I love to give my client’s homework when it comes to things they can do with their horses between massage sessions. While therapeutic massage therapy is very different from petting or grooming, there are some things you as the owner can look for or help with at the barn. As much as I would love…
It’s One of the Amazing Benefits Though! Relaxation is a wonderful reason to give your animal a massage session. But did you know that is the result of massage but not necessarily the primary goal? In fact, massage therapy has been used for thousands of years to balance the soft tissue in the body to…
I had an existing client, an 18-year old dog, who struggled to walk and would splay flat on the ground. I had a new client who had a senior horse suffering for three weeks and unable to physically put his head down to graze. The vet was seen but there was no progress and the…
I made a client cry today. It wasn’t my intention. I was there to help with saddle fit evaluation after all other avenues for a mystery lameness were explored and to help be part of the rehabilitation process. Her wellness team including trainer, vet, and chiropractor all recommended the saddle as a possible cause but…
Bodywork has become increasingly popular as part of an owner’s wellness team to prevent injury and illness, and to increase mobility and performance. However, in the United States there is no regulation for animal massage therapists and body workers. There is no governing body to oversee education or continuing education. Practitioners vary in experience, licensing…
The cold, winter months tend to result in less horse shows (unless you are at Thermals or WEF) and many equestrians take a more relaxed approach to training. After all, horses and riders both need a little downtime every so often. Even then, the big trainers and facilities all have indoor arenas at their disposal. …
You read that correctly. In my practice as a Certified Equine Ergonomist, 99% of horses evaluated are in saddles at least two sizes too wide. As a result, there is pressure on the wither and thoracic trapezius muscles, creating muscle atrophy from lack of mobility. Eventually, this creates “shoulder holes” causing the saddle to fall…
Certified Equine Ergonomists from SaddleFit4Life are trained to evaluate over 80-points of saddle fit to horse and rider, covering both Western and English disciplines. The evaluation covers static fit, as shown in the photos, as well as dynamic fit during walk, trot, and canter under saddle. It is nearly impossible to find the perfect fit…
by Danielle Shugard, DPT One of the main principles of riding is that the rider can, to an extent, influence the way to horse moves. By using a correct half halt, or providing enough leg during a transition, rider cues can have a dramatic effect on the horse. What about the way the rider sits…
The horse and rider are a team, a partnership. So why is it that often we see clients devoting time and money to their horse’s wellness while neglecting their own? We believe everything must be in balance. So we team up with physical therapist Dr. Danielle Shugard of DCS Physical Therapy to collaborate on a…
