The Missing Piece

The Missing Piece The Missing Piece provides in depth and overall equine fitness rehabilitation, as well as body work for performance enhancement.

So often I am hearing people say that they thought something was off with their horse, it got dismissed and now they are...
04/23/2026

So often I am hearing people say that they thought something was off with their horse, it got dismissed and now they are in a situation where things have gone really wrong and the horse needs medical attention. As a bodyworker, and trainer, this can be really frustrating for me. I will always whole heartedly believe the riders and owners know their horses the best, so when they think something is off, they are probably correct.

If you are experiencing behaviors with your horse that are not consistent, not typical or are concerning to you, don’t dismiss them. You have a gut feeling for a reason. If your horse is seemingly well, but you notice any of these signs, listen to your horse and get the proper attention of the proper professionals.

Have questions about a behavior with your horse? My inbox is always open!

I know you have big goals for the summer and as the weather starts to turn around the list gets bigger and longer. We sh...
04/22/2026

I know you have big goals for the summer and as the weather starts to turn around the list gets bigger and longer. We should all have goals and things to aim for, big or small. I just want to remind you to take it easy on yourself and your horse. Getting up and getting out there to see your horse everyday is enough. Not making it to the show next week, is okay. Not riding 7 days a week, is okay.

If you feel like you or your horse needs a rest, you are probably correct. The best thing you can do for the both of you, is to rest. Let your bodies adjust to the weather and work load, let your brains take time to understand concepts, give your emotions time to process, most importantly, have quiet time to just enjoy being together. These are the most important days. Excerise is important, but so is taking the time your bodies and relationships need to develop so neither of you get hurt, burnt out and resentful💕

As humans and living beings, we all know how it feels to be sore, stiff and overall crumby. On those days, I certainly d...
04/19/2026

As humans and living beings, we all know how it feels to be sore, stiff and overall crumby. On those days, I certainly don’t want to do any form of physical movement, even though I know it’s what I really need. I imagine, my horse feels nothing less.

However, on the days I get controlled exercise, stretch, drink plenty of water, have healthy food and get bodywork, I feel like a million dollars! Just like your horse does!

My point is, how can we possibly expect our horses to perform, yet alone carry around our body weight, if we are offering zero support for their body? Nonetheless, how can we think that it is appropriate to ask this of them, with no follow up support to start? To think your horse needs no support of any form and can easily perform at top level is completely unfair.

If you offer your horse as much support as you can, I can promise you, in return, they will perform to the level you are hoping for, but also with a positive, willing attitude. Take the stress and arguments out of the ride, just support your horse’s body from the hoof to the back, muzzle to the tail💗

04/18/2026

One of my most favorite stretches and one I recommend to almost all of my clients is the Downward Horse Pose!🧘🏼‍♀️
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
My most favorite things about this stretch include getting to work my horse’s top line & core, he has to be aware of his body & balance, but most importantly.. the horse is using their body without pressure from us, so we aren’t forcing them into a stretch, which could cause harm!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Although this stretch is extremely valuable in getting your horse’s core engaged, back lifted, and topline stretched, remember it is always most important to consult with your veterinarian or rehab specialist to make sure this is an ideal stretch for your horse!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
1️⃣: Make sure your horse is standing square on a flat surface
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
2️⃣: Using a treat, guide your horse’s nose down to their hooves and offer reward
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
3️⃣: Repeat bringing your horse’s head down to their hooves, but this time bring their nose in between their fetlocks. Some horses cannot reach very far between their fetlocks and that is okay! When bringing their nose between their fetlocks, try to look back at their abs, seeing them engage, which inevitably lifts/rounds their entire spine. The real challenge here is to see if they can keep both front feet flat on the ground!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Repeat this stretch only one or two times a day, only a few days a week (3-4) at a time! As you encourage your horse to do this more, notice how much easier it becomes for them or how their ability to stretch between their legs becomes greater! 💖

Do you practice this stretch with your horse?!

Having a properly fit saddle really is the answer to so many issues your horse might be facing. It seems so small and ir...
04/15/2026

Having a properly fit saddle really is the answer to so many issues your horse might be facing. It seems so small and irrelevant, but think about it… you have this piece of equipment improperly fit to their back, that now has added body weight from the rider, making the fit even worse. How can you possibly expect your horse to be comfortable in this?

I always recommend having your saddle checked a few times per year, once per quarter if you will. Horses change shape, build muscle, loose muscle, things are just ever changing in their bodies and the saddle is getting worn. Their equipment should change with them to support them best!

When was the last time your saddle was checked?!

