EJA Equine Therapy

🐴Relocation🐴

As of this week I will no longer be covering the south east area due to relocation.

My new area includes: Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire

❗️NEW CLIENTS❗️

I have availability for new clients, I cover Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset. The massages I offer are:

🐴Full body massages

🐴Pre event massages

🐴Post event massages

🐴Rehabilitation massages

All include post massage stretches and aftercare + exercise recommendations and are all tailored to suit your horses needs.

Please 📞 or 📲 for an questions or to book

🙌🏼Post Treatment Advice 🙌🏼

Horse’s need access to lots of fresh clean water, if they are ‘poor drinkers’ sometimes apple juice or a cut up apple in water can help encourage good fluid intake.

If the stable has a water feeder it might be wise to add a bucket of water so the owner can see how much the horse has drunk.

Ideally the horse should be walked in hand for 10-15 minutes post massage.

If possible, the horse should be left out in turn out over night so they can move around freely.

Urine and defecation rate may be increased after massage temporarily and the urine may be more smelly than usual as the body is excreting waste products.

Horses may feel very relaxed and tired after treatment and may need some rest time to sleep and recuperate OR they can feel full of energy and want to have a good gallop round.

Some horses are reportedly ‘grumpy’ the next day - this may be due to the release of toxins back into the circulatory and lymphatics. This feeling of being ‘hung-over’ is very common in humans after having a sports massage and may be a similar occurrence in equines.

You cannot make a horse lame with massage, but some make look a bit stiff the next day - they normally walk this off quite quickly.

🐴Back pain caused by saddles🐴

Uneven pressure under the saddle causes loss of blood supply to the muscles and consequently causes damage to the mechanical receptors underneath the skin. This causes paralysis due to compression of the motor nerves and, ultimately pain. Once the pain receptors in the back have been activated it is hard to turn them off (muscle memory). Balance and weight distribution of the saddle are of paramount importance.

Pressure can be caused by:

🔘 The arch of the saddle, or thick seams of leather under the arch, rubbing on top of the withers.

🔘The profile of the arch catching on the side of the withers when the horse lowers their head and bends their neck.

🔘Compression of the dorsal spinous processes by the saddle moving across the spine.

🔘Asymmetry of the weight bearing panels.

🔘Broken saddle tress.

🔘Twisted saddle trees.

🔘An exposed saddle tree, when the rider’s weight forces the panels apart.

🔘Girth straps attached to the points of the tree, if this interferes with the rotation of the shoulder blades.

🔘Areas,however small, of uneven flocking; either to much or to little.

🔘Stirrup bars that are angled inwards towards the horses back muscles.

🔘Girth buckles.

All ridden horses should have their tack checked every 6 months by a qualified, accredited and insured professional specialist.

(Photo used from google)

MUSCLE IMBALANCE

Muscle imbalance is a significant cause of injury in horses. Imbalance develops when mobility, flexibility and suppleness are not maintained. This can be the result of over exercising, under exercising, overload or injury. The tonic muscles (responsible for postural control and stability/balance) shorten and the phasic muscles (responsible for movement) weaken. The shortened tonic muscles tend to be stronger than the weaker phasics and this leads to the development of defensive and protective movements and postures. The shortened muscles then become mechanically overloaded and more prone to strain injury.

Muscle groups prone to shortening:

🔸Pectorals and biceps in the forelimb.

🔸Adductors, iliopsoas and hamstring in the hind limb.

🔸Back extensors.

Muscle groups prone to weakening:

🔹Triceps in the fore limb.

🔹Gluteals and quadriceps femoris in the hind limb.

🔹Abdominal muscles.

Massage therapy is a great way to help muscles stay supple and strong. If your horses are not in full time work or are prone to losing/ weakened muscle quickly.

Don’t hesitate to 📞 or 📲 to book your horses in for a massage.

HAY NET VS HAY ON THE FLOOR

In many stables horses are offered hay in nets hanging above the ground. This implies that the horse has to eat with their head higher than in its natural feed intake position.

