LK Equine Sports Therapy

12/08/2025

🩸Circulation🩸

As an equine sports massage therapist, one of my primary goals in every session is to enhance your horse’s circulation. The main method in which I positively influence a horse's circulation is through massage.💆🏼‍♀️

Massage improves circulation by applying and releasing pressure on your horses body through the therapist's hands or with devices like the Equissage Pulse. This helps to increase blood flow in congested areas. The advantages of focusing on 'circulation' and the role that having an equine sports massage therapist in your team would have are evident:

- Muscles receiving a good supply of oxygen and nutrients
- Enhances performance
- Enhances muscle function
- Removes metabolic waste
- Decreases muscle soreness and tension
- Decreases inflammation, swelling, and pain
- Faster muscle recovery
- Improves sense of wellbeing and helps to release endorphins
- Enhances cardiovascular health
- Helps to prevent conditions linked to poor blood flow (laminitis being one)
- Improves coat health

Overall, enhancing your horse's circulation offers numerous benefits that should not be overlooked. While exercising your horse at home is the main way to boost circulation, providing a thorough groom is also beneficial as a horse owner.

For more information or to book contact us on:
Email: laylakeane@lkequinesportstherapy.co.uk
Facebook: LK Equine Sports Therapy
Instagram: lk_equine_sports_therapy
Website: www.lkequinesportstherapy.co.uk

06/08/2025

🦴Conformation🦴
A horse's conformation cannot be changed. It is how they are born and grow, and unfortunately, most horses do not have ideal or perfect conformation. Conformation refers to as bone structure, body proportion, and musculature.

✅What is good conformation?
Good conformation is defined as a horse being put together correctly, proportionately, and in balance for the specific discipline for which they were bred.

❌What is bad conformation?
Bad conformation refers to a horse that has been put together incorrectly, which may lead to weaknesses in the bony structural frame. This can result in injuries that impair their ability to perform the discipline they were bred for.

Nevertheless, management techniques can assist a horse with poor conformation in coping. Take a look at farriers, saddlers, and bodyworkers for example, and how they work with a horse’s natural conformation to enhance their performance. As a bodyworker I can create specialised exercise plans to aid in supporting a horses musculature to either help build or maintain muscle in areas at risk of injury due to poor conformation traits. Additionally, having regular bodywork sessions is beneficial by addressing areas with subclinical pathology before an injury occurs- PREHAB over REHAB 🤍

For more information or to book contact us on:
Email: laylakeane@lkequinesportstherapy.co.uk
Booking App:
https://lkequinesportstherapy.setmore.com
Facebook: LK Equine Sports Therapy
Instagram: lk_equine_sports_therapy
Website: www.lkequinesportstherapy.co.uk

01/08/2025

🏹Bow and String Theory🏹

The 'bow' symbolises the epaxial muscles of the spine, while the 'string' signifies the abdominal muscles.

So what is this theory?
The bow and string theory is that the abdominal muscles need to be contracted and engaged to 'pull' the bow, which refers to the back muscles, into a rounded position. In simpler terms, the horse must activate its core muscles to properly work over its back. This highlights how important a horse's abdominal muscles are.

So how’d we enhance our horse's core strength? Unlike humans, horses cannot perform sit-ups, so we need to be more creative. Exercise plans can be created and designed by a qualified professional to specifically target the abdominal muscles. Some examples include:
- Carrot stretches
- Backing up
- Tail pulls
- Belly lifts
- Pole work

📸Image from Dr. Keith Wagner

For more information or to book contact us on:
Email: laylakeane@lkequinesportstherapy.co.uk
Booking App:
https://lkequinesportstherapy.setmore.com
Facebook: LK Equine Sports Therapy
Instagram: lk_equine_sports_therapy
Website: www.lkequinesportstherapy.co.uk

30/07/2025

AUGUST AVAILABILITY

Below are my available slots for August. To book your horse in and avoid disappointment please contact me.

Current availability:

🗓️Wednesday 6th August - AM or Early PM (before 3pm)

🗓️Tuesday 12th August - Anytime

🗓️Wednesday 13th August - Anytime

🗓️Wednesday 20th August - AM only

🗓️Thursday 21st August - AM only

🗓️Tuesday 26th August - Anytime

🗓️Wednesday 27th August - Anytime

For more information or if you wish to book an appointment please contact me via:
Mobile: 07972676494
Email: laylakeane@lkequinesportstherapy.co.uk
Facebook: LK Equine Sports Therapy
Instagram: lk_equine_sports_therapy
Website:

Learn More What is an Equine Sports Massage Therapist? An Equine Sports Massage Therapist is a professional who uses therapeutic hands-on techniques to manipulate the soft tissues (skin, fascia, muscles, tendons, and ligaments) of horses. Our primary objective is to support equine athletes in their....