04/13/2026

As the weather shifts and horses start getting into a good work regimen again, a lot of horses are popping up a bit sore in their back. This could be from countless things, but it’s important to be able to spot the signs and address the problem before it explodes!

I often recommend palpating your horse’s back at least once a week. I try to be consistent with the surroundings around when I palpate (always pick one: before or after work, always use the same procedure, always in the same place etc) to ensure my best results!

To palpate a horse’s back, I often will take my hand and place it perpendicular over their spine. From there, I will use light to moderate, even pressure on either side of the spine and carefully draw my hand towards their hind end. I am always very careful to keep an eye on the horse, to really carefully measure their body language and what it is telling me!

Here you can see me palpating Tommy’s back and getting a slight response! How often do you check in on your horse’s back?!

When I work with horses, especially cases that aren’t routine support or are new, I won’t lie, I get a littleeeee anxiou...
04/11/2026

When I work with horses, especially cases that aren’t routine support or are new, I won’t lie, I get a littleeeee anxious still. Am I offering the right support? Will I be able to do enough? Is the horse & owner going to like my approach?

Somehow, it’s like there is telepathy and you guys seem to know just those moments of doubt when I’m going through them and send me uplifting messages like these. They truly, truly mean so much to me and I take all of them so personally because I do truly want the best for you and your horse.

If you are feeling at a loss with your horse, hear what my clients (🥴 I don’t like this word & I prefer to say friends) are saying for yourself! I’m happy to help, in any way I can💗

Happy Easter to all who celebrate! I hope you are spending the day with family, friends and, of course, your ponies! Giv...
04/05/2026

Happy Easter to all who celebrate! I hope you are spending the day with family, friends and, of course, your ponies! Give them all an extra hug for me and.. always take the silly pictures💗🐣🐰

Wanting to get your horse seen, but too afraid you won’t match up with one of my routes? Not to worry! Nash & I travel a...
04/01/2026

Wanting to get your horse seen, but too afraid you won’t match up with one of my routes? Not to worry! Nash & I travel all over the east coast consistently! Send us a message we’d love to see you and your horse!💗

03/29/2026

When we are working on horses and they start to yawn, automatically we think they are relaxing. While we might not be wrong, new perspective is being brought to the industry.

The perspective is that horses are actually showing signs of pain and stress. The idea is that horses are uncomfortable in the area that is being worked on, they aren’t actually releasing the tension, but yawning as a stress response.

Personally, I think this is entirely horse and situation dependent. Some horses start to yawn and they absolutely are shifting their body, relaxing and letting the tension slip away. I can feel this with my hands. Other horses, start yawning, but their muscles tense below my fingers before relaxing. In these situations, I could see the yawn being a stress response.

What is your perspective on horses and their yawns? Share in the comments below!⬇️

I hear so many people say that their horse has a chiropractor so they probably don’t need a massage therapist or vice ve...
03/26/2026

I hear so many people say that their horse has a chiropractor so they probably don’t need a massage therapist or vice versa. This always pains me because there couldn’t be anything further from the truth. In fact, the horses that see me and one of my great chiro friends, often feel the best in their bodies!

Ready to get your horse on a massage routine to complement their chiro work or looking to add a chiro to your horse’s team? Reach out, I’d love to help! After all, we are all one team, making the dream of healthy horses possible!💗

03/22/2026

One of my favorite stretches to do, especially this time of year after horses have been standing on weird footing and wrapped in blankets restricting movement, is the shoulder stretch.

The most important things I like to remind people here is to always do stretching AFTER work so the horse’s body is warmed up and to not PULL the leg forward, but rather support behind the knee and fetlock, keeping the upper leg at 90 degrees, to bring the leg forward and actually allow the horse to stretch through the shoulder.

Let’s do it!
1️⃣Have your horse standing square on level ground facing you
2️⃣Gently reach down and ask your horse to lift their foot as if you were going to clean it
3️⃣Once their foot is lifted, switch your hands to cup the back of the knee and the fetlock
4️⃣Guide the upper leg forward to create a 90 degree angle with the lower leg
5️⃣Add gentle pressure until you feel your horse resisting and hold for 3-5 seconds
6️⃣Put the leg gently back down on the ground and repeat 2-3 times on each side

Although this is a wonderful stretch for almost all horses and a great way to loosen up their front end, it is always most important you check with your horse’s health team prior to adding in any additional stretching to make sure they are best tailored to your horse’s abilities/needs!

Which stretch does your horse like to do the most?

Address

Marshfield, MA

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Missing Piece posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to The Missing Piece:

Shortcuts

Share

Category