General & Miscellaneous
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Benefits of Stability Pads & Affordable Options
Stability Pads are interesting tools to add to a bodywork session. Equine specific models are available through Surefoot however, with a little creativity you can fashion your own at a much lower cost. Balance: Stability pads can challenge your horse’s balance…
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24 Interesting Facts About How Horses Sleep
1. Horses are polyphasic sleepers, requiring a total of between 2.5 and 5 hours of sleep in each 24-hour period. 2. Horses usually get their required sleep through a series of short naps in varied positions. 3. Horses have a unique…
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Identifying Heat Stress and Essential Tips to Help Your Horse Handle the Heat
Heat stress in horses can have dire consequences including rapid dehydration, respiratory distress, colic, and more. Here are some tips to help you manage your horse’s care in the heat: 1. Learn to recognize signs of heat stress or heat exhaustion…
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Massage Is The Study of Anatomy In Braille
“Massage Is The Study Of Anatomy In Braille” – Jack Meagher I love this phrase “anatomy in braille” because it emphasizes the tactile nature of massage therapy. Equine massage therapists learn about the horse’s body through touch, by feeling and exploring…
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Bring Out the Dapples in Your Horse
Dapples on a horse are textured rings of color with a darker outer ring and a lighter color on the inside. I’ve heard them called “money spots” in the US and in the UK, they’re sometimes called “hammer marks” like the…
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Trust: One of the Main Guidelines During Massage and Bodywork
“Trying to earn the horse’s trust must always be one of the main training guidelines.” – Alois Podhajsky, the director of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria as well as an Olympic medal-winner in dressage. Trying to earn the horse’s…
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If Your Horse Chooses to Walk Up To You
If your horse chooses to walk up to you in the pasture, it means that it associates you with good things and trusts that approaching you will lead to a positive outcome. Research on dolphins shows that willingness to participate is…
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Move Freely With Massage
The easier it is for your horse to move freely and in balance, the more capable it will be. In other words, set your horse up for success and it will be more successful. When you reduce physical restrictions such as…
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Horses Increase Their Fitness At Rest
Did you know that horses increase their fitness when resting? The process, known as adaptation, occurs post exercise during rest, rather than during exercise. Training without adequate rest periods can be detrimental. Instead, use a varied workload with two consecutive days…
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There are Four Types of Fascia
Fascia is a fine layer of connective tissue that forms a web-like sheet between and around the structures of the body. There are four main types of fascia: 1. Superficial Fascia: Superficial fascia supports and encases your horse. It lies just…