Brightside Equine Sports Massage

14/11/2024

The equestrian world is changing, with sensitivity we can be part of that change ❤️‍🩹

“You’re too sensitive”

This has become increasingly common response to people who stand by their morals and set boundaries that make people feel uncomfortable.

I have been told this before by acquaintances, friends, romantic partners, people on the Internet, family, you name it.

All the times I can recall occur after I have said that I don’t find something funny, that I don’t like being treated a certain way or when I advocate for my animals and how I want them to be treated as well as the greater picture of what I think ethical animal treatment looks like.

It is most often voiced with contempt, the implication being that sensitivity is a bad thing.

But, having a little more sensitivity to the feelings of others and how our behaviour impacts them would make the world a better place.

I feel that a lot of the problems we see in the world are a direct result of a LACK of sensitivity, a lack of empathy, and an unwillingness to put ourselves in other peoples’ shoes.

When it comes to things like making jokes, choosing the right audience is part of being a good comedian.

The fact that people are so often blamed for reacting poorly to a joke that was told to them instead of the person telling it recognizing the that they have the wrong audience, or, perhaps the jokes just isn’t funny.

It pushes a people pleasing rhetoric that implies it is our job to laugh simply because someone was trying to be funny.

It isn’t shameful, embarrassing, or weak to move forward with sensitivity. To stand up against sentiments that you think are damaging to the greater whole of the world.

Standing up for yourself or the animals you love is not weak or over sensitive just because doing so makes someone else feel uncomfortable.

Rather than encouraging people to become more callous, why don’t we encourage a mindset that honours sensitivity and recognize the fact that the emotionality is not inherently bad.

By doing so, we can make the world a safer place for so many.

Embrace sensitivity, the world needs it.

17/06/2024

Will get back to everyone who has messaged recently and enquiries from over the weekend asap, still coming down for the high of preparing for and taking my own unicorn to a working equitation regional competition down in Yorkshire 💙 (he’s very glad to be home among his wooly friends again) thank you to everyone who has been supporting us from all over to get to this stage, now back to the paperwork! 🤓

26/04/2024

Fantastic post as always from Yasmin Stuart Equine Physio. How many of us are consciously choosing to walk the walk in our horses best interests every single day?

What will it take to make an actual change? The evidence is showing us unequivically about these things. And yet here we are, having to make a case for the horse.

Over and over again.

"This is not new information"

No, no it isn't.

The importance of hoof balance has been known for decades.

Appropriate biomechanic function has been written about for centuries.

And it does not take a rocket scientist to discern that a horse is having a hard time by looking at their face.

But with all this information that we've apparently known for so long, it's seems like somewhat of a fallacy that many people are still not doing it?

Or they say they are - but their horse tells me they are not.

They say they are riding with careful mind to their horse's biomechanics - yet their horse is still moving it painful dysfunction.

They say they care for consent, and yet 96% of horses exhibit abnormal behaviour when tacking up and mounting.

They say they are aware of hoof ratios and what that means for biomechanics, and yet their horse is still walking around like it might be able to free dive with the flippers permanently attached to their limbs.

Yet people get all excited on social media - because its not new news - and criticise the people platforming this information?

It is sad to me that we needed research to determine that a horse is in pain - but I have benefitted hugely from that research because it means I have an evidence base to convince a sceptical client that their horse is hurting.

I have used research to make a case about why a horse's coronet band trajectory might be informing a horse's suspensory and sacroiliac pain.

I have used studies to highlight how a horse running away from a mounting block is not normal, happy horse behaviour.

So, while we are all out here lambasting reseachers for their hard work, take a long hard look -

Are you walking the walk?

Or are you simply talking the talk?

17/04/2024

Maintenance of our equine friends is an ongoing process, there are a million factors that can impact them and move them futher away from optimal health. Soft tissue bodywork is an essential components to help address these issues ❤️‍🩹

It always surprises me how many people understand that their horse’s body needs help maintaining its optimal function, but don’t consider how beneficial soft tissue work is to help their horse through the issues they’re having, major or minor.

Changing the body is never a “one and done”, especially if there is long term dysfunction in the horse’s body.

Have you been adjusted to have that spot twinge again an hour later? Has your horse ever been adjusted, feel great for a day or two and go right back to how he was before? That’s the muscles, fascia and neuromuscular system pulling the body back into that painful, dysfunctional pattern.

Restoration and maintenance of good body function and alignment absolutely requires muscular, fascial, and proprioceptive input that can be provided by your equine massage and myofascial release therapist.

Learn how to choose which is best for your horse, how to combine therapies and why your horse needs this care- https://koperequine.com/bodywork-can-provide-a-multitude-of-benefits-to-horses/

What is the Musculoskeletal System (might not be what you think) https://koperequine.com/what-is-the-musculoskeletal-system/

Equine Anatomy Posters, T-Shirts and more - https://koper-equine.myspreadshop.com/

16/04/2024

Change is coming to the horse world and I am beyond proud of every single person who is striving to be part of that change for the better ❤️‍🩹

I used to think all horsey people were over-confident.
But now, the things my clients say to me, particularly new ones (and my favourites) are quite vulnerable.
They often explain to me very quietly, that they think something's not quite right, but everyone else around them tells them they're just being too soft.
These are the people that don't want to 'get after him', 'make her do it', get told 'she's biting you because you're soft', 'he's just testing you, there's nothing wrong with him'.