27/07/2025

🙆🏼‍♀️Stretch Sunday🙆🏼‍♀️

Please note that not every stretch is suitable for every horse, just as not all stretches are appropriate for every person. If you have any concerns regarding your or your horse(s) ability, please seek advice from a qualified professional.

❌CAUTION❌
- Never stretch on a COLD body
- Never FORCE or PULL a stretch
- Stand your horse SQUARE when stretching
- Stretch on a DRY, EVEN surface
- Think about HANDLER POSTURE, is it correct
- Stretch and hold for approximately 15 SECONDS (this may take time to build up and may be hard with carrot stretches)

Up next, I present the TAIL PULLS.

🙆🏼‍♀️PERFORM🙆🏼‍♀️
-Firstly make sure the horse is comfortable with you being around their hindquarters. Stand next to the horse’s hindend, and gentle pick up the tail.
-Next place your hands below the horse’s tail bone.
-For a tail pull, stand directly behind them and gradually lean backwards, placing your weight into your horse’s tail. Here the horse may reposition themselves.
-For a lateral tail pull, stand to the side of the horse’s hindquarters and pull the tail to the side, again the horse may reposition themselves.
-Hold for approximately 15-30 seconds, this may be hard for a horse to start off with, so building it up and looking for a relaxed posture. As horses become familiar with these stretches they may lean into the stretch more.
-Gentle relax and lower the tail and allow the horse to shift their weight back to normal.
-Repeat this as many times as required.

⭐️BENEFITS⭐️
-Improves flexibility
-Improves core stability
-Improves range of motion
-Improves balance and coordination
-Improves overall wellbeing
-Improves relaxation and realignment of the spine
-Helps to stretch muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments, and connective tissues that surround the spine
-Helps alleviate tension in the horses back
-Helps improve posture
-Helps strengthen horses with a weak stifle area
-Helps reduce the risk of injury
-Targets the core and pelvic stabiliser muscles

My goal is to ensure that your horse(s) receive optimal care. By offering this series, I aim to help owners understand the reasons behind stretching, the types of stretches available, and how to perform them if you choose to do so with your horse(s).

22/07/2025

🏇🏼Our Brand Ambassadors🏇🏼

Having taken the opportunity to reintroduce myself to those who may not have been following my journey from the beginning, I also felt it was time to reintroduce my Brand Ambassadors. This group of young women has made the experience of running my own business enjoyable and has provided me with support throughout.

Since I selected these women over a year ago, there have been changes in each of their lives and with their horses. Therefore, I thought it would be fitting to reintroduce them to you, as they are a part of the LK Equine Sports Therapy Family. 🐴🫶🏼

I look forward to continuing to work with you all and seeing each of you grow alongside your beautiful horses. 🖤🤍🖤

20/07/2025

🙆🏼‍♀️Stretch Sunday🙆🏼‍♀️

Please note that not every stretch is suitable for every horse, just as not all stretches are appropriate for every person. If you have any concerns regarding your or your horse(s) ability, please seek advice from a qualified professional.

❌CAUTION❌
- Never stretch on a COLD body
- Never FORCE or PULL a stretch
- Stand your horse SQUARE when stretching
- Stretch on a DRY, EVEN surface
- Think about HANDLER POSTURE, is it correct
- Stretch and hold for approximately 15 SECONDS (this may take time to build up and may be hard with carrot stretches)

Up next, I present the HINDLIMB RETRACTION STRETCH.

🙆🏼‍♀️PERFORM🙆🏼‍♀️
-Stand next to the horse’s hindend, and ask for the horse to pick up their limb.
-Support around the horses fetlock joint with the handlers outside hand and place the inside hand just above their hock. With both hands gently push the limb backwards.
-Hold this stretch for approximately 5-15 seconds, this may be hard for a horse to start off with, so building it up and looking for a relaxed posture.
-Gentle lower the leg back to the ground and allow the horse to place their limb down.
-Repeat this as many times as required and on the other side to aid with symmetry and balance.

