Laura Stickley Holistic Equine Massage Practitioner

Some of the potential benefits of massaging the horses leg’s are:

🐴 Improved circulation: Gentle massage can increase blood flow to the surrounding tissues, aiding the delivery oxygen and nutrients while assisting with the removal of metabolic waste products.

🐴 Reduces swelling: Light massage or lymphatic drainage techniques can help move excess fluid away from the limb, particularly after exercise or periods of standing. This should only be done if swelling is not due to an acute injury or infection.

🐴 Decreases muscle tension: Massage of the upper leg muscles can reduce muscular tightness that may affect how the horse moves and loads its lower limbs.

🐴 Promotes relaxation: Massage stimulates the nervous system in ways that can help the horse relax, which may reduce overall muscle guarding and improve comfort.

🐴 Supports recovery after exercise: Following strenuous work, massage may help reduce muscle soreness and improve flexibility, although it is just one part of a good recovery routine.

🐴 Helps improve range of motion: By addressing tight muscles around the joints, massage can contribute to freer, more balanced movement.

www.laurasequinemassage.co.uk

In hand walking is one of the most underrated tools in horsemanship. The core benefit is better physical conditioning with deeper mental relaxation than most ridden or lunging work can offer.

The Physical Benefits...

- Low‑impact conditioning — Builds fitness without the concussion of ridden work. Great for older horses, rehabbing horses, or those needing gentle strengthening.

- Improved joint mobility — Walking increases synovial fluid circulation, helping stiff or arthritic horses move more comfortably.

- Core and posture development — When done correctly (straight lines, correct pace), horses engage their core and lift through the back.

- Better hoof health — Movement stimulates hoof circulation and promotes stronger, healthier horn growth.

- Gentle weight management — A 20–30 minute hand walk burns calories without stress or overheating.

Mental and Emotional Benefits....

- Confidence building — Nervous or green horses learn to explore new environments with you beside them, not on top of them.

- Reduced anxiety — Walking lowers cortisol and helps horses settle, especially those who get tense under saddle.

- Improved focus — Horses learn to stay attentive to your body language, pace, and direction.

- Relationship strengthening — Being at their side instead of on their back creates a more equal, trusting partnership.

Behaviour and Training Benefits....

- Better leading manners — You can refine halt, walk on, backing up, personal space, and responsiveness.

- Desensitisation opportunities — Perfect for introducing new sights, sounds, surfaces, and environments.

- Foundation for groundwork — Hand walking is the gateway to in‑hand lateral work, pole work, and liberty.

- Safer horse overall — Horses that lead well and stay attentive are safer in stables, fields, and clinics.

Rehabilitation and Recovery Benefits....

- Controlled movement — Essential for tendon/ligament rehab protocols where walking is the first stage.

- Gradual strengthening — You can increase duration, terrain, and difficulty slowly and safely.

- Monitoring soundness — Being beside your horse lets you feel and see subtle changes in gait.

Environmental and Enrichment Benefits....

- Varied terrain work — Hills, grass, tracks, and firm ground all build different muscle groups.

- Mental stimulation — New routes, smells, and sights keep horses mentally enriched.

- Safer exposure to busy areas — Great for preparing horses for shows, clinics, or hacking.

www.laurasequinemassage.co.uk

Can everyone please share, my foster dog went to his new home yesterday in the Nuneaton area he’s managed to escape and is running lose, if anyone in the area sees him can they let me know. Last seen at Hinckley kfc drone dog warden and police are aware. Please don’t approach him as he is very nervous.
07908677784

🐴 The Benefits of Equine Craniosacral Therapy 🐴

Equine Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a very gentle, hands-on approach that supports a horse's natural healing processes by releasing tension in the central nervous system. Originally developed from osteopathic principles in human medicine, CST has been adapted for use on horses with great results, offering a non-invasive method to improve performance, comfort, and overall well-being.

🔷 What Is Craniosacral Therapy?