These people are the ones that don't subscribe to the culture on their yard, or even the equestrian world. They just know in their hearts, that there's got to be a reason their horse behaves like this.

The problem is, it's not all the time.
And they're not lame.
So it's REALLY hard to actually work out what the problem is!

I absolutely love this kind of horse owner. Cos it actually takes real guts to stand up for your horse, ignore what people on the yard say, go against your instructor, etc. If you’re one of these, I salute you! (Hope that doesn't sound patronising!)

What you need though, is a little helping hand. Something to help you work out what it is that affects your horse, put your finger on when it happens.

A specialised diary is exactly what can help you work it all out.
Log the 'problem' behaviour -I.e. what your horse is trying to tell you, when it happens, what factors might be causing/contributing.
For just £9, you can show the actual reason for your horse's behaviour (or signs of pain).

The fixing part is the easy bit when you know what the problem is.
Pick up your diary here; https://merlin-vp-answers.trainercentralsite.eu/course/problems-plans-diary

11/04/2024

Wise words on a challenging topic that everyone in the horse world is sure to face at one point or another

Incongruence has been a big theme throughout a lot of my sessions lately -

So many people feeling the weight of expectation they've placed upon themselves to make better choices for their horse, whilst simultaneously feeling the burn of other's eyes - feeling judged for being non-conformist.

Or perhaps they are subconsciously judging themself based upon their own previous values and metrics for success.

Chastising themselves for not "doing more" - even though they know that they can force doing more but that comes at the expense of their horse.

Berating themselves for not "getting there quicker" - even though the clock is metaphorical and the joy comes from being present.

Because when you start to see, you cannot unsee;

The thousands of ways in which we interact with our horses and our horses return the conversation.

Especially pertinent when you are maybe in the minority of people that really see your horse for who they are.

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Just when I think that I've found the final watering hole - the one with all the answers - I look to the horizon and there, in the very distance, I see the glimmer of another.

There are so many possibilities of a fulfulling life and so many possibilities of avenues to venture down in the pursuit of horsemanship -

I often joke that you need a thousand lifetimes to do all of them justice.

But the thing to keep in mind during the pursuit of this is understanding what your personal priorities are.

Priorities can shift over time, throughout growth and progression. And it might mean that you have to make sacrifices in some areas as you head towards mastery in others.

Sometimes your horse's needs will step in the way of your wants.

Sometimes we don't get a choice. And sometimes we do get a choice... but maybe the scales with that choice are biased in a specific direction.

There are many paths to fulfillment - even if the one you end up taking isnt exactly the one you would have chosen.

"In life you must choose your regrets" - Douglas Murray

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I see you.

Your horse sees you.

You've got this ❤️

09/04/2024

So very important to understand what the person doing bodywork on your horses is qualified in, what their experience is and how their particular service can benefit your horse!

(Just adding my personal gripe about people who make up words and titles for their bodywork practice and operate under the guise of physiotherapy when that is not the service they provide)

The anatomy of horses (and humans) doesn't leave any gaps... Joints are surrounded by dense networks of ligaments, joint capsule, muscles, tendons and fascia. There is no room for things to just slip around!
If your therapist tells you something is 'out' or they've 'put it back in', this is a big red flag that they either don't understand the body, don't know what they're really doing, or can't explain the problem and treatment to you.
All of which is quite scary.

There's a big culture at the moment of people advertising loads of experience with horses, as if that experience is what qualifies them to give the best treatments.

Please please look at actual qualifications and professional registrations of people you use, to treat your horse or yourself!
Veterinary/animal/equine Physiotherapist is not a protected title; there's no standardisation of training.

07/04/2024

This! I strive for the experience to be a collaborative experience where I can work WITH the horse 🦄

Massage is just like riding - the horse has to like it, too. That doesn’t always mean they’re right or they can do anything they want - but it does mean they have to want the experience, too. They need to be allowed to politely communicate what works for them, too, just like when riding. It’s an agreement you make between the two of you. That’s where the beauty and the art of it come in.

Horse Care 101 -
https://koper-equine.myspreadshop.com/horse+care+101+light-A65c0e08a5e1af93b739b2855?productType=813&sellable=Dq880vLlx0fXmXRj5jDQ-813-8&appearance=2

The Box Analogy – (And Why You Need To Know It) - https://koperequine.com/the-box-analogy-and-why-you-need-to-know-it/

07/04/2024

Fabulous day with all the lovely people and ponies at Woodend. We certainly got lucky with the weather and didn’t have too many breezy moments! Next date in the area is Sunday 12th May, with some availability left! Please message to confirm appointment 🦄

16/03/2024

It takes time. But the time will pass anyway. ❤️‍🩹

14/03/2024

🦄

Just gonna pop this here... 😄