely different horse. There is no words for how valuable being able to pinpoint and treat your own horse is, let alone help those I work with.

As I promised Lola, I’ll continue my education of systems and modalities, and am currently taking three classes suited for animals and animal systems. I love this work, and being able to detect and soothe those muscular ailments is my passion.