⭐️BENEFITS⭐️
-Improves flexibility
-Improves range of motion
-Improves balance and coordination
-Improves muscle engagement
-Improves overall wellbeing
-Improves stifle and hock mobility
-Improves movement quality
-Improves stride length
-Improves posture
-Helps with collection and horses who need to engage and collect their hindquarters more
-Helps alleviate tension in the quadriceps
-Helps reduce muscle stiffness and soreness
-Helps reduce the risk of injury

My goal is to ensure that your horse(s) receive optimal care. By offering this series, I aim to help owners understand the reasons behind stretching, the types and how to perform them if you choose to.

18/07/2025

⏳It’s time⏳
To reintroduce myself to those who may not be familiar with me I am Layla, the face behind LK Equine Sports Therapy!!🐴🤍

I am a fully qualified and certified mobile Equine Sports Massage Therapist (ESMT) based in Mildenhall, Suffolk. I cover areas of Suffolk, Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire.📍

From a young age, I have had a passion for horses, which inspired me to pursue studies in this field.👩🏼‍🎓 I further used to ride but have since stepped back from this now.🏇🏼 I have worked in the equine industry in various roles including at a hospital, pre-training facilities, general livery, and DIY yards. This diverse experience has helped give me a broad skill set, laying a solid foundation for my work, particularly in the care and treatment of your horses. 🐴🫶🏼

In addition to my business, I also work at Newmarket Equine Hospital on the yard, 🏥which complements my career path well. Here, I encounter a wide range of cases and different horses, observing how equine therapy could benefit them. I have worked here since graduating from my degree at Writtle University College, now formally known as ARU Writtle. 🎓

My services include:
🐴Manual Therapy (Massage, Mobilisation, Balance Pads, Fascial Edge Tool, Stretching)💆🏼‍♀️
🐴Electrotherapies (Equissage Unit, Photizo Light Therapy, Epiony Heat Pad)🔋
🐴Kinesiology Taping🐎
🐴Remedial Exercises/Rehabilitation Plans🏃🏼‍♀️

Even though I am now a qualified ESMT, I remain enthusiastic about expanding my knowledge, qualifications, and services in the future. 🧠🧰 If you have any suggestions or opportunities to share, or if there are areas you would like me to incorporate into my services, please feel free to share them. I am excited to grow this business welcoming new clients and continue caring for your four-legged friends! 🖤🤍🖤

13/07/2025

🙆🏼‍♀️Stretch Sunday🙆🏼‍♀️

Please note that not every stretch is suitable for every horse, just as not all stretches are appropriate for every person. If you have any concerns regarding your or your horse(s) ability, please seek advice from a qualified professional.

❌CAUTION❌
- Never stretch on a COLD body
- Never FORCE or PULL a stretch
- Stand your horse SQUARE when stretching
- Stretch on a DRY, EVEN surface
- Think about HANDLER POSTURE, is it correct
- Stretch and hold for approximately 15 SECONDS (this may take time to build up and may be hard with carrot stretches)

Up next, I present the HINDLIMB PROTRACTION STRETCH.

🙆🏼‍♀️PERFORM🙆🏼‍♀️
-For this stretch the handler must stand next to the horse’s hindend, and ask for the horse to pick up their limb.
-Next support around the horses fetlock joint by a cupping hand position, guide their leg forwards into extension keeping it in line with their body, most horses hindlimb will be turned out slightly therefore following this.
-Hold this stretch for approximately 5-15 seconds, this may be hard for a horse to start off with, so building it up and looking for a relaxed posture.
-Gentle lower the leg back to the ground and allow the horse to place their limb down.
-Repeat this as many times as required and on the other side to aid with symmetry and balance.

⭐️BENEFITS⭐️
-Improves flexibility
-Improves range of motion
-Improves balance and coordination
-Improves muscle engagement
-Improves overall wellbeing
-Improves muscle tone and elasticity
-Improves relaxation
-Improves movement quality
-Improves stride length
-Helps alleviate tension in the back, and hindlimb
-Helps improve posture
-Helps reduce muscle stiffness and soreness
-Helps reduce the risk of injury
-Helps to target the hamstring muscle group

My goal is to ensure that your horse(s) receive optimal care. By offering this series, I aim to help owners understand the reasons behind stretching, the types of stretches available, and how to perform them if you choose to do so with your horse(s).

06/07/2025

🙆🏼‍♀️Stretch Sunday🙆🏼‍♀️

Please note that not every stretch is suitable for every horse, just as not all stretches are appropriate for every person. If you have any concerns regarding your or your horse(s) ability, please seek advice from a qualified professional.

