Caitlin Hughes Equine Massage

01/03/2023

A great reminder if your horse has had some time off and your goal for the new year is to get riding again.

Just like humans horses will need time to rebuild their fitness levels so make sure to gradually increase work the length and amount of work you are expecting of them. And don't forget to spend lots of time walking when warming up, cooling down, and riding horses who have been out of work for a long period of time!

Just like with people, horses don't respond to fad diets or fitness plans.

There is no magical cure to getting your horse fit or competition ready. It takes TIME which is not something people like to hear.

The body needs TIME to build, rest, recover, grow and strengthen.

Your horse can be stronger this season but you will need to start bringing them back to work now.

📸: .tales.photography
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01/02/2023

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all a healthy and happy 2023 spent with your horses.

12/19/2022

Coming in 2023: Kinesiology Taping

I am currently finishing up a certification for equine kinesiology taping from Sozo Equine. Once completed and I'm ready to start offering kinesiology taping as an add on to massage appointments an announcement that includes pricing will be posted.

I can't wait to add kinesiology taping to my list of modalities.

If you have any questions DM me or email [email protected].

12/17/2022

🎁 Holiday Giveaways 🎁

One prize per day will be given away from Monday December 19th to Friday December 23rd. Winners will be announced each morning via a Facebook post and will also be contacted directly.

The prizes include:
1) Free digital SMART Stretching Program
2) Free digital Multidiscipline Reconditioning Program
3) 10% off either an Initial Assessment or Maintentance Massage
4) 20% off either an Initial Assessment or Maintenance Massage
5) 40% off either an Initial Assessment or Maintenance Massage

Deadline to enter for a chance to win these prizes is Sunday December 18th at midnight.

To enter DM me, comment on this post, or email [email protected].

smartreconditioning

12/16/2022

Product Spotlight: Muscle Anatomy & Myology Study Cards

The Muscle Anatomy & Myology Study Cards are 25 Coloured Cards isolating muscles that are commonly affected by work & exercise.

Each card isolates one muscle and includes indications of issues that a horse may show.

Ideal for bodyworkers, beginners, coaches, students, trainers, – ANYONE & EVERYONE.

Digital: $15.99/set
Hardcopy: $29.99/set (shipping included)

To order your set DM me, comment on this post, or email [email protected].

12/15/2022

Product Spotlight: Multidiscipline Reconditioning Program

The SMARTcert Canada Multidiscipline Reconditioning Program was updated in 2021 and is available in an online or hardcopy format!

The MRP is great for horses who are already in work but could use some reconditioning to help address the skills that they need to build the three main components of performance: strength, power and endurance.

The MRP includes:
🐴 10 exercises & 16 weeks worth of reconditioning for your horse
🐴 Info on how each exercise works, which parts of the horse's body it targets, and what issues/habits it helps to fix
🐴 Helps riders choose exercises to target specific issues
🐴 Trackers to help you plan & score your rides
🐴 Educational material
🐴 MORE!

Order your copy of the MRP now!
MRP Online Volume: $14.99
MRP Hardcopy Volume: $59.99 (shipping included)

DM me, comment on this post, or email [email protected] to request your copy!

12/14/2022

Product Spotlight: SMART Stretching Program

Regular stretching is important for every horse, even if they don't get massages. The benefits of stretching over time can lead to; improved muscle growth and tone, a wider range of motion in joints plus quicker recovery post-exercise.

The SMART Stretching Program includes:

🐴18 SMART Stretches
🐴Instructions for each SMART Stretch
🐴Photo of muscles isolated by each SMART Stretch
🐴Signs that a horse may require a SMART Stretch
🐴Glossary, Terminology, & More

Digital: $14.99/program
Hardcopy: $59.99/Program (shipping included)

To order yours DM me, comment on this post, or email [email protected].

12/13/2022

Service Available: Equine Massage

Weekday evening and weekend equine massage appointments in Simcoe County and the surrounding areas are available. SMARTcert Canada certified equine massage therapist.

December - limited availability including a few weekday appointments between Boxing Day and New Years Eve

January - booking weeknight evenings and weekends

2022 Prices:
- Initial Assessment Massage: $80
- Maintenance Massage: $60
- 4 Maintenance Massages Pack: $200 (save $10 per massage)

I've held off increasing prices but unfortunately with the increasing cost of everything I've had to increase prices slightly for 2023.

Book your 2023 appointment now to take advantage of 2022 prices.

2023 Prices:
- Initial Assessment Massage: $85
- Maintenance Massage: $70
- 4 Maintenance Massages Pack: $240 (save $10 per massage)

If you have any questions or to book an appointment DM me or email [email protected].

12/12/2022

A very busy summer and fall meant that I ended up neglecting social media, but now I'm back! Over the next few days I'm going to be posting more information about the services and products both currently available and coming in 2023.

