Karen Jackson Equine Bodywork

22/01/2026

14/01/2026

Hmm winter is most definitely here 🤣Kayden showing me how powerful and well he feels before his groundwork session today, a very different feeling off him today so changed things up a bit (good job I can hold on 🫣)All well in the end his movement is just wow with perfect stretches to finish off. Always a pleasure working with him, summer will soon be here !!

14/01/2026

🙏🫶

The Safety of Standing Close

A horse does not stand close without reason.
Distance is safety in the wild.
Space means survival 🐎🤍

So when it chooses to stand beside you—
shoulder near yours—
it is choosing reassurance over escape.

It is saying,
“I do not need to leave.”
“I am safe here.”

That quiet closeness
is a language of trust.

06/01/2026

This post 🙏 we MUST help the whole body of the horse not just injecting the joint, it becomes a vicious circle. The horse will compensate through their body so inevitability poor posture poor performance will happen. Help the body help their joints , tendons and ligaments ☺️

"But Why?”

From a young age, I’ve always been someone who asks why. That curiosity is a big part of what has shaped my work today.

In practice, particularly when working with horses, the question of why comes up frequently, especially when I see joint, tendon, and ligament degeneration in horses under the age of 10.

Was the horse born with a predisposition?
Was there a specific traumatic event?
Or is the issue developing over time due to posture, training methods, and biomechanics?

In many cases, poor posture and movement patterns play a significant role. When that is the underlying cause, treating joints in isolation, without addressing how the horse is moving and loading its body, often provides only temporary relief.

The equine body is inherently strong, but that strength is optimized when the horse is working in correct posture and balance. Deviations from this place uneven stress on joints and soft tissues, which can accelerate breakdown.

Joint injections certainly have their place, and when used thoughtfully, they can help break a pain cycle and allow a horse to move more comfortably. However, without meaningful changes to posture, training, and overall biomechanics, the same issues are likely to return once the effects wear off.

Lasting change requires stepping back and asking what we may be doing, often unintentionally, that contributes to physical strain. By taking the time to reassess and adjust how we support our horses, we can play an active role in promoting long-term soundness and resilience.

Because to truly change outcomes, something has to change.

04/01/2026

Great post from Olivia Renshaw, I feel sometimes we are overlooked as we are not a physiotherapist, our treatments are sometimes referred to as a “pamper session” 😣 or not essential 🙁 I love my job and I’m proud to be a ESMT 🫶👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

“Just a massage therapist.” 🥺

That phrase gets said far too easily. There is no “just” about it.

The truth is that behind every treatment is in depth anatomical knowledge, biomechanics, pathology awareness, and an understanding of how pain, compensation, training load, and management all interact. It’s hours of study, continual CPD, hands that can read tissue 🙌, and the responsibility of knowing when to treat, and when not to ❌

It’s recognising subtle changes before they become injuries.
It’s supporting rehabilitation plans alongside vets and farriers.
It’s helping horses move more freely, perform better, and stay comfortable in their work and their lives.

Massage therapy is not a luxury add on. It’s not guesswork, and it’s certainly not “just” anything.

So the next time you hear “just a massage therapist”, remember what that really represents skill, science, experience, and accountability.

👀 Because there is nothing “just” about it at all.

Careers in Professional Equine Massage, Visit our website 👩‍💻www.woldsequinemassage.co.uk

03/01/2026

Before backing your youngster, please read.

🐴 Horses mature very differently to humans.
A rough way to understand it is that horses age around three times faster than us, but their bones, joints, and spine take much longer to fully develop than many people realise.

This is where things often go wrong.

Older horses for context:
•A 30 year old horse is like a 90 year old human.
Stiff, worn, and well into retirement. These horses deserve comfort, gentle movement, and rest but still to be active for the mind and joints

•A 25 year old horse is like a 75 year old human.
Still capable, still willing, but strength and recovery are limited. Careful management is key.

•A 20 year old horse is similar to a 60 year old person.
Mentally sharp, experienced, and often keen but the body may be sore, stiff, or slower to recover.

•A 9 years old to 13 year old horse is like a 39 year old adult.
This is prime time. Physically mature, mentally settled, and strong enough for consistent work.

Now the important part youngsters
This is where patience matters most.

•A 3 year old horse is like a 9 year old child.
Growth plates are still open, balance is poor, and muscles are underdeveloped. At this age, learning should be about handling, confidence, and calm exposure not carrying weight.

A 4 year old horse compares to a 12 year old child.
They can cope with very light work in short sessions. Their bodies are still changing, often unevenly, which is why they feel awkward and inconsistent.

•A 5 year old horse is like a 15 year old teenager.
This is the risky stage. They may look strong and capable, but internally they are still developing. The spine, joints, and soft tissues are not finished growing, even if the horse “seems fine.” Shouldn’t be jumping 110cm classes!!!!!

•A 6 year old horse is like an 18 year old adult.
The skeleton is far more mature, muscles can be developed safely, and the horse is mentally better able to cope with pressure.
This is the correct age to begin proper, consistent work.

Pushing young horses too hard, too early doesn’t always show immediate damage.
The problems often appear later as:
•Lameness
•Joint disease
•Kissing spines
•Behaviour issues labelled as naughty or lazy
•Horses breaking down far too young

One extra year of patience can easily add ten more years of sound, useful working life. Good training isn’t about how early you start.
It’s about how long the horse stays comfortable, willing, and happy. And it’s bloody high time age classes at big highs at young ages were banned!!

My own Connie Storm, age 6❤️

02/01/2026

🥺 To every student or practitioner who has walked away from a treatment replaying everything in their head and thinking, that was awful, this is for you.

First, stop beating yourself up. We have all been there!

Bodywork is not a performance, and horses do not respond on our timetable. A session that feels clumsy, quiet, uneventful, or even uncomfortable for you can still be deeply effective for them.

Horses often process after the event.
They release later.
They yawn in the stable that evening.
They stretch the next day.
They move differently once their nervous system has had time to integrate what you offered.

You do not always see the result on the in the yard that day or in that exact hour, and that honestly does not mean nothing happened.

Learning bodywork means learning to sit with uncertainty. It means trusting touch, timing, and intention even when the feedback is subtle or delayed. Some of the most powerful changes happen quietly, once the horse feels safe enough to let go.

A “perfect” session is not one full of dramatic releases. It is one where the horse was listened to, not forced, and given space to respond in their own way.

If you showed up regulated, attentive, and respectful of the horse in front of you, you did your job.

Growth in this work is not linear. Every session, especially the ones that feel messy builds your skill, your feel, and your confidence.

Be kind to yourself.
The horse is not judging you.
And very often, the work is still unfolding long after you have left the yard 🙏

🎓 Professional Equine Massage Training , Visit www.woldsequinemassage.co.uk

01/01/2026

Keeping Artie comfortable through his shoulders back and lumbar is vital. He soon looses flexibility and strength when he’s not working so while he’s had his shoes off for a few weeks I’m trying very hard to keep on top of his bodywork. Gentle tail pull/rock, this exercise applies a gentle stretch through the spine activating his core muscles and encouraging a slight rock back and forth . This exercise also stretches through his mid back region transferring weight helping to improve his posture . I follow this with wither rock ,pelvic tilt and belly lift then leg stretches. His RH is the weaker leg , he fidgets more and tries a sly kick (his attitude changes with no work) I’m hoping we can get back to work very soon 🙏

01/01/2026

Happy new year 🥳
I’m catching up now 🤦‍♀️😆 if I’ve not contacted you by tomorrow night please send me a message see you all soon ###