Starline Equine Bodywork

On client intake forms I often see lists of supplements the horses are on. Some are a mile long! I have to ask: How many actually work? How many are necessary? How many clash with the other supplements the horse is on? When should we alter what we supplement with? Join me for this episode where science backed nutrition expert Isabelle D’Costa of Honos Nutrition talks to me about supplements. We di...

Social media seems essential for marketing a bodywork business. Social media also seems responsible for spreading incorrect information about the science of bodywork. Sadly, sometimes this is coming from the accounts of bodyworkers themselves! Ugh. How frustrating for other bodyworkers and for consumers. How do we find a happy place with social media? How do we use it to have conversations that el...

“Fascia” has become both a buzz word and a scapegoat for all that ails our horses. The claims made my many manual therapists are far fetched and don’t reflect the science and literature around what this connective tissue is, and really isn’t capable of. Join me for this episode where I look at common false claims, and the need to re-evaluate the language we use as manual practitioners to better de...

Compensation patterns, subconscious patterns, neural pathways, speed and strength of recruitment of muscles…. Oh my! There is so much to consider when we look at our own biomechanics and how we affect our horses. Join me for this episode where Dr Stephanie Crawford of On Course Chiropractic gives us an inside look into the art and science of rider biomechanics! PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AN...

Hay analysis isn’t just for those purchasing hay. It’s for every owner of every horse to ensure a healthy and balanced diet is being reached. Good forage is the foundation of diet can’t be chosen by sight alone! Knowing not only what hay analysis is, but what results mean to your horse is of utmost importance. Join me for this episode of the podcast where I chat with Madeline Boast of Balanced Bay...

Pain is only one outcome measure we are looking at when bring a horse back into work. Statistics show that the #1 thing you are most likely to injure when returning to play is the thing you injured in the first place. This means that we need to look at the rehabilitation process very closely and use several outcome measures to live through the phases of recovery. Join me for this episode where we...

Quiet times in a service based business are inevitable. Instead of feeling panic, there are ways to turn these times into money making times. Join me for this episode where I look at some strategies for using this time to improve your 1:1 business, your skill set, and to expand into new, revenue generating areas. PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW. This will help us reach mo...

Want to get the most from your horse’s bodywork session? In this episode of the podcast I chat about ways to plan and prepare for a session. I run through what the working environment should be like, and of course what to do after a session. I dive deep into the topic of post-session homework. And, I even spill the secret to my success with my 1:1 clients; it’s the 10 step protocol I suggest they...

The hyoid apparatus in horses is both complex and delicate! It’s related anatomically to movement, stride length, and posture. Join me for this 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. PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW. This will help us reach more pe...

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...