Kirsty Rawden Veterinary Physiotherapy

14/12/2025

Some wise words from Lucinda Green 💜

14/12/2025

✨ Rock Your Body ✨

It amazes me what gentle rocking can do for the whole system.

Watch for the subtle fascial release ripple down the underside of her neck, followed by a blow out.

Gentle rocking has many benefits.
🔹 Calms the autonomic nervous system shifting the body more towards a state of rest and digest.
🔹 Lowers heart rate, muscle tension and stress hormones
🔹 Provides sensory regulation- rhythmical movement gives the body a sense of safety and order.
🔹Reduces protective muscle tension - guarding
🔹 Gently moves joints through small safe ranges of motion
🔹 Engages stabilizing muscles at low intensity
🔹 Enhances proprioception - the awareness of where your body is
🔹 Encourages subtle postural corrections without strain
🔹 Gentle contraction/ relaxation of the muscles encourages blood and lymph flow
🔹 Supports fascial glide and elasticity

Funny, it looks like I'm not doing anything but in reality I'm doing a lot!

11/12/2025

Is your saddle fitting, hindering or growing your horses back?

These photos are a great visual. This horse's back had been limited from developing for many years because the gullet was fit to his shape, and not to his potential shape. Since fitting the second gullet he has now filled that shape out and is now ready to fill an ###XW out!

As his bodyworker, i know he was never sore in his back. Why? because it wasn't too narrow (at the time), it fit his shape but it wasn't wide enough to encourage progress. I feel this is where many saddle fit methods are not exploring the full picture, fitting to the current shape, and not the potential shape.

If we do not allow space for the horse to expand they will shrink or stall to fit the mould.

This podcast explains this more, check it out 👇🏼
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4PU9Ca7qoEOhaSjyGAPHr3?si=Ik_kZevPT7mD8L5-90MwQw&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A1r9cRQzPLpe4JO58KjZ0MT

11/12/2025

I am just finalising my trip to the North East on 5th/6th Jan - drop me a message if you want adding on!

09/12/2025

Absolutely this - you know when it FEELS right, trust your gut in life and in horsemanship.

There are so many approaches to horsemanship that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Everyone seems to have a method, a system, a set of rules to follow. But the truth is, whatever you choose should feel natural, something that aligns with who you are and how you connect with your horse.

As I’ve explored different ideas and techniques, trying to become the best partner I can be for the horses I work with, I’ve often questioned whether I truly belong in some of those spaces. When a method doesn’t sit naturally with you, it can make you feel out of place. Horsemanship, though, is meant to come from the heart from presence, intuition, and genuine connection.

When there’s too much noise, it’s hard to recognise whats already there. But, we are all capable of deep communication and connection with our horses. Trust yourself whether you are a professional in the industry or an owner wanting to do the best. Follow what feels true, calm, and authentic. Stay where it feels natural, and let the rest fall away ❤️

09/12/2025

Did you know I do a podcast too?

Tune in for all things horses, self development, woo and a sprinkle of swearing and inappropriateness 🤣💜

💜 Cognitive breaks 💜

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6YiO3LrWAfFQRQVqVDtjcs?si=WYU05k3GSTGjun8MEDqKVA&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A1r9cRQzPLpe4JO58KjZ0MT

07/12/2025

When you capture the myofascial ventral line release on camera 🤯😍

This pandiculation started at her head, she arched her neck and the whole wave rippled through her ventral fascia to where I was working around her hock.

Proving that the whole system is connected and not working in isolation

(Pandiculation and crazy releases are not guaranteed in every treatment 🤣, this mare is like my second child so she is very comfortable in my presence to let go 🥰)

06/12/2025

Fascia hears before the brain does.

Fascia is one of the most sensory-rich tissues in the body — packed with far more nerve endings than muscle.

It contains:
• Mechanoreceptors that sense movement, pressure, and loading
• Nociceptors that detect discomfort or pain
• Interoceptors that track the horse’s internal state and safety

Equine fascia is constantly reading the environment. It detects tension, stretch, compression, shear, vibration, temperature, and internal shifts with incredible speed and precision.

These receptors fire faster than conscious processing.

Because of this massive sensory input, fascia acts as the horse’s predictive and corrective system, adjusting posture, balance, muscle tone, and protective responses before the thinking brain ever engages.
It’s why horses react instantly, fluidly, and sometimes explosively — their fascia responds first.

The fluid layers within the fascial network also behave like a biological antenna, transmitting and receiving subtle mechanical and energetic information through wave-like patterns that travel across the whole body.

Your horse’s fascia is always listening — and responding —
long before the conscious mind catches up.



https://koperequine.com/where-horses-feel-it-most-common-soreness-zones-in-muscles-and-fascia/

05/12/2025

📢 I have last minute availability in the Peak District/ East Manchester this coming Monday (8th). Get in touch if you would like an appointment!

01/12/2025

I've had some cancellations throughout December which has opened up some more appointments.

Please get in touch if you'd like one!

Mince pies and baileys are not required as a prerequisite for booking, I've just come back from a 2 week all inclusive 🐷🤣