Connecting horses and their people
The Difference Between Curing and Healing When we experience injury or disease, our minds tend to think of it in absolutes: is it curable or incurable? To cure is to fix a specific part of the body, using drugs or surgery to repress or remove physical problems and restore function. Western medicine is particularly good … Continue reading Becoming Whole
We all know how strong the sensations of the heart can be. The chest-filled-to-almost-exploding love we can feel and also the brokenness of loss that feels like we have been split open from the inside out. The power of the heart area is profound. Years ago, when I first learned about the Heart Math Institute, … Continue reading Can you regulate your heart?
Seeing these two horsemen work together this past month, out in Phoenix, inspired me a great deal. Both from the bodywork perspective and additionally from the aspects of riding and groundwork. I continue to integrate my experiences during bodywork sessions with my passion for encouraging and unlocking horses from the saddle and during in hand … Continue reading Mark Rashid & Jim Masterson Collaborative Clinic
It was a pleasure to help Coralie Hughes to teach one of the recent Masterson Method Weekend Seminars. I had a wonderful time getting to assist new students as they took the first step in becoming certified. It also allowed me to reconnect and spend a few days with Coralie, one of my coaches and … Continue reading Assisting at a Masterson Method Weekend Seminar
I remember feeling slightly ill the first time I ran my hand under Diego’s tail. Something was clearly not right. It had a massive bend to it, about 5 inches below where it met his body. My immediate thought was that clearly something or someone had broken his tail and it healed crooked. It was … Continue reading Diego’s Tail
In the first session with a new client, I spend time establishing trust and mutual understanding between the two of us. Whether the horse has received bodywork before or not, I like to show that the communication between us goes both ways. I am not there to make the horse do or feel something, but … Continue reading Session 1 vs. Session 2
Kedzie enjoyed her bodywork today! She tends to stand with one of her hind legs propped underneath her body (see photo) to keep her stabilized. My goal with her is to loosen up her psoas and gluteal muscles so that it is more comfortable to stand with her hind legs squarely beneath her. Luckily she … Continue reading Kedzie
In this video you can see the after effects of relaxing Tigger’s shoulder area. I first worked on his poll and neck area, then on his scapula. I ended in the shoulder area with the movement in a relaxed state shown in the video. Since Tigger is well muscled, like a typical Quarter Horse, this … Continue reading Tigger
It amazes me how different each horse is on different days. While I might show up with ideas of what they need today based on last session’s work, they challenge me to stay in the moment and see who and what is showing up today. I see this reflected when I think of my own … Continue reading Mira
Spring is on it’s way!! Hooray for the first outdoor work of the season. William loves the freedom that the roundpen offers. Here is some lateral rocking which he wanted to show you from several angles. (Please note, I do not regularly swish horses’ tails to get their attention. ☺️I know him very well and … Continue reading William
Appleyard Equine Bodywork 