Abi McGuinness Chiropractic

28/03/2025

I’m back… all mended, thanks to our wonderful NHS. Normal clinic hours commence from next week so online booking is back and I am contactable as usual! Have a fabulous Friday 🙏🏻 chiropractor

20/03/2025

Apologies to everyone for the inconvenience, and thank you so much for the lovely messages and well wishes. I should be back in action towards the end of next week. I am still contactable by message or email in the meantime 😊

20/03/2025

When girthing up a horse, it’s important not to over-tighten the girth. An over-tightened girth may pinch or bruise the muscles, especially those in the chest (pectorals), the neck (trapezius), the side of the ribcage (serratus ventralis), and the lower back (latissimus dorsi), which are shown in red on the diagram bel. Similar to how a tight belt can cause discomfort or bruising in a human, an overly tight girth can cause soreness in these areas. It may also lead to bruising of the ribs and the intercostal muscles (the muscles between the ribs), restricting movement and causing pain. Additionally, the tightness will cause the saddle to put more pressure on the horse’s back muscles, leading to further discomfort.

Think of it like wearing a belt that’s too tight around your waist: it presses into your skin and muscles, causing discomfort, restricting movement, and potentially causing bruising. Just as you wouldn’t wear a belt so tight that it hurts, it’s crucial not to over-tighten the girth to avoid these issues for the horse. Always ensure the girth is snug, but not excessively tight, to keep the horse comfortable and prevent injury.

28/10/2024

Interesting!!

SLOOOOOW DOWN!

SLOW your walking down to 1 step per second with and without your horse next to you.
SLOW your hand movements down as you touch or do things.
SLOW your talking down.
SLOW your breathing down.
SLOW your pulls and pushes down on the leadrope.

SLOW to FLOW!

Humans are WAAAAY to fast for horses and this is one of the leading causes of reactivity and opposition reflex in horses.

Speed = stress.

Let me teach you what speed does...

When the brain perceives a threat, it causes the body to release the stress response hormone cortisol. Cortisol levels and speed go hand in hand.
Cortisol provides the body with the fuel it needs to flee a scary situation or fight against it.

The thing with the mind-body relationship is that the brain feels an emotion such as fear, which create a physical response in the body, but the body can also move at a certain speed or in a particular way and create an emotion in the brain. It can be reverse engineered.

This is how special the intimate relationship is between the brain and body.

The other thing to remember is that, collectively as a social animal, when speed is noticed by another mammal (no matter the species), it alerts the unconscious brain to threat.

Speed is an alarm system in a social system (consciously and unconsciously).

If you walked down a road and everyone started running, you'd find it hard not to run even if you didn't know what the cause was. You are noticing that others are running and in a direction, so you mirror them to increase your chances of survival. You don't need the reasoning part of your brain for this. You just activated your primal (survival) part of the brain.

One other thing to remember: HORSES CAN SMELL CORTISOL. So not only does your speed act as a visual alarm system to your horse, it also acts as an olfactory one!

Would you want to interact with someone who caused you to feel constantly on alert?

These little things are the beginnings of what ripples into chronic stress in both humans and horses.
You spend enough time around someone who is fast in their movement, your nervous system will condition itself to being on high alert.
HELLO 👋 CHRONIC STRESS!!!

Slow your movement down = slow your thoughts down.
Slow your movement down = lower your cortisol.
Slow your movement down = feel connected with yourself, the world and others in it.
Slow your movement down = slow your alarm systems down and eventually they'll turn off.

Slow down so much that it is uncomfortable. It won't be uncomfortable for long, I promise 😉

Happy brain training 🧠
Charlotte 🙂

23/10/2024

ASKHQ: WHY ARE SOME PEOPLE CHOOSING TO BACK THEIR HORSES LATER?

A: In recent years, many people are choosing to back their horses later than was traditionally done. This shift is largely influenced by growing awareness of the horse’s physical and mental development in these key areas:

1. Joint and skeletal maturity
Horses’ bones, joints, and ligaments are not fully developed until they are older. The horse's spine, in particular, continues to grow and mature up to five or even six years of age, depending on the breed. Riding a horse too early can place stress on immature joints, potentially leading to long-term orthopaedic issues like arthritis or joint injuries.

2. Muscle development
Giving a horse time to build its muscles naturally before introducing a rider helps prevent injuries. Early riding can cause strain or incorrect muscle development, which could affect the horse’s balance and performance later in life.

3. Mental maturity
Horses that are backed later often display better focus and willingness to learn. Younger horses may not yet have the mental capacity to cope with the pressures of training and riding, leading to frustration, confusion, or resistance. By waiting, trainers allow the horse to mature mentally, making the training process smoother and less stressful and the horse’s association with riding more pleasant.

Ultimately, then horses that are backed later may have longer, healthier careers, as their bodies and minds are better prepared to handle the physical demands of riding. Waiting allows for more sustainable development, potentially improving longevity and performance.

31/03/2024

Happy Easter all! I’ve been at the allotment breaking my back! Nothing a hot crossed bun and a cup of tea…And a chiropractic treatment come Tuesday won’t solve!!!
Enjoy the chocolate and Monday off of work! 🐣