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EquiTouch - Equine Musculoskeletal Therapy, North Brisbane, QLD, Auckland (2025)

17/11/2024

Great to see more work being done on recognising and understand horse expressions. The more we can identify and understand the "subtle" signs the better! Horses usually show signs of discomfort long before they resort to kicking, biting, bucking etc.

Thank you to horseandpeople.com.au for putting this together and sharing with the community. The more we know and understand the more our horses benefit.

30/08/2024

So what is fascial release therapy?

Whilst it’s effectiveness is apparent by the horses let downs during sessions and the reported improvements post treatments, it’s often initially perplexing to the horses person what I am actually doing to achieve this! So, a relatable overview and some food for thought on a stunning Friday evening 😎

Fascial release is a gentle technique which involves identifying key soft tissue restrictions and impingements and releasing these. Predominantly via soft, progressive pressure and tissue-stretching holds. I have previously posted about fascia in depth so please check that out for more information on the fascial system itself ☺️

In order to have a profound and long lasting effect, tissue requires time to release tension, lengthen and reorganise. I’m sure many of us remember being a super flexible kid, doing the splits, cartwheels or maybe even touching our toes to the back of our heads! All without even trying it seemed….today, not so much…and if I tried I’d likely injure myself! To get back there safely would take time, practice and patience. This same patience and gentle approach is key to have your horse achieve optimal mobility and balance; improving form and function over time. Sadly there is no such thing as a quick fix, that said, progress can start today!

I have previously posted about the importance of horses being relaxed in order for their system to make changes and for these changes to “stick”. This is also to avoid risk of strain or over stretching which can have a recoil effect and alarm the nervous system which may result in more tension, not less! Ever had physical therapy yourself where the pressure was too much or something was hyperextended or over loaded and your whole body tensed up? You may have even been more sore over the upcoming days and weeks than before! Same goes for horses, less pressure is often more; especially when faced with resistance, tension or discomfort!

Retraining the nervous system is a key component of any effective therapy and often times compensation patterns become the bodies new “normal” long after an injury or unfavourable habit-forming stimuli has subsided. For example, a mare only feeding her foal from one side. Or an off the tracker who was only trained on one lead. Without intervention to improve imbalances, these predispositions remain prevalent as their bodies are adapted for past, one-sided requirements. Is your horse better balanced in a circle on one rein? Probably!

We all have a dominant side and even without injury, we all get tight in our soft tissue from use and/or lack of use. Without intervention, over time this compounds until even touching our toes may be out of the question let alone doing the splits! Imbalances are a part of life, but they can be minimised and improved upon. Furthermore, imbalances can form as a result of injury and these compensatory imbalances can have more intense implications depending on the severity of the injury. Have you ever broken a bone or sprained an ankle? How long did it take you to stop favouring the one side? Did you stop? Did your 'good' side start getting sore from the extra load? How much strength and mobility did you lose after a stint in a cast or on crutches? Perhaps you can relate? I know I can!

What started out as a protective mechanism can turn into a longterm pattern, resulting in loss of strength and mobility which prevents balance from returning without intervention. Unlike us, horses don’t get the same opportunities to effectively rest injured or strained areas for long periods without additional load being distributed throughout their musculoskeletal system. This makes recovery slower and more complex. Not to mention horses rarely have weekly rehab post healing, as we humans are prescribed!

Influencing the nervous system to re-align and re-evaluate what has become a “set position” requires deep relaxation in the body allowing for freedom of exploration in improved, or perhaps, past ways of being (pre-injury or restriction). It is with this in mind that I pose key biomechanics questions and suggestions to your horse and gently encourage them to explore new and healthier “norms” during our treatment time. I do this through supporting affected areas through gentle articulations and range of motion exploration, post releasing soft tissue tension. It is in these moments that the nervous system has an opportunity to reset and challenge any impaired “set positions”.

There are many benefits of bodywork for horses, not just to improve their mobility, comfort and performance but also to help prevent injury. I also integrate kinesiology taping, red light and SureFoot pads to further enhance and compliment treatments depending on the individuals needs. Attached picture is of an initial taping for a horse who’s top-line atrophied over several months, post going into spasm over several days of long distance travel. This horse also fell during transport and displayed deviation of his last 2 lumbar vertebrae and pelvis with further implications for his sacral and caudal spine positioning and all associated soft tissues. A combination of regular bodywork to alleviate tension within the soft tissue, thus freeing up associated boney structures; combined with ‘prescribed’ stretches performed between treatments and kinesiology taping has significantly improved these issues and continues to do so. His boney alignment has returned to near normal and his soft tissue is no longer contracted, allowing for strength and suppleness to return.

