EquiPoise

02/08/2026

💝 Valentine’s Day Raffle – Don’t Miss This! 💝

I’m excited to share this Valentine’s Day raffle from an equine assisted therapy program I’ve been proud to be involved with for nearly 18 years. This organization does incredible work providing high-quality equine assisted therapy while also giving many horses a lifelong career and loving home.

The raffle basket is perfect for horse owners and riders, and every entry directly supports their mission. Treat yourself, support a great cause, and help make a real difference for both horses and people.

Check it out and enter to win! 💗🐴

Where are all our HORSE OWNERS & RIDERS? STEP up and shower your equine with love or give a gift to a friend while supporting TEAM STEP EQUINES! awesome products from local venders and Equine business owners. venmo @ Karen-Stanley-White for STEP.
Several ways to take a chance. Drawing will be Feb 28th

01/03/2026

Okay — breaking down one of my most common reasons for physiotherapy treatments.

Often times, owners or riders will say “I feel they’re tight on the left side of their body”. When I ask why, the response is usually “they really struggle on the left rein”.

When a horse struggles to bend either way, it is usually because the side of the horse’s body on the outside of the bend is experiencing dysfunction and tightness.

The outside of the body is then “shortened”, meaning the horse will fall in on turns, &/ find one rein significantly easier than the other. Other symptoms are; difficulty cantering one way, feeling like one of the riders legs is pushed out, poking of the jaw, asymmetrical hoof shape and more.

An important note here is that neither bend will be correct until your horse is symmetrical to bend each way. Just because they’re easier to bend one way, doesn’t mean that the body is actually functional; it will be likely due to the inside of the horse being more contracted and therefore positioned for “bend”.

Skipping over how I treat these cases (I will return at a later time with a post on this!), a few points on how exercises can help horses that experience one sided stiffness (of course after the cause has been investigated, identified and treated!!):

🐴 Instead of forcing the bend, counter flex your horse on their easier rein and yield the ribs inwards. This will help mobilise the ribs on the outside of the body, increasing flexibility and improving straightness.

🐴 Mobilise the pelvis — so many people reach for the neck, but if the pelvis can mobilise symmetrically to each side in quick succession, it can provide a basis for straightness and suppleness. Use transitions & & renvers on a figure of eight, progressing to counterflexing in each transition.

By trying to ask the horse to bend more, you will often be met with more bracing, so instead use gentle mobilisation work to loosen up and improve symmetry and function to both sides of the body.

01/01/2026

Ending this year feeling incredibly thankful. Thank you to each and every client who supported my equine massage business and allowed me to care for your horses. I’m grateful for the trust, the relationships, and the horses that make this work so meaningful. Looking forward to continuing this journey together in 2026 💙🐎

11/27/2025

Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving🦃🥧🍂

11/26/2025

I had such a great time working with these girls today! Each one has her own unique way of responding to massage and releasing tension, which makes every session a little different and always rewarding. Their owner has shared some wonderful feedback about how relaxed they are after their sessions—often continuing to release tension even after I’m finished working with them. She’s also noticed significant improvements in their overall comfort, muscle texture, and movement.

I’m so proud of the progress these mares are making and love being part of their wellness routine. 💕🐴✨

11/06/2025

This lovely little mustang really enjoyed her session last week! 💆‍♀️ This was her third appointment, and she has made some fantastic progress since we began working together.

When we started, she was experiencing a front limb lameness along with significant tightness and sensitivity through her withers and back. Over the course of her sessions, her owner has noticed a marked improvement in her movement, and even her farrier has commented that she feels much less@ tight during trims — wonderful feedback that shows how consistent bodywork can make a difference! ✨

11/06/2025

✨ Busy Day in the Barn! ✨

Today was a full and rewarding day working with nine horses. One of the things I love most about this job is that every horse I see has their own unique story and set of needs.

While some of today’s sessions were for routine maintenance, others were focused on helping horses with specific challenges — including one managing an old tendon injury that recently flared up, another dealing with a hoof abscess, one who struggles to regulate their nervous system and is highly sensitive around their poll, and a horse recovering after getting cast in their stall.

Bodywork and PEMF are incredible tools that allow me to support each horse’s individual needs while also helping their body and mind work together in balance. 💆‍♀️🐴💫

11/02/2025

✨ Progress Spotlight! ✨

This handsome guy had his 3rd massage session yesterday, and he’s made some fantastic progress! 🐴💪

He came to his owner with an old, untreated shoulder injury that led to a buildup of scar tissue in his right shoulder. This caused stiffness in his right front limb and made it difficult for him to move freely forward. To compensate, he’s been carrying extra tension in his right hind, especially through the hamstrings.

At the start of each session, he often struggles to stand square behind due to the uneven tension in his hind end—but by the end of his session, he’s able and willing to stand square all on his own, showing just how much relief and balance the bodywork brings.

Through consistent bodywork every six weeks, we’ve helped improve his comfort, range of motion, and overall balance. His owner can even tell when he’s due for his next session—proof of how in tune they are with each other! ❤️

10/04/2025

☀️Massages on a picturesque fall day 🍂

09/26/2025

A very interesting read!

An article written by Dr Carol Shwetz, DVM on Pelvic collapse in horses. I look forward to sharing much more from Carol as we deep dive into problems related to immaturity and dysmaturity in our horses.

https://www.producer.com/livestock/pelvic-instability-often-undiagnosed-in-young-horses

09/13/2025

✨ Before & After Magic ✨

Check out this perfect palomino pony’s massage session results! 💛 One of his biggest tight spots was along the right side of his withers and just behind them — but look at the difference after some focused work. 🙌 You can even see noticeable changes in his glutes too. 🍑🐴

Massage makes happy muscles = happy ponies! 💆‍♂️🦄