Egeler Equine Massage Therapy

08/08/2025

Are we really helping the horse? 🐴

I’ve been struggling to put this into words that will make a coherent post for a while, I’m not sure I’ve been successful.

The more horses I meet and the more I learn about their bodies and behaviour the more I realise so much of the training we’re doing is inappropriate for them in that moment.

Today I’m not going to talk about the rough stuff, I want to talk about the gentle training, the slow stuff that appears to be putting the horse first, no explosions just quietly coaxing the horse along. Even when training like this, it can still be inappropriate.

The problem is, most behavioural issues are rooted in chronic stress and/or pain/discomfort.

When we simply train with pressure and release and keep repeating until the horse does the thing, most horses will give up and comply despite being uncomfortable or sore, even if that pressure is seemingly quiet and gentle. If we are persistent enough, even pressure we deem to be “soft” can be enough to make a horse comply to make it stop.

I have a client horse who started exploding under saddle and the rider fell badly. The horse was “cleared” by a vet after a generic lameness work up and they had a trainer out to help them re-back the horse. In the video they shared with me the saddlecloth was introduced rubbed along the horse’s back, the horse tried to walk away and was kept close to the trainer by a lead rope, the horse eventually stopped with a very tense face and tolerated the saddlecloth going on. This process was repeated with the saddle and then the girth. When they went to girth up the horse visibly flinched, so they did it over and over again and explained “he needs to learn its not going to hurt”. The problem is it was hurting and he was desperately trying to communicate this.

I went out to see this horse after he had thrown 2 further riders and referred him straight back to a vet because of all of the very blatant signs of pain he was showing, he was diagnosed with arthritis in his neck and grade 3 stomach ulcers. This horse also had extremely poor muscling over his whole body so regardless of his behaviour no professional should’ve been encouraging sitting on his back.

A lack of explosive behaviour is not a green flag to keep going. We are not listening well enough if we only listen once the horse is screaming at us. Its also no good recognising more subtle signs of stress if you choose to repeatedly ignore them and keep going because you can “show the horse its fine”.

So you're saying its always pain? Yes, no, maybe 🥲. I try to use the word discomfort. Which can mean the obvious kinds of pain in the body we think of, but that can also mean emotional discomfort from training the horse is finding too stressful or physical discomfort from being ridden in uncomfortable postures or asked to do inappropriate levels of work for where their body is at right now. Sometimes all of the above.

This isn’t meant to be a doom and gloom post, perhaps just planting a seed to really look at what we’re doing with our horses when trying to “fix” behavioural issues.

I just wonder how these horses may improve if, instead of going straight to behavioural modification, we just backed off, prioritised their emotional state by getting their daily living situation as stable and low-stress as we can giving them chance to down-regulate, then re-introduced the training scenario in a completely different way to build new, positive associations. Then we would have a base to work from and see what's really going on underneath. Maybe with some time like this and some gentle movement to improve their posture some of those chronic tension/soreness patterns in the body would go away.

We need to be looking at everything, management, social life, nutrition, posture, hoof balance, emotional health, previous history etc, instead we are “problem-solving” behavioural issues by taking a horse into a training space and teaching them to be obedient when pressure is applied, everything else is an after-thought.

Horse doesn’t like the saddle? Keep putting the saddle on and off until they give up and stand still
Horse won’t go forward? Keep nagging with legs/stick until they take a step forward
Horse won’t stand at the mounting block? Make him park there and just put him back every time he moves until he stops bothering.
Horse won’t load on the trailer? Keep applying pressure and only release when he steps forward.

My whole approach now is to get the horse into the absolute best place I can emotionally by reducing the overall stress levels in their life so we can perhaps get them into a trainable state. Sometimes the horse is so stressed that the first session looks like tweaking management and teaching the horse to eat out of some buckets in an appropriate training space, then leaving the owner to do that until the horse is relaxed about it, then the next session we can introduce some training.

When dealing with behavioural issues that can be caused by pain/fear like aversions to tack/being mounted/loading, I’m always going to bring choice to the table, using pressure/release to do this isn’t giving them a real choice. Its quietly shutting down their communication as there’s really only one answer we will accept. When we give horses choices, they can communicate with us more effectively. Sometimes we aren’t going to like the answer, which is why people push against this sort of training as being “ineffective”. But I am more interested in finding out how the horse actual feels so I can then hopefully find out why and help them.

I’m not interested in nagging horses into doing things they do not want to do, and probably cannot do comfortably, for my own interests. Unfortunately it makes for a terrible business model.