Physiologically this leads to the horse using different muscles in their neck and back. The higher the head position can impair the ability to clear particles by mucociliary cleaning.

Which feeding position do horses prefer when they get to chose ❓

In a pilot study 10 horses aged 7-17 years were used, and they were previously used to eating from hay nets. For 2 weeks the horses were acclimatised to eating from the floor below the hay net. Then they were offered both evenly weighed out , morning and night. Then the horses were observed.

To eat from the floor was the horses first choice, all horses ate from the floor for the first 20 minutes. After a while most horses looked up and around then chose to eat from the net for a few minutes before returning to the ground.

Which do you give your horses ❓

(Photos used from google)

Happy Monday 😃

I hope everyone had a great new year!

Please message to book an appointment or if you have any query’s, I have some availability 📲

I just want to say a massive thank you to all my clients this year it has been lovely to meet you all 😊

I am starting to take bookings for the start of next year so please don’t hesitate to message to book in or for any questions you have 📲

I hope everyone has a merry Christmas and a happy new year 🎉

I have some availability every Friday in the coming weeks covering Whitstable and south East Kent.

The massages I offer are:
🐴Routine/maintenance

🐴Rehabilitation massage

🐴Pre-event massage

🐴Post-event massage

All massages are great to help to relieve some built up tension or tightness.

Massages range from 30mins - 1hr and are catered to your horse and how they are reacting to the massage. I cover the entire body and give extra attention to specific areas when needed.

Feel free to message for information and to book an appointment 😊

The Arthritic Horse

The pain and stiffness associated with arthritis affect horses in the same way that they affect humans. Fortunately, the percentage in animals is not as high as humans.

Regular massage combined with gentle stretching exercises, some hydrotherapy modalities and exercise make a comprehensive holistic home-care program to keep your arthritic horse healthy, happy and as pain free as possible on a daily basis.

Exercise your horse regularly to keep their musculoskeletal system fit and to maintain flexibility and range of motion. It is recommended to do several small exercise sessions throughout the day so your horse enjoys it. Avoid longer sessions where the horse may get stiff and ache all over afterwards. It would cause them to develop a lot of muscular tension as they will automatically compensate in order to avoid the painful joint sensation.

Some of the early signs of arthritis shown by your horse will include:

🔸 General stiffness in the morning trying to get up and walk out of their stall.

🔸General stiffness in the evening, especially when trying to lay down.

🔸A decrease in their overall activity level, difficulty going up and down hills or when loading in and out of a trailer.

🔸Not wanting to be touched or handled as much, including being a bit grouchy or aggressive when being touched over the arthritic areas.

More pronounced symptoms may include:

🔸Marked stiffness or lameness when walking, trotting or cantering.

🔸Some degree of pain, heat and possibly swelling around the affected joint(s).

🔸Painful signs on their face when putting weight on an affected leg or when touched there.

Keep in mid that these symptoms can also be due to another problem known as Lyme disease. When In doubt, always consult your vet for diagnosis.

We all know how long winter is ! It seems to drag on and on, the relentless cold, wind, rain and snow all in one day sometimes. With this comes icy yards and boggy muddy fields which often means horses have to stay stabled for long periods of time. Dark nights meaning less riding time and fresher horses, sometimes it feels like it’ll never end !

Here are a few tips for keeping your horse happy, healthy and feeling super supple during the rest of winter:

1️⃣ WARMING UP - With cold weather comes stiffer horses and joints, especially in the horse’s with arthritis, make sure before starting riding to warm up your horse so they don’t strain the muscles and other soft tissue which can, in some cases, lead to repetitive strain injuries.

2️⃣ POLE WORK - Pole work is very beneficial for horse’s soft tissue, and can provide relaxation in some horse’s. Walk, trot and canter poles as well as raised poles encourage the horses to stretch down, as well as engaging the horse’s back, hindquarters and hind legs.