Currently available:
- Equine Massage Appointments
- single appointments
- packages of 4 appointments
- SMART Stretching Program
- digital or hardcopy version
- Multidiscipline Reconditioning Program
- digital or hardcopy version
- Muscle Anatomy & Myology Study Cards
- digital or hardcopy version

Coming in 2023:
- Kinesiology taping will be available as an add on to massage appointments in 2023!

Holiday Giveaways 🎁
One prize will be given away daily from December 19th to 23rd. The prizes will include massage discounts and copies of the SMART Stretching Program and Multidiscipline Reconditioning Program. To get your name in the draw message me or comment on this post by December 18th at midnight.

To book an appointment, order one of the programs, or with any questions DM me or email [email protected].

06/21/2022

❄️ Cooling Stategies ❄️

With the return of the hot and humid temperatures lets discuss effective and ineffective cooling strategies for your horse, as well as some common cooling myths.

The most effective cooling techniques include:
- Repeated sponging or hosing with cold water
- Keeping the horse in a breeze (I.e. using fans if inside)
- Keeping the horse in the shade

Ineffective cooling techniques include:
- Placing cool towels on the skin (they may act to trap the heat)
- Placing a wet sponge on the horse's poll

Common Cooling Myths

- Cold Water and Muscle Tying Up
The cold does not pe*****te deeply enough to result in tying up of muscles. At most, it may slightly affect the surface of the muscle, but the blood supply is so great and the blood flooding the working/recovering muscles so great, that any impact is transient. The kidneys are also richly flooded with blood vessels and are beneath the back muscles so will not experience any sensation from cold water applied to the skin.

- The Need to Scrape the Water
Do you scrape the water off or keep applying more? Yes, as the water sits on the skin, it heats up and, if not removed, can actually insulate the horse in very hot and huimid conditions where it will not evaporate quickly. BUT when rapid cooling is a priority, why take the time to scrape? Just putting more cold water on the skin will prevent the insulation factor and will cool the horse faster. Monitor the temperature of the water coming off. Once the water is not gaining heat, then scrape and walk the horse. Then, monitor the temperature of the skin and the body for heat.

- Don't Give Water to a Hot Horse
This myth is widely accepted and particularly well engrained. However, the latest research suggests that horses can and should drink right after exercise to ensure proper rehydration (as long as we also keep them moving and cooling them down as aggressively as needed). A horse needs to consume water as part of exercise recovery. To help restore blood volume and fluid balance, aid in the return to optimal function of multiple tissues and body systems, and assist with thermoregulation and cooling. Therefore, by definition, if a horse is hot - it needs water!

Remember the safe temperature and humidity zones for exercise, and stay cool out there!

06/20/2022

Muscle Monday: Rhomboid

The rhomboid is a deep muscle that runs along the top of the horse's neck. It lies underneath the trapezius muscle. It has two portions, the cervical portion and the thoracic portion.

The function of the rhomboid is to loft and draw the scapula forward. It also assists in raising and lengthening the neck when the front legs are on the ground. It therefore has an important effect on shaping the base of the neck and the freedom of the shoulder.

Potential indications of tension or issues with the rhomboid can include: reluctance to bend/flex the neck; atrophy of the withers; swelling, soreness, or heat at withers; reluctance to lift the neck; difficulty with collection; shortened or choppy strides in the front end; problems picking up the correct lead; reluctance to go up or down hills; head tossing when saddled; and refusing jumps.

06/13/2022

Muscle Monday: Semimembranosus

The Semimembranosus is the third main muscle in the equine hamstring. With the other two main muscles being the bicep femoris and the semitendinosus that we previously discussed.

Of the three main muscles in the hamstring the semimembranosus is the most medial, which means it it closest to the midline of the horse.

The role of the semimembranosus is to extend the hip and stifle when the hind leg is weightbearing, which facilitates propulsion. When the hind leg is non-weightbearing, the semimembranosus adducts and retracts the hind leg.

06/07/2022

Hamstring Hypertonicity and Tarsal (Hock) Pathology 🌟

I often talk about the “spiral of dysfunction”, an ever progressing degenerative down turn in musculoskeletal health. So I thought I would share one of the most common spirals I see.

- Hock arthritis = pain and joint inflammation in acute stages, progresses to structural joint adaptations as the condition progresses.
=> reduced hock joint range of motion.
=> rotation of hock joint inwards during movement
=> external rotation of stifle joint in synergistic response to hock motion
=> hip drop on flex/ext depending on pathology => sacroiliac joint strain and gluteal tension
=> use of hamstring muscle group and other medially placed hindlimb muscles to facilitate this gait pattern
=> medial (inside) weight placement through the hoof = uneven wear of shoe and asymmetrical hoof conformation
=> hamstring muscle hypertonicity and pain on palpation due to overexertion/repetitive strain outside of functional means.
= reduced hindlimb joint range of motion due to restrictions in muscle tone and pliability.

It is super important to identify the cause of asymmetry/lameness in order to prevent this cycle of dysfunction from occurring.

