Pony Posture

27/11/2025

🌱 On-Site Reflocking & Balancing 🌱

No matter what, I’ll always ensure your saddle is sitting exactly how it should!

📅 December diary is open
📅 January diary now open!!

I have limited spaces left for December and have now opened my January diary so get your ponies booked in early💕

Happy horses = happy riders! 🐴

🌱Whatsapp, text, call - 07936967998

26/11/2025

Archie had his first appointment with me this week! He’s been undergoing rehab for KS and is ready to return to ridden work so his owner had me come out to check his saddle💕

One gullet change plus some flocking means Archie’s saddle is all ready to go!

24/11/2025

“Upper Gum stretch”

Where humans carry stress and tension in their shoulders; many horses carry tension in their face and jaw 🐴

🧠 How It Works 🧠

Lightly placing a hand or fingers on the horse’s upper gum/lip area (usually inside the upper lip, against the gum).

This causes relaxation by allowing the horse to rest their upper jaw and release tension through their lower jaw by licking, chewing and yawning!

You can actually HEAR Vinnie releasing his jaw!!

🐴Physiological and Neurological Effects

1. Activation of the Parasympathetic Nervous System

Gentle contact with the upper gum can stimulate sensory nerves around the muzzle and lips.
This area is highly innervated, and mild stimulation can help shift the horse toward a rest-and-relax state.
Possible responses:
• Softening of eyes and jaw
• Lowering of the head and neck
• Slower breathing
• Reduced muscle guarding

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2. Distraction From Other Sensations

The novelty and mild pressure of touch on the gum can provide a non-threatening sensory “anchor.”
This can:
• Reduce reactivity to bodywork in other areas
• Help the horse tolerate stretching or palpation
• Encourage them to stay present and still

This is similar to how humans sometimes relax in response to steady, predictable sensory input.

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3. Release of Tension in the TMJ, Poll, and Facial Musculature

Because the area is biomechanically linked to the TMJ (temporomandibular joint) and muscles around the poll and jaw, calm sensory input may help:
• Reduce tightness in jaw-clenching horses
• Support softer chewing, licking, or swallowing
• Encourage the horse to let go of facial tension that affects the entire topline

Horses with jaw, poll, or neck tension often show visible improvement when they relax these areas.

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4. Regulation of Head/Neck Posture

Relaxation in the facial and jaw muscles can encourage:
• Lowered head carriage
• More freedom at the poll
• Reduced bracing in the cervical muscles

Many bodywork methods start with facial relaxation because it cascades down the neck and spine.

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5. Improved Emotional Regulation

Some horses respond emotionally to gentle oral-area contact:
• Shift from vigilance → curiosity
• Reduced sympathetic arousal
• Better acceptance of touch elsewhere

The mouth and muzzle are rich in social/comfort signals in horses.

Feel free to contact me with any enquiries!

🌱WhatsApp, call, text : ⁨07936 967998⁩

21/11/2025

Vinnie being the best boy today for his massage session in the warm sunshine!!

Next on the list: getting his saddle fitted so that he can go back to being the dressage diva he is after having a long holiday 💕

11/11/2025

✨Open for the last bookings of 2025✨

I’m now taking bookings for appointments in December. Offering equine sports therapy and rehabilitation services, I have completed a 3-year, practical-based BSc in Equine Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation. I am fully insured and registered under AHPR, and I have a solid foundation of hands-on experience, gained through my training with horses I have worked with during the completion of my course, as well as my current clients!

I offer:
🐴Equine Sports Therapy
🐴Rehabilitation plans
🐴Performance plans
🐴Stretching and & mobilisation
🐴Kinesiology taping
🐴Red Light Therapy
🐴Aftercare recommendations are available upon request
🐴saddle fitting - adjustments, repairs, and flocking

📍Covering - Essex, London, Hertfordshire and surrounding counties.

Flexible appointments to suit everyone, including those who work late!

Where posture meets performance! For golden oldies, youngsters, competition horses and everything in between, I have something for you!

🌱 WhatsApp, call, text - 07936 967998
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Please feel free to message for any enquiries you may have!