3️⃣ STRETCHING - Leg stretching is one of the simpler things you can do to keep your horse’s muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints supple and healthy. Stretching enhances the sensory nerve endings in the muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints, that give the Brain information about movement and body position. A regular stretching routine is advantageous to preventing injury and increasing the elasticity, and suppleness. Neck stretching (Carrot stretching) are not only great for strengthening muscles in the neck, but also the muscles along the back. These stretches are extremely beneficial for horses with back related problems or tight backs as they help to strengthen the back and engage the core. Providing support to the vertebrae.

4️⃣ BANDAGES AND STABLE BOOTS - The use of bandaging and stable boots in the winter is a great idea, especially if your horse has arthritis, but they are also great for just keeping your horse’s legs warm and helping to increase circulation.

Thank you so much for my amazing business cards 😍

🎆 FIREWORKS 🎆

The firework season can be stressful for horses and their owners. During the fireworks, horses can be startled by the loud noises and may need support to keep them calm and safe.

Bear in mind that fireworks can continue until the new year, which can also make this period stressful for all animal owners. Common signs that your horse might be stressed or anxious include:

🔹Tail swishing
🔹Vocalisation
🔹Pawing
🔹Sweating
🔹Repetitive head movements
🔹Kicking
🔹Flared nostrils
🔹Decreased appetite

To help even the calmest of horses from getting spooked during the fireworks, here are some positive things you could do to help minimise stress:

PREPARE - Prepare in advance and be aware of when fireworks will be going off and check for local displays in your area.

SPEAK - Speak to your neighbours, don’t set off any fireworks near your horse’s field and speak to neighbours to let them know that there are horses near by.

ROUTINE- Stick to their routine, if your horse is usually stabled, keep them stabled. Be sure to exercise them earlier in the day before the fireworks start. Don’t change their routine or familiar environment as this could upset them.

CHECK - Check their field is secure. If your horse is usually kept in a field, it’s fine to keep them out as long as they are safe and away from any displays. Be sure to check the field is secure so that your horse cannot escape.

STAY CALM - Try to keep calm yourself, as horses can pick up on our stress and this might lead to unwanted behaviour.

STAY SAFE - Stay safe when around your horse and be aware of changes in their behaviour to prevent getting hurt.

PLAY MUSIC - If your horse is stabled, keep a radio on or music playing just outside the stable to mask loud bangs and to help soothe them.

STAY WITH THEM - If you know that fireworks are being set off close to where your horse is kept, make sure that you or someone experienced stays with them ( if it is possible ) to help keep them calm.

CHECK FIELD - Before letting your horse out make sure to check for any used fireworks or anything that could be dangerous ⛔️

If you a are concerned about your horse please speak to your vet 📲

🟤 MUD FEVER 🟤

Prevention

There are many ways to reduce the risk of your horse’s developing mud fever, and they are all aimed at avoiding the underlying causes.

♦️Avoid your horse standing in wet and muddy conditions for long periods - make sure they have somewhere dry to stand for a part of the day.
♦️Adopt good grassland management by rotating fields to reduce poaching and put hardcore down in places where horses gather, such as gateways, water troughs. Fence off any particularly muddy areas.
♦️Avoid washing off your horse’s legs when you bring them in from the field and instead wait until the mud is dry, then brush it off using a soft bristled brush.
♦️Barrier creams can be used prior to turnout, to create a protective layer between the skin and mud. However, be wary as they can provide the perfect environment for bacteria to grow.
♦️There are boots designed for turnout, to prevent mud getting to your horse’s legs, but it’s important that they are well - fitted.
♦️Treat any underlying conditions such as mites, fungal infections or wounds.
♦️If you have older horse’s be aware of an increase risk of cushings disease. Speak to your vet for further advice.
♦️Inspect your horses’ legs everyday to spot problems as early as possible.

If you have any concerns that your horse may have mud fever please contact your vet 📞

🟤 MUD FEVER 🟤

Treatment

It is important to call your vet as soon as you spot any signs of mud fever.

