Myofascial therapy, sometimes called myofascial release (MFR), is a hands-on therapy that works to relieve tension and restrictions in the fascial system. Fascia is the connective tissue network that surrounds and permeates all soft tissues, nerves, bones, and organs.
Read moreEquine Bodywork - for the Ears
As an Equine Craniosacral Therapist, the ears are an important part of my work.
Horses are highly sensitive animals, and their ears play a critical role in interpreting their environment. Not only necessary for sensory input and communication with people and other horses, equine ears are also connected to other very important structures in the body, and their function plays a considerable role in the horse's overall health and comfort.
Equine bodywork practitioners generally focus on restoring balance to a horse’s musculoskeletal system. Most of the attention is often directed at the larger muscles and joints, and an area that can be overlooked is the horse's ears.
Read moreHow Can You Support Your Horse This Winter?
Photo by Kaiti Elliott
In this article, I'm going over what you can do at home with your horses to improve their well-being during the winter season.
Read moreHolding Space
Holding space, and the beauty in the pause.
I've learned how much it enhances my bodywork when horses are 1. allowed the time and space needed to pause and integrate, and 2. have the self-regulation skills needed to be present in their bodies and process changes within their nervous system.
Read moreAlways Be Softer
If there is one piece of advice I can offer to both new equine bodyworkers and to human partners of horses, it would be this: whatever you are doing, do it softer. When you think you're being soft, be softer still.
Intention is a form of energy that I find most people struggle to control around their horses. Equine therapists have to learn this skill quickly because without it, many horses - especially if they have pain or anxiety - will refuse our touch. It's an ongoing skill development that doesn't occur overnight and is never fully learned. But it is an easy one to begin and when you do, you will notice a significant shift in how your horse responds to you.
Read moreEquine Craniosacral Therapy - How is it Different?
How is equine craniosacral therapy the same or different from other equine therapy methods?
CST has given me a whole new way of working with horses' minds and bodies. Embodiment of the necessity of consent from the body and appreciation of its ability to self regulate and heal. It has refined my palpation, deepened my listening, and opened my mind.
Read moreNew Certification - Equine Craniosacral Therapist!
I am happy to announce that I have completed all components for certification in Equine Craniosacral Therapy.
It has been amazing to look at horses through the lens of CST and realize that many of their chronic symptoms can be traced to dysfunction in the craniosacral system. As someone who has always questioned things like WHY a certain muscle group is always tight for certain horses, CST has been a guiding light to discovering these answers.
Read moreBe A Good Listener - Not Just For The Horse's Sake
Being a good listener doesn't end with the horse. Half of the partnership that we are working with in equine manual therapy is the horse's human steward. And I can say with confidence, having been a horse owner for almost twenty years myself, that they are rarely truly listened to. As a horse owner, you get very accustomed to people telling you what to do - and what not to do - with your horse.
Read moreAnxiety At Your Horse's Appointments with Equine Professionals
I ran a poll in my Instagram Stories asking if you ever feel anxiety or nervous before your horse's bodywork, chiro or massage appointment. 47% said no, which was good to see. But 40% of you said yes, and 13% said sometimes! I want to get into why you may be feeling this way, and what to do about it.
Read moreThe Importance of Breathwork for Horses
Breathwork is likely not something most people think about when they imagine equine bodywork, but it has become an important part of my work and a vital step towards holistic well-being for my horse clients. Many horses develop restrictions that lead to reduced function of the ribcage and diaphragm.
Read more