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Essential Equine Therapies, LLC

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Manchester, TN
Essential Equine Therapies, LLC

https://linktr.ee/_ChelseaBlackford The goal of Essential Equine Therapies is to evaluate the horse from a holistic viewpoint.

HORSE & HUMAN MASSAGE THERAPIST
🐴 Raindrop Therapy 💧
💆🏼‍♀️Integrative Therapy 💆🏻

I specialize in helping ulcer horse owners by providing a solution that saves time, money & emotional stress. Striving to work with your network of farriers, chiropractors, veterinarians & equine dentists to bring about solutions by looking at the entire picture

03/31/2026

Feeling like myself again with saddle time and the outdoors, thankful for Scoot Boots on my horse’s feet that have held up on all the terrain. Otherwise, I’d have to shoe them often and spend more. Now, I have control over their feet 🐴👏🏻

03/27/2026

Calming supplement that doesn’t work?

Here’s a question I have seen asked more than once in groups, as well as what I commented in return.

As always, there are many factors, however, just because the horse has an anxiety spike doesn’t mean the supplement doesn’t work. It just means isn’t meant for them in that moment, possibly not ever if it doesn’t sync with what their own body needs and especially if the root is an emotional block.

Teaching horses to be in their own body comfortably first is key, supplementation second.

My answer:
For a horse that is mentally and emotionally in fright or flight most of the time, the feeling of being relaxed and switching to the parasympathetic can cause them to experience even more anxiety emotionally because they aren’t used to being in this state.

The same thing happens in humans.

I’m a horse and human massage therapist and this is something I talk with my clients about in regards to Massage for their own body on the table.

I warn them that it can cause a spike and anxiety, especially if they’re already dealing with anxiety to start with.

Since you’re giving a calming supplement, I assume there is a reason for doing so and getting to the root reason for your horse will be key so they can learn to be “in their body.”

I welcome further messages from you if you’d like to discuss or troubleshoot! 🤎🐴

____

𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚𝙖 𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙙, 𝙇𝙈𝙏, 𝘾𝙀𝙎𝙈𝙏, 𝘾𝙀𝙍𝙏

Tell me, has your horse had an anxiety spike to a calming supplement? What were the ingredients or surrounding circumstances? Private messages are welcome if you don’t feel comfortable sharing in the comments 🐴

03/22/2026

Why Slowly Grooming is Better….

Quickly moving about your horse, quickly tacking up, including grooming too quickly can speak volumes to the nervous system of your horse.

Personal reflection:
this also points to your own nervous system 🤎

Slowing down will not only help you, but help your horse. You will notice their eyes soften, their body respond and it helps teach their nervous system that it is safe to be with you.

Leave yourself enough time for travel, warm up, grooming and tacking and you’ll be surprised at what a different it makes for the both of you.

And, if you find it hard to slow down, notice that you or your horse becomes more anxious when you slow down, take a deep breath and try again.

This simply means your bodies aren’t used to being in a more relaxed state and it needs to learn that it’s safe to be there.

____

Hi, I’m Chelsea.
I am a Trauma Informed Massage Therapist for Horses & Humans. I work with Horses & Individuals through bodywork techniques and aromatherapy to help bring about nervous system regulation and balance. 🐴

𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚𝙖 𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙙, 𝙇𝙈𝙏, 𝘾𝙀𝙎𝙈𝙏, 𝘾𝙀𝙍𝙏

03/18/2026

Potential worm overload signs:

Horses with worms may:

*flinchy/cinchy
*hair on coat curls at ends ( this time of year it will curl naturally before it falls out)
*hair doesn't shed out as quickly on the sides of belly or underbelly
*experience sudden weight loss
*colic
*rough and or dull coat
*diarrhea
*consitpation or impaction
*lethargic or lack of energy
*hair loss of tail
*respiratory problems or coughing
*”hay” belly/pot belly
and more…

Horses (and us) will always have a worm count.

It will never be 0. Worms are there to do their job, which is absorb heavy metals and toxins in the body.

Essentially, they are attracted to the toxin laden and horse with weakened or low immune system.
(Lyme’s, EPM, cushings, allergies, sarcoids or any other diagnosed immune issues are more susceptible)

You can paste or herbal deworm often but, until the body is boosted and the gut is healed, only then will the body be able to better flush, naturally regulate and be unattractive to parasites.

Are you regularly pasting but never seem to get rid of the worm issue?

My Mom had great success using herbs in deworming her horse and so have I with mine.

In 2017, her horse Cocoa had a f***l count of 700 eggs per gram roundworm, which is pretty high. After a month of herbs targeted for worms and then the follow up of herbs for the immune system, her f***l count was reduced to 70 eggs per gram. Within the normal limits. We tested multiple poo balls and at different times.

The vet was quite surprised/angry that we didn’t use chemical paste and that the herbs worked. Cocoa was happy - so were we! We were focusing on gut health to eliminate EMS and metabolic symptoms with her and didn’t want to add stress and toxins that come with traditional deworming protocols.

I make and offer an herbal mix called Essential Cleanse.

