Stoney Equine, LLC.

09/12/2024

This holiday season, give the gift of wellness with a gift certificate for an Equine Massage! 🐴💆‍♀️

Whether your loved ones have a horse needing some pampering or want to treat their equine companions to a relaxing, therapeutic experience, our equine massage sessions are the perfect way to show you care. 💖

🌟 Why choose Equine Massage? 🌟
✅ Improves circulation and flexibility
✅ Relieves muscle tension and stress
✅ Boosts overall well-being for horses of all ages and activity levels

🎅🏼 Give the gift that keeps on giving, and help horses feel their best in the new year!

🎁 Contact us today to purchase your gift certificate and spread some holiday cheer to the horse lovers in your life! 🐴✨

25/01/2024

If you are a horse owner, please read this. This is spot on. In my integrative therapy journey over the past four years, I have found this to be spot on in many of the horses that I have worked on. The primary source of pain is not always the problem.

What is the diagnosis?

This is a common question we are asked. It is a fair and expected question. The trouble is – I don’t always have an answer for you. Why? Body Lameness is complicated and is rarely clear. In order to fix the body we have to know and understand its complexity. We also must appreciate the concept of biotensegrity.

Small areas of dysfunction can cause lameness and dysfunction in completely different regions of the body. I struggle with periodic left foot pain. I randomly (i.e. no specific event, sound familiar?) get a sharp pressure and pain in my left heal or arch of my foot. It feels like plantar fasciitis. I bought the insoles, I changed shoes- I got mild improvement. I was a 2/5 AAEP lameness. It wasn’t until I saw a human physio that I had relief of my foot pain. She quickly looked at me and explained my foot problem was due to a lower lumbar mild subluxation (my back did not hurt!) which lead to a pull on my fascia and change on my medial tibia which lead to the foot pain. Within one session my foot pain was resolved. I likely would have blocked to my foot. I would have definitely had a response to hoof testers. If I were a horse I would have been offered farrier changes and coffin joint injections, likely with mild improvement. My foot was a secondary issue but a primary concern. My back was the primary source of pain and yet a non-clinical issue. Until you discover the root cause, you will never truly resolve the pain.

Horses are the same. I treat horses based on my clinical exam and diagnostic imaging (to the best of my abilities). However, the important part is treating them based on their biomechanical failure points. It’s important to recognize that the body works as a whole and not individual pieces. If there is one region of pain or dysfunction, you must treat the entire area- not one spot. You also must consider how a horse’s biomechanics and biotensegrity play into their movement, posture and overall athleticism. If they cannot sit and use their lumbar-sacral junction correctly they cannot relieve tension in their thoracic sling. If their shoulder girdle is dysfunctional, you need to treat the entire region- the neck does not work independently from the first few ribs or shoulder. It all works together and in balance of each other. Additionally we must consider things like nutritional deficiency/toxicity, diet plans, exercise routines, saddle fit, gastrointestinal issues and muscle diseases. Often horses have some combination of all of these things. To get the best results or treat the difficult cases, we have to look at all areas.

On top of these concepts, we cannot image everything. The assumption that there is only an issue if you can image it, is ignorance. Necropsies have proven this to me repeatedly. We find so many things- nerve impingements, muscle changes, fascia changes, scar restrictions, disc problems, boney changes - all can be clinically significant and not found in the live horse. This doesn’t mean they aren’t part of the problem. The body can frequently compensate with little things over time, and then with age and addition of injuries sudden decompensation occurs- leading to acute pain on a chronic issue.

So when clients ask me, what was the diagnosis? I frequently say things like shoulder girdle dysfunction, lumbar sacral dysfunction, neuritis, rib cage dysfunction. I may sometimes be able to pinpoint specifics like T16 articular facet arthritis or lumbar intertransverse joint stepping. However, I know these individual things are part of a much larger picture of dysfunction. I treat the dysfunctional segments as a whole and that’s how we can get big results, where owners have been struggling. That’s how we can take a behavioral horse, who passed lameness exams but wasn’t right and turn them quickly into a happy relaxed working horse. Results matter to me more than individual diagnoses.

Image below is the brachial plexus- cannot be imaged well, cannot be blocked out, yet can be a huge source of pain and lameness in a horse. It’s frequently affected by other areas causing incorrect pressure, pull or tension on this region. It can be treated. Until you solve why it’s under incorrect forces, you will never resolve its pain.

