Meersbrooke Equine Essentials

https://www.facebook.com/617163991720264/posts/2473530486083596/?sfnsn=mo

Horse owners please note! This subject is back! I heard a very disturbing tale some time ago now from a dental colleague (a BAEDT member) who had been treating the same horse for a number of years with no problems; this year, the owner decided to use a 'dentist' new to the area (not BAEDT) who 'diagnosed' various problems, but recommended to 'exercise' the tongue by pulling it out from side to side at full extension to help 'realign' the hyoid apparatus (see pic). Since this treatment (and one session of tongue pulling) the horse was unrideable due to violent evasive head movements under saddle and the owner was left distraught and wondering what had happened.

The hyoid apparatus is a set of delicate bones, one of which (no.3 in the diagram) is attached to the base of the tongue. The bones, delicate joints or the tongue itself could easily be potentially irreversibly damaged by such 'treatment' 😔

We have heard a few tales of tongue pulling to 'realign' the hyoid apparatus, and there seem to be a growing number of videos on Youtube, Facebook etc of persons performing this 'technique'. Some appear to be very credible professional looking people that I can only assume are doing as they have been taught by someone else. No disrespect to you, but please think again before performing or recommending this technique. Mostly it was Australia but it appears to be spreading like a disease around the globe. The first person attributed to this was Dr Kerry Ridgeway in USA, however he did not publish any scientific evidence or research about it and there are reports of it doing more harm than any possible good.

The hyoid is not a 'gyroscope' for the horse as stated in one video, and to attempt to realign the hyoid through tongue pulling, manipulation or any other method is in our view potentially damaging, and a potential welfare issue. Also, logically if the hyoid was ‘displaced’ or ‘out of alignment’ you would 100% know about it as your horse would be in marked distress and no amount of tongue pulling would help.

It is really important that all professionals whether they are body workers, physiotherapists, dental technicians or vets work together as a team for the good of the horse - we must all follow the science - there is none for this. Please, do not let anyone attempt to manipulate your horse's hyoid apparatus.

Easy to make wipes. Useful to have around.

Looking for economical, non-tox cleaning wipes? ♻️

These dōTERRA DIY Cleansing Wipes don't take long to make and can be used at your convenience, whenever you need help cleaning up a mess. 🤭

Ingredients:
• 100 ml white vinegar
• 2 cups of boiled (cooled) water
• 1 tablespoon On Guard® Cleaner Concentrate/ Dishwashing liquid
• 10 drops Lemon Essential Oil
• 10 drops Tea Tree Essential oil
• Muslin Cloth
• Sealable container or large glass jar

Instructions:
1. Cut muslin cloth in squares.
2. In a large bowl, combine the liquid ingredients.
3. Arrange the cloths on top of each other and place into a sealable container.
4. Pour the liquid solution into the container on top of the cloths, ensuring they are covered with liquid and are damp, seal the container.
5. To use, pull a cloth out of the container and wipe surface. If cloth dries out, dampen with water before use.
6. After use, simply wash the cloth and reuse.

*Keep for up to 1 week.

For more DIY ideas visit: https://www.doterra.com/NZ/en_NZ/blog

Good advice for when we get rain.
https://www.facebook.com/132480393608288/posts/1313384762184506/?sfnsn=mo

We always start with making sure teeth and body are right before asking for anything else.

Three vital stages to transforming a racehorse into the perfect riding horse - Horse & Hound Gillian Carlisle, chief executive of the BTRC, offers her advice on the retraining process of ex-racehorses

Great Christmas present for you & your horse. Can't recommend Teresa enough 🙂🎅🐎

Megapower ready to head off up the farm today. Starting lead out work from another horse - just quiet walking on hill tracks. See previous post, to see how much her body shape has changed since her Contact Care treatment.

Another rehab project. This is Megapower. 4yo by Power out of Megapins. She sustained a hairline fracture to her pelvis, about 18mths ago. We got her as a broodmare, after having her well checked out by equine vets. Unfortunately she slipped during the winter. So today she had her first Contact Care treatment from Greg Jamieson. She'll do in hand work, similar to Sophie, then another treatment in February. Then hopefully back to ridden work. She's been recovering from a front foot abcess. So onwards & upwards now 🙂
Photos in front of stables are taken before treatment.
Those in round pen are after treatment

Here's the latest for those who've been following Sophie's story ( race name Sweetchildofmine). She arrived in July with a sacro & patella issue. Yesterday she had her second race start for 7th. She's looking amazing. Full of sass & attitude! Sophie's a stayer- will go best over longer distance races than yesterday. But she's learning her craft & was certainly enjoying herself!

If you have a male horse...follow the facts...
https://www.facebook.com/617163991720264/posts/1958848304218486/?sfnsn=mo

Here's an update on Sophie - she came with sacro injury & locking patella issues in July. Since then she's had 2 x Contact Care treatments by Greg Jamieson. Her patella hasn't locked since the first treatment. Sophie did alot of work (& still does) led out from another horse. She's also doing flat schooling, pole work, hill work & small showjumping. She does a bit at the track - just pace work at present. Her hind end is building up well.

An excellent, well explained article
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1938114509625199&id=617163991720264&sfnsn=mo

Did you know...

https://www.facebook.com/121193851813907/posts/422797814986841/?sfnsn=mo

Shared from my cousins page in the UK. And I'd back her 100% on her comments
https://www.facebook.com/359689667464246/posts/1900258513407346/?sfnsn=mo

Rehab in action...three weeks between the photos. This horse has had injury to SI and issues with locking patella. She's had Contact Care treatment by Greg Jamieson two weeks ago. Since then she's been led out from another horse doing quiet hill work. This week, just started back under saddle including pole work.

https://ker.com/equinews/pasture-quality-and-abundance-affects-contribution-horse-diets/

Pasture Quality and Abundance Affects Contribution to Horse Diets - Kentucky Equine Research Horses allowed full-time turnout may spend up to 65% of their time grazing and will generally consume 1-1.4 lb (0.45-0.64 kg) of dry matter per hour if enough pasture is available.

