EquiKare, LLC

01/04/2026

Oh the difference!

I had no idea that we'd make this kind of progress with a 15 year old injury.
Tank's right glute was virtually non-existent as seen in the first part of the video - watch it all the way through to see where he is today. It's pretty incredible.

I have been working with Taylor and Hank since late Spring. I took on that scar as a challenge to see if I could soften some of the scar tissue. Not only did we do that, we succeeded at helping Tank rebuild muscle that was all but gone.

What did we do?

🖐Traditional massage
🚨Redlight therapy
🫆Equissage Pulse
🧬Kinesiology Tape
🔵Cupping

Each of these modalities promotes healing and tissue health by increasing circulation, reducing inflammation, stimulating the nervous system and creating body awareness.

I am incredibly grateful for the continued opportunities to work with clients and horses like Hank.

01/02/2026

Great info from my colleagues at Finish Line Farms Equine Services

🧥🐴 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲?
It’s easy to blame the wind, straps or fit… but sometimes the 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆.

When you see repeat blanket/rug shifting, consider what might be happening underneath:

✨ one shoulder stepping shorter
✨ ribcage rotation or bracing
✨ poll/neck tension creating drift
✨ uneven muscle development

A crooked blanket can be a 𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗲, not just an annoyance.
Patterns in the blanket shift often mirror 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆.
If your horse’s blanket “always slides right” or “never stays centered,” you’re not crazy — that’s a pattern worth paying attention to.

Sometimes a little support for comfort, balance, and soft tissue tension can make a difference.
If you’re noticing repeated shifts this winter, I’m always happy to chat and take a look 💜

12/26/2025

Hoping you all have had a very Merry Christmas!

12/25/2025

A special delivery arrived late on this chilly Christmas Eve—two racehorses who have been clients of mine for a couple of years made the trek up from Illinois to spend a couple of months with me. Last night, I received a call that things weren’t going well at the farm where they were spending downtime, and their trainer needed to pivot quickly. I didn’t hesitate for a moment. If he was willing to drive them up from Illinois on Christmas Eve, I was absolutely going to be there to welcome them. I am grateful for the trust and look forward to helping these athletes settle in for the winter.

12/23/2025

This!

What is the difference between laterality and asymmetry?

How Laterality and Asymmetry Interact

Laterality and asymmetry often influence one another, but they do not originate from the same place.

Laterality begins in the nervous system. A horse (or human) may have a preferred side for organizing movement, balance, and coordination even when the body appears physically symmetrical. This preference affects timing, muscle recruitment, and how forces are distributed through the body.

Asymmetry develops in the physical tissues. Over time, repeated use patterns, compensation, injury, or training demands can lead to measurable differences in muscle tone, fascial density, joint range of motion, or posture between the left and right sides.

When laterality persists, the nervous system repeatedly loads one side more efficiently than the other. Over time, this can create structural asymmetries in muscle and fascia. Conversely, an existing asymmetry — such as an old injury or restriction — can alter sensory input and drive the nervous system to favor one side, reinforcing lateralized movement patterns.

This feedback loop explains why some asymmetries return quickly after bodywork if the underlying neurological organization has not changed, and why some lateral preferences soften once tissue tone and sensory input are improved.

Why This Matters in Practice

If laterality is the primary driver, purely structural approaches (stretching, massage, strengthening one side) often produce limited or temporary results. The nervous system continues to organize movement according to its established preference.

If asymmetry is the primary issue, addressing tissue quality, mobility, and load tolerance can significantly improve function and comfort — and may allow the nervous system to rebapance naturally.

Most real-world cases involve both, which is why effective work often combines:
• manual therapy to address tissue asymmetry
• movement and training strategies to address neurological organization

Takeaway

Laterality is how the brain prefers to organize movement from left to right.
Asymmetry is what the body has become over time because of how it moves.

https://koperequine.com/the-relationship-between-massage-to-the-equine-caudal-hindlimb-muscles-and-hindlimb-protraction/

12/21/2025

Spent some time working on this sweet little one again today.

I absolutely adore her, Kim! Thanks for including me as a member of her care team!

12/21/2025

You do get to choose!

12/17/2025

We are so excited to see what the future holds now that we have opened our doors to the public!

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
— C.S. Lewis

Many of the horses who join our family have already lived through difficult chapters — including some with significant injuries that have ended careers, breeding options, and potential life-limiting prognoses.

We are deeply fortunate to be surrounded by an extraordinary community of traditional and holistic equine practitioners who have helped us learn how to bridge the gap between acute veterinary care and a safe path forward — offering horses a place where healing is thoughtful, individualized, and deeply respectful of the whole horse.

Until now, this level of transitional care has been reserved for horses who have already joined our family.

Recently, however, we welcomed a new collaboration with EquiKare, LLC, providing space for their Transitional Care Unit for horses recovering from injury, illness, surgery, or intensive rehabilitation.

While this is not a This Old Horse program, we are sharing our space and expertise to help meet a broader community need--and to give back.

This reflects what we believe at our core: that healing happens best in community, when skilled hands, open minds, and shared values come together on behalf of the horse...to help change the ending.

Love is good.

12/16/2025

🐴 How Can Equikare Help You and Your Horse?

Every horse’s journey is unique—and so is their path to healing. At Equikare Equine Rehabilitation, we provide individualized, horse-centered rehab services designed to support recovery, comfort, and long-term soundness.

Whether your horse is:
✨ Returning from injury
✨ Recovering from surgery
✨ Needing support after time off
✨ Managing chronic soreness or compensatory patterns
✨ Transitioning into a new phase of work or life

We work closely with owners and veterinarians to create thoughtful, progressive rehab plans that meet your horse where they are—physically and mentally.

💬 Tell us about your horse.
What challenges are you facing, or what goals do you have? We’d love to talk about how Equikare can support both you and your horse.

📍 Phoenix Farm | Hugo, MN
Every horse’s journey is unique—and so is their path to healing. At Equikare Equine Rehabilitation, we offer individualized, horse-centered rehabilitation services tailored to support recovery, comfort, and long-term soundness.

12/14/2025

For new followers, we are open and have space. Please reach out for questions, or if you have a horse that needs care.