Equi Help Services

28/01/2023

This is a great explanation of why I like to address/assess all systems/the whole body in my sessions

What a week in the South West!

After the two days in Devon I spent the rest of the week treating horses through Somerset, Wiltshire and up towards Gloucestershire.

I saw some fantastic cases. One of which I have taken a picture of below.

This lovely gelding had a number of issues. One of which was a history of having ulcers.
On examination amongst the other issues an interesting pattern arose. He had a large fascial pull to the stomach region on his left flank, his left shoulder joint (scapulo-humeral) was restricted and he also had a chronic foot balance issue.

Interestingly once the fascial tension from the stomach region was released the left shoulder mobility hugely increased. Whilst this relationship has been discussed in previous posts I thought the foot balance was interesting.

In nearly every post I tend to reiterate that the whole body is interconnected. Even just looking at these three parts you can see how interconnected they are....

Stomach tension due to ulcers...decreasing the mobility of the shoulder joint...affecting limb flight and foot balance...

But also...foot balance restricting the shoulder joint....affecting the stomach possibly making it more likely to get ulcers....

So as well as addressing the other issues in his body, part of the plan here is to not only assist the stomach via diet but also set about improving the foot balance on all four feet (especially the left fore) starting with asking the local vet to take foot balance radiographs.

I'm looking forward to seeing him on the next trip to the South West in April.

03/12/2022

Gungurri Xena achieved her 3,000kms in endurance riding in 2021

She's just received this lovely cotton rug compliments of AERA, just in time to keep the flies off for summer

This one is made to fit her short stature😁 I'm not sure white is her colour - she's not either as she is always dyeing herself black

She has to date completed 36 80km+ rides, 4 of which were 160km with 26 Best Conditioned awards and only 1 vet out when she had a hoof abscess

She's an absolute trooper and is currently looking for her own teenager or light adult person who will love her

04/11/2022

𝐈𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭?

🐴Finds the circle more difficult one way
🦄Trouble picking up a lead
🐴Aversion to work/saddling
🦄Girthy
🐴Bucking after jumps
🦄Anxious

𝐎𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝟏𝟎𝟎% 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬

I have 13yrs of experience in assessing mobility and using gentle Positional Release methods to enable the body to self-correct

Taking a wholistic approach I endeavour to find the root cause of any symptoms being expressed so that you can get back your happy horse

Sometimes our horses are reflecting what is happening within our own bodies so the best results are obtained when I treat both yourself and your horse in which a package discount can be arranged

Currently I am taking bookings in the area bordered by Harvey, Collie, Bunbury, Boyanup

I look forward to working with you and your furkids so drop me a message for a quote for your area

27/10/2022

𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞:

🔹Strength to maintain good posture
🔹Endurance - that's a given😀
🔹Increased energy
🔹Sustained mental focus
🔹Resources to fuel the body's recovery

Our bodies naturally produce Redox Cell Signaling molecules that protect and repair our cells, however the demands of sustained performance can quickly use more than our bodies can make

Supplementing with Redox molecules can support the body in the above areas and is completely natural and un-swabbable

Professional athletes around the world are performing at their peak powered by Redox - are you?

Message me for more info on how Redox can support YOU

26/10/2022

ɪᴍᴘᴏʀᴛᴀɴᴛ - ᴘʀɪᴄᴇ ʀɪꜱᴇ

I'm sure you understand that I can't continue to work just for the love of it 😍

Effective immediately my prices for bodywork on your precious ponies at your place will rise to cover the the rising fuel prices

In the area between Collie to Brunswick it will be a $5 rise

For Australind, Harvey, Dardanup, Capel areas it will be a $10 rise. Talk to your friends and we can share the travel costs around🙂

Other areas I am happy to travel if you have a small group of horses/dogs or people in the area - travel costs can be negotiated

I look forward to all the furry cuddles 🐕🐴🐐🦓🦄

23/10/2022

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨’𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥?

The entire body is regulated and repaired by REDOX chemical reactions that not only maintain balance, but that are vital to survival itself.

Our body’s own Redox Cell Signalling molecules protect, rejuvenate and keep our cells functioning at optimal levels

However Oxidative stress from environmental toxins reduce our own supply and athletes have a much greater need for Redox molecules

Advanced scientific technology has been able to replicate these cell signalling molecules and stabilise them into a form with which we can easily supplement our own dwindling supplies

Message a “YES” below if you’d love access to the facebook group with links to all the scientific studies conducted on athletes

or PM me if you’d like to know more about my experience using Redox Cell Signalling molecules to fuel my body for competitive endurance rides and drastically reduce my recovery times

30/09/2022

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠??

Me - I much prefer to awake of my own accord and I generally do. I don't cope well for the whole day if woken by an alarm - it feels rude, like a shock to my body

If I had a maid I would much prefer to be gently woken by daylight with the curtains being drawn - maybe electric blinds should go on my wish list 😄

My body mostly needs 7hr50min of sleep so I set my alarm for 8hrs at least and I'm usually awake a few mins before the alarm so that I can do some gentle movements to prepare my body for standing erect

26/09/2022

Here we have Xena sporting the newest addition to her wardrobe 😊

A glamorous black woollen rug thanks to WAERA. This one almost fits her too. Thankyou WAERA

I'd love to say that I enjoyed every minute of this ride - however - I can't lie. 😉 The tracks thru the bush were fantastic. All the helpers at base that are required for a State Championship were upbeat and a great bunch of people - thanks everyone for your time. Everything seemed to flow well

This was Xena's first competition since her 3rd placing in the 160km Quilty event almost 12 months ago. She was not impressed about coming back into work after such a long spell. I persevered in legging her up but hadn't done any distance rides on her. She appeared fit though and is a real workhorse so I entered the 80km with the plan of taking her steady steady.