19/01/2024

Little late posting..... I am thrilled to share that I have successfully taken and passed the National Board Certification test for Equine Massage.

What exactly does that mean?

Being Nationally Board Certified in Equine Massage means that an individual has undergone a rigorous certification process to demonstrate their proficiency and expertise in providing massage therapy specifically tailored for horses. The National Board Certification is often a mark of high standards and professionalism in the field of equine massage.

Key points about being Nationally Board Certified in Equine Massage:

🐎Specialized Training: Individuals seeking this certification have typically completed specialized training programs focused on equine anatomy, physiology, and massage techniques.

🐎Demonstrated Skills: The certification process involves practical assessments to ensure that the practitioner can apply massage techniques effectively and safely to address various issues in horses.

🐎Ethical Standards: Nationally Board Certified Equine Massage practitioners are expected to adhere to high ethical standards, ensuring the well-being and comfort of the horses they work with.

🐎Recognition: This certification is a recognition of a practitioner's commitment to professionalism and continuous learning in the field of equine massage therapy.

🐎Trust and Credibility: Clients, horse owners, and industry professionals may place greater trust in the services of a Nationally Board Certified Equine Massage therapist, knowing that they have met stringent certification standards.

29/11/2023

If you've been thinking about ordering a BEMER, now is the perfect opportunity to get one at a discounted price. Financing options are available. If you are interested, send me a message. The discount expires next week.

30/06/2023

Stoney Basin Equine will be available for your equine therapy needs during SSIR. Call to get on the schedule.

08/06/2023

27/01/2023

15/01/2023

Do you want your horse to perform at its best?

Are you looking for a way to assist with long term soundness?

Do you have a horse recovering from an injury?

Would you like to reward your horse for all their hard work?

We can help with all of the above. Now is a perfect time to book a session for your horse. We offer the following services:

🐴Equine Massage
✨BEMER
✨Microcurrent/Electrotherapy
✨Laser/Red Light
✨K-Taping
✨Thermal Imaging
✨Acupressure
✨Energy Work
✨Stretching
✨Tuning Forks
✨Moxa
✨Essential Oils

We are also a distributor for DAC Nutritional supplements.

DM or call us today with any questions or to schedule an appointment for your equine partner.

09/01/2023

Riding through it.

Most riders can think back to a coach or trainer who was heavy handed and believed in riding a horse through it, or using increasing force to get their way with horses. Be it riding a horse harder to a jump after a refusal, or swapping out tack to exert force and control, to belittling the rider and saying they're not strong/tough enough on the horse and they're being "walked all over".

What these supposed coaches and trainers fail to understand is that coercion and force are not part of proper riding, neither is inflicting pain, physical or psychological. That all falls into another category which is miles away from compassionate, correct, proper riding.

When a horse is ridden through what some deem as bad behavior, we're telling the horse that we don't care about their physical and psychological well-being, and that they had just better do what they're told or face the consequences. If I were to swap out the horse for a child, or even a spouse, those same people would now say that it's abusive, but strangely enough it's not when it's inflicted on an animal.

That pinning of the ears, rooting at the bit, running away from the leg, biting at the girth, that is ALL communication. A horse can't exactly sit you down and have a chat about what's bothering them, so they communicate it in the only way they know how, and depend on us to listen.

05/01/2023

So, what exactly is Equine Massage?
In short, it is the manipulation of soft tissues in the body.

What benefits can massage provide to my horse?
There are so many benefits for the horse and rider.

Top 5 Benefits of Equine Massage & Bodywork include:

*Increased circulation-blood circulation supplies the body's vital organs with enough oxygen and nutrients needed to operate

*Improved range of motion-allows muscles to stretch to their full potential during any activity with reduced chances of injury

*Improved performance- who wouldn't want their horse to perform better. When a horse is feeling its best, it will be more willing and able to run faster, turn snappier and stop quicker.

*Quicker recovery- Did you know that every time you exercise your horse, the muscles are receiving micro tears in the muscle that if repaired correctly build larger muscles. But guess what? This process can be painful, also known as sore muscles. Pain relief via endorphin release can also be a benefit of massage.

*Promotion of relaxation, calming and improved disposition- Happy Horses Perform Better!!

