Latest Articles
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Why Hands On Massage Is The Best Way To Care For Sore Muscles
I often see people posting about their horse having muscle knots and being muscle sore, talking about having the chiropractor out, Pemf and red light, kt tape, vet’s been out and still the horse is not better, why? My question is; why are you doing everything you can think of to help your horse feel… Read more
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Your Horse Has 206 Bones And Over 700 Muscles
Your horse has 206 bones, which accounts for about 8% of your horse’s total mass, and over 700 muscles which accounts for about 50% of your horse’s total mass. These strong, blood-rich, elastic structures power movement and locomotion, help regulate temperature and protect the skeleton by distributing force and absorbing shock. Muscles dictate how your… Read more
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Marsh Marigold (Kingcup, Cowslip, or Mayflower)
Marsh Marigolds (Caltha palustris) are toxic to horses if enough are ingested. Symptoms of Marsh Marigold poisoning in horses can include loss of appetite, oral ulcers, excessive salivation, diarrhea, GI upset, abdominal pain, and dehydration. In severe cases, Marsh Marigold poisoning can lead to seizures, liver damage and neurological symptoms. Horses don’t usually seek Marsh… Read more
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Coping With Stall Rest
Stall rest can be a difficult time for horses, especially if they are used to being active and social. Here are some tips to help manage your horse’s stress when it is on confined stall rest for an injury: 1. Provide Mental Stimulation: Boredom can be a major source of stress for horses on stall… Read more
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Massage Can Have A Positive Effect on the Involuntary Muscles
Equine muscle falls into 2 categories: voluntary and involuntary. Voluntary muscles are those muscles that are under conscious control by the horse, meaning the horse can decide to contract or relax them at will. These muscles are responsible for movement and locomotion, such as walking, trotting, and cantering and are often referred to as “movement… Read more
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5 Tips for Winter Care and Safety
1. Make sure your horse has access to plenty of hay. Digesting food creates heat and can help a horse maintain body temperature in cold winter weather. The greatest amount of heat is released when microbes in the gut digest high-fiber feeds such as hay. For each decrease in coldness of one degree F below… Read more
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Fascia Can Contract
Fascia is a fibrous network of connective tissue in the body that surrounds all structures. Fascia holds parts in place, suspends organs, nerves and blood vessels, transfers the pull of the muscles and allows different parts of the body to move freely by forming distinct layers of tissue that can slide smoothly across each other.… Read more
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8 Ways To Decrease The Risk Of Lower Leg Injuries
1. Balance feet. Ask your vet and farrier to work together to help you create the best plan for your horse and then stay on schedule. 2. Warm-up. A 15 minute walk prior to any other warm up has been shown to significantly decrease lower leg injuries. 3. Cross train on other surfaces. Walking on… Read more
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A Study On DMEs And Gymnastic Training
A study by the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science (2015) found that dynamic mobilization exercises (DMEs) and gymnastic training (GYM) in therapy horses can improve stride quality and increase epaxial muscle size in these horses. Gymnastic training and mobilization exercises in therapy horses Horses were were divided into 3 groups (sedentary, DMEs only and DMEs… Read more