06/06/2022

Muscle Monday: Semitendinosus

The semitendinosus is a superfical muscle in the horse's hindquarters and is one of the three muscles that make up the equine hamstring. The other two that make up the hamstring are the semimembranosus and the bicep femoris.

The semitendinosus extends the horse's hip and hock joints, and flexes the stifle when the hock is flexed. It works as an antagonist to the tensor fascia latae muscle discussed several weeks ago. As a result, if there is disfunction in one of these muscles then the other will have to compensate.

Indications of issues with the semitendinosus can include a shortened stride in the hind end, possibly with lameness and a tendency to stand with one hind limb resting.

05/31/2022

🌡Hot Weather and your Horse🌡:

With the return of hot weather to Ontario it's important to know how to keep your horse cool and healthy during the summer months.

Have a copy of the safe temperature and humidity zones for exercise handy. Horses have a larger body mass to surface area ratio than humans so they are less effective at cooling themselves than we are. Additionally, they have a large mass of contracting muscles which produce heat, making them even hotter.

The "safe" zone in the chart represents the combinations of temperature and relative humidity at which the majority of healthy horses can effectively thermoregulate. When a temperature-humidity combination lies within the unsafe zone, then prolonged or strenuous exercise is highly likely to result in excessive increases in heat storage and body temperature, resulting in heat strain and injury.

It's also important to consider heat acclimation. This refers to a set of physiological adaptations that occurs upon repeated exposure to hot conditions for at least a few hours a day over a period of weeks. The main adaptations are an earlier onset of sweating and an increased sweating rate which allows for better dissipation of heat to keep the body from overheating. Heat acclimation takes at least 14 days.

Muscular contraction results in the production of heat within skeletal muscle cells. If this heat is not adequately removed from the muscle cells, the contracting muscles and the horse itself will rapidly overheat, resulting in heatstroke or other heat injuries.

The skin provides a very important route of heat transfer from muscle production sites to the ambient environment.

The main routes of heat loss are:
1. Evaporation of sweat from the skin
2. Radiation of heat from the body to the air
3. Radiative transfer of heat from the lungs to the exhaled air
4. Convective loss of heat due to the wind moving over the surface of the horse's body

Remember!
The greater the temperature difference between body temperature and ambient temperature, the greater the heat loss. As the ambient temperature gets close to body temperature, heat loss slows accordingly.

During high humidity, evaporative heat loss is severely compromised. The phrase "It's not the heat, it's the humidity!" is even more applicable to the horse than to humans. Remember, if you are finding it hot and sticky, it is even worse for your horse!

05/30/2022

Muscle Monday: Serratus Ventralis

The serratus ventralis is the largest muscle holding up the chest between the horse's forelimbs. It consists of two sections, the cervical (neck) and thoracic (chest).

The serratus part of the name is because the bottom edge of the muscle looks serrated. The ventralis part of the name is because it is the lower (ventral) serrated muscle, the serratus dorsalis is close to the top of the back.

The serratus ventralis lies underneath the latissimus dorsi and some of the neck muscles, but the lower most ends of the thoracic section are just below the skin and some of the cervical section are just below the skin in front of the cervical trapezius and between some of the other neck muscles.

The thoracic section of the serratus ventralis pulls the shoulder blade back as the forelimb is extended and also aids in respiration. Indications of tension in this section of the muscle can include girthy, poor respiration, reduced extension and stride length, and a refusal to jump.

The cervical section of the serratus ventralis draws the scapula forward and up which rotates the shoulder joint down during the stance phase of the gait (when the hoof is on the ground). It also extends and laterally flexes the neck when the forelimb is weight bearing. Indications of tension in this section of the muscle can include restricted stride length of the forelimb and lack of ground "travel", reduced shoulder extension and flexion, high head carriage with a reluctance to lower the neck when standing.

05/18/2022

May Availability 🗓

Only a few spots still available in May, book your appointment today before they fill up! Also booking appointments in June.

Weekdays: Simcoe County only

May 20th - After 1 pm

May 27th - After 5:30 pm

May 30th - After 5:30 pm

Weekends: Within 2.5 hrs of Barrie, ON

May 22nd
May 28th

Email [email protected] or DM me to book your appointment.

05/18/2022

Stretch of the Week: Neck Lateral Flexor

The lateral flexor stretch is a great stretch for many of the muscles in the neck including the brachiocephalic, splenius, and the cervical ventral serratus. It also stretches the intercostal muscles between the ribs.

To do this stretch use a carrot or other type of treat your horse likes. Standing next to your horse's shoulder show them that you have the treat and take a small step backwards while luring their nose towards their barrel.

If your horse is trying to turn in a circle it may help to stand them next to a wall to support the side opposite you while they get used to the stretch. Your horse may not be able to stretch very far at first so only go as far as they are comfortable. Do this stretch daily and ovr time aim to get your horse's nose to the point of their hip/stifle.

Repeat the stretch on both sides up to 5 times daily.