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?
I recently listened to Dr. Steve Peters talk about equine neuroscience. The podcast is worth listening to in its entirety, but in case you don’t get to it here are a few highlights: Feeling Safe IS The Training – if a horse is agitated, it cannot learn. Such a simple and revolutionary concept that can … Continue reading Dr. Steve Peters – Feeling Safe Is The Training
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
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
Chex! Those who know me well, know that Chex has been in my life for years. He is a dear friend and one of my best teachers. Chex came into my life in the early months of 2014. After Mateo was retired I found myself horseless and as long winter months progressed, I knew that … Continue reading Reuniting with an old friend
Highlights:-Living on a Thoroughbred breeding farm for a week in the English countryside (aka Heaven on Earth)-English sheep, dogs, horses, tea, biscuits, cars, farms, trees, hares, polo ponies-Getting to learn alongside horse-people from all over Europe-Being paired up with a Dutch breathing therapist who encouraged me to make even more connections between my own breath … Continue reading MM Training in England
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
Appleyard Equine Bodywork 