Supple Equine Bodywork

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Cedar Rapids, IA
Supple Equine Bodywork

My bodywork integrates various modalities to address soft tissue restrictions since 2017.
(1)

11/24/2025

Myofascial release has become a somewhat broad term, so I'd like to clarify what I mean when I refer to myofascial release (MFR) in the context of my services.

▪️What is myofascial release?

Let’s break down “myofascial” first.

“Myo” = represents the neuromuscular elements

“Fascial” = represents the connective tissue components of the body

MFR is a hands-on modality. It facilitates a stretch into restricted fascial tissues. Sustained pressure is applied & with time, restricted tissues undergo histological length changes. A series of releases in one area may occur & the tissue becomes more “pliable”. These releases take pressure off nerves & blood vessels & encourage the restoration of structural alignment.

▪️What is fascia?

Fascia is a connective tissue found throughout the entire body.

Fascia is made of ground substance, collagen & elastin.

Fascia provides support, stability & cushion. You can think of it like a 3D web. It surrounds every muscle, bone, organ, nerve & blood vessel.

▪️How does the fascial system respond to trauma?

Fascia can lose its pliability & become restricted due to things such as injuries, poor tack fit & chronic compensatory movement patterns.

The pliability decreases when ground substance solidifies, collagen becomes dense & fibrous & elastin loses its resiliency. In turn, this can affect the quality of motion in your horse.

Through skilled application of MFR techniques, we can restore pliability to tissue, alleviate pressure on sensitive tissues & promote better structural alignment. MFR can enhance movement quality & support recovery from injuries, making it a priceless modality for anyone dedicated to maintaining & improving their horse's health.

📷 Gwénaëlle Clément

11/17/2025

Testimonial ✨

“I am so thankful to have found Chloe! Not only is she extremely knowledgeable, she is also very in tune with the horse and does everything at their pace. I can always trust that she won’t push my sensitive mare’s boundaries and isn’t afraid to let me know if the horse is nearing their tolerance threshold.

Most excitingly, after getting my young c**t on a regular schedule, I have seen an immediate impact on his postural changes that have in turn positively assisted in the work my farrier does to maintain correct hoof angles.

So thankful to have Chloe in our corner!”

-Cammi Mitchell

11/14/2025

Continuing off my last post on MagnaWave (PEMF), I’d like to share some studies behind it:

✔️ On stimulating bone healing: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/3/402

✔️On improving hoof sole depth: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949905424000057

✔️On osteoarthritis, pain, edema, soft tissue wounds & other indications: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S003452881830208X?via%3Dihub

**Note** Not every PEMF machine or device provides the same strength of output. I'll include a chart in the comments comparing the various machines offered by MagnaWave. I use the "Julian" machine, which is the second strongest model available from MagnaWave.

11/12/2025

I occasionally receive inquiries on whether MagnaWave is the same as ShockWave. While both work on a cellular level & are noninvasive, they are not the same.

▪️ShockWave
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT)

•Uses high energy sound waves to stimulate cells & release healing growth factors in the body to reduce inflammation, increase blood flow, accelerate bone formation & enhance wound healing.

To my current knowledge, only veterinarians are approved to use ShockWave.

▪️MagnaWave
Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF)

•Uses low energy pulsed electromagnetic fields for cellular recovery. It improves circulation, reduces inflammation & promotes healing.

How I use MagnaWave

I often use MagnaWave in conjunction with hands-on bodywork techniques for optimal results.

MagnaWave is great for many conditions, including but not limited to: tendon or ligament injuries, muscle strains, hoof injuries, abscesses, osteoarthritis.

Your horse deserves the best care possible. If you're curious about how MagnaWave (with or without bodywork) can support their well-being or recovery don’t hesitate to reach out.

📷 Maggie Dale

11/07/2025

Growing up, I spent hours riding my horses, but often overlooked their behaviors during saddling. I thought it was "normal" for them to be girthy/cinchy or to move away when I placed the saddle on their backs.

Looking back, I realize now that I wasn’t tuned into their communication. Those behaviors were expressions of discomfort & I wish I had known better.

While bodywork can help alleviate girthiness in some cases & be part of the solution, I’ve found that it’s often a multifactorial issue. It’s essential to understand the possible underlying causes & to not just brush it off.

If you’re curious to learn more from a veterinarian’s perspective, listen to this podcast: https://thehorsefirst.libsyn.com/why-are-horses-girthy-or-cinchy

📷 Gwénaëlle Clément

11/04/2025

Testimonial ✨

“Chloe is the absolute best! Fantastic with the horses, gentle and "tuned in". She can see and feel things that escape my limited understanding and knowledge, and I learn something every time she has appointments at Northern Lights. Additionally, she is always learning new things, taking her skills and expertise to a higher level.

If she believes you need to see a chiropractor first, she’s upfront about it. Once she’s achieved her goals with the horse, she provides honest recommendations about what’s best for their ongoing care. She does not keep making appointments when they're no longer needed!

Chloe has helped us tremendously in ways I never expected! Love her!!!” -Carol Johnson Morgan & her Haflinger gelding, Nico (pictured below)

11/02/2025

One of the many advantages of keeping your horse on a regular bodywork schedule is that it allows us to track changes & potentially catch issues before they escalate into bigger problems.

When I visited Topaz at the end of September, I noticed some atrophy in her hamstrings, particularly on the left side. This was odd so we decided to investigate further. Ultimately, I recommended she see a vet for possible EPM testing.

The blood test results showed low titers, but the vet advised her owner to monitor the hamstrings for any further changes. Her owner then had me come back to mark the area of atrophy so she could continue to observe it closely (picture in comments)

Topaz’s bodywork session frequency will increase from once to twice a month for the time being as we monitor her.

Regular bodywork not only reduces fascial & muscular restrictions, but also helps in identifying subtle changes that might otherwise go unnoticed.

10/31/2025

Happy Halloween 🎃 👻

Gwénaëlle Clément snapped some cute pictures when I was at Greenbriar earlier in the month.

10/28/2025

Your horse doesn’t have to be in a strenuous program for him/her to reap benefits from bodywork &/or MagnaWave.

This mini mostly plays in the pasture with his buds, but he enjoyed extra TLC through his hind-end & around his stifles. 💗

10/08/2025

I am accepting new clients!

I currently frequent the following areas, but am open to traveling elsewhere if there is enough interest:

🐴 Cedar Rapids
🐴 Iowa City
🐴 Wadena
🐴 Davenport & Quad Cities area
🐴 Milan, Coal Valley & Geneseo, IL
🐴 Ames
🐎 & more!

If you’re curious whether bodywork &/or MagnaWave would benefit your horses, please send me a message!

10/03/2025

Saddle fitting opportunities ⬇️

08/17/2025

Upcoming availability:

•Cedar Rapids/surrounding areas - Fri 8/22

•Quad Cities - Thur 8/28

•Volga - Fri 9/5

•Galena, IL - September date tbd

•Ames/Boone - September date tbd

My September availability will be slightly limited due to training/travel required for osteopathy schooling at The Vluggen Institute in Ocala, FL.

Address

Cedar Rapids, IA

Telephone

+15638456022

Website

http://www.suppleequinebodywork.com/

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