http://www.balancedholistictxs.com/

Balanced Holistic Therapies, Ocala, FL (2026)

04/10/2026

Your horse should have multiple professionals on their team
And that’s not a problem
In performance horses, especially here in Ocala, consistency doesn’t come from one person or one modality
It comes from how well the team works together
Veterinarians and vet techs
Bodyworkers
Farriers
Saddle fitters
Trainers
No one sees everything
And no one should be expected to
The horses that stay consistent in their work are the ones supported from multiple angles
with professionals who are willing to communicate and compare what they’re seeing
I’ve worked on horses alongside other bodyworkers, veterinarians, and full teams where that collaboration made the difference between temporary improvement and actual progress
More eyes on your horse isn’t a problem
It’s usually the reason things start to come together
If your horse is in consistent work and starting to feel different, this is where bringing the right team together matters
Contact Rachel at 954-821-8966 to schedule a session.
Based in Ocala | FEI Permitted Equine Therapist

04/08/2026

“That’s just how they are.”

I hear that a lot.

They’ve always been stiffer one direction.
They’ve always needed a longer warm-up.
They’ve always been a little reactive in certain spots.

Or maybe it shows up in the cross ties.

They’re girthy.
They get agitated when the saddle comes out.
They don’t want to stand quietly like they used to.

And because it’s consistent, it starts to feel normal.

But a lot of the time, it’s not actually normal
it’s just familiar.

It’s the body finding a way to keep working
even if something isn’t quite as comfortable or balanced as it could be.

That’s usually where I start looking closer.

Because those patterns don’t just stay the same
they tend to build over time.

This is usually the point where I get called in
before it turns into something bigger.

Most horses do best when this is addressed early
and then kept consistent so it doesn’t keep coming back.

If your horse has a few of these patterns, it’s worth addressing now instead of waiting.

Contact Rachel at 954-821-8966 to schedule a session.
📍 Based in Ocala | FEI Permitted Equine Therapist

04/06/2026

I’ve been noticing the same thing across a lot of horses lately.

They’re working.
They’re performing.
But they’re carrying more tension than they were a few weeks ago.

Not enough to call it a problem.
Just enough that things don’t feel as easy.

A little more braced.
A little less even.
A little harder to get through the body.

That’s usually the stage where they need support the most
before it turns into something bigger.

Does your horse feel the same as they did a few weeks ago?

Contact Rachel at 954-821-8966 to schedule a session.
📍 Based in Ocala | FEI Permitted Equine Therapist

03/31/2026

Seven years in business. Turning 33. Today carries a lot.
What I know for sure is this. I genuinely love what I get to do every day. That hasn’t always felt easy to say.
There were seasons of doubt. Times I felt burnt out, stuck, and unsure of where this was going. But I have grown in ways I did not expect. As a horsewoman. As a business owner. As a person. And I am still growing.
None of this exists without the people who showed up for me.
My parents, who never stopped believing in me even when things got hard. My friends, who became my foundation. My clients, who became my friends. The veterinarians who welcomed me alongside them and trusted me with their horses.
I have learned something from all of it, and I do not take any of it lightly.
And the horses.
They have taught me patience. They have humbled me. And more than anything, they have taught me how to listen. Not just hear, but actually listen. If you are open to it, they will always tell you exactly what they need.
I feel genuinely honored every time I am given the opportunity to learn from them and to help them. That never gets old.
Seven years in, I don’t feel like I have it all figured out, and I don’t need to. I feel more grounded, more confident, and more clear on where this is going than I ever have.
Because what is coming next feels different. In the best way. Like I am stepping into a new level of this. More clarity, more intention, and a deeper understanding of the work.
There are a few things I have been quietly building behind the scenes that I cannot wait to share soon.
The horses. The people. The lessons.
Every single part of it.
Here is to year seven.

03/27/2026

Every horse I’ve had the privilege to encounter has taught me something—some just make you listen a little closer.

Goose has been one of those horses.