Your horse works hard for you, so why not help them feel their best! If interested in booking a session pm to get on the schedule.

26/12/2022

Merry Christmas!!

23/11/2022

10 handy facts about lameness

1. A forelimb lameness is identified by looking for the head nod. The head will go up when the lame limb hits the ground and down when the sound limb hits the ground. It is easier to notice the 'head nod', therefore when the head nods, it is the opposite leg that is lame.

2. Check for heat and a pulse. Inflammation brings blood to the area.

3. A horse with arthritic wear and tear (common in older horses), will often get better as he goes, which is known as 'warming out of it'. The lameness will usually be less obvious after a few minutes. Additionally he will often be worse on hard ground (tarmac) in comparison to the ménage. This is due to more concussion on his joints.

4. A horse with soft tissue damage will often get worse as he goes and is often lamer on a soft surface (ménage), as the tissue such as an affected tendon or ligament is being stretched more than it would be on a hard surface with no give.

5. A horse with bilateral forelimb lameness will be harder to detect as the head nod will now be apparent when both limbs hit the ground. However he will show a shorter cranial phase (his forelimbs will not come out very far from underneath him resulting in a 'choppy' gait).

6. If you are struggling to detect lameness get the Slo-Pro app for your mobile phone and record your horse. This will slow everything down until you train your eye into detecting lameness.

7. A hind limb lameness is more difficult to detect. If you watch the horse trotting away from you, the lame leg usually has more movement at the hip. It helps to attach white sticky tape to both hip bones to make this more obvious to the eye.

8. Putting a horse on a circle (lungeing), often shows up a forelimb and hindlimb lameness more easily.

9. If the horse looks lame on one limb, but has a stronger pulse in the opposite limb, it is usually because the sound limb has taken more weight to allow pressure relief of the affected limb.

10. A horse can look completely sound without a rider, and then almost three legged once someone is on board. Therefore if your getting a feeling that something just isn't quite right, do not just jog him up on the straight or on the lunge and assume all is well.

** Shoeing/trimming intervals should be kept as short as possible. Studies have shown that as the toe grows, the foot 'shoots' forward (long toes, low heel), putting excess strain on the flexor tendons. If your horse always looks slightly 'off' just prior to shoeing, then this is a very probable cause and it may be worth shortening your shoeing cycle.

As a horse owner, developing an eye for lameness is one of the greatest skills you can learn. This will not only allow you to have your horse treated more quickly, but will hopefully nip smaller issues in the bud before they escalate into far bigger ones.

E. J Westwood.

17/11/2022

💁‍♀️ Let's Talk... How your Exercise Program is Crippling your Horse....

Hey you! How would you like to save some money on vet bills? Wouldn't it be nice to not need your bodyworker or chiropractor every time you pull into a race? The answer to saving money does involve some commitment from you as the horse owner....
I always ask people what their fitness program is with their horse and most times I'm met with:

*long pause* "Uhhh.... I try to ride a couple of times a week and I get on and long trot a mile (or 3)... Or I just put him in the round pen for 20 minutes... Or I pony him... Or I put him on the walker...."

You cannot just ride twice a week and expect your horse to go to a three day event and have good performance. Just like you can't ride twice a week and expect your horse to be able to long trot a mile and hold a frame. Most barrel horses I see don't have enough core and hip engagement to stay collected for 10 feet, let alone a mile. But your horse is an honest worker so you ask for a mile, he's going to give you a mile... His body will naturally figure out a compensation pattern that will allow him to do what your are asking, but it's not without consequence. This is where we start to see the body overbuilding muscle around the scapula, shoulder, withers, and poll. His head carriage will gradually start to get higher, his pelvis will start to flatten and tip forward, and his back will start to hollow out.... Why does this matter?

➡️ Hollow backs let the Spinous processes (top) of the vertebrae "kiss" (touch), which over time of them hitting causes damage and pain... commonly known as Kissing Spine. It's also nearly impossible to find a saddle that correctly fits a hollowed back. Then add the weight of a rider and you have back pain that radiates through the entire body causing poor performance, alley issues, anxiety, ulcers... You name it.

