Starline Equine Bodywork

Today’s fan favourite episode is a bit of a hot topic, and I know it’s going to stir up some questions. That’s exactly why we need to talk about it more! We’re diving into the science behind our warm-up routines with horses and why what we’ve always been told about stretching might actually be working against us. This information completely changed how I approach warm-ups with my own horses, and I...

In this episode of the Starline Equine Bodywork podcast, we welcome Dr. Bri Henderson, a sports medicine veterinarian with extensive experience treating equine athletes.  Dr. Henderson brings a proactive, preventative perspective to the conversation, focusing on how horsemen and bodywork professionals can support horses before clinical issues arise. Drawing from her daily work with performance hor...

Years ago (c. 2013-2014), I fell in love with kinesiology tape for horses. I spent years learning and growing as a practitioner.   I spent countless hours writing this digital manual. As I grew and learned, the manual grew and became even better! And now, it’s available to you. “The Essential Equine Kinesiology Taping Manual” is for anyone who wants to be a hands-on helper for horses.  The manual...

Whether you’re a bodywork practitioner or a horse owner, using the tips I chat about in this fan favourite episode will help the horses in your life perform better, and stay sounder longer. I chat about the following: Limiting sport specific training to limit repetitive motion strain/ overstretch injuries, and fascial adhesions that limit range of motion and interrupt muscle efficiency. Varying tr...

In this episode of the Starline Equine Bodywork Podcast, I dive deep into my greatest obsession: the Equine Stress Lowering Protocol using the powerful 128 Hz weighted tuning fork.  Discover how this simple yet transformative modality can quickly lower a horse’s stress levels, reduce cortisol, and promote profound relaxation and nervous system balance.  You’ll receive a clear, step-by-step walkthr...

The year is well underway, and it's the perfect time to check in on your business goals. Many of us started the year with big intentions for our equine bodywork practices, only to find that time has slipped by and progress has stalled. If you're feeling behind or unsure how to move forward, you're not alone.   In this episode of the Starline Equine Bodywork Podcast, I sit down with...

The hyoid apparatus in horses is both complex and delicate! It’s related anatomically to movement, stride length, and posture. Join me for this fan favourite episode where I chat about a recent conversation I had with a client about their horse’s stress, tongue carriage, hyoid and resulting inability to make lines easily.  LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE: Tackling Lumbar Pain In Horses Grab your FRE...

In this episode, we explore one of the most common yet often overlooked patterns in equine performance: gluteus medius dysfunction and its deep connection to recurring lumbar pain. As training intensity increases (whether with young horses building new skills or seasoned ones facing greater demands) this powerful hindquarter muscle can become the weak link, creating a cascade of compensations that...

“Girthiness” is one of the most commonly expressed concerns from horse owners in my 1:1 practice. As soft tissue practitioners faced with a girth-sensitive horse, we address all of the muscles that are related to the saddle area, shoulder and girth. However new literature has proposed that this “girthiness” may actually be coming from the withers. Join me for this fan favourite episode where I dis...

In this episode, we explore a gentle but important shift in how we prepare horses for work. Many of us incorporate passive stretching with the best intentions- to loosen up, show care, and support our equine partners. But, emerging insights suggest that timing matters deeply.  We break down the key differences between passive (static) stretching and dynamic, movement-based preparation, drawing fro...

When creating an exercise program for horses, it’s really important to remember that every body is an individual. It’s important to look at where we are, where we need to be, and what timeframe we have made to get to our goal. Join me for this fan favourite episode where I look at some of my go-to strengthening exercises (from the neck all the way to the pelvic limb) that can be adapted to where y...

In this episode of the Starline Equine Bodywork Podcast, I sit down with Lindsay Regan of Firefly Energy Healing to explore the world of energy healing for horses. We dive into how subtle energetic practices can support equine well-being, addressing everything from emotional balance and physical comfort to overall relaxation and performance. Lindsay shares her insights on working with horses throu...

When we take a horse for a trial ride, we’re really just seeing a snapshot of what its body can do in that exact moment. It’s not always a reliable indicator of its long-term sustainability, suitability, or soundness. Join me for this fan favourite episode as I chat about why we need a better way to measure and assess a horse’s preparedness for sport. LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE: Grab your FREE...

