Gemma Todd Equine Sports Massage Therapist

03/12/2025

The joint between the lumbar and sacral vertebrae is called the Lumbar-Sacral Junction (LSJ).

This is a hinge joint which can be felt at the point where the spinous processes of the lumbar vertebra slope forwards and those of the sacrum point backwards.

It's the LSJ that allows the pelvis to tilt and has a significant role to play in allowing the hindlegs to come under the body when the horse canters, jumps or performs high level dressage movements.

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23/11/2025

We are excited to announce that we are expecting a little girl April next year 💕

I will be finishing work on or around 2nd March for maternity. Once we are in the swing of our new life I will initially have availability on Sundays for clients who would like appointments/lessons.

For now I will continue to ride Parsley but wont be riding any others 🐴

If you have any questions please drop me a message 😊

Thanks Gemma x

23/11/2025

Why Some Horses Feel “Different” the Day After a Massage

It’s normal for a horse to feel a little loose, wiggly, or slightly uncoordinated the day after bodywork. This isn’t a setback — it’s a sign the body and nervous system are reorganizing after tension releases.

Why It Happens

1. The Brain–Body Map Just Updated

Massage changes how the body moves and how the brain senses it. When old restrictions release, the horse needs 24–48 hours to recalibrate balance and coordination.

2. Fascia Is Rehydrating and Reorganizing

Fascia gains glide and elasticity after bodywork. As it reshapes, the horse may feel temporarily loose or “floppy” while new tension lines settle.

3. Muscle Tone Drops Before It Rebalances

Protective tension turns off first, and postural muscles turn on second. That short gap can feel like softness or mild instability.

4. Proprioception Is Resetting

The horse is getting a flood of new sensory information. The nervous system needs a bit of time to interpret it and organize new, freer movement.

5. Old Patterns Are Gone — New Ones Are Forming

When restrictions release, the old compensation disappears instantly. The new, healthier pattern takes a little time to establish.

Normal for 24–48 Hours

✔ Slight wobbliness
✔ Extra bendiness
✔ Feeling loose or “disconnected”
✔ Mildly behind the leg

Usually by day 2–3, movement improves noticeably.

Not Normal

✘ Lameness
✘ Heat or swelling
✘ Sharp pain
✘ Symptoms worsening after 48 hours

These need veterinary attention.

How to Support Integration
• Light walk work or hacking
• Hand walking
• Gentle stretching
• Turnout and hydration
• Pole work after 48–72 hours

Movement helps lock in new patterns.

Why Some Horses Recalibrate and Others Don’t

Every horse’s response reflects their unique body:

A horse may need more integration time if they’re:
• tight or guarded
• weak in stabilizing muscles
• coming out of chronic patterns
• sensitive or older
• less body-aware

A horse may feel great immediately if they’re:
• already symmetrical
• strong and conditioned
• biomechanically correct
• quick to adapt neurologically
• had fewer restrictions to begin with

Both responses are normal — they simply tell you a different story about the horse’s body and nervous system.

https://koperequine.com/the-power-of-slow-why-slow-work-is-beneficial-for-horses/

08/11/2025

It is important as professionals to attend CPD’s (Continued Professional Development) - it allows us to stay current with the latest techniques and research, as well as revisiting things we already knew.

Time to get my books back out & revisit the Osteopathic manipulation & mobilisation techniques ready for an online refresher day.
These have been useful & I have found combining them with my myofascial release & trigger point work has proved beneficial to my clients 😊🐴

You never stop learning.

23/10/2025

06/10/2025

If you've noticed that your horse is sore on one or both sides of the base of the withers, this could be the culprit.

I find painful dysfunction in this muscle frequently, and it's nearly always accompanied by weak back muscle, restriction around the base of withers due to saddle fit, and stress through the lower neck.

I wrote this post in 2016, thinking it might be of interest to a few people. I was wrong, as it's now had nearly 100K views!

Read 'Meet Spinalis, the Forgotten Muscle in Saddle Fitting' here: https://buff.ly/4aOytul

01/07/2025

⭐️ I am back off holiday, if I haven’t responded to a message from you let me know - I ll be sorting my diary tomo ⭐️

🔹Unusually I also have some weekend availability this Sat (5th July) for Equine Sports Massage or lesson - drop me a message if you’d like to book in 😊

🔸Looking ahead July & August are starting to fill up - if you haven’t already booked but need a specific date don’t leave it too late 🐴

23/06/2025

I am away on holiday Tuesday 24th June - Tuesday 1st July
I ll reply to message once back Wednesday 2nd July 😊 ☀️

10/05/2025

**Due to a cancellation I have availability Tuesday (13th May) for Equine Sports Massage 😊🐴**

21/04/2025

⭐️Dodo thoroughly approved of his recent massage. Dodo has a few underlying health issues, Equine Sports Massage treatments are an important part of his routine to help him stay comfortable so he can still enjoy hacking⭐️

Pictured below ⬇️ him releasing tension by yawning during treatment.

𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 has many benefits for all horses - 3 of the main benefits are:

𝟏. Reduces risk of injury

𝟐. Relaxes & soothes restricted soft tissue

𝟑. Increases range of movement & improves performance

If you have any questions how Equine Sports Massage can benefit your horse or to book an appointment please get in touch 😊

☎️ 𝟬𝟳𝟳𝟵𝟯𝟵𝟳𝟬𝟵𝟰𝟰
𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 & 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 - 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