A general treatment plan should include:

▪️Bringing your horse in out of the muddy and wet conditions to keep your horse’s skin clean and dry.
▪️Removing the scabs to help you gain easier access to the skin and to allow air to reach the skin to help the area heal. However, if you chose to do this then proceed with care.
▪️Clean affected area at least twice a day using a mild disinfectant, such as dilute hibiscrub, then rinse with water and pat the area dry with a clean towel.
▪️If your horse has thick feathers you may need to carefully clip the hair from the lower leg to expose the skin to the air and make it easier for you to clean and treat it.
▪️Applying stable bandages to dry legs can help them keep clean, provide support and reduce swelling.
▪️Severe mud fever may require repeat treatments and cream applied to the skin. Your vet will be able to advise the course of action and treatment plan.
▪️If mites or a fungal infection have triggered mud fever, individual treatment of these causes may be required.

🟤 MUD FEVER 🟤

Signs 🪧

It’s really important to check your horse’s legs every day, so you get to know what’s normal for them and to make sure you spot any signs of mud fever straight away - It should be easier to manage if you catch it in the early stages.

Common signs of mud fever:

▫️Crusty scabs appearing on the heel or lower leg.
▫️Broken or damaged skin.
▫️Matted hair or patches of hair loss with raw skin underneath.
▫️A creamy white, yellow or green discharge between the skin and scabs.
▫️Heat, pain and swelling in the lower limb.
▫️In severe cases lameness may also be seen.

🟤 MUD FEVER 🟤

Risk factors ⚠️

There are a few things that can compromise your horse’s skin and lead to mud fever taking hold:

🔸Standing in muddy or wet conditions for long periods.
🔸Standing in dirty bedding
🔸Regularly washing the legs, especially if you don’t dry them afterwards.
🔸Having broken or damaged skin due to a wound, such as an overreach injury.

Some horse are more prone to developing mud fever, and this is because they have:

🔹White legs - pink skin under white markings is often more sensitive than dark skin.
🔹Thin skin such as Thoroughbreds or Arabs, which can be damaged more easily, giving bacteria a way in.
🔹Having a weakened immune system

🟤 MUD FEVER 🟤

Causes :

Mud fever is most often caused by bacteria and is common in the winter months when the horse is exposed to persistent wet, muddy conditions. This is because the wet conditions cause the skin to soften and mud then rubs against the softened skin causing damage to the surface where bacteria can enter.

There can be other causes of mud fever such as leg mites which break the skin and enable bacteria to enter. Horses with feathers are more at risk of leg mites and you will see them stomp their legs because they’re very itchy. If you suspect your horse has mites, speak to your vet for further advice.

🟤 MUD FEVER 🟤

This week I will be posting a series on mud fever including :

▪️The cause
▪️Risk Factors
▪️Signs
▪️Treatment
▪️Prevention

Endless raining days have become a typical feature of winter, meaning our horse’s are more likely to be spending time in wet, muddy paddocks, which can increase their risk of developing mud fever. This is a non-contagious skin condition that causes irritation, soreness, matted areas of hair and scabs that form on the horse’s lower legs. You may also here it referred to as a few other names, including dermatitis, greasy heels and cracked heels.

Mud fever commonly forms on the pastern ( between the fetlock and the hoof) and the heel. Infections can develop underneath the scabs and you may see swelling of the leg in severe cases mud fever can be painful, and the horse may not tolerate the area being touched. Pink skin under white legs can be more commonly affected compared to dark skin.

If you need anymore information regarding this subject then please speak to your vet 📲

How to body score your horse

It is easiest to split the horse into three areas:

▪️The neck and shoulders
▪️The middle
▪️The quarters

Many horses carry their fat unevenly on their bodies, so you will often have to average the scores of the different areas. For example you may see a horse that looks ‘Ribby’ but is actually overweight because it carries a lot of fat on it’s neck and quarters.

🔹Fat will feel spongy under your fingers and muscle more firm.
🔹Dangerous crest fat will harden when it has been there for a while and often rocks from side to side when the horse walks.

