Jodie Elkington Equine Sports Massage Therapist

25/01/2026

22/01/2026

Day 497 of January

Hands - cold
Rain - constant
Equidry - STINKY
Summer - atleast 3 years away
Mornings - dark
Evenings - dark
Midday - usually dark

Winter with horses is not for the faint hearted🤣🤦🏼‍♀️

15/01/2026

We all see the immaculate show photos but what we don’t see is the army of people behind the photo - the ones who help us get here. Here’s a thankyou to the team behind every horse and rider🤍

15/01/2026

Benefits of Equine Sports Massage⬇️✨

08/01/2026

Things you can do whilst your arena is frozen🥶❄️⬇️

08/01/2026

“Imma take a nap”😴

Just had to use this sound for this photo🤣

04/01/2026

🤣🤣🤣

04/01/2026

To all clients‼️

I’m sure you are all aware we have some snow coming… I will still be working as normal providing the roads are safe enough for me to travel and will park where safe and walk if certain areas are worse then others. I will keep you all updated individually and let you know with as much warning as possible if for whatever reason I cannot make it (I’m hoping this won’t be the case).

Please leave a hoofpick handy for me and I will clear your horses feet when I arrive, there’s nothing worse then them walking round on snow stilts🤣

Thankyou❤️

03/01/2026

❄️Why is your horse more “spooky” or “reactive” through winter?❄️

An Equine Sports Massage Therapist’s perspective 👇

As it gets colder it’s common for owners to notice their horses becoming sharper, more reactive, or “spookier” than usual. While it’s easy to blame the weather or excess energy, there’s often more happening than we think about.

From a bodywork point of view, winter can bring many physical changes that directly affect how a horse moves and responds.

➡️ Cold muscles aren’t as flexible

Lower temperatures reduce muscle elasticity. When muscles feel stiff or restricted, horses may move more cautiously or react suddenly to protect themselves. They’re flight animals and if they aren’t fully comfortable they’re more likely to “flee” the situation.

➡️ Reduced movement = increased tension

Winter often means less turnout and more time standing in. This can lead to tight backs, necks, and hindquarters, limiting a horse’s ability to move through their body smoothly — and tension in the body often shows up as tension in the mind.

➡️ Altered posture and compensation

Slippery ground, heavier rugs, and changes in workload can subtly alter posture and way of going. Over time, these small compensations can create soreness or imbalance, making horses feel less secure in their own bodies.

➡️ Heightened awareness when the body feels guarded

When a horse is uncomfortable, they become more vigilant. Their nervous system stays on higher alert, meaning things that wouldn’t usually cause concern can suddenly trigger a big reaction.

💡How can we help?

• Gradual, thorough warm-ups
• Regular, gentle movement
• Consistent bodywork to maintain comfort and symmetry
• Paying attention to subtle changes in posture and behaviour

Spookiness isn’t always a training or attitude issue — often it’s the body asking for support.

When we improve how a horse feels physically, we often see a calmer, more confident horse mentally too.

If you’re noticing seasonal changes in your horse’s behaviour, it may be worth looking at what their body is telling you 🤍

03/01/2026

the sparkle, the colours, the quality… wow😍✨

24/12/2025

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all✨🎅🏻❤️

Just want to come and say a huge thankyou to every single one of you, 2025 has been a super busy year and I’ve loved every minute of it spent with your 4 legged babies🐴 I am so grateful I get to wake up every morning and spend the day doing something I enjoy❤️

And thankyou so much for all of my cards and prezzys, I’ve been well and truly spoilt🥰

Here’s to a fabulous 2026✨

Also who likes George’s Christmas jumper? Ai is my new bestfriend🤣

16/12/2025

2026 bookings…

Please can everyone who has enquired about holiday cover for 2026 contact me to confirm dates and times etc. Would like to get the diary sorted ASAP so I dont fill your space, thankyou🤍