Whether your horse has performance issues, chronic pain, behaviour problems, slight tenderness or stiffness or simply doesn’t feel right - you have come to the right place.
The benefits
Horse owners who have had my Cumberland Equine Body Therapy sessions for their horses have reported improvement in:
- the way their horses move - increase in willingness and freedom of shoulder movement, better cadence and easier to rein back
- girthiness - less glaring, biting, kicking, tail swishing and general discomfort associated with saddling
- behaviour - less pigrooting, grumpiness, seeming happier and more willing
- training - easier transitions, less resisting and picking up correct canter leads
- back, hip, wither or sacro-iliac tenderness - less tension, dipping and guarding
- flexibility - improved neck bend, balance and flexion in turns
- their confidence - less anxiety and reduction of stress behaviours
- their general connection , quality of relationship - horses love to be heard.
Healthy , functional horses need to be supported to keep them feeling their best and address their small issues before they become a problem.
Horses who present with underlying issues that need further investigation will be referred to the appropriate specialist, whether it be veterinary, biomechanic, saddle fit, hoof care or nutritional.
What is involved in a session?
During an initial session with me, I will meet you and your horse, discuss their history and any issues your horse is currently experiencing.
I will then complete a full body assessment of your horse both standing and moving to identify any pain or tightness, asymmetries or abnormalities.
Upon completion of the assessment, I will apply the appropriate body work technique for your horse's indentified issue. I work with your horse on what technique they will respond to best, not all techniques will work for every horse depending on their sensitivities and circumstances that day.
What techniques can I use?
Equine Body Therapy
The Masterson Method
The Masterson Method
Equine Body Therapy is the first therapy I've been trained in and my main therapy used.
It is a remedial therapy founded by Sue Parker and was developed from the Bowen Therapy method.
The strength of this technique lies in the total body approach, starting with an overall assessment of the whole horse including hoof balance. The assessment identifies the key areas for treatment, with the initial treatment often ‘unlocking’ other areas of the body.
This can resolve deeper long-standing issues that may have been affecting performance and general well-being.
The Masterson Method
The Masterson Method
The Masterson Method
The Masterson Method of equine bodywork is a unique, interactive method using the responses of the horse to your touch to find and release accumulated tension in key junctions of the body that most affect performance. It enables the horse to actively participate in the process of releasing tension. It is something you do with the horse, rather than to the horse.
This participation and interaction is what makes the method fascinating for those who use it.
In fact, if you do not allow the horse to participate, it does not work.
CranioSacral Therapy
CranioSacral Therapy
CranioSacral Therapy
CranioSacral Therapy is a safe, gentle manual therapy that assesses, modifies and corrects restrictions in the CranioSacral system to improve wellness.
The CranioSacral System consists of the membranes and fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord, as well as the attached bones. These membranes extend from the bones of the skull and down the spine to the sacrum or tail area and protects the Central Nervous System (CNS).
The treatment facilitates the body's own healing powers by reducing the negative effects of stress and fascial restriction on the CNS.
It is a tissue based therapy, based in science that can affect fascia, muscle, tendons, nerves - the whole body.
A very light, accurately placed touch is used to restore the cranial rhythm and open up restrictions in the fascia allowing healing to occur.
Kinesiology Taping
CranioSacral Therapy
CranioSacral Therapy
Kinesiology taping is a service I offer in conjunction with bodywork to increase circulation to tissue, muscle, and fascia.
This aids in reducing swelling, inflammation, and pain; improves circulation aiding in healing and recovery from injury; recovery from post exercise or competition fatigue; support of joints, tendons and ligaments; proprioceptive reflexes and body awareness; support of weak muscles; improving coordination and balance; improving strength and range of motion; and improving soft tissue glide.
It can be used to aid many problems including muscle tears, sacroiliac problems, stifle weakness, luxating patella, joint stiffness, oedema, fascial tension, and shin soreness.
Used in combination with other therapeutic work, the tape helps minimise pain by decompressing nociceptors. These are receptors that live under the skin at the base of the hair and their job is to communicate pain to the brain.
The purpose of Kinesiology Tape is to support the healing process rather than mask weakness.