Anywho, I hope this helps clear up any question-marks for anyone curious and yet to try fascial release bodywork for their horse. Feel free to reach out if you’d like to know more 😇

25/06/2024

Stretches - a free and easy way to help your horse improve and maintain their health 😊
Below is some information on stretching benefits and best practices as well as a description of my all-time favourite stretch - particularly for ridden horses and those with compromised backs.
Feel free to get in touch with any questions or for more information ☺️

Stretched or lengthened muscles are able to work to their full capacity, improving performance, progress rate and overall health. Incorporating stretching into your daily routine with your horse can significantly improve your horses comfort and potential and get you closer to your goals.

Stretching is a slow and low force application, it is important to apply stretch to the end range of motion when the tissue and structures are warm and not to try for too much too fast. Taking a stretch too far can cause tension and recoil which is the opposite of our aim, so have patience, read your horse and prioritise correct form - quality over quantity! ☺️

All stretches are safest and best achieved when your horses muscles are warmed up first, consider doing these:
- after a brisk in-hand walk
- after some in-hand pole work
- after a ridden warm up before the “working” portion of your ride (remember to remove tack first, so it doesn’t restrict your horse during stretching)
- after a ride

These are all great times to stretch your horse 🥳

Without further ado: *The Bow*

Stand your horse square on a flat surface.
Have your horse follow a treat with their nose down to their fetlocks and pass through their front legs - it’s important their nose remains lower than the height of their knees for this stretch and their knees do not bend.

The aim is for your horses nose to go between their
front legs but this may not be possible immediately
whilst keeping good form. It is important that your horses knees do not bend during this stretch so use this as a benchmark for knowing how far to take your horses nose each time.

This is a great daily stretch for your horse. At first no hold is necessary just get your horse used to the stretch and familiarise yourself with your horses current range. Once you are both comfortable with this, ask your horse to hold the stretch for a few seconds at a time slowly working up to approximately 30 second holds.
Once your horse is comfortably able to hold this stretch, see if they are ready to increase their range of motion. If they are able to take their nose further than before without their knees bending, then start again with no hold or a few seconds hold and repeat the process.

Main Benefits:
- This stretch lifts and separates the spine particularly in the thoracic region where the saddle is placed, helping to prevent and ease any discomfort associated with impingements.
- Entire topline is stretched.
- Core is activated.
- Stabilisers of the hindquarter and chest are activated.

Any questions or if there is a particular area you would like to know how to best stretch, feel free to reach out or comment below🙂

*Animation image demonstrating Bow stretch
*Anatomy image is of a slide presented at an anatomy discover workshop by Evolution Equine Services - Maggie Ashley demonstrating postural implications

30/05/2024

Gait Patterns - Paddling

Recently I have seen a handful of "paddlers" so I thought a series of posts on various gait patterns could be helpful to shed some light on what is going on under the skin, longterm implications and potential treatments/relief 🐴 please let me know if you have any questions or a particular gait pattern you would like me to post about next =D

Paddling:

Paddling describes the outward curving arc displayed during the swing phase of movement in the distal (lower) portion of one or both forelimb(s), originating at the carpal joint (knee) and continuing to the hoof. Depending on the degree of the paddle and/or misalignment factors at play, compensatory movement of the neck and head may also be observed.

Stance considerations:

Oftentimes, but not always, paddling is observed in horses with a base-narrow and/or toed-in stance.
- Base-narrow misalignment originating in the shoulder region, weight-bearing is unevenly distributed with increased load being applied laterally (outer side) along the limb, whilst the lateral limb is being compressed by the additional load the medial limb (inside) is being stretched; paddling is often observed.
- Toed-in (a.k.a pigeon toed) misalignment originating in the fetlock and often encourages paddling in order to avoid the horse knocking him/herself.

Potential longterm implications:

Longterm, paddling can cause overstrain of the carpal joint (knee) resulting in wear and tear of the cartilage, giving rise to arthrosis (a form of arthritis).
A base-narrow stance can lead to signs of wear accumulating along the lateral side of the forelimb(s), such as synovitis (inflammation of the synovial membrane) of the joint, ossification of the hoof cartilage and/or arthrotic changes in the joints.
While a toed-in stance can lead to signs of wear on the medial proximal sesamoid bone (a key component located at the back of the fetlock joint).