This all in one mix can be used as a concentrated deworming regimen for short period of time or longer time frame as a cleanse.

A picture of my beautiful Mom & Cocoa 💚

03/17/2026

“Kitty really likes it. She happily eats it. She doesn’t try to eat what moonshine is eating for herbs so I take that as a good sign for her needing it. I have noticed less puffiness overall. Her eyes are not puffy underneath anymore or watery. Seems like she is taking more time eating her hay. And she is less grouchy overall.”

Feedback I got this week regarding my Hormone/Metabolic Support Blend 🐴

Here’s Kitty 💛 She’s been on my herbal blends and a natural diet for years but recently started this one in particular.

03/16/2026

🐴🥰

A large part of what I do helps horses heal from the inside out. While bodywork aids in digestion by helping the body enter the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest), no amount of it will fix an unhealthy gut.
What goes into their mouths is super important as well as allowing them to choose and show us.

03/14/2026

Here’s a question I have seen asked more than once in groups, as well as what I commented in return.

As always, there are many factors, however, just because the horse has an anxiety spike doesn’t mean the supplement doesn’t work. It just means isn’t meant for them in that moment, possibly not ever if it doesn’t sync with what their own body needs and especially if the root is an emotional block.

Teaching horses to be in their own body comfortably first is key, supplementation second.

My answer:
For a horse that is mentally and emotionally in fright or flight most of the time, the feeling of being relaxed and switching to the parasympathetic can cause them to experience even more anxiety emotionally because they aren’t used to being in this state.

The same thing happens in humans.

I’m a horse and human massage therapist and this is something I talk with my clients about in regards to Massage for their own body on the table.

I warn them that it can cause a spike and anxiety, especially if they’re already dealing with anxiety to start with.

Since you’re giving a calming supplement, I assume there is a reason for doing so and getting to the root reason for your horse will be key so they can learn to be “in their body.”

I welcome further messages from you if you’d like to discuss or troubleshoot! 🤎🐴

____

𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚𝙖 𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙙, 𝙇𝙈𝙏, 𝘾𝙀𝙎𝙈𝙏, 𝘾𝙀𝙍𝙏

Tell me, has your horse had an anxiety spike to a calming supplement? What were the ingredients or surrounding circumstances? Private messages are welcome if you don’t feel comfortable sharing in the comments 🐴

03/13/2026

While I may not have the chance to type it up and share it often, the special things that owners and I get to experience with horses is still happening in sessions.

Somehow, it seems even more sacred, because we are the ones that know it happened whether it was shared publicly or not.

One moment was when I went to reach for this mares’ left ear. She flinched. It was no small wince. It was a very large and exaggerated movement away from me, clearly indicating discomfort.

Upon further palpation of jaw, mandible and right side of neck it was clear it was all connected to the left side reaction.

As I continued assessment she tried to bite me, taking it to the next level of “ouch!”

I calmly listened, helped her release her hyoid, neck fascia and associated acupressure points.

After this she no longer was flinching or biting. She clearly had found some relief, ending the season with a lowered head and calm eye.

03/10/2026

Wintergreen! A Raindrop Technique power house! One of 9 oils I use in this Therapy for Horses & Humans 💙

Wintergreen is one of those oils people think of as just “minty”… but the chemistry behind it is actually pretty impressive. 🌿

In laboratory research, wintergreen essential oil showed anti-inflammatory activity comparable to the NSAID diclofenac sodium, a commonly used prescription anti-inflammatory drug.

The reason comes down to its main compound: methyl salicylate. 💙

Methyl salicylate is a natural salicylate that interacts with the same inflammatory pathways many pain medications target (the COX pathway). It also acts as a counterirritant, which is why wintergreen creates that warm, soothing feeling when applied to sore muscles or joints.

Researchers also observed a protein-stabilizing effect, suggesting potential support for inflammatory conditions like:

• arthritis
• muscle pain (myalgia)
• nerve pain (neuralgia)

In other words… that little bottle of wintergreen isn’t just a smell. Plants produce compounds like this to protect themselves, and humans have been using them for musculoskeletal support for a very long time!

This is also why oils like PanAway, Ortho Sport, and Deep Relief tend to be favorites after workouts or on sore shoulders and knees. Wintergreen is a key ingredient in those blends, working alongside oils like clove, peppermint, and helichrysum to support circulation and calm irritated tissue. 💪🌿

It’s also one of the oils used in the Raindrop Technique, where it’s applied along the spine as part of a sequence designed to support the back, muscles, and nervous system.

Most people use wintergreen topically for muscles and joints (diluted), and once you start using it that way, you’ll see why it’s been a staple in traditional bodywork for decades.

🔎 If you like digging into the research, here’s the study:
https://abstracts.aijr.org/index.php/abs/article/view/186/117

Want to schedule a session for you or your horse or learn about more benefits?

Visit Essential Equine Therapies dot com

𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚𝙖 𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙙, 𝙇𝙈𝙏, 𝘾𝙀𝙎𝙈𝙏, 𝘾𝙀𝙍𝙏

Address

Manchester, TN

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

https://linktr.ee/_ChelseaBlackford

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