Just like it is necessary to build up physical activity over time, trim hooves often to avoid abrupt changes in their balance, or start with small tasks to learn a new skill - such is the case with consistent, routine equine therapy.
Read moreSo You Want to Be An Equine Therapist?
The more successful that my equine therapy business becomes, the more questions I get from others who are wondering how they can start their own business.
The more successful that my equine therapy business becomes, the more questions I get from others who are wondering how they can start their own business. Here are my top 5 things to consider before pursuing a career in equine therapy.
Read moreIt is Never "Just a Massage"
Next time you hear someone brushing off the work of a massage therapist or bodyworker because it's "just massage", it's time to change the conversation and give those professionals a little more respect for what they do for the horses.
I respect and value massage very much, and my goal of this post is to explain why horse owners and other equine professionals should as well. There is a bizarre hierarchical interpretation of different kinds of professionals in the horse world and it doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.
Read moreThe Answers Lie Within Your Intention
Photo by Mike Bradley Visuals
Horse ownership - or partnership, stewardship, or however you quantify your relationship with horses - is a tough place to be right now. Our industry is experiencing intense changes and growing pains. We are learning so much, but also unlearning, which is much more challenging to work through. How do you keep on top of all of this information, sort out what’s useful for you, and apply it, while maybe only having the time to spend an hour or two with your horse a few days a week?
Read moreTaking Down the Barriers
Special thanks to my mom for the photo of me and my mare back in 2003.
I have realized that I don't need to be taught how to hear and understand the horses. I need to take down the barriers that exist within myself. I know what the horses are telling me. It's time to trust that.
Read moreEquine Kinesiology Tape FAQ
Equine Kinesiology Tape FAQ
Everything you need to know about this increasingly popular therapeutic modality for horses.
Since I’ve begun to utilize Equine Kinesiology Tape in my bodywork sessions, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about what the tape does and how best to use it. Here are my answers to the most common questions about k-tape for horses.
Read moreNo Answer is Better Than a Wrong Answer
Sometimes horses have straight-forward issues that are simple to decipher and we can resolve it within a couple of sessions. But far more often, horses have all kinds of habits and patterns (physical and mental) built up over their lifetime. Unraveling it all to find the "root cause" is not nearly as simple as some people make it out to sound.
Read moreEquine Therapy - Signs of Stress, Release, and Practical Tips for Success
How to recognize the signs of stress and the signs of release in our horses during their bodywork sessions - and why this feedback from them is so important! I am also sharing my best tips for making equine therapy a positive and relaxing experience, allowing horses to enjoy all of the benefits of bodywork - even horses who tend to be anxious.
Read moreThe "KISS Principle"
Photo (c) Kaiti Elliott of Free to Be Equine Services.
I think it’s so fantastic that horse owners have access to information and can empower themselves – and therefore provide a better life for their horses – through knowledge. But how do we apply this knowledge in a practical way? How do we sort through it all and pick out what we actually need to do and fix and what is redundant, repetitive, or fights what we’re already trying to achieve?
Read moreTop 5 Tips for Caring for the Professionals in Our Horses' Lives
What can you do as a horse owner to take care of your horse’s care team, like they take care of you and your horse?
Here are my top 5 suggestions.
Coming to light in mainstream society is the concept of “burnout” and why “the hustle” isn’t always something healthy and admirable. What can you do as a horse owner to take care of your horse’s care team, like they take care of you and your horse? Here are my top 5 suggestions.
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