❌CAUTION❌
- Never stretch on a COLD body
- Never FORCE or PULL a stretch
- Stand your horse SQUARE when stretching
- Stretch on a DRY, EVEN surface
- Think about HANDLER POSTURE, is it correct
- Stretch and hold for approximately 15 SECONDS (this may take time to build up and may be hard with carrot stretches)

Up next, I present the FORELIMB RETRACTION STRETCH.

🙆🏼‍♀️PERFORM🙆🏼‍♀️
-Stand next to the horse’s shoulder, and ask for the horse to pick up their limb.
-TWO METHODS: Facing their tail, support around the horses fetlock joint with the handlers outside hand and place the inside hand just above their knee. With this inside hand gently push the limb backwards.
-Or if facing their head, pick up the limb and twist around facing their head, the handlers inside hand will support around the horses fetlock joint, while the outside hand will be placed just above their knee. With this outside hand gently pull the limb backwards.
-Hold this stretch for approximately 5-15 seconds, this may be hard for a horse to start off with, so building it up and looking for a relaxed posture.
-Gentle lower the leg back to the ground and allow the horse to place their limb down.
-Repeat this as many times as required and on the other side to aid with symmetry and balance.

⭐️BENEFITS⭐️
-Improves flexibility
-Improves range of motion
- Improves core strength
-Improves balance and coordination
-Improves muscle engagement
-Improves overall wellbeing
-Improves shoulder mobility
-Improves movement quality
-Improves stride length
-Improves posture
-Helps alleviate tension in the shoulder, neck, and chest
-Helps reduce muscle stiffness and soreness
-Helps reduce the risk of injury

My goal is to ensure that your horse(s) receive optimal care. By offering this series, I aim to help owners understand the reasons behind stretching, the types, and how to perform them if you choose to.

01/07/2025

🔦LED Therapy🔦

🌟BENEFITS🌟
🔻Aids in pain management with conditions such as arthritis and muscle strains
🔻Accelerates recovery by helping to reduce swelling, inflammation, and pain
🔻Promotes faster healing of skin conditions such as wounds, lacerations, abscesses, saddle sores, eczema, and skin allergies
🔻Stimulates cell regeneration and the production of collagen which helps lay down more organised scar tissue
🔻Increases blood flow which helps to reduce inflammation and pain
🔻Delivers oxygen and nutrients to injured areas aiding in the body’s natural healing process
🔻Penetrates into different layers of the body
🔻Does not pose a risk to the eyes therefore no protective eyewear is needed
🔻More affordable

29/06/2025

🙆🏼‍♀️Stretch Sunday🙆🏼‍♀️

Please note that not every stretch is suitable for every horse, just as not all stretches are appropriate for every person. If you have any concerns regarding your or your horse(s) ability, please seek advice from a qualified professional.

❌CAUTION❌
- Never stretch on a COLD body
- Never FORCE or PULL a stretch
- Stand your horse SQUARE when stretching
- Stretch on a DRY, EVEN surface
- Think about HANDLER POSTURE, is it correct
- Stretch and hold for approximately 15 SECONDS (this may take time to build up and may be hard with carrot stretches)

Up next, I present the FORELIMB PROTRACTION STRETCH.

🙆🏼‍♀️PERFORM🙆🏼‍♀️
-For this stretch the handler must stand next to the horse’s shoulder, and ask for the horse to pick up their limb.
-Next support around the horses fetlock joint by a cupping hand position, guide their leg forwards into extension keeping it in line with their body.
-Hold this stretch for approximately 5-15 seconds, this may be hard for a horse to start off with, so building it up and looking for a relaxed posture.
-Gentle lower the leg back to the ground and allow the horse to place their limb down.
-Repeat this as many times as required and on the other side to aid with symmetry and balance.

⭐️BENEFITS⭐️
-Improves flexibility
-Improves range of motion
-Improves balance and coordination
-Improves muscle engagement
-Improves overall wellbeing
-Improves relaxation
-Improves shoulder mobility
-Improves movement quality
-Improves stride length
-Helps alleviate tension in the shoulder, neck, and back
-Helps reduce muscle stiffness and soreness
-Helps reduce the risk of injury

My goal is to ensure that your horse(s) receive optimal care. By offering this series, I aim to help owners understand the reasons behind stretching, the types of stretches available, and how to perform them if you choose to do so with your horse(s).