Before the lights Equine Consulting

02/11/2026

We don’t start horses for today — we start them for their future!

They say performance horses are “prone to it.” We say — start building the body before the pressure ever arrives.

When we start young horses, we aren’t chasing big movement or fast results.

We’re developing proprioception, tendon strength, balance, and the small stabilizing muscles that support long-term performance. Because the horses that last aren’t made in rehab…They’re made in the foundation.

Strength before symptoms. Preparation before performance.

This is how young horses grow into athletes that stay sound, compete longer, and handle the demands of their future with confidence.
Don’t just start them — develop them.

02/04/2026

😬 Is Scar Tissue Holding Your Horse Back? Understanding Muscle Fibrosis 😬

Does your horse seem stiff, resistant to certain movements, or not performing like they used to? The culprit might be muscle fibrosis—excessive scar tissue buildup that restricts movement, reduces strength, and causes pain.

**What happens:** Repeated injury or inflammation leads to scar tissue replacing healthy muscle. This limits flexibility, reduces blood flow, and makes your horse more prone to further injury.

**Signs to watch for:**
• Stiffness, especially after rest
• Shortened stride or reduced range of motion
• Resistance during work
• Longer recovery times

**Good news!** Alternative therapies can help:
✨ Massage & bodywork break down adhesions
✨ Acupuncture reduces inflammation & improves circulation
✨ Laser therapy promotes tissue healing
✨ Hydrotherapy supports movement without stress
✨ Targeted stretching maintains flexibility
✨ Anti-inflammatory supplements support recovery

The key? An integrative approach combining veterinary care with complementary therapies tailored to your horse’s needs.

Caught it early? Even better! If you notice changes in your horse’s movement or comfort, consult your vet promptly. With the right treatment plan, many horses can regain comfort and return to their previous performance level.

01/31/2026

Tired of jumping into bootcamps and programs that feel amazing… and then slowly fade out?

You start motivated.
You follow the plan.
And then life happens — schedules shift, horses change, bodies need something different — and suddenly the program no longer fits.

Here’s the honest truth:
The most “perfect” training program in the world doesn’t mean much if it isn’t sustainable in real life.

That’s why we don’t lead with intensity, rigid timelines, or one-size-fits-all plans.
We start with consistency.

Our Before the Lights program is an integrative process is designed to work with you — not over you.
We build routines and resilience that make sense for your horse, your training schedule, and your reality. We layer in equine support, ongoing assessment, and adaptability so the work actually gets done and continues to make sense as your horse changes.

This isn’t about grinding harder or starting over every few months.
It’s about creating a system that evolves, supports longevity, and holds up long after the program ends.

Because real progress doesn’t come from short bursts of motivation — it comes from what you and your horse can sustain.

01/29/2026

It’s c**t starting season!

Which means a lot of young horses are being introduced to work for the very first time — and the choices made now quietly shape their entire career.

Starting a c**t isn’t just about getting them riding-ready.
It’s about teaching their body how to handle training, recovery, and pressure from the beginning.

This is where a holistic, integrative approach matters.

When support is layered in early — body awareness, proper recovery, thoughtful progression, and ongoing assessment — c**ts develop strength without unnecessary strain. They learn to adapt instead of compensate. And setbacks that often lead to downtime later can be minimized before they ever become a problem.

Our approach works alongside the training process, not outside of it.
We help build a foundation that supports long-term soundness, clearer feedback from the horse, and more consistent progress — so training doesn’t have to stop and restart every time something feels “off.”

Starting them right doesn’t mean doing more.
It means doing what sets them up for longevity.

If you’re bringing along a young horse this season and want a development process that supports long-term success — not just short-term milestones — we’d love to be part of that conversation.

01/28/2026

01/24/2026

🐴 Is your saddle HURTING your horse? 🐴

White hairs appearing under your saddle? Horse pinning ears when you cinch up? Mysterious dry spots on your pad after riding?
These aren't just "quirks" - they're your horse telling you the saddle doesn't fit.

I just launched "The Practical Western Saddle Fitting Guide" - everything you need to:

✅ Identify conformation fit problems BEFORE they cause damage
✅ Read sweat patterns like a pro. Learn how muscle patterns affect fit
✅ Choose the right saddles and pads (spoiler: neoprene isn't always your friend!)
✅ Know when that "deep seat" is actually hurting your horse
✅ Fix issues yourself OR know when to call a professional

Comprehensive practical chapters + BONUS section on how saddle design affects your horse's movement.
Your horse can't tell you when it hurts. But this book will teach you how to LISTEN.
📖 https://payhip.com/b/3aqxi

01/24/2026

✨ Now Booking for March ✨
Hi everyone — I’m excited to officially introduce Before the Lights Program

This program is designed for performance horses needing longevity, resilience, and support beyond one-off bodywork. Using holistic and alternative therapies, I work hands-on and integratively alongside trainers and their riders to support the whole horse — physically, mentally, and functionally.