In this episode of the Starline Equine Bodywork Podcast, I sit down with Averill Pessin, a social media, communications, and business development expert specializing in the equine industry. We explore how bodywork business owners can thoughtfully define their social media ethics and create a responsible online presence that builds trust while protecting everyone involved. Averill shares practical...

What we practice is what we get. Walking horses prepares them for…. (insert drumroll here)…Walking. The true fitness of a horse dictates what happens in a bodywork session and what homework will be left for the horse between sessions. There are many aspects to fitness: general fitness, sport specific skill acquisition, and tissue training. This last type of fitness is what is most commonly overloo...

Join me for this episode of the Starline Equine Bodywork Podcast where we look at the thoracic sling. This is the horse’s built-in shock absorber and suspension bridge.  It is a powerful muscular-fascial hammock made of the serratus ventralis, pectorals, subclavius, trapezius, rhomboids, and longissimus that lifts the thorax between the front legs and carries 60–65 percent of the rider’s weight. W...

This fan favourite episode is based on a listener question about prepping her dressage horse for the demand of show season without overloading the horse’s tissues. I chat about assessing weaknesses, planning exercises to overcome them and how to gauge where the point of fatigue/ failure is. I also reveal my 2 secret tips for a body “re-set” to help horses maintain correct form in workouts while we...

In this episode, we are thrilled to welcome Isabelle D’Costa of Honos Nutrition Co., a leading horse nutrition expert. She has helped many horses, from young ones in training to older retired friends, build strong and healthy toplines. Join us as we explore how the right food can create and keep that great topline from the inside out. We chat about the basic foods horses need for strong muscles an...

In this episode, we dive into the subtle world of equine behaviour, exploring whether your horse is genuinely at ease or subtly working to calm itself amid lingering stress. As prey animals, horses are naturally primed for survival, often exhibiting self-soothing actions when they’re still in a heightened state of arousal. We break down the key differences between these de-stressing signals (roote...

Have you ever seen a horse stretch its neck waaaay up during a bodywork session? Well, then you’ve witnessed a pandiculation! Pandiculation is very different from passive stretching. Join me for this fan favourite episode of the podcast where I examine the scientific differences between these two types of stretches. I examine what is happening in the body in each situation, and why it is extremely...

Join us on the Starline Equine Bodywork Podcast for an enlightening conversation with sports medicine veterinarian and rehabilitation specialist Dr. Bri Henderson, where we delve into the realities of equine recovery. Discover why rehabilitation is not always a straight path, exploring the biological factors (like inflammation, proliferation, and the lengthy remodeling phase) that sometimes lead t...

Cantering and galloping can offer more therapeutic value than bodywork and stretches put together. Still, too many of us miss out on the opportunity to head out and let our horses really stretch their strides. Address gait rhythm issues, back hollowing, back stiffness, and one-sidedness through galloping. Come along as we dive into the advantages of galloping in this fan favourite podcast episode....

Join me as we dive into the world of equine dentistry with our guest, Dr. Christy Barnes, a veterinarian with a special interest in dental care. As an equine bodywork practitioner, I’ve often uncovered hidden mouth issues during assessments that explain puzzling performance hurdles, and Dr. Barnes sheds light on how dentistry is a cornerstone of overall equine well-being. We’ll explore the fundame...

Struggling with lead changes? Notice your saddle shifting to one side? The culprit could be your horse’s ribcage! It may seem unexpected, but the ribcage and its surrounding muscles play a massive role in your horse’s overall performance and well-being. Tune in to this fan favourite episode as I dive into the ribcage and share my top bodywork method for getting it mobilized! LINKS RELATED TO THIS...

In this episode, we explore spinal segmentation issues in horses, where the spine’s motion segments (comprising vertebrae, discs, facet joints, and ligaments) lose normal micro-mobility or neurological coordination, often before visible structural damage like arthritis appears.  Common types include hypomobility, hypermobility (unstable excessive movement), facet inflammation, and multifidus muscl...