Craniosacral Therapy focuses on the subtle movement of the craniosacral system —this includes the bones of the skull, spine, sacrum, and the cerebrospinal fluid that flows between them. Restrictions in this system can affect the nervous system and other bodily functions, leading to discomfort, behavioral changes, or physical imbalance.

Through extremely light-touch palpation, CST detects and releases restrictions or asymmetries in the fascia and bone alignment. This promotes better nerve function, circulation, and tissue health.

🔷 Signs Your Horse Might Benefit From CST

Head shaking or tilting

Difficulty bending or collecting under saddle

Unexplained lameness or stiffness

Behavioral changes or signs of stress

Sensitivity when grooming, especially around the poll or sacrum

History of trauma, dental work, or surgery

🔷 What to Expect in a Session

A CST session will typically take 45–60 minutes and is carried out in a quiet environment where the horse feels safe and relaxed (stable, field, etc). CST uses static, focused hand placements on key areas like the head, neck, spine, and pelvis.
Horses often show signs of deep release during a session — yawning, licking, sighing, or even sleeping.

🔷Why It Works

The beauty of craniosacral therapy lies in its subtlety. It doesn’t force change; it invites the horse’s body to self-correct. By addressing core imbalances in the nervous system, CST can help resolve persistent issues that may not respond to more traditional therapies.

www.laurasequinemassage.co.uk

Quality control was on the case today, making sure Leo's treatment was up to scratch 🤣

www.laurasequinemassage.co.uk

Apologies for the radio silence we have been living our best life in Woolacombe for a week and starting the boys summer holidays with lots of memory making.

We are now back home and I will be answering any messages that have come in the past week over the next couple of days.

If you haven't heard from me by Thursday just give me a nudge.

Belle certainly made the most of her self selection session today. We offered a range of herbs and powders as well as essential oils. Belle was very definite in her choices then spent a long time processing once she had taken all she needed.

www.laurasequinemassage.co.uk

🐴🐴 The lighter touch and the horse’s feedback 🐴🐴

During a massage treatment as a therapist I will utilise the very light and gentle touch when working with the muscular structure.

Sometimes to the horse’s owner it looks like not much is happening but underneath the horse’s skin I can feel the fascial tissue and muscles releasing their tension and unwinding.

Using a slow and light touch during a massage treatment means the horse will feel relaxed and comfortable in my company which in turn allows the fascial tissue and muscles accept the treatment applied and release their tension.

If I was to become heavy handed during a treatment and apply too much pressure the horse will tense up causing the underlying tissues to ‘fight’ against my treatment and therefore not release and unwind. Furthermore, applying pressure to a muscle which is tensing against my pressure will cause trauma/bruising.

As a therapist I am constantly watching your horses reactions to my treatments to determine if they are happy with the pressure that I am applying, this is something you as an owner can also look for to ensure your horse is happy with the therapist who is treating them.

🐴 The reactions to look out for whilst your horse is being treated are:

✅ Soft/relaxed eye
✅ Slight sideways movements
✅ Lowering of the head
✅ Licking
✅ Chewing
✅ Yawning
✅ Gently shifting their weight around
✅ Moving into the therapist’s pressure

🐴 The reactions that mean the horse is feeling uncomfortable with what is happening:

❌ Worried eye
❌ Raising the head
❌ Moving away from the therapist’s pressure
❌ Ears back
❌Showing warning signs that proceed an attempt to kick or bite

ℹ️ Interestingly, if a therapist doesn’t read the horse’s feedback and continues to apply pressure when the horse is feeling discomfort the signs given could change from unhappy signs to submissive signs which mirror the ‘good’ signs that we watch for. This is why we need to be very careful to ensure we are reading the horse’s feedback from the very beginning of their treatment to ensure we aren’t missing any signs that they are giving us.

ℹ️ A horse is at its most vulnerable when either eating or drinking so will simulate this stance when being submissive. This includes lowering the head, chewing and licking the lips.

www.laurasequinemassage.co.uk
www.centaurequinemassagetraining.co.uk

No words needed 🥰