Mane and Tail

So proud of my (now not so porky) pork chop pony today!

This was the most relaxed and confident I've felt him be on a solo hack so far. We still had a couple of little moments of self-doubt, which may always crop up for him, time will tell on that.

Over all just doing so well it makes my heart full. 💙

Oscar seemed to want a gentle session this time, so thats what we did 🙌

I used mixed massage/manual therapy techniques combined with a lot of Emmett technique during this session.

I find Emmett to be very effective when horses are feeling a bit tight or sore and don't appreciate the deeper techniques.

Everything in the body is connected, and so even light touch can stimulate change in the tissue and throughout the body 🫶

There are advantages to being small, you can supervise dinner making 😋

I met and treated these little ladies yesterday. Two very different personalities, both equally lovely!

I invite you to spend a quiet moment or two settling into relaxation with me and marvellous Mr Minton....

✨️Gentle Cranial work can be so beneficial to horses and ponies, whose faces and heads house critical sensory organs, nervous system pathways and muscular attachments. Even minor tensions and misalignments can affect their whole bodies.

🦷 Dental work (of which Minton here has recently had quite a significant amount) can easily create imbalance and tension which persists long after the work is over.

🙌 Cranial massage gently releases the jaw muscles and relieves the temporomandibular joint which makes chewing and bit acceptance easier.

🙌 Eases poll and neck stiffness improving overall flexibility and movement.

🤕 Relieves soreness or pressure from head trauma - horses that have pulled back from a head collar, flipped over or just bumped their heads can suffer from compressed cranial sutures (fibrous joints connecting the plates of the skull).

🐎 The craniosacral system runs from head to tail, so releasing tension in the head also helps to relieve compensatory patterns through the back, hindquarters and pelvis.

🐴 This release can support freer shoulder movement, smoother lateral bend and improved engagement of the hind end.

😴 Cranial work also stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest), lowering heart rate and encouraging deep relaxation, which in turn....

🙏 Reduces anxiety and stress, helping horses to become calmer, less reactive and more trusting.

The equine body really is a marvellous thing, and tiny, gentle touches and releases can have such a profound effect ✨️

Sometimes when Google photos throws out memories unasked for it does the trick to put a huge smile on my face!

This was my TB mare, 22 at the time, shouting with joy and pent up energy when being allowed out after a nasty kick to the hock which had seen her in hospital having the joint flushed and monitored, then a period of stable rest which she was understandably not a fan of!

Must be played at full volume lol. This is what I imagine it would be like to hear the Valkyries galloping towards you! 😱

She really was something, and I'm still learning from everything she taught me. Always with me 🤎

I love watching all the different responses horses and ponies give with different techniques and in each area of their body.

From quivering lips, mutual grooming of their person, softening sleepy eyes, head lowering, to dosing and yawning, these positive reactions are so welcome and satisfying when working to help relieve muscular tension and encourage relaxation and nervous system regulation.

Of course their are moments when a type of touch wont be appreciated, and this communication will be respected and used to inform the path of the treatment.

As massage therapists and bodyworkers we are always observing and listening to the body in front of us. 🐴