Starline Equine Bodywork

The rib cage is more than just a protective structure for a horse’s vital organs; it’s a dynamic framework that significantly influences movement and comfort. However, stiffness, misalignment, or tension in the rib cage can disrupt this harmony, leading to back pain, even in the lumbar region.  This fan favourite episode explores how biomechanics, nerves, muscles, and fascia intertwine, revealing...

While most owners and practitioners are quick to recognize back pain in horses, they don’t realize it’s a symptom of a bigger issue. Thus, when they direct their attention at the back alone, they don’t get impactful or lasting bodywork results. In this fan favourite episode, I chat about the real issues causing unresolved back discomfort, bodywork moves I have developed as a part of The Starline™️...

In this episode of the Starline Equine Bodywork Podcast, we explore a quiet truth many bodyworkers and horse people notice: the positive changes you feel under your hands often fade by the next day. The tissues soften, the shoulder glides more freely, the back yields, yet the old patterns quietly return. We’ll look at why this happens through the lens of sensory-motor amnesia, and how the nervous...

IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization) has grown into one of the most talked about techniques in bodywork. Not all tools or approaches are the same, though. The instruments, the methods, and the results can vary widely. Whether you’re a practitioner thinking about adding IASTM to your services or a horse owner curious about including it in your horse’s care routine, understanding whe...

In this episode we explore how gentle light touch approaches can invite the horse’s own remarkable systems to find greater ease and harmony. Rather than aiming to correct or overhaul, the focus rests on simply opening space for the body to settle into its natural balance, something many owners describe noticing in smoother movement, a brighter outlook, quicker bounce back after work, and a deeper...

The shoulder girdle (or thoracic sling) is the group of muscles that converts the hind end’s forward propulsion into the “lifting” of the withers during movement. This is what enables the horse to travel forward against gravity. Because horses carry roughly 60% of their body weight on the front end, developing and understanding the thoracic sling is essential for building a strong, sound equine at...

Get ready to transform your horse’s comfort and performance with this exciting episode of the Starline Equine Bodywork podcast!  I dive into myofascial release, a hands-on technique that targets the fascia, the web-like connective tissue holding your horse’s body together. Learn to spot and release fascial restrictions that cause pain, stiffness, or limited movement right from your own barn. From...

Have you ever sensed that something feels a little off in your horse’s hindquarters or engagement, even when nothing obvious stands out?  Maybe your horse shows reduced impulsion, shortened strides, toe scuffing, a roached back, compensatory gluteal problems, or resistance under saddle? In this episode we explore a deep and often overlooked source of discomfort that can quietly affect movement, pe...

Episode 200 marks a huge milestone and I wanted to take a moment to really let that sink in. In honour of pausing to process how far we have come I am reairing this fan favourite episode all about integration pauses and processing in equine bodywork. In this episode of the Starline Equine Bodywork Podcast we explore the essential ideas of integration pauses and processing, and why they matter so m...

Horses are masters at hiding discomfort until it becomes impossible to overlook, and recognizing that stoicism is one of the most valuable skills we can develop as owners and bodyworkers. In this episode we explore how pain neuroscience in horses closely mirrors what we understand in humans, from the shared biology of nociceptors and neural pathways to the ways acute pain protects while chronic pa...

The phrase “fascia remembers trauma” is often used in alternative medicine, bodywork, and somatic therapy to suggest that the body’s fascial tissue (a connective tissue network surrounding muscles, organs, and bones) can store emotional or physical trauma, impacting health and movement. Join me for this fantastic favourite episode of the Starline Equine Bodywork Podcast where I look at the scienti...

In this episode we explore how the brain, nervous system, and body work together to shape a horse’s movement and performance.  Many common challenges such as tight shoulders, restricted hind ends, or persistent asymmetry run deeper than the muscles and joints we can feel. The brain constantly predicts what is safe and possible based on past experiences, sometimes creating protective patterns that...

Ever noticed your horse moving a bit off-kilter, like one side’s playing catch-up? Dive into this juicy episode where we unpack Leg Length Discrepancy (LLD) in horses. This is a sneaky issue that could be throwing your horse’s balance out of whack!  From spotting subtle signs like uneven hips or quirky hoof angles to tackling high/low syndrome with practical tips, we’ve got the science-backed scoo...

Horses speak a quiet, sophisticated language of subtle signals that reveal tension, referred pain, and discomfort long before obvious lameness or behavioural issues appear. As prey animals, they evolved to mask weakness, so what looks like “naughtiness” or laziness is often a carefully guarded message that something hurts. By learning to notice these tells (especially through gentle responses at k...

Get ready to dive into the fascinating world of equine biomechanics with this fan favourite episode of the Starline Equine Bodywork Podcast! We’re breaking down how a horse’s static posture (the way they stand at rest) reveals critical clues about their movement, or locomotive posture. For bodyworkers and savvy horse owners, this episode is your guide to understanding how conformation, muscle bala...

In this episode, we explore often overlooked adductor issues in the equine hind limb and how these medial thigh muscles create far reaching effects through the pelvic limb, hip joint, back, and overall performance. The adductor group plays a vital role in drawing the limb toward the midline, stabilizing the hip, and supporting balanced movement alongside the abductors and other key muscles like th...

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...