A few therapies to consider:

Firstly, identifying the cause(s) of any gait abnormalities is key in formulating initial and ongoing treatment plans and whilst most gait pattern issues are likely not dire to the immediate 'soundness' of your horse, veterinary input is essential in diagnosing any issue and providing ongoing assessment and care of our equine companions. Whilst therapies can offer great results, set confirmation and permanent changes impose limitations and prescribed pain relief may be required in chronic cases.

That said, let’s talk specific applications for reducing paddling:

In young horses whose growth plates have not set yet, corrective trimming is desired to correct toed-in dispositions as well as alleviate uneven loading in base-narrow stance, while shoulder misalignments are being addressed.

In adult horses, appropriate trimming that respects any set positions and gradually encourages best possible loading of the hoof/distal limb and/or reduce the risk of knocking his/herself in the swing phase may help reduce paddling.

In all cases, soft tissue therapy focused on releasing tension and countering the shortening of fibres of tissues under strain can produce great results over time in reducing paddling and improving stance and misalignments.

Strengthening programmes focused on muscles which will counteract and lessen the burden of overstrained structures can encourage better alignment and reduce strain.

Kinesiology tape has many applications depending on what is presenting. For instance, corrective taping can provide continual stimulus, disrupting the ‘set memory pattern’ of the tissues and nervous system and encouraging improved gait as well as misalignments. In chronic cases presenting with inflammation, kinesiology taping can be used to lift the skin slightly, creating additional space under the skin and drainage pathways for swelling to dissipate and tissues to decompress.

SureFoot pads can also have profound effects on stimulating neurological retraining whilst also providing a platform in which the horse can navigate his/her own stance and make self guided adjustments as well as providing relief for stiff joints.

Photonic therapy can be applied to areas of inflammation, stiffness and tension to help improve circulation and nutrient delivery to areas in need.

There are numerous helpful therapies, this list is not exhaustive by any means and often times a combination of thoughtfully applied techniques and tools will result in the best results =)

Age, cause(s) and duration of affliction alters aspects of treatment including trimming and expectations of results. These are the therapies, when applied together, that I have found to be the most effective and have positive, lasting results =)

Case study (photos):
Whilst I rarely take before and after videos/photos, today I do have an example to share with you. The horse pictured stands base narrow and lands laterally, he also used to paddle and was toed-in. A combination of suitable trimming and bodywork has resulted in drastic improvements, now we have a horse who is neither toed-in nor paddling but still on the base-narrow side and landing laterally (on the outside of his hoof). Time to apply corrective kinesiology taping.
The result was immediate, with the taping in place he is now landing evenly and a wider base stance.

I wish I had documented this horses starting point and progress along the way but I find this can interrupt the flow of treatments, however, I had wanted to record this horses movement in order to show the handler what I was seeing and thus I have, albeit poor quality (sorry!), comparisons to share with you today. A big thank you to those willing to share their stories to help other horses and people!

I hope you found this post helpful, as always if you have any questions please feel free to reach out =)

24/05/2024

The Wonderful Web of Fascia!

Warning, some nerd talk! But with a direct example of equine anatomical relevance and consideration for us horse lovers and riders at the end 🥰🦄🐎

Early on, fascia was decidedly identified as connective tissue with little more focus or importance placed upon it. Thankfully fascia is increasingly being recognised for the phenomenal and essential three-dimensional living matrix that it is.

Fascia not only provides support, gives rise to form and maintains integrity throughout the body, its uninterrupted, interpenetration throughout the entire body is crucial in communication between and correct metabolism of each and every cell. Fascia is a dynamic and receptive network. It has an elastic portion that provides flexibility and resiliency; a collagenous portion consisting of microtubules filled with a crystalline saline solution, giving rise to form whilst also providing support, strength and stability; and the extracellular matrix which varies from solid states to a viscous gel-like fluid, this matrix determines the functional capabilities of every cell in the body. With love and respect, please read this last bit twice! Much bigger role than just holding some stuff together, right?! And we still have so much to learn!

