CMF Equine Therapy

18/10/2023

When you book in a massage for your horse with me, I will:

✨Ask about your horses history and any recent issues along with who your registered veterinary practice is

✨Take a dynamic and static assessment of your horse, this helps to assess what could be causing any muscle soreness

✨Carry out a full body massage, this can take up to an hour and a half, especially if I need to spend longer on any tense areas

✨ Complete stretches that complement the treatment I have just given your horse. These are often enjoyable for them as they can involve carrots!

✨ Give advice on after care and exercises that can improve muscle performance for the future

🙏 Just a little reminder with winter coming up that it’s always very helpful to have clean and dry horses ready for treatment

📞 If you would like a treatment booked in, please send me a message or call. November dates are getting booked up!

08/10/2023

✨🌿Henry and Harley update 🌿✨

I don’t need an excuse to share about the boys but I thought it’s been a while!

Harley has had a steady summer, one has to look after one’s self now we are in our late teens…he has had a few ailments over the summer months which means he’s been in and out of work but still continues to enjoy life stuffing his face 🙈 a couple of bouts of cellulitis and the appearance of wingalls on his front legs has steadied him up a bit but we still get as much riding in as we can!

Henry is obviously perfect and doesn’t give me any trouble apart from loosing a shoe…every 4/5 weeks so far 🤦‍♀️😩 over reaches are now on permanently but they don’t always work! He has another op upcoming for his melanoma, so fingers crossed all goes well and he recovers ok.

Both will be treated to some massages in the next few weeks, as autumn sets in and change in ground conditions and temperatures increases tender muscles.

📞 Get in touch if you would like your horse treated, I am now booking for November 😊

📸Ellie Grimsey Photography

27/09/2023

✨ Thank you to those who have already booked in with me for October ✨

It’s very exciting to be back out again but I only have a couple more days available, so if you would like to spoil your horse to a treatment next month, please get in touch 😊 🐎💖🦄✨

07/09/2023

Hello everybody 👋

I realise it’s been a long time since I last posted anything, so thought I would re introduce myself.

I have been working within the equine industry for 12 years and just before lockdown, I completed my Equine Massage Qualification with the wonderful Andrea Pole.

Inspired by the horses I worked with over the years, I felt that I would like to do something ‘a little bit extra’ to help them along, and learnt an awful lot along the way!

I really enjoy being able to provide a caring and holistic approach to my massage techniques, and make it my mission to continue learning to give the best possible outcome for your horse.

I am now available for booking once again come October, with my prices staying at £40 a session as they were before.

🗓️ Send me a message or give me a call to book, I would be happy to help

✅ Qualified and fully insured

📍covering parts of Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset

12/02/2022

The lovely Zac, who is doing so well showjumping! He earnt today's treatment and was a very good boy 🐴

31/12/2021

🎇 H A P P Y N E W Y E A R 🎇

Wishing all my clients and followers a very Happy New Year! 2021 has been quite a ride, and I would like to thank you all for your support over the last year.

Lets hope that 2022 brings even greater things, I know I have a busy year ahead!

I look forward to seeing you all with your horses very soon but for now, it's time to celebrate 🥂

So I thought I would leave you all with the below photo of the Henry Horse 🌿 showing his true character in his winter woollies!

19/12/2021

Lovely George 🤩 we had a good session today, he's such a lovely boy.

CMF EQUINE THERAPY (coral Fookes) hitting the sweet spot on George, he has had a nice massage to release tension in his head neck and shoulders

17/12/2021

I have been lucky to be treating some lovely patients recently.

Dusty has taught me to sit back and listen, with some longstanding soreness in his neck, a lot of tension around his atlas and axis and his pectorals.

He gave me some very exuberant releases and I am very much looking forward to treating him again soon 💖

26/10/2021

⬅️⬅️⬅️ Going backwards has many benefits for the horse as the post below describes. Try and tie this in to your daily routine for maximum benefit.

Tuesday tip...... try BACKING UP

This low impact exercise can be done in-hand and has many benefits for your horse. When done correctly it will:

✅ Help to lift and flex the back
✅ Condition the core muscles
✅ Strengthen the muscles and structures involved in engagement and carrying the weight of the rider
✅ Stimulate the sacroiliac area
✅ Stretch the topline muscles
✅ Increase flexion of the hindlimb joints

HOW TO DO IT
For maximum benefit ask your horse to back up daily.
1. From halt apply gentle pressure on your horse’s chest and head collar to encourage him to step back. (With practise you’ll find you will need less pressure).
2. Keep his head as low as possible – this helps him to lift his back. If he hollows, use a carrot to encourage him to lower his head.
3. Aim for long, marching backward steps
4. To help your horse get into a rhythm ask for a minimum of 10 steps building up to 20 steps.

Give it a go and let us know how you get on.

For more info on this check out the top tips on backing up video in our Academy www.horsesinsideout.com/academy

11/10/2021

It's so important to check all avenues when horses come across as difficult, as well explained below...

“Back, saddle, teeth all okay”.

As I was about to fall asleep last night, I was scrolling through Facebook and came across a post about someone asking for advice when their horse quite dramatically stops and drops their head after jumping and cantering, also refusing fences.

Maybe I’m in a bubble, floating around and surrounded by passionate followers and clients who are intuitive and open minded about learning more to improve the happiness and comfort of their horses.

But I was so heartbroken to read the “advice”.
Short grass reins. Keep her forward. Hold her up. More leg. Draw reins. Ride defensively. Ride through it. The horse has learnt to get you off, you have to win the battle. Give her a good pony club kick and smack, she won’t do it again. Put a man or good tough rider on her.

If this is the “advice” we are dishing out, how on earth are we meant to get anywhere with our horses!? This is by no means discrediting anyone, but it does raise questions as to our traditional, standardised approaches.

And the standard “all clear back, saddle teeth”. Okay… but have you considered the horses neck, ligaments, muscles… parts of the anatomy that are not the back? Is your therapist adequately qualified and regulated by a governing body? The saddle - have you had a second opinion? Is your girth correct? How recently was this saddle checked? Is your saddler adequately qualified? And teeth - the same thing, is your EDT qualified? Does your horse need to be seen more regularly?

And what about mares and hormones? Digestive discomfort? Farriery? Previous bad experiences? Any other factors to attribute the behaviour to.

There is a difference between a horse being cleared from back, saddle and teeth… and a horse being comprehensively assessed by a team.

So if you are finding yourself at a cross roads with your horse, please please please exhaust all medical avenues before attempting to “ride through it”. I see far too many horses on the brink of breaking mentally and physically, particularly horses that have been sold and the new owner is left to pick up the pieces.

There were some really important comments on the post, with some people picking up on this. However, lines are blurred. Let’s not belittle behaviour and overlook it’s importance - let’s listen to our horses and respond ✨

Photo by Daydream Equine Art ♥️

26/09/2021

I think it's time to show some love to my sponsored horse, Zac 💜

I gave him a treatment yesterday, the first for a while and he felt fab. It was great to run my hands over him again and he has come a long way from his first treatment, he actually enjoys it now!

He and Livvy have had some really fabulous results recently and it's great that I can support such a great team. Well done guys, we are all super proud of you 👏