Starline Equine Bodywork

My dream list for developing competitive performance horses at shows includes: -Controlling stress load on the horse at the show -Being able to compete at a high level facility with good footing, stalls, jumps and officials -Realistic time commitments (yup, 2 weeks away from work, family and our farm just isn’t possible) -Affordable showing -Indoor and outdoor facilities for competing -Enjoyable r...

Running a mobile bodywork business isn’t easy. And truth be told, a lot of what makes it tough is a glitch in the communication/understanding process between practitioners and clients. We asked a huge number of equine bodyworkers to chime in and tell us what frustrates them. Oh my goodness, there were some very similar themes! We look at those in this episode, and look at troubleshooting strategie...

When we do a trial ride on a horse we are looking at a demonstration of what the horse’s body is capable of at that exact moment. It may not be a good indication of its sustainability, suitability and long term soundness. Join me for this episode where I chat about why we need a better measurement to make decisions about the body’s preparedness for sport. PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLL...

Understanding physiology is the key to strong assessments of what is happening with horses. Strong assessments are the key to well planned bodywork sessions, that bring about the best possible outcomes. Knowing when to call in different types of bodywork practitioners comes from a keen understanding of how the body functions. In this episode of the podcast I go through types of tension and how the...

The fact that thrush is common doesn’t mean it’s no big deal. When thrush is advanced it can cause not just intermittent lameness, but it can create permanent lameness and damage to the hoof tissues. Mud season, hoof shape and stall rest can increase the likelihood of infection. In this episode we chat about the mindset shift I had recently when tackling thrush in one of the horses on our farm, an...

Metabolic conditions in horses pose a challenge for feeding and performance. One of the major factors in the success of managing metabolic conditions is the horse’s feed and nutrition program. Joining us is MasterFeeds equine nutrition specialist Jenna Beach. Jenna walks us through all the things to consider when choosing feed for your metabolic horse. PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWI...

It’s fair to say that the majority of horse owners have every single hair, lump, bump, and scratch of their horse’s legs memorized. Today I chat about my post- workout routine for low leg care on my own horses. It’s more in depth than you might think! PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW. This will help us reach more people and more horses, to support their journey and relatio...

Bodyworkers choose their profession because they want to improve the lives of horses. This desire should include keeping horses safe from the spread of disease and illness when traveling from barn to barn. Join me for this episode where I talk to Dr Megan Donati of Bennett Equine Veterinary Services. We chat about biosecurity measures that facility owners, horse owners and bodyworkers can follow....

If you have an aging horse still competing, congratulations! You are doing a great job! If you want to prolong the career of your aging performance horse there are some physical considerations you have to account for. Join me for this episode where I chat about the physiological changes that happen during aging, and strategies to promote long term soundness and wellbeing. PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, R...

When 12 yr old Phoenix saw a vet bill for his Cushings horse, he vowed to help! His Cushings horse had crumbling hooves, so he wanted a product that could help his horse’s hoof health, and he thought perhaps help his mum out by paying some of his own vet bills. He jumped into action mode. He researched and read all about hooves, what can permeate the wall, and what true and false claims are out th...

IASTM, or “Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization” has become a very popular bodywork technique. There are many types and they differ greatly, both from the instruments to the outcome goals. Whether you are a bodywork practitioner looking to add this service to your practice, or a horse owner looking to integrate it into your horse’s bodywork routine, it is important to know how and when to...

One of the hardest things about having a mobile business is scheduling. This is closely followed by client record management. For those of you with a mobile bodywork business, you know that these are the two most time consuming and incredibly expensive parts of doing business. And honestly, they are the least fun part too. But fear not, you are not alone! And there is help from another bodyworker...

Well this one is different. But after this many episodes, perhaps it’s time to learn a little bit more about your host, Judith Rathbone. Join our producer, and this week’s host, Jay Perry as he interviews Judith about her life in horses, how she decided to do what she does, and what she wants from her career in the industry. PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW. This will help...

This is the muscle group, that in my opinion, is too often overlooked. I believe that it is largely responsible for long term soundness in the pelvic limb and its joints, low back health and correct way of going. Join me for this episode where I look at the equine iliopsoas group. I look at anatomy, function and dysfunction that appears in horses. Of course I will also look at ways to exercise to...

Some of the symptoms of gastric ulcers in horses are similar to signs that your horse needs bodywork. With that in mind it’s important to rule out the medical issue of ulcers before anything else! Join me for this episode where I learn about gastric ulcers in horses from Dr Megan Donati of Bennett Equine Veterinary Services. PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW. This will help...

Have you ever been overwhelmed reading a feed label? I have! I wish I knew more about where to start, and what to look for when trying to interpret the label. I am so grateful to have Jenna Beach of MasterFeeds to chat to about nutrition. Join us for this episode where Jenna walks us through the different things listed on a feed label, what they do, and how to choose a feed for our horses. PLEASE...

Recently I read an article warning people to avoid practitioners who claim that taping can strengthen a muscle of a horse. The article had undertones of attempting to discredit other practitioners. That’s just unfair, especially because it used a very narrow definition of what is actually meant by “assisting a muscle” to strengthen it. In today’s episode I talk about why I feel this article is unf...

Who themselves hasn’t worked out to the point of being a little bit stiff and sore? Horses aren’t different. But, there is a fine line between working muscles to an appropriate place to allow tissue adaptation and fitness to increase, and a place where you have pushed too far. Join me for this episode of the podcast where I discuss delayed onset muscles soreness, muscle micro-damage, and tissue ad...

This week we turn our attention to the wellbeing of the riders at shows. With prolonged periods away from “home base” that winter circuit brings, it’s nice to have an emergency medicine physician (and fellow rider) right on site! Join me for this episode where I chat with Dr Barb Blasko of ShowMD. We look at the parallels between horses and human athletes including hydration, pain management, foll...

Nutrition Teeth Saddle Fit Veterinary Care Farrier Care Bodywork Correct Training These are all building blocks of a strong and well-rounded program. Join me for this episode where we chat with trainer Lise Elder. After years of running a highly successful boarding and training farm, Lise gives us tips on all the building blocks of her successful program. She also gives us tips as to how to approa...

Whether it be caused by equipment, trauma or dentistry the TMJ joint (or temporomandibular joint) can be a major source of discomfort and even lameness for your horse. Join me for this episode where I look at anatomy, causes and symptoms of TMJ dysfunction. PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW. This will help us reach more people and more horses, to support their journey and r...

Stall rest is tough on horses. While often necessary to heal injuries, there are lots of things we can do to combat the negative effects of not moving too much. Of course you need veterinary clearance to make sure these are right for your horse! Proprioceptive work, dynamic mobilization and stabilization exercises, isometric contraction work, and thoracic sling strengthening are just some of the w...

“Movement comes from somewhere. Force comes from somewhere.” -Katie Wood Without correct mobility our body cannot absorb forces from the horse, and these forces then get slammed back into the horse. Ouch! It’s our responsibility to be the best we can be when we step onto the back of our horses. This is where actively and proactively seeking the advice of this week’s guest comes into play. Katie Wo...

We all know pole exercises have benefits. They help your horse engage its core, and create greater awareness of their body in relation to their environment. However performing an exercise that has big gains means selecting the correct exercise for your horse. Join me for this episode where I describe 2 of my favourite pole exercises to do with your horse and what part of the horse they will target...

Building a scalable, sustainable and viable business is a struggle with the traditional equestrian business model. Having a digital component to your business is a way to change the “trading-time-for-dollars” method of doing business, and make both an impact and a business that is more rewarding. Join me for this episode where I chat transforming businesses with equestrian and digital business men...