I first connected with him and his mom in March of 2025 when she reached out specifically for a REST session, and I only saw him a few times before they headed home. This winter, I’ve been able to work on him consistently—and the difference in his body speaks for itself.

There was a lot of pain associated with his restrictions, and he expected anything you did was going to hurt. Early on, even touching his sternum wasn’t an option—he would react and make it very clear it was too much.

So I listened—and I listened better.

I didn’t rush him or override what he was telling me.

Everything I do with any horse is an ask. With Goose, I’ve learned to ask even clearer and quieter. I go to an area and wait for him to tell me if he’s ready. Over time, as his body felt safer and found better balance, his responses changed—and the reactivity started to fade.

And this is the part that matters just as much—his owner.

She understood from the beginning that this wasn’t going to be a quick fix. She was willing to meet him where he was, stay consistent, and actually do what her horse needed, even when it wasn’t straightforward.

That’s why this worked.

If you look at these photos from March 2025 to March 2026, you can see the change. From a horse that was compressed and pulled into itself, to one that is starting to find more symmetry, a clearer topline, and better organization through his body.

Not perfect. Just better.

You can see change in one session. Lasting change comes from consistency, patience, and adjusting to what the horse is actually asking for.

Goose made me a better horseman—not because I didn’t listen before, but because he required me to listen better.

Contact Rachel at 954-821-8966 to schedule a session.
📍 Based in Ocala | FEI Permitted Equine Therapist

03/25/2026

Most horses don’t get a transition window.
Winter season ends and spring work begins.
The body just keeps going.
But just because spring is here doesn’t mean the horse shows stop in Florida.
The pattern your horse built through the winter season doesn’t disappear on its own.
It carries forward into every ride, every show, every new demand.
Spring is not a reset.
It is a continuation.
This is the window to change that before it settles in deeper.
I am actively booking for next week.
Does your horse have a bodywork session on the calendar?
Contact Rachel at 954-821-8966 to schedule a session.
📍 Based in Ocala | FEI Permitted Equine Therapist

03/23/2026

The horse that pins its ears when the saddle comes out.
The one that swings away during girthing.
The one that won’t pick up a hind foot without a fight.
Most people call that attitude.
Dr. Sue Dyson’s research found that the majority of sport horses showed abnormal behaviors during tacking up, and only about a third of owners recognized them as abnormal. In a separate study, 73% of horses their owners believed were comfortable were actually lame.
Horses are incredibly good at compensating. We have to get better at listening.
Before I ever put my hands on a horse, I watch. Where does it brace? What does it react to? That is where every session starts.
If your horse does any of these things and you have never had a bodywork assessment, that is where I would start.
Limited availability this week, flexible openings next week.
Contact Rachel at 954-821-8966 to schedule a session.
📍 Based in Ocala | FEI Permitted Equine Therapist
Research: Dr. Sue Dyson, Equine Veterinary Education (2022), Animals (2020)

03/21/2026

Happy first day of spring.

Today feels like the perfect day to reflect on what an incredible winter season this has been.

To every client, whether you found me this season, returned from last winter, or have been here year round, thank you.

Your trust means everything.

To every horse that let me put my hands on them this season, thank you. You teach me something every single time and I mean that genuinely.

To every client who welcomed me into their barn, whether at home or at a show, thank you for letting me be part of your horse’s care.

To my year round clients who show up every season without question, you are the foundation of this work and I don’t take that lightly.

To the veterinarians who have welcomed me as part of their care team and trusted me with their clients, thank you. That relationship means more than I can say.

This work continues to grow in ways I couldn’t have predicted when I started.

Two years working in FEI barns.
Year seven almost here.

The best part is I’m just getting started.

Grateful for all of it.

Contact Rachel at 954-821-8966 to schedule a session.
📍 Based in Ocala | FEI Permitted Equine Therapist

03/20/2026

There are a few things I don’t do in sessions.

I don’t ignore what the horse is telling me.
I don’t ignore what the owner has to say, or what the trainer has to say.
I don’t rush a horse through a release.
I don’t chase tight spots without understanding how they connect to the whole horse.
I don’t use force to make something happen before the nervous system is ready to let it.
I don’t expect everything to resolve in one visit.

