Starline Equine Bodywork

Join me for this episode where I share my thoughts on shortening distances between jumps and training bounces in order to produce a better quality jump and step in the horse. As a bodywork practitioner it will come as no surprise that I feel often the prerequisites for these exercises are overlooked. And, this puts the horse at great risk. In this episode of the podcast I discuss what to do to pre...

Join me for this episode where we go in-depth on stifles. It’s a huge information-packed episode, so fasten your seatbelt! I will run through risk factors for stifle issues (aside from trauma, and birth issues). And, I will go through some symptoms of stifle issues, or behaviours you will notice in training that could indicate that you need to take a look at your horse’s stifles. A huge focus of t...

Deciding on a training strategy is one of the biggest challenges for sport horse trainers and riders. Do horses actually do best with time off? What does “downtime” for the fit horse in competition season look like? How can we keep our horses fresh and fit all at the same time? When do you train at 100% effort and how does this affect peaking your horse’s performance for big classes? Management of...

The development of a horse’s neck says a lot more about him than people realize. Muscle development patterns can indicate tension, and a need for bodywork intervention. Join me for this episode to explore the common patterns we see as bodyworkers, and what that means for the horse. I even reveal my favourite bodywork moves for releasing tension in the jaw, which in turn helps the horse use its nec...

Buzz word? Maybe. Common area of issue? Absolutely. Join me for the episode where I discuss SI joint issues. I look at the anatomy of the SI joints and their importance to the horse. Let’s look at subtle indicators that point to needing a vet to look at your horse’s SI. I reveal my favourite exercises and managerial strategies to use when coming back from a diagnosis of SI joint issues. PLEASE CON...

I just love science, don’t you? Join me for this conversation with special guest Dr Kendle Dykstra, Equine Chiropractor. We take a deep dive into the science behind chiropractic work. Have you ever wondered how adjustments actually work on a horse’s body? This information-packed episode is the information you need to know! PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW. This will help u...

I have heard more than one professional bodywork practitioner say they don’t feel the “carrot stretch” (Dynamic Mobilization Exercise) that puts the horse’s chin to their chest is necessary. In fact, they implied it is rehearsing Rolkur (or deep hyper flexion under tack). I have a very different opinion. Join me for this episode where we define the difference between passive and dynamic movement,...

Today’s episode is a bit of a hot topic. And, I expect many of you will have questions. That’s great! We need to talk about this more. Let’s look at the science of our warm up routines with our horses. This information certainly made me rethink stretching-based warm ups for my own horses and I’m certain it will give you lots to think about too! Here goes! Fact: Recent science has shown that pre-wo...

Before & After photos are posted on so many bodywork accounts. But are they really useful? Join me for this episode where I discuss the ethical/privacy issues photos raise, the illusions created by photography, the misrepresentation of a bodyworker’s skills, and the ever confusing photo caption “Can you see the difference?”. Now, there is a time and place for photo journalism of sessions, but...

I used to think that I knew my horses well. I would spend hours each week carefully grooming them