This is an industry-wide problem, extreme stress behaviour is so normalised that we’re mistaking less-explosive stress behaviour for calm relaxation. It is also normalised that horses are there for us to use and they should do exactly what we want them to do at all times or else. I don’t know how else to elicit change except to constantly blab on about it, then hopefully those among us who genuinely want to put our horse’s first can start to see through the narratives and see a different way forward. 🐴

29/06/2025

Quick reminder to give your horses some slack when they are worried, scared, anxious or nervous. A direct quote from a lovely lady I met last week 'when we get anxious, we need someone to hold our hand'. Not tell us to pull it together.

Pic by .Photography. Get in touch with Nat if you want a photo session!
*sorry dad, not stealing your horse, he wanted a cuddle 💜

03/06/2025

Animal communication
Reiki/energy healing for humans and animals
Healing with Vibrational Sound and Shamanic Drumming
Meditation and mindfulness workshops
Equine connection
Holistic workshops
Yard visits
Qualified and insured

31/05/2025

Everything about this 👌🏻👌🏻

"In order for the body to heal, we have to take it out of the environment it became sick in"

I spend a lot of time telling people to stop riding their horses. And I really get that this can be down right inconvenient.

But I'm an optimiser.

And when I'm looking at helping a horse's posture to neutralise, quite frankly it can be quicker, easier and far more ethical to teach a horse to find postural neutral without a rider and then teach the rider to maintain that, than it is to teach a rider to fix the posture under saddle.

Particularly when the horses crappy posture developed because of unsympathetic riding, a saddle that wasn't designed to fit any horse, let alone that one, or an instructor who has no understanding that to safeguard a horse's performance, they might need to know how their bodies truly work rather than have committed to FEI rulebook to heart.

I'm totally not saying there aren't people skilled enough to rehabilitate horses whilst riding them, but I would really like to invite you to consider that just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

Because though you might enjoy it, doesn't mean your horse does.

And "it'll be good for you in the long run" doesn't mean it's fair on your horse in the moment.

So if we can do it more simply, in a way that sees the horse for more than just what we can do to their bodies and what they can do for us...

Why don't we?

-

"Should I be riding my horse right now?"

Join Integrative Equine Podiatrist, Beccy Smith, and I as we discuss this topic through a variety of lenses: combining evidence-informed practice and research to give you practical skills to assess your own horse's wellbeing so you can answer the question for yourself.

30.06.2025 19:00 BST

Recording available if you can't make the live ❤️✨️

📸 Olivia Rose Photography .graphy

27/05/2025

A substantial amount of equine professionals and knowledgeable horse owners have recently been voicing their very valid concerns regarding the worrying lack of toplines seen at top level eventing competitions.
In the other camp, there is talk of how we are all "just Sharon's and Karen's and Darren's spouting things beyond our knowledge because we don't 5* event", how these horses are all very fit (no one is doubting their cardiovascular fitness) and how, if they were as atrophied as we say they are, they wouldn't be able to win (see Milestone Equestrian posts on this subject).

So, I'm going to weigh in with some points:

1. A prominent or high wither is down to conformation.

2. A prominent or high wither can exist with or without an acceptable topline and general musculature - but if the horse is in any level of ridden work it SHOULD exist with an acceptable topline and musculature

3. A lean, fit horse can and should have a well developed topline and general musculature.

4. Fat pads and well developed musculature are two very different things.

5. A horse without a well developed topline needs, at the very least, corrective exercises in hand to help promote healthy movement.

6. Tack fit, training, and management all play a substantial role in the presence, or absence, of a well developed topline and musculature.

7. A horse with an atrophied topline can absolutely still compete in top level events - but at what cost to their bodies?

8. You don't need to be a top level competition rider to have a working knowledge and understanding of anatomy, physiology and biomechanics.

The narrative that we have no idea because we're just pony patters with fat cobs and treat pouches is starting to really irk me.
We, the whole equine industry, from barrel racers to eventers to trick riders, need to be better at advocating and voicing issues in the industry for the good of the horse. Professional bodies need to take criticism seriously, and implement and ENFORCE rule changes to improve welfare.
At the end of the day, everyone involved in some way with horses does it because they love horses. It's not about the money. We know this, but is this principle forgotten or ignored when the opportunity for financial rewards is on the table?