Research is mounting in support of fascia providing our most important perceptual organ as well as questioning anatomical distinctions in science today. Numerous studies examining contractile properties and function of musculoskeletal tissues, including fascia, have lead to speculation of current distinctions between active and passive tissues. Fascia itself has been shown to contain contractile tissue and significant results noted when contraction was applied over several minutes and longer. Such sustained cellular contractions were found to impact motoneuron coordination over several minutes and when observed over days and even months, this cellular activity induced long-term and severe tissue contractures.

Real world translation: fascia reorganises itself in response to external and/or internal forces in order to lock down areas of the body as an involuntary protection mechanism. When damaged, fascia can easily shorten, become rigid and form fibrotic bands. These restrictions have far reaching effects as nerves and blood vessels may be compromised resulting in impaired nutrient delivery, metabolism and oxygen exchange at the cellular level, as well as placing a great deal of tension on the body due to the enormous tensile strength of fascia. If these restrictions do not release they progress into fascial strain patterns and compensations which resonate throughout the body due to it's deeply interconnected nature.

Whilst I find all this nerd talk fascinating and could go on infinitely (believe me when I say this is the greatly shortened version of my initial ramblings!), for now let's bring it back to our equine companions, shall we? 🤓

Whilst most are aware of their horses top line in terms of muscular development, many may not be aware that directly under the skin spanning a large portion of the horses back, is a concentrated sheet of facia know as the thoracolumbar fascial sheet. So considering how significant the role of fascia is and understanding that there is a vast sheet, which is intimately connected throughout the entire body, right below the skin and our seat/saddle when we ride, let's contemplate for a moment just how significant our influence as a rider, bodyworker, saddle fitter and caretaker is. The implications are endless, really! 🤯
Checking our horses over regularly, having niggles seen to - both in our horses and ourselves, having saddles fitted and refitted as often as needed, all these efforts go along way 😇🥰🦄

Knowledge is power and sharing is caring, I hope this shed some light on how truly amazing fascia is and maybe even provided some insight as to why our horses never quite ride the same on days when we are tight in our own hips or perhaps slept funny the night before!

Images taken from Stroll Under The Skin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW0lvOVKDxE&t=88s - warning, video content is not for the squeamish or those who have had their fill of nerd talk for one day!
Alternatively, I suggest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSXpX4wyoY8 it’s squeamish friendly and easier to follow for those who are nerded out ☺️

Feel free to reach out with any questions or for recommended readings for anyone wanting to dive deeper 😁

22/03/2024

Do you know what's in your horses pasture and p**p?!

F***l egg counts (FEC) are a great way of evaluating parasite burden, when to deworm and what to use. A f***l egg count provides valuable insights into parasite load - quantity as well as types! This knowledge allows for targeted treatment and improved results for your horse - win win! A follow up FEC will let you know how effective deworming was and whether resistant parasites are present.

Not all horses in the same pasture will have the same parasite burden, it's entirely possibly that 80% of pasture parasites are shedded by only 20% of the herd members. While approximately 50% of herd members frequently show to be low shedders.

Through f***l egg counts individual parasite control programmes can be established for the betterment of the entire herd, reducing the risk of parasite resistance, and determine when targeted exposure to dewormers is necessary and for who.

F***l egg counts can usually be organised through your local vet, select few online companies offer these services, or feel free to ask me to bring my microscope along to our next bodywork appointment and we can do a FEC test on the spot!

Knowledge is power 😊

17/03/2024

Confirmation vs Posture - it matters!

It is only too often that over my years as a barefoot trimmer and now holistic bodyworker I have heard postural issues being mistakenly identified as poor confirmation and thus thought to be fixed. Whilst confirmation certainly can be at fault for form and function issues, it's frequently not the true culprit.

Often times, unfavourable changes in posture and skeletal alignment are due to soft tissue tension influencing their boney attachments. For instance, kyphosis (roach back) is commonly a result of the psoas muscles going into spasm and shortening which compresses the lumbar spine. This results in the curvature we see, and bone-on-bone contact of the dorsal spinous processes. This friction creates heat, the body responds by sending calcium to lock it down. All together, these factors result in your roach back and, if unresolved, permanent boney changes. This shortening of the sub-lumbar soft tissue also causes varying degrees of misalignment in the pelvis implicating the sacroiliac and hind limb joints. Thus the entire back end is compromised and not able to function optimally. Ironically, the original cause of the psoas muscles shortening is commonly due to compensation for restrictions in the front end!