This isn’t a quick fix or isolated session. It’s an ongoing development approach focused on:
• Supporting soundness and recovery
• Improving durability under training and competition loads
• Addressing compensation before it becomes injury
• Helping horses stay useful, willing, and athletic longer

📅 March bookings are now open for a select few barns or owners 📅

If you’re interested in learning more about the program, setting up a consultation, or securing a spot, feel free to message us directly.
or checking out our page.

01/23/2026

That Hock Swelling on Your Horse? Here's What Your Rehab Therapist is Actually Looking At.

You notice a bump on your horse's hock and think "swelling is swelling, right?" Not quite. Your rehab therapist is trained to identify which structure is involved - and that completely changes the treatment plan.

Here's what we need you to know:
Quick anatomy lesson: Your horse's hock is a stack of joints that work very differently. The top joint (tibiotarsal) moves a lot. The lower joints barely move at all - which means they handle wear and tear differently. Once you understand this, those bumps and puffs start making more sense.

What your therapist is differentiating:
Bog Spavin - Soft pouches on the front/sides of the hock = joint fluid buildup. We'll focus on managing workload, controlled exercise, and monitoring ground surfaces.

Bone Spavin - Hard bump on the inside of the hock with that classic "stiff when cold, better after warm-up" pattern. We'll work on strategic warm-up routines, coordinate with your farrier on support, and address the compensatory issues developing elsewhere.

Capped Hock - Swelling right on the point of the hock, usually from trauma or pressure. Often just cosmetic - we'll help you figure out what's causing it (stable setup, trailer habits) and whether it's limiting your horse.

Thoroughpin - Soft, squishy swelling just above the point of hock that you can press from side to side. Usually not painful, but we'll watch for tendon strain and adjust work accordingly.

Curb - Thickening on the back of the hock, below the point. Often related to conformation and how your horse loads that limb. Your farrier becomes critical here, and we'll need careful progression back to work.

Here's the thing: These conditions often happen together because when one area isn't working right, something else compensates. Your rehab therapist isn't just treating the swelling - they're working with your vet and farrier to address why it happened and prevent the domino effect.

That bump you're worried about? Your therapist knows exactly what questions to ask, what to assess, and how to build a plan that actually addresses the root cause.

Bottom line: Not all hock swelling is created equal, and cookie-cutter approaches don't work. Understanding what you're dealing with is the first step to getting your horse sound and keeping them that way.

Questions about what you're seeing on your horse? This is exactly why having a skilled rehab therapist on your team matters. Want a guide with more in depth information and lameness checklist, check out our free Pathology Guide here!

https://payhip.com/b/b8asL

01/23/2026

Ever wonder why a “simple” tight spot in your horse never stays local?

Muscles don’t work in isolation—and neither do restrictions.

This graphic shows the myofascial lines of the horse: interconnected chains of muscle and fascia that transmit force, balance, and compensation through the entire body.

🔹 Superficial lines influence posture, topline development, and overall balance
🔹 Functional lines coordinate power transfer between front and hind end
🔹 Lateral lines manage side-to-side stability and straightness
🔹 Spiral lines control rotation, bend, and coordination in motion

When one area becomes restricted—whether from injury, saddle fit, training load, or compensation—the entire line is affected. That’s why you might see:
• A short stride that won’t resolve
• Uneven muscling
• Difficulty bending one direction
• Repeated “mystery” soreness

Effective rehab, bodywork, and conditioning must address the whole line—not just the sore spot.

This is the framework we use when assessing movement, building rehab plans, and supporting long-term soundness in performance horses.

Because longevity isn’t about chasing symptoms—it’s about understanding the system.

🐎✨

01/19/2026

BEFORE THE LIGHTS PROGRAM

We don’t price our work by the hour or by the session — because performance horses don’t improve in isolated moments.

Soundness, resilience, and longevity are built through ongoing observation, integration, and intelligent decision-making over time — not one-off fixes.

Our monthly program isn’t just hands-on bodywork or by chance holistic practices.
It’s complete equine athlete management.

Here’s what your investment actually includes:

• Continuous assessment of movement and compensation patterns
• Adjustments aligned with training load and competition schedules
• Collaboration with trainer and rider
• Proactive intervention before soreness becomes injury
• Consistency — the single biggest factor in long-term soundness

Most performance horse owners already spend this amount — or more — reacting to problems once they surface.

This program shifts that cost upstream, where it creates real, lasting change.

01/15/2026

Building tendon and ligament resilience pt4

Red Flags Your Bodyworker Wants You to Know
🚨 CALL ME (and your vet) if your barrel/rope/cutting horse shows these signs:
Soft Tissue Warning Signs:

Heat in legs (tendon inflammation starting)
Filling around fetlocks or hocks
Shortened stride or "flat" movement
Resistance to gait transitions
Head tossing or tail wringing during work
Uneven sweat patterns after work

What I Feel During Bodywork:

Rock-hard muscle bellies
Restricted fascia that won't release
Pain response to normal pressure
Asymmetrical muscle development
Cold areas (reduced circulation)

Caught early? We're looking at rest, bodywork, and controlled rehab.
Ignored? You might lose your whole competition season.
I've worked on too many horses with chronic issues that started as something minor. Trust what you're seeing and feeling. Your horse is trying to tell you something.
Prevention costs way less than rehabilitation. 💪