What to look and feel for 👁

🔸Fat forming a crest and thickening the neck; you should be able to see muscles and feel where the bones are.
🔸Fat covering the withers and backbone. There should be barely any - you should be able to feel the bones underneath a supple covering of skin. Fat will build up either side of the spine until it is higher than the spine itself creating a ‘gutter’.
🔸Fat behind the shoulder and where the shoulder blends into the neck. There should be a clear definition around the shoulder blade; fat will fill in the hollow in front of the shoulder and build up a pad behind the shoulder.
🔸Fat over the ribs- there should be a little fat between the ribs but not over them. This way you can feel but not see them.
🔸The definition of the bony points of the pelvis (croup and point of hip)- a healthy layer of fat under the skin will not cover up the bones; you should be able to see where they are and certainly feel them.
🔸From behind- the quarters should slope down away from the croup. An ‘m’ shape with a gutter along the backbone will be due to a large layer of fat, fat builds up on the inner thighs too, lift up the tail to look.

Body score is a six point scale 0-5

0= Emaciated
1= Very thin
2= Very lean
3= Healthy weight
4= fat
5= obese

Did you know your horse has no collar bone?

Their shoulders are not attached to their body by a bone like ours are but with a group of muscles, ligaments and fascia known as the thoracic sling.

The thoracic sling suspends the chest between the horse’s two front limbs and lifts the thorax 🔝

The thoracic sling consists primarily of the following muscles:

✖️The serratus ventralis thoracis
✖️The pectoral muscles ( of with there are four)

1. Transverse pectoral
2. Ascending pectoral
3. Descending pectoral
4. Subclavicus

Contraction of these sling muscles lift the trunk and withers between the shoulder blades, raising the withers to the same hight or higher than the hind end ⬆️

A horse that is travelling without proper contraction of its sling muscles, or with weak sling muscles will appear downhill and be ‘on the forehand’ ⬇️

As well as the way the horse is travelling there may be other signs that your horse is tight, sore or weak in the thoracic sling muscles.

These include:

🔸 ‘Grumpy’ to be tacked up/ sensitive to the girth.
🔸Reluctant to have front feet picked out/ stretched forward for the farrier.
🔸Difficulty going up or down hills.
🔸Reluctance to pick up a lead or tend to swap leads or cross-canter.
🔸Difficulty with banks, drops and other jumps or obstacles that require extra ‘reach’ in front.
🔸Showing reluctance when asked for lengthened strides.
🔸Tiring more quickly during exercise, because of having to work against the tightness to go forward.

If you think your horse may be sensitive or tight in this area, or lacking strength and muscle tone, Equine Massage Therapy is a great way to detect and treat problem areas helping to free up your horse, make them more comfortable and therefore more able to work correctly and become stronger 💪🏼

If you think Equine Massage Therapy can benefit your horse please do get in touch to find out more or to book an appointment 📲

Have you noticed slight changes in your horse?

Here are some signs to look out for that may suggest your horse needs some release:

▪️They are grumpy or out of character

▪️They may be hunched up or appear to be uncomfortable

▪️Tripping over, in hand & ridden

▪️They struggle to pick up the correct canter lead

▪️Look out for tail swishing, twitching, ear pinning and head tossing when taking up or grooming

▪️They are uncomfortable around their back

These are just a few signs to suggest your horse needs some tension release. 🙌🏼

📞or📱 to book

💈Pole work 💈

The Serpentine

This helps with bend, precision, balance and co-ordination.

Place objects such as cones in school and bend around them on both reins.

Bring the cones closer together to increase bend. If you want to make it even harder use obstacles through out and/or do on a hill.

Please feel free to message if you’d like more information or to book in for a massage 😊

Feel free to have a look through my fully working website and don’t hesitate to message for any inquiries ☺️

https://ejaequinetherapy.com/

EJA Equine Therapy I’m a fully insured and certified ESMT (equine sports massage therapist). Covering Whitstable and the South East of Kent.

I have some availability this week and next for:

🔸Full body massage
🔸Pre and post event
🔸Rehabilitation

I cover Whitstable and South East Kent.