04/11/2025

15/10/2025

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭: 𝐀𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐚𝐤 𝐓𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬

As the autumn leaves are falling, we want to remind horse owners to keep an eye out for acorns and oak leaves in their pastures. While they’re a familiar sign of autumn, acorns can pose a serious health risk to horses.
Acorn (oak) toxicity in horses causes a form of toxic colitis - more specifically, it’s often referred to as tannic acid–induced colitis or oak-induced enterocolitis.
Here’s what happens:
Tannins (and related phenolic compounds like gallotannins) found in acorns, oak leaves, and bark are caustic to the gastrointestinal mucosa.
When ingested in significant amounts, these compounds cause inflammation, ulceration, and necrosis of the intestinal lining, particularly in the large intestine (colon).
The damage leads to protein loss, fluid imbalance, and endotoxin absorption, resulting in severe diarrhoea, colic, dehydration, and sometimes secondary kidney injury due to tannin metabolites.
The condition is best described as acute necrotizing or haemorrhagic colitis secondary to tannin toxicity from acorn ingestion.

Early signs may include colic-like symptoms (abdominal pain), diarrhoea or constipation, loss of appetite, depression or lethargy, dark urine or dehydration.
If you have any concerns about your horse, do contact your vet as a matter of urgency.

14/10/2025

The hidden damage of badly fitting rugs ❌

Most of us are now clipping for the winter and many horses spend longer hours rugged, but an ill fitting rug can quietly cause significant tissue damage. This is something I tend to preach every year!

Basically tight or uneven rugs create constant pressure over the withers, shoulders, and hips. Over time, this can lead to bruising, fascial restriction, and reduced circulation, causing soreness and really poor tissue health.

If a rug is tight across the chest or shoulders, it can limit scapular movement and shorten stride length. Rugs that slip or twist may cause horses to alter their posture to stay balanced, leading to tension and asymmetry.

🙏 Check & Prevent. Look for rub marks, warmth, or uneven hair growth when removing your rugs. Watch how your horse moves, restricted shoulder action is definitely an early warning sign. A well fitting rug supports free movement, healthy fascia, and muscle balance and makes for a happy free moving horse!

🐎 Have a great winter but keep checking

www.woldsequinemassage.co.uk

03/10/2025

Winter problems: Cold, hard ground and stiffness!

As we’re in the run up to winter I figured I’d remind everyone we’re all in the same boat!
If your horse feels extra stiff or uncomfortable during the colder months, you’re not alone! Cold weather and hard ground can make movement more challenging for horses, especially as they age or if they have a history of joint or soft tissue issues.

Here’s why:

Hard ground - the harder the surface the less concussion is being absorbed by the ground from each step or landing your horse takes, meaning your horse absorbs the extra concussion through their soft tissues! This the forces more strain and stress into the back, thoracic sligh, hocks and other joints which leads to tension, soreness and injury over time!

Which leads onto my next point: Impact on Joints - Hard, frozen ground increases the impact on your horse’s joints, ligaments, and tendons with every step, which can lead to discomfort.

Reduced Circulation - Cold weather naturally slows blood flow to muscles, making them less pliable and more prone to stiffness.

And you guessed it! Reduced regulation leads to:
Tighter Muscles - Horses tend to brace against the cold, leading to tighter muscles and restricted range of motion.

Massage therapy is a powerful tool to keep your horse moving freely and staying sound through the winter.

Here’s how i can help:

Relieves Tension - Concussion causes muscles and soft tissues tighten and tense up. Massage can soothe, soften, lengthen and separate tight muscles and fascia.

Improved Circulation - Massage promotes blood flow to stiff muscles, warming them up and restoring elasticity.

Relief for Sore Areas: Doing this by addressing tension and sometimes pain that has been caused by bracing against the cold or uneven movement.

Preventative Care - Keeping muscles and fascia loose helps reduce strain on joints, minimizing the risk of injuries caused by frozen footing.

Increased Comfort - Regular massage helps your horse feel their best, improving mobility and overall well-being.

Keeping your horse warm, mobile, and supported with therapies like massage can make a big difference during the winter months. If you want to help your horse stay comfortable and sound this season, let me know 🤍

🌱 WhatsApp, call, text - 07936 967998
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