➡️ Those high headsets are an issue too. Everyone wants the magic fix of the newest miracle bit, tie down or head setter... Those shortcuts work for awhile, but then they cause their own compensation patterns and soreness, so then you have to look for the next thing and the next thing until eventually you end up with a sour horse that no longer wants to work. High heads cause issues with TMJ, dental alignment, eyesight, and poll alignment which quickly makes for an unmanageable horse. If your trained horse starts pushing on your bridle... That is probably a Pain Response to a weak area.

➡️ Lastly, let's talk about pelvic alignment... Your horse is like your old faithful rear wheel drive truck... You know, the one that can get you through any terrain safely... Let's say you're in old faithful on ice or wet roads, but your tires are bald. What happens when you stomp the gas? The rear end slides out from under you and maybe it's bad enough you can't keep control of the front end either. Have you ever asked your horse to turn and felt his rear end lose power or slip out from under you? That poor sacrum and pelvic alignment. You can use a chiropractor as much as you want, but adjustments will not hold if muscles are atrophied or too tight or if you continue to train with incorrect fitness. The compensation patterns in the muscle will start to pull on the hind legs and put strain on the hocks, stifles, SIs until you are having to inject everything on the horse to control pain.

When the pelvis starts to dip forward, you will see a shorter stride, less power in the turns, unable to push off the hind end, higher tail set, balancing with the tail, lumbar pain, and pain radiating up to the front end. When you have long periods of hind end weakness, we start to see soft tissue injuries happen on the front legs from overloading them with extra weight.

💁‍♀️ Here's the big takeaway from this.... CORRECT FITNESS AND CONDITIONING PREVENTS INJURY AND SORENESS. Incorrect movement and compensation patterns cause unnecessary problems that will drain your checkbook. Do you want to improve performance and prevent vet bills? Then study correct fitness, set a realistic goal, and be consistent about it. Discipline yourself.... Is entering that barrel race unprepared worth hurting your horse? If your answer is Yes, your equine partner deserves more respect that what they're receiving from you.

12/10/2022

So much to be said for this!!

“They’ve always been that way!”

They’ve always had that gait, I’m not worried about it.
They’ve always thrown their head when you tack them up, I’m not worried about it.
They’ve always had a terrible attitude with work.

This can’t be the standard of care.

Let’s look at a human example. What about the middle aged man that has already had multiple back surgeries among other surgeries. He walks funny, has to change how he does daily activities, and has pain every day.

Would you tell him to start the yoga, start the therapy, start massages, and improve his quality of life for the next 50 years? Or would you also tell him not to worry about it.

He’s always been that way. 🤷🏻‍♀️

We have to do better. Every horse won’t achieve perfectly balanced movement, every horse can’t be fixed, and long term issues require long term rehab.

But what are the options: living out their life in way more pain than necessary because we throw our hands in the air?

From a financial perspective, why not keep the older ones going. Young ones take time and training to be seasoned. No matter what the breeding is, we’re not guaranteed they’ll do anything.

The older one may have 5 or 10 more years left in them if we’re willing to do the work.

A body in motion stays in motion. A pain free body in motion has to be even better than that.

06/08/2022

We are an authorized dealer for dac products.

Why try dac products?

Long standing history of providing quality products that work for an economical price!! The company has been in business since 1983 and is backed by the National Animal Supplement Council and Performance Horse Nutrition.

Some of our favorite products include:

Medicated Poultice- This poultice is great for using on legs and joints to take the heat and swelling out of legs after a competion, long hauls or standing in stalls for extended periods of time. This poultice can be used as a stand alone poultice or with bandages. We prefer using it as a stand alone poultice. It can also be used on sore muscles. It brushes off easily when dry or rinse off.

Brace- Great linament type rub for sore muscles. No sticky residue!!

Pasture Lick tubs- Vitamin and mineral support, palatable and easy to digest. The horses love it!

LQ-HA- Liquid joint supplement. Comparable to Lubrisyn or many other joint supplements on the market.

E Natural- Vitamin E supplement that supports muscle and nerve function. Powerful antioxidant. Essential vitamin that must be provided through food.

Citronella Fly Spray- Naturally made, non toxic fly spray without all the toxic pyrethrins that works!!

So many other great products, just a few of our favorite!!

August is a great month to try the products out as most of them are on sale. If you are interested in product(s) let me know as we are putting in another order next week. We do have the poultice and Brace in stock and on hand if you want to give it a try! Message us if you are interested!
www.feeddac.com