Great article explaining the relationship between feeding & exercise
https://feedxl.com/16-feeding-before-exercise/

Feeding Horses Before Exercise - FeedXL Horse Nutrition Calculator The question of whether you should feed a horse before exercise is one that is commonly asked. Most of us were told over and over again by our parents not to swim for 30 minutes after eating or we would get a muscle cramp, so we generally tend to think that eating before exercise is not a wise thing...

Time is a great healer.. along with good nursing, patience & a good support team.

A great example of why ‘time’ is the greatest healer. Whether human, equine or canine soft tissue works the same. Best things come to those that wait....

Thankyou Feilding A, I & P for organising a fantastic Equine Expo at Manfield today. I have no voice left from talking! Amazing turnout of people. Teresa, Lindy & I were kept flat out all day! Congratulations to Robyn Mann - winner of the Horse & Rider pamper pack. It'll be headed your way shortly.
Some pics of our shared stand with partners Intrinsic Performance. These were just before 10am...once the gates opened...we were busy, busy, busy

Sneak peak for those coming to the Equine Expo at Manfield this Saturday...
We have a free draw for a 'Horse & rider pamper pack' - worth $161 retail.
It's packed full of fantastic products - specially chosen to help get you through the winter 🙂
We'll also be offering free Zyto Balance Wellness scans ( normally $95) - as will our partner - Teresa Dixon with Intrinsic Performance. This is a brilliant tool to help support your health & wellness. The scans also work for your equine friends & other animals.
We'll also have kinesiology taping displays to show you how that can be a beneficial addition to yourself, & your horse.
If you have an Off the track Thoroughbred & need so help, come & have a chat. We've been re-schooling them as sporthorses for over 30yrs
So come & say hi - we're stand 13....lucky for all 🤩😀🤩

Here's the Expo programme for this Saturday. Should be a great day out. Come & catch up with us for free zyto scans & other show specials - including draw for rider Essentials pamper pack 🙂🙂

Madam Ace. Recovered from her horse bite dramas...and easing back into work. She had a Contact Care treatment from Greg Jamieson on Tuesday. Today she got the beach experience, with Gillie as her lead pony. She'll be back under saddle shortly.

An update on the infamous horse bite saga...
It's been 4 weeks since we stopped flushing Madam Ace's shoulder.
Today we started her back in work...on the lead. Her shoulder is looking great - so it's time to start tackling her other problem - her issues around the starting gates. We bought her knowing she had a warning, & needed to trial satisfactorily, before she's allowed to race again.
So, Cowboy Challenge is first on the agenda for her to master.
She had a little play today, and although not too sure...she bravely gave it go.
It's a fantastic way to build trust & confidence. It makes the horses very aware of what they're doing. Teaches them too slow down, and concentrate on the task at hand.

Very excited. My new massage tools arrived from the UK today. My old one is getting a bit worn, & being a clear coloured one....I'm quite good at 'misplacing' it! Thankyou Malcolm Innes at Instrument Assisted Massage Tools - they're awesome 🙂

Another interesting study testing the calming effects of Lavender essential oil. Remember if you're using essential oils - know their properties, apply safety rules for use and if you're competing...know what you can and/or can't use & when. If you have any questions about using essential oils - feel free to message us. 🙂

A research team from Michigan recently set out to determine if lavender aromatherapy reduced stress in trailered horses. Three measurements of heart rate and blood draws were taken before loading into the trailer (baseline), immediately after the trailer ride (stressed), and 50 minutes after the trailer ride (recovery). In the control (water aromatherapy) and treatment (lavender aromatherapy) horses, there was no difference in heart rates, but there was a difference in cortisol levels. These results provide evidence that lavender aromatherapy reduced cortisol levels, a measure of stress, in trailered horses. For more information on this research, click https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2017.12.008

This is a great post & very true. We actually had to retire one of our racehorses- not because he lacked ability - but because he couldn't cope with raceday girthing. He was fine in his track work gear, but once we had the racing all elastic girth & circingle on - which for safety are done up very firm...he would just fade in the last 200m. The day after racing he was short & had bruising over his ribs. He was a very fine skinned light framed horse, with not alot of cover over the girth area. Girth sleeves made no difference.
Massaging, this area plus shoulders & chest are usually the areas we have to really keep on top of with our racehorses. So if you buy an off the track horse, keep this in mind.
https://m.facebook.com/cadencetherapy.ca/photos/a.617535038388646/1210117055797105/?type=3&sfnsn=mo

PSA... Over the past couple weeks of horseshows, I’ve spent a lot of time ringside. It is CRAZY how tight people are girthing up just before they go into the ring. An over-tightened girth may pinch and bruise the muscles - in particular the pectorals, trapezius, serratus ventralis muscles and latissimus dorsi (see red areas in diagram bleow). This muscle group (also known as part of the thoracic sling) is crucial for movement. Besides soft tissue, an over tightened girth may also cause bruising of the ribs, the intercostal muscles between the ribs, And increase the overall pressure of the saddle on the back muscles. Check your girth underneath their chest, NOT on the side. You will be surprised the difference one hole can make, and quite literally give your horse some breathing room.

📸ESMA.

Hopefully we've now turned the corner with this horse bite 🙂