Hidden Haven Equine Services

10/13/2023

Restocked on tape and got a new book. I’m a little obsessed with books lol but I do go back and reference them all the time

10/08/2023

Are you doing your carrot stretches correctly

❓ ARE YOU CONDUCTING THIS STRETCH CORRECTLY?

A stretch is not just simply moving a part of the body from A to B and back to A. It is the careful repositioning of a body part from neutral (A) gently to correctly mobilised (B), held for 10-15 seconds before a controlled return back to neutral (A).

A stretch that is commonly struggled with in relation to this progress is a lateral cervical mobilisation stretch. In the left photo you can see the stretch being incorrectly carried out, with the tilting of the head and neck to get the treat without stretching the muscles of the top of the neck and poll region.

In the right photo, the ears remain perpendicular to the ground and you can see a clear stretch of the muscles around the body of the handler. You can imagine here that each vertebral joint has an even extension around the handler, rather than some joints being mobilised and others locking.

If you are using stretches for your horse, ensure your physiotherapist has seen you conduct them to make sure the desired result is being achieved. ✨

09/18/2023

Your horses posture can tell you so much

New research explores what a horse’s posture says about his health. Horses may adopt different stances to compensate for discomfort.

09/05/2023

So very true, bodywork alone won’t keep your horse sound and comfortable. We need to be more aware of how we train and condition them to keep them fit and happy.

In the highly competitive world of western speed sports, the need for body work has become synonymous with keeping our performance horses at the top of their game. Body workers are pivotal in the health and well-being of our equine athletes, utilizing techniques that can enhance muscle function and....

09/01/2023

The changes you can make with gentle, intentional bodywork still blow my mind. Looking forward to seeing how this mare progresses with appropriate exercise and more bodywork.

08/22/2023

This past weekend I spent an absolutely fabulous 3 days with an amazing group of like minded equine professionals learning from Christy Dicolla Sports Therapy. The Neuro Fascial conditioning and Equine Rib entrapment therapy techniques were science based and just made sense. The feelings echoed by everyone were that this was the missing piece we have all been looking for. Thank you to Holly for hosting and to Christy for being so generous with her knowledge and being a wonderful teacher. It was so rewarding to learn and work with the Hamilton mounted police horses and see them unwind, rebalance and relax before our eyes.
I look forward to bringing these new skills to the horses in my life and can’t wait to get together with this group again for more learning.

06/08/2023

Tough truth… but it’s true — a saddle that fits will ALWAYS save you in the long run…

It will save you heartache
It will save you pain
It will save you on vet visits
It will save you on bodywork
It will save you on lessons and training
It will save you in the ring
It will save you time off
It will save you riding longevity

Most importantly it will save the bond you get to keep with your horse.

Saddles that don’t fit WILL cost you and your horse everything in the end. You may collect a few ribbons along the way but eventually it will all come crashing down.

For the love of the sport, for the love of your horse, make sure your saddle fits.

TeamAE✨

06/08/2023

Someone is feeling relaxed after their bodywork session this evening

05/26/2023

Happy and proud to announce I can now offer saddle fit assessments to your bodywork sessions (or on their own) I will evaluate your horse’s posture, body condition and gait and check your saddle statically and ridden. I can then point out any issues that may be arising due to the fit of your saddle and help you come up with a plan to resolve them.
* please note I am not a saddle fitter and can not make any adjustments to your saddle. I can only offer advice and guidance on saddle fit and how it relates to your horses posture and performance.

05/24/2023

The body always gives us clues as to what is going on we just need to learn to observe and listen