Horses finishing a full circuit season aren’t coming off a clean slate.
The body holds what it knows.
It doesn’t reorganize on its own.

WEC and HITS wrap this weekend.
Spring competition starts next week.

That window is smaller than most people plan for.

If you are thinking about recovery and what your horse needs going into the next season, reach out now.

Contact Rachel at 954-821-8966 to schedule a session.
📍 Based in Ocala | FEI Permitted Equine Therapist

03/18/2026

By the end of a long show season, most horses are still going, still performing, still doing their job.

But what I commonly find when I put my hands on them is:

• tightness through the base of the neck
• a thoracic sling that isn’t fully engaging
• rib cage restriction that limits true swing through the body
• and compensation patterns that have quietly built over time

Nothing that necessarily stops them from working.
But enough to make things feel harder than they should.

This is usually where I see the biggest opportunity.

Because once the body is given a chance to release and reorganize, the horse often feels lighter, more comfortable, and able to move more freely again.

⸻

Contact Rachel at 954-821-8966 to schedule a session.
📍 Based in Ocala | FEI Permitted Equine Therapist

03/16/2026

As winter circuit winds down, many horses are finishing the season carrying more fatigue in their bodies than we realize.
Months of training, hauling, and competition can take a toll on muscles and soft tissue, even in horses that handled the season well. Taking time to support recovery allows the body to reset before heading into the next phase of work.
One tool I often use during recovery sessions is PEMF therapy.
PEMF supports circulation and cellular activity in the tissues, helping the body recover from the demands of training and competition. When used alongside bodywork, it can help horses release tension and allow the muscles to relax more fully.
It’s especially helpful for horses that have been:
• showing consistently
• hauling frequently
• schooling harder movements
• or simply working harder than usual during the season
Sometimes the biggest improvements happen once a horse is given the opportunity to recover and rebalance after a busy show schedule.
If your horse is finishing the circuit feeling a little tight, tired, or not quite as loose as they were earlier in the season, recovery support can make a big difference.
I am fully booked for the remainder of this week, but I do have openings available next week.
Contact Rachel at 954-821-8966 to schedule a session.
📍 Based in Ocala | FEI Permitted Equine Therapist

03/12/2026

Yesterday I had the opportunity to spend the afternoon with the students in the College of Central Florida equine program’s manual therapies class.

First, a big thank you to Marie Davidson. It’s always so great to see her, and she has done an incredible job with this program. Being back there really made me realize how much it has grown and evolved since I was a student there nine years ago. It’s exciting to see the direction the program is heading and the opportunities these students are getting.

It also made me reflect on how much has changed in my own life over the past nine years. I’ve grown as a horseman, a bodyworker, and simply as a person. Looking back to when I graduated and started my business, it’s amazing to see where following my love of horses has taken me. It truly is an honor to be able to help horses and, by extension, the people who love them.

The students have been working in teams this semester evaluating the program horses, trying different therapies, and tracking how the horses respond. The theme I kept coming back to during the class was something simple but important:

learning to listen to the horse in front of you.

It was also fun to see the horses again. Two I had seen the year before and two were new to me. I was especially happy to see how well Oscar has held the work from last year. The students and Marie have done a fantastic job maintaining him and continuing to support his body.

After the class wrapped up, I spent a little time working with Accolino after talking with the students about what they had been observing for their class project. I always enjoy sharing how I think when working on horses, and having multiple modalities in my toolbox allows me to adapt my approach to what each individual horse needs.

The changes we were able to help Accolino make in a single session were pretty remarkable, and it was a great reminder of what can happen when a horse finally finds a little relief.

Good horsemanship starts with listening to the horse in front of you.

Thank you again to Marie and the CF equine program for having me.

Contact Rachel at 954-821-8966 to schedule a session.
📍 Based in Ocala | FEI Permitted Equine Therapist

Balanced Holistic Therapies

04/10/2026

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03/31/2026

03/27/2026

03/25/2026

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03/12/2026

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