19/05/2025

Did you know that horses communicate through movement? Subtle weight changes, ear flicks, lateral movements, are all forms of communication. So by restricting group turnout to the point of the horses being unable to move freely, we are actually restricting or entirely stopping their ability to communicate

14/05/2025

So, my final year theory exam for the Dressage In Hand instructor and rehabilitation course has been passed with flying colours! Now I just need to film my practical and then I will be a fully fledged instructor! Huge thank you to all my clients that have been taking regular lessons from me 💜

10/05/2025

Pricelist update! So I haven't done much to my pricing for several years now, and I'm just going to tweak them a little. This does not affect my monthly or my dressage in hand clients!

So my pricing is now as follows:

Monthly massage program = £40
One off or first time massages = £50
Dressage In Hand lessons = £30

Thank you for understanding! 💜

28/04/2025

22/04/2025

Turnout is one of the most polarizing topics in modern horse keeping. So, let’s skip the debate. We’ve gathered some results from veterinary science, peer-reviewed journals, and international welfare assessments. These are real numbers, from real studies, so you can make strategic decisions rooted in evidence, not tradition.

-A 25% reduction in soft tissue injuries was found in adult horses turned out for at least 12 hours daily, compared to those kept in stalls greater than 12 hours daily. (Reilly & Bryk-Lucy, 2021)

-Comparing turnout duration, a study found that horses with only 2 hours of turnout exhibited significantly higher energy levels, anxiety, and behaviors such as rearing, bucking, and fence running, whereas horses receiving over 12 hours of turnout were more likely to walk, graze, and remain calm. (Hockenhull & Creighton, 2010)

-Foals receiving inconsistent turnout (9 to 23 hours per day) had 4.6 times more musculoskeletal injuries than those with 24/7 access to turnout. Furthermore, for every extra acre of turnout, there was a 24% reduction in injury risk. (Brown-Douglas et al., 2022)

-A study on 2-year-old horses found that those kept in individual stalls required more time to get used to training activities and showed more unwanted behaviors, like resistance or agitation, than horses kept on pasture. The stalled horses needed an average of 26 minutes of training time, while the pastured horses needed only 19 minutes, to complete the same task. Additionally, the stalled horses were more likely to show unwanted behaviors during training (8 instances on average compared to just 2 for pastured horses). (Rivera et al., 2002)

-Stall-kept livestock experience a higher incidence of hoof-related issues, including uneven hoof growth and lameness, while those with access to turnout demonstrated healthier, more balanced hoof development. (Black, R.A. et al., 2017)

-A European welfare study using the AWIN protocol assessed 315 horses in group-housing turnout systems. Only 2.3% of these horses exhibited signs of lameness, compared to lameness rates as high as 33% in stalled horses across various studies. (AWIN Welfare Assessment, 2023)

-Within just one day of moving from group turnout to individual stalling, equine cortisol levels spike, and their white blood cell count shows significant changes, including a 25% increase in neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) and a decrease in infection-fighting cells like monocytes and T cells. Additionally, behaviors indicative of stress, such as oral manipulation, neighing, pawing, and apathy, became evident in most horses within a week. (Schmucker et al., 2022)

-Horses with regular turnout showed higher heart rate variability, indicating improved balance in their autonomic nervous system and greater stress resilience. (Rietmann et al., 2004)

-Welsh ponies who received daily pasture turnout in a herd exhibited fewer stress-related behaviors, were significantly calmer, less fearful, less reactive, more interactive with humans, and more adaptable in learning tasks compared to ponies housed in impoverished environments (stalls with limited turnout). Even three months after the study, ponies in the enriched group retained these positive behaviors and demonstrated higher curiosity and superior learning performance. (Lansade et al., 2014)

Can you find a single peer-reviewed study that shows horses kept stabled 24/7 are sounder, healthier, or happier than those with regular turnout? Even the most finely tuned, performance-focused horses are still horses. Just like any other, they require room to roam, stretch their legs, and engage in natural behaviors such as grazing and socializing.

It’s important to recognize that no horse truly dislikes turnout. If a horse resists going outside, it’s due to improper conditioning, previous negative experiences, or being overwhelmed by a sudden change in environment: what’s known as "flooding." Horses who’ve been confined for extended periods or who’ve never had proper exposure to outdoor spaces may react with anxiety or reluctance. These reactions stem from fear, not from an inherent dislike of turnout. With patience and gradual exposure, every horse can be reconditioned to embrace the outdoors. After all, instincts tell them to roam, graze, and move, it's in their nature.

Of course, there are times when limiting a horse's movement is necessary, such as during health issues or transportation. In these instances, it’s crucial to understand the physiological and psychological changes that occur so we can minimize stress and discomfort.

Turnout is a biological necessity. To support our horses’ overall health and well-being, we must prioritize their freedom to move. After all, a healthy, happy horse is one that has the opportunity to be just that: a horse.