The good news is that postural issues have a cause and can be alleviated through releasing restrictions and progressively lengthening soft tissue once again - allowing the boney structures to resume proper alignment, provided no permanent changes, such as fusion, has occurred.

As well as addressing the shortened muscles and skeletal misalignments, resolving the cause of the muscular stress in the first place is paramount to prevent reoccurrence. Was it a result of compensation for an issue elsewhere in the body? Was injury or a paddock slip a factor? Nutrition? Dentistry? Performance demands? The list goes on!

The ins and outs of equine form, function and overall health and wellbeing can be overwhelming, simply recognising when something's not quite right and listening to our horses when they try to tell us, is the first step. Seeking help is next 😊

07/03/2024

We all know how important posture is for comfort, form and function. Seeing this up close at Evolution Equine Services - Maggie Ashley's anatomy workshop reinforced just how important this is. In this slide we see a caudal portion of thoracic vertebrae of the same horse positioned in two variations. In the first (top row) alignment the dorsal spinous processes impinge on one another. However, in the second (bottom row) alignment we see how space can be encouraged in the same horse through improved posture. There are many factors which influence posture and in turn imbalances in one area has interconnected compensatory affects throughout the body. However, just as there are many potential causes of poor posture and skeletal/muscular asymmetries, there are also a number of ways we can help our horses improve posture, strength, and stability to support compromised areas. A combination of therapies, tailored non weight-bearing exercises, variable feeding positions and stretches can be used to improve and maintain better posture, form, and function for our equine companions to be at their best.

05/03/2024

Long distance travel is a big ask on horses in many ways, confined to one position and the constant use of stabilising muscles can leave horses fatigued and with restrictions. This 17.2hh sport horse had significantly reduced movement in his neck, was fatigued and his nervous system was still on high alert after his international travel. He had massive let downs during his treatment and reportedly the biggest sleep for the rest of the day and week to follow. His mobility has improved and he will be back on top of his game in no time. Always a pleasure working with giving horses and their compassionate people 🥰

05/03/2024

Hoof care plays a major role in overall form, function and comfort. Whilst I have transitioned from barefoot trimmer to bodyworker, my tools are never far from hand for any essential remedial on the spot corrections. As we trimmers always say: "no point trimming a straight hoof onto a crooked leg", the same applies in reverse for us bodyworkers too! 🙂

29/02/2024

Loved working with this boy and I'd say by the look on his face he enjoyed his treatment too!

28/02/2024

Discomfort is commonly the underlying cause of concerns with our horses, including:
- behavioural issues on the ground and/or under saddle
- changes in temperament, socialisation habits with other horses and/or people
- reduced performance/loss of power
- reoccurring lameness
- injury prone
- girthing issues
- bitting issues
- stumbling, tripping
The list goes on!

In addition to addressing issues, fascial release is a great way to give back to our beloved horses for all the hard work they do for us. Just like any athlete, horses need regular musculoskeletal attention to stay on top of their game and stay comfortable in their later years.

In order for changes to occur in soft tissue and the affected skeletal counterparts, and for these results to last, a horses nervous system must be relaxed during therapy sessions (Autonomic Nervous System - parasympathetic state). Fascial release is a gentle modality allowing horses to relax during their treatments, and for meaningful tension to release in tight and restricted areas of soft tissue, which in turn improves skeletal impingements, alignment and posture. I think of it as the yin yoga of equine therapies for all you yogies out there!

I commonly integrate the use of Red Light therapy for improving cellular regeneration and repair, SureFoot proprioception training pads, and Vetkin taping when required.

Biomechanics observations are carried out at each appointment and stretch/strength/rehab plans provided pertaining to individual needs.

Please contact me should you wish to know more or would like to chat about how I can help you and your horse achieve comfort and your goals along the way!

Qualified fascial release therapist since 2020. I continually up-skill and attend educational clinics covering all areas of equine care, form and function in order to provide the best service and level of care possible.

Having recently moved to Queensland I am excited to get to know many new faces and share this journey with you and your beloved equine companions!

EquiTouch - Equine Musculoskeletal Therapy

17/11/2024

30/08/2024

25/06/2024

30/05/2024

24/05/2024

22/03/2024

17/03/2024

07/03/2024

05/03/2024

05/03/2024

29/02/2024

28/02/2024

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