Sky Equine Bodywork LLC

10/19/2025

Wow so cool !!! Wait for the bridge. Wooooo amazing

Sehr gut gemacht...Video of Haras de la Cense.www.lacense.com

09/17/2025

Closed 9/18-9/23
Reopen for normal business hours 9/24. Sorry for any inconvenience.

09/10/2025

Sky Equine is really excited to be going out today to a fabulous clinic and meeting Jim Masterson. The creator and founder of the Masterson Method. Big dream today coming true!

08/22/2025

Closed August 22 2025 for wedding prep. Back open August 25 2025. Thank you!

08/12/2025

SECURED HORSE THANK YOU !!!!!! GIVEAWAY : SEEKING BARREL RACING HORSE FOR BODYWORK. GIVING ONE FREE SESSION AWAY IN RETURN FOR ONE DAY OF HORSES’ USE IN UPCOMING September 13 SHOW.

07/18/2025

A true testimony that this modality of bodywork is just that good!
Laura Jayne

07/18/2025

Another happy client and horse. Beautiful!

07/17/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/16qm6fSfat/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Sharing for knowledge 🙏

What is the polyvagal theory?

The polyvagal theory is theory that disagrees with the older theory that said horse’s (and human’s) nervous systems were either functioning in “fight or flight” mode or “rest and digest” mode.

Because horses are prey animals we would teach that their theoretical “trigger” was quicker to be flipped to function in the fight or flight mode of their nervous system.

The polyvagal theory discuses a third branch of the nervous system that helps to regulate the transition more like a dimmer switch in a light than a flip switch on a light.

The vagus nerve is a cranial nerve that exits at the base of the skull and reaches far and wide in the body including the heart, gut, diaphragm, and face. It plays a monstrous role in nervous system regulation and has 2 components of its own.

The polyvagal theory says there is a dorsal vagal complex, a ventral vagal complex, and the sympathetic nervous system.

Three total components rather than two.

The ventral vagal complex is thought to be the primary “dimmer switch” in the system.

The dorsal vagal complex is primarily responsible for the freezing response. Think of fainting goats.

The sympathetic nervous system is primarily responsible for the flight response. Think of untouched barn cats.

The ventral vagal complex is the dimmer switch that allows them to be calm, but alert. Aroused to play hard, but not feel a sensation of panic.

This makes more sense really. I can have anxious, physical symptoms in my gut about telling someone disappointing news, but that feeling would be much more intense if I had to tell someone they lost a loved one.

Same with my horses. I’ve seen the high headed, ears perked, prancing trot of them wondering what is in the woods making that noise over there.

I’ve also seen the head down/ears down, running at top speed, oh 💩 there’s a bear in the woods over there.

Same feeling, completely different intensity.
A dial - not a switch.

A horse’s ventral vagal engagement (the dimmer switch) can be managed. Horse’s are social! They rely on others to give them feedback on how low or high the dial should be cranked.

I have one horse I can keep calm by talking to him. He responds best to my voice.

I have another horse I can keep calm by petting him. He responds best to my touch.

And all of my horses calm each other too. Or send each other into alert mode over quickly moving leaves 🙃🙃

Your energy and your presence matters.

A much more in depth explanation of the polyvagal theory is here at this link by Sarah Schlote.

https://equusoma.com/the-polyvagal-theory-and-horses/

07/04/2025

Happy Fourth of July to all Sky Equine Bodywork family !
Closed Friday July 4th 2025.