Elevated Equine Massage

12/24/2023

Winston and I would like to wish you and yours a very Happy Christmas! Wishing you all health, wellness and happy horses in 2024.

11/17/2023

I appreciate this boy so much today and everyday. Life is a journey. Having a unicorn to join you in your way makes it that much better. You have taught me a lot Sir Winston. From our special connection to yours, Happy Horse Day!

11/03/2023

Things don't always go as planned 😂

05/01/2023

We all know it 😉

04/14/2023

Paying attention to posture (how they stand) can help identify why they may move a certain way. Taking note of my own horse (as well as yours) shows me where more focus may be needed during treatment. I always say this, your horse is telling you a story, all we need to do is pay attention and listen.

Straightness and symmetry are important for reaching training goals and preventing injury along the way.

Working towards straightness in our horses (and ourselves!) is a daunting and multifactorial challenge but there is some low hanging fruit you don't want to be missing out on!

Here are three daily habits I often share with my clients to help improve straightness:

1. Lead your horse from both sides. Have you ever noticed that when you lead a horse they will tend to bend their neck and body towards you? If all your time spent leading is done from the left, this could impact your horse's body patterns and development. Spend equal time leading from both sides, or even preferentially from the right if others are handling your horse daily from the left.

2. Mount from both sides. Every time we mount, we put a sideways force through the horse's back which could lead to tissue changes over time. We also increase the likelihood of the saddle being pulled to the side we are getting on, making our ride crooked if it's not corrected. Additionally, you may stretch one stirrup leather and even twist your saddle's tree through repetitive mounting from the same side.

So switch it up! It will feel awkward at first but not forever.

I suggest using , meaning that on even calendar days you mount from the near side (left) and odd days you mount from the off side (right).

3. Observe your horse. How do they stand? Is there a leg that's always forward? A foot that's always flared? One shoulder or haunch that's bigger than the other? How the does mane flip? What side of their mouth do they chew on? When you start to take notice of these details it will build your understanding of the big picture and shed light on your training issues. It also helps out your farrier, vet and bodyworkers when you are aware of your horse's normal posture and habits.

Do you already do these things or are you going to start now? Let us know in the comments!

04/09/2023

Happy Unicorn Day!

Yes, they do exist!! If you look close enough you will see your unicorn.🦄

Show me your unicorn!

Don't worry, your secret is safe with me.

03/21/2023

Every year I breakout my favourite, craziest socks and put them on whoever will let me lol. Why? Because it's a simple, fun way to bring awareness to Down Syndrome and get some conversation going.

There was no "winnie-ing" from Winston this year who joined in on the fun!

And even better, my friend and client Sue N Stu with her boy Red joined in on the fun too!!

Our boys are saints!!

Show us how you and yours ROCK YOUR SOCKS!! 👇

03/20/2023

Happy First Day of Spring!🌱 Let the shedding begin! 🐎

03/10/2023

There are moments during your horse's massage where they move away from me. This is normal. It does not mean that your horse doesn't like the massage. Nor does it mean that I am hurting them. What they are doing is talking to me, telling me their story so I can understand their needs.

Allowing your horse to have the space to make the decision to move away builds trust and connection. Your horse will understand that you are listening to them.

So don't panic, or feel bad, or be embarrassed that your horse is "misbehaving". They are still receiving the benefits of massage. So much happens to a horse when they receive their massage. We just need to step back and let them process, and if needed, change tactics.

Check out my blog below 👇
This even happens to me and my horse Winston.

Today is the day I come to massage your horse. You’ve brought your horse in, and groomed, readying your horse for me. You want the best for your horse and definitely want your horse to enjoy this and feel better. This is an investment after all. We review their history, and any concerns you may ha...

02/28/2023

One mare in Simcoe County, Ontario, has tested positive for EHV-1, and another mare is suspected to be positive.

02/21/2023

02/16/2023

The front end of the horse is exciting and important, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle.
Folks get hung up a lot on the TMJ and hyoid- full function here is extremely important. But I want to know WHY they aren’t functioning instead of beating a dead horse, pardon the expression. If the horse is not carrying, does not have good flexion in the hind limbs, has tight shoulders and a tight neck, and has a blocked back, you will have to repeatedly come back to the jaw and poll to loosen them. My experience is that balancing the whole body as a unit takes care of those pesky blocks at the jaw and poll, and you won’t find yourself playing whack a mole with symptoms near as much.

There is a reason for everything- get to the root cause, and watch the symptoms disappear. Don’t forget there is an entire body worthy of attention, from nose to hind hoof.

02/05/2023

02/04/2023

Fascia February begins today!

I know I talk about fascia probably more than everything else, but when it houses the majority of the peripheral nerves how can we not talk about it all the time?

When it connects all the parts of the body together from the foot to the jaw from the internal organs to the skin, how can we not keep the conversation going ALL the time?

What will be discussed in the coming days and weeks?

🤓Myofascial Lines
🤓 What healthy fascia feels like
🤓Why it is important
🤓Relationship to riding, hoof care and other areas of the body

New content coming right up!

02/03/2023

Straightness and balance are one of the most common issues owners and trainers have with their horses. No matter what the discipline. In this podcast episode, Dr. Audrey DeClue addresses bulged and hollowed horses. Listen and learn how you and your horse can become more aligned. ⚖️
https://declue-equine.com/straightness-issues-bulged-vs-hollow-horses/
Denali Equine

01/28/2023

Poorly balanced hind hooves can have a huge impact on the horse's joints right through the body.

There's considerable strain in the forequarters as well, due to the added effort of having to pull forwards just to remain neutral when standing, never mind in movement.

Here's the essence of the issue from a bodyworker's point of view. Just a simplistic take to help convey the idea. I'm making no claims to be scientific here, but it's what I've been seeing in over 15 years of bodywork practice.

By the way, negative angles are when the pedal bone is inappropriately tilted back to a high degree - this can be confirmed through radiographs. Even if it's not tilted that far, the hoof-pastern angle can be 'broken back', ie out of alignment - this can still create the impact shown here. If this isn't corrected, it WILL get worse.

Visit and follow my blog for regular body talk articles: https://thehorsesback.com

- Jane