Please don’t hesitate to message for any questions or bookings 😊

🦴SKELETAL DEVELOPMENT🦴

The photo below illustrates how long it takes for a horse to become fully mature, essentially not until they are six.

Since horses often look more mature than their bones can support, it makes it extra important for riders and trainers to keep the rate of growth plate fusion in mind as they increase work and expectations - as shown in the photo below the process of growth plate fusion starts in the hooves and then moves upward over time. Interestingly, certain dimensions such as the height of the coffin bone, is determined at birth.

The last bones to fuse are the vertebral column, which takes at least 5 1/2 years or longer - male horses mature later and taller horses with longer necks also take longer. This means that a 17-hand gelding may not be fully matured until they are 8.

💥 So make sure your young horses get plenty of turnout and don’t be in a rush when training. Taking your time gives your horses the chance to mature from the inside out.

♦️ Superficial muscles of the pelvic limb ♦️

Collectively, the superficial muscles of the pelvic limb are responsible for:

🐎 Flexion and extension of the hip joint.

🐎 Flexion and extension of the stifle joint.

🐎 Abduction of the hind limb.

🐎 Medial rotation of the hind limb.

Since these muscles are responsible for a wide variety of actions, they tend to be a hot spot for tensional patterns.

Tension/ restriction within these muscle groups can have a direct affect on your horses stride length, gait pattern and even back and hock soreness.

❓ How do these muscles palpate on your horse ? Rock solid, squishy, sensitive, supple ?

🌬biomechanics of breathing 🌬

Did you know … ? That how a horse breathes during exercise depends on what gait they are in.

Horses physically expand and contract their chest when they are breathing at rest, walk and trot, and perhaps most noticeably when they are blowing hard after exercise.

When your horse is standing, walking or trotting, they utilise their intercostal muscles and other accessory muscles of breathing to increase their respiratory rate. Like any muscles, these muscles will fatigue if they’re not fit and healthy.

Horses do not breathe by expanding and contracting their chests during canter and gallop. During these gaits all air movement comes from movement of the diaphragm and pressure from the movements of the contents of the abdomen.

At canter and gallop normal horses take one breath perfectly in time with one stride. This is referred to as respiratory-locomotor coupling.

As your horses’ front legs stretch forward and make contact with the ground, their weight is transferred forward. In this phase the abdominals swing forward towards the chest and shoulders, pushing against the diaphragm and forcing the air back out of the lungs and causes breathing out.

⚠️This means your horse has no ability to increase or decrease its rate of breathing in canter and gallop. Think about this when you do your fitness training. Imagine not being able to breath quicker the more tired you become during exercise and you require more oxygen.

Think about this when you bring your horses back into work and start building their fitness up. Start slow and if you want to know how your horse is feeling, think about how you’d feel when you go for a run when your not fit, you’ll feel the burn and you’ll feel it in your muscles and lungs.

EQUINE MASSAGE 🙌🏼

Equine massage is not just for fit horses in full time work, we also have to think about the horses who are on box rest or recovering from injury who need a bit of extra love and care to help them recover.

Box rest can be a scary thing for many owners especially if you have a horse that isn’t used to being stabled for long periods of time, horses that are very fit or even highly strung.

Regular massage for the horse who is not in much or even any work is incredibly important to help maintain muscle tone, maintain mobility and suppleness as well as increasing blood circulation which may be reduced to lack of movement, this blood circulation helps take nutrients, rich oxygenated blood around the body as well as removing toxins and waste products from the body to mention just a few.

📞 or 📱 to book

💈POLE WORK 💈

The box - great in helping pelvic movement, getting your horses to think and proprioception.

Lead or ride at walk over pole, halt in box, turn and walk over differing pole. Halt square each time you enter the box and turn a different way. The slower you do this exercise the harder it is.

Repeat as the second photo shows with poles raised at alternate ends. You can progress this to help with jumping a bounce by not halting within the box.

As shown in the third photo rein back over raised poles to encourage engagement.

Please feel free to message for any information on pole work to help with your horse.