16/04/2025

Spiritual and emotional stressors very often manifest themselves in physical tension and discomfort. So it goes without saying that in the healing process, the spiritual and emotional side should not be forgotten. I highly recommend booking a reiki and healing session to see for yourselves how beneficial it is ❤️

🧡Did you know your horse’s emotional health is just as important as their physical well-being?🧡

Horses are incredibly sensitive beings. Emotional stress—whether from past trauma, environmental changes, or inconsistent handling—can manifest physically in their bodies. Tight muscles, stiffness, digestive issues, and even behavioural changes often have emotional roots.

This is where massage therapy plays a beautiful role.
Equine massage helps release muscle tension, improves circulation, supports lymphatic drainage, and encourages relaxation. It gives horses a chance to “let go” of the physical burden of stress.
We cannot recommend Fiona Egeler Equine Massage Therapy enough, she is a beautiful soul with skills, knowledge and experience🩷

BUT—it’s not a magic fix.
While massage can ease symptoms and support healing, it doesn’t replace deeper work like identifying triggers, addressing pain sources, or rebuilding trust and confidence. For long-term wellness, massage should be part of a holistic approach that includes physical care, emotional support, and a consistent, compassionate environment.

Your horse’s body tells a story. Are you listening?

15/04/2025

Couldn't have said it better myself

“𝐌𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐁𝐞 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐎𝐮𝐭, 𝐇𝐞’𝐥𝐥 𝐇𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟.” 𝐍𝐨, 𝐖𝐞 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐢𝐦 𝐚 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞.

It’s a phrase I’ve heard too many times and every time, it hits the same nerve.

No, your horse isn’t a danger to himself because turnout is risky. He’s dangerous because he’s been denied everything that would make him mentally and physically capable of handling life outside a stable.

We’ve taken animals designed to roam miles a day, interact socially, graze constantly, and move with freedom and we’ve locked them in boxes. Told ourselves they’re “managed.” That this is what it takes to keep them “safe.”
Safe for what?
To protect a price tag? A schedule? An image?

We’ve raised horses so sheltered they don’t know how to walk up a hill, handle a breeze, or tolerate a patch of rain. Horses who panic at birds, trip over flat ground, and break under pressure and we’ve convinced ourselves that is better than the “risk” of turnout.

Let’s stop lying to ourselves.
The issue isn’t turnout.
The issue is 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆.

We’ve built an industry where horses aren’t horses they’re assets. Investments. Marketing tools. The minute a horse carries a six-figure price tag, it stops being allowed to behave like an animal. Every choice becomes about preserving performance, protecting value, and minimising risk even if it means stripping away everything that supports actual wellbeing.

In this system,
freedom becomes dangerous.
Socialisation? A liability.
Forage? Controlled.
Rest? Only if it fits between the shows.
And turnout? God forbid that might cost you a win.

𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐦: 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 “𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐲” 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞.

I’ve worked with horses who’ve never touched grass. Never seen another horse face to face. Never been allowed to roll in the dirt or splash in puddles. And yet we still call them “well cared for” because they’ve got a shiny coat and a clean stable.

Is that really the bar we’ve set?

We’ve normalised a sport where basic needs are seen as optional where turnout is a luxury, not a right. And we’ve done it all under the guise of professionalism, tradition, and discipline. But the truth is, it’s all rooted in control and control is rooted in fear.

Fear of injury.
Fear of financial loss.
Fear of losing an edge in the ring.
Fear of what might happen if we let horses be horses.

𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀.

And that system? It’s powered by money. Eye-watering sums. Massive prize pots. Elite sponsors who know nothing about horses but everything about brand alignment. Spectators who clap for polished rounds without ever asking what it took to get there.

It’s not just about individual choices. It’s about an entire culture that rewards success at any cost and the first thing to go, every time, is the horse’s voice.

So yes, if your horse “can’t be turned out,” that’s not a fact to accept, 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻.
A symptom.
A call to wake up and ask: What are we really building here?

Because if our horses can’t handle life as horses, then something is fundamentally broken. And if we keep justifying that because of money, prestige, or pressure, then we are complicit in it.

We can’t change the whole system overnight. But we can choose what we tolerate. We can speak up. We can demand that welfare isn’t sacrificed for a rosette or a sponsor.

And

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐱 𝐢𝐭.

We don’t need to eliminate competition. But we do need to stop pretending that chasing results excuses neglecting needs.

The horses can’t ask for more. But we can ask for them. We can do better. And if we love them as much as we say we do, we have to.

𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠.

Let’s start giving something back.