Sunday’s Holistic Equine Bodywork

02/20/2025

Finally got some time with my boy to prep him for a visit from Dr. Amy with EarthWorks Mobile Veterinary Services! 🥰

07/11/2024

06/08/2024

I had the opportunity to work with the sweetest mare ever today! Faith and I got to work on releasing a lot of tension today. Can’t wait to watch her progress with her awesome new owners! 😍

05/04/2024

“This is so basic I can’t believe it needs to be said”-

This is something frequently stated by commenters or auditors when I’m writing or teaching.

There’s a few things worthy of addressing here

1- I never assume anyone knows, or more, SHOULD know, anything.
You never know what someone’s background or education is, regardless of years of experience.

I learned plenty of not ideal things with horses growing up; and had to learn what I now consider very basic handling and facts as an adult. Should I have known better? Who’s to say? I had plenty of education, and I knew what I was presented with, until I was presented with better.

Should is irrelevant. You know what you know until you find better.

2- what’s considered basics to one is different for another. When people say something is a foundational skill, it’s all very relative.
My basics versus another persons basics may be completely different. So if someone doesn’t know MY basics, it doesn’t make them uneducated, it means they’re educated differently. I’m presenting a way of thinking along with a set of skills, but if you didn’t know them it is not a reflection of your ability - only a fact that you haven’t been presented with it yet.

3- just because someone thinks they know or are doing the “basics” well, does not mean they are actually doing them. Many of us need constant reminders or help doing our basics well, because bad habits are very easy to slip into. For example, I consider a basic skill being aware of your horse and surroundings, and yet, when I’m tired or in a bad mood or overwhelmed, this is the first thing to go. Do I know this basic skill? Yes. Am I doing it? No. Therefore I need reminders.

Those are just a few things to consider when presented with “basics” - it’s all relative, and we’re all human. Getting more aware of them and better at them will continue to pay dividends for years to come, and so it’s worth looking at reminders not as something “for other people,” but something to take to heart without judgement.

10/07/2023

The Stages of Equine Skeletal Development

A horse ages roughly 3 times faster than a human. So, a 90 year old human is a 30 year old horse. Both very old, usually arthritic, don’t have many of their original teeth left, and very likely retired and enjoying the finer things in life.

A 25 year old horse is a 75 year old human. Some are still happily working but some prefer retirement and an easier life. Often depending on just how hard a life they’ve lived.

A 20 year old horse is a 60 year old human. At that point where the body doesn’t work like it use to but the brain is all there and wants to be active.

A 13 year old horse is a 39 year old human. Middle aged, prime of their life where their knowledge and physical ability are about equal.

So let’s get down to the babies and work our way up.

A 1-1.5 year old horse is getting their first adult tooth, this happens at 6 years old in a human child.

A 3 year old horse is a 9 year old child. A child. Not ready for work by a long stretch. We have moved past sending children down the mines.

A 4 year old horse is a 12 year old child. Often will do odd jobs for pocket money, maybe a paper round, mowing lawns etc. Basically a 4 year old horse can start a bit of light work experience to learn the ropes.

A 5 year old horse is a 15 year old teenager. Think they know it all, cocky, and ready to up their work and responsibilities. Still quite weak and not fully developed so shouldn’t be at their physical limit but can start building strength.

A 5.5 year old horse has just cut their final adult tooth, this happens at 17 years of age in a human.

A 6 year old horse is an 18 year old human. An adult. Ready to work.

An 8 year old horse has achieved full fusion of their final growth plates. This happens at 24 years of age in a human. This is the age it is safe to push a horse for their optimal performance.

Pushing your youngster too hard too young will result in the failure of many body parts. Joints, spine, tendons, ligaments as well as their brains. Waiting another year or two at the beginning could give your horse an extra 10 years of useful working life. Be patient with your pride and joy!

Written by Vikki Fowler BVetMed BAEDT MRCVS Vikki Fowler

Graphic credit to Naomi Tavian

10/05/2023

Snuck in some time this morning to play with my boys and some things I’ve been learning! Check out the veins in the before and afters! 😱🤩

(I did forget to get a good profile shot of Jameson before, but thankfully I grabbed one of him nonetheless!)

I’m LOVING learning all the new things from Celeste-Leilani Lazaris !!

09/17/2023

08/24/2023

If tape helps with pain, will the pain return once the tape is removed?

It could, it will likely be less pain than before because the purpose is the tape is to break the pain cycle.

Tape minimizes pain by decompressing nociceptors.

Nociceptors are receptors that live under the skin at the base of the hair and their job is to communicate pain to the brain.

Tape will communicate with the nervous system to create long term
change, it is not a mask for pain.

The long term changes are that it will:

🫶🏻 communicate body awareness (research shows body awareness decreases pain)

🫶🏻 improve circulation (aids in healing)

🫶🏻 decrease fatigue

🫶🏻 support weak muscles

🫶🏻 improve soft tissue glide

All of these factors contribute to pain, so improving them improves pain.

There are absolutely immediate changes and improvements, but since we’re working with the nervous system, we have to treat it as a program.

Tape is a great, incredibly effective tool as part of an entire program.

I wouldn’t go to the gym one time and leave with a six pack.
Therefore I wouldn’t use one piece of tape and expect full recovery.

Just like all rehab and injury prevention modalities, it works best when done regularly and consistently. Learning how to correctly, safely, and effectively tape your own horses usually yields the most consistency.

The immediate improvement sure is nice though. 🙂

03/19/2023

Day 2 inflammation taping for Tank. 💚 swelling has gone down a little, but still has a bit more to go!

03/19/2023

Cody had a great afternoon 🥰

A little biceps and TFL taping for relief of his stifle support muscles! 💚💙

03/19/2023

03/19/2023