Xena however had other plans which didn't include me interfering with her. She dropped her bundle as soon as we arrived at the venue. She had previously seen her paddock buddy here and I think was looking for her again. Fortunately she settled once a few more horses arrived, but I was left wondering where my very easy to manage mare had gone

I guess it wasn't my smartest move bringing her back into work in spring and especially considering she was in season. To compound the disagreement we were having about speed as we got into the ride we then caught up to a very handsome stallion. Normally this isn't an issue but spring time combined with a mare coming off heat who just wanted to trot next to the handsome man made for a very difficult ride for me.

My legs were hammered as I desperately used my whole body to slow down and hang on as she can prop and shy without warning. Eventually my ride buddy and I decided to try and get some distance in front of him. That was Xena's cue to perform one of her signature spooks - I was headed down her shoulder with my arms around what little neck she has. Xena very kindly used her head against mine to lift me back into the saddle in a sickening neck crunch (mine not hers).

We were only 30kms into the 80km ride and my body was shattered beyond any hope of recovery. I could barely ride and my poor ride buddy had to endure my constant groans as we FINALLY made it into camp. It was good to have my feet on the ground and attempt to walk out some stuff -

which seemed to be working - until I attempted to see if I could run my horse out for the vets. I lasted 3 steps before my right leg collapsed and I face planted in the strapping area 😅much to everyone's humour, including my own. Thankfully hubby was there to run her out for the vetting and we were cleared to go for another 40km. OMG really???

I covered my legs, butt and low back and my neck with Redox gel, sculled half a bottle of cell renewing Redox molecules and then applied comfrey cream to my entire legs. I could feel it all helping me recover so up I mounted again

Next leg was a little easier but I had very little strength left in my muscles to maintain control - that is keep my mare away from the stallion. Finally at the 60km mark we managed to get away and could finally ride at out our preferred pace for the last 20km. I still don't know where my easy to manage mare went to. I think she may have missed going to endurance rides in her time off and was terribly excited to be back.

The best conditioned workouts were the next morning and she felt great. She had finished the ride with a 40 heart rate after all our disagreeing on track. I still felt a little bit of a fraud receiving the award for the fittest horse when she was anything but fit, however she is just a little pocket work machine and powered along the whole ride, never once showing any signs of fatigue - she just needs a younger rider than me

Meanwhile 2 days later she is prancing around the paddock while I may well be walking backwards down the steps for the next week at least. My legs are pretty much useless to me today

Thanks Xena for such a great ride - liar liar pants on fire. I do have to thank my ride buddy Kerry Rose though for riding with us and keeping me somewhat together for the day. Sorry about the shy and it's flow on effect and for not being the greatest of company

06/09/2022

Here's something that many people thought they'd never see.

Savannah is 15yo and has never worn shiny metal shoes

However I've battled with her TB inclination to low heels for too long! It's time for a 5 degree lift kit from my farrier under advice from some of the best rehab hoof experts in the world and that is going to be slightly easier with steel shoes - maybe

So now to condition my super sensitive mare to the feel and the noise of nailing her fancy new high heeled shoes into place

Don't worry, I'm not nailing right now. I have done it before but this job needs the expert

My job is to make it easier and safer for Savannah and my farrier by practising as many times as I can

Once they are in place she will be supported with lots of bodywork to help her body adapt along with light riding only for as long as it takes

15/06/2022

This Thursday morning - 8am in West Oz

FeedXL are holding a masterclass on Feeding Endurance horses for 100 miles.

In this masterclass we will discuss:
• Managing body condition, and what is the perfect body condition for a 100 mile horse?
• The importance of forage and what forages are best
• Managing grain and using them to your best advantage
• Balancing the diet
• Choosing an electrolyte and how to use electrolytes
• How to keep them eating during the race
• What to feed during the loops
• Use of electrolytes during the race
• Strategies for avoiding a metabolic vet-out, and
• Managing stress
Tarsha and Nerida will be there to answer all your questions about feeding horses for 100 miles!

16th June 10am AEST for the Aussies (8am in WA)

You can register here and then you'll get a replay if you can't make the live: https://my.demio.com/ref/7m5BPdkXLCGC5SFc

14/06/2022

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿?

How would it feel to have water that is easy to drink and for our cells to use?

Clean fresh 💧water should be available to all on the planet.

To help in that endeavour I have chosen to affiliate with a company that provides water ionisers for households and businesses.

Electrolysed reduced water has so many different uses, not just for drinking. It can be used for cleaning, disinfecting, washing vegetables and I personally love the low PH water for scrubbing my horses frogs to manage any thrush.

My benchtop machine provides all that and more along with clean drinking water that is full of antioxidants.

I love that this portable little machine can reduce the use of plastic bottles thereby helping our planet earth.

But what I love the most is that the company supports the provision of clean water on tap in countries like Africa so that the children can then attend school instead of spending the day fetching water.

If you'd like to know more about this amazing little machine drop in the comments

10/06/2022

Some of my bodywork clients are happier to see me than others.

This girl wanted to shower me with kisses💕

I had to draw the line when her bloodhound friend wanted to get in my car🐕

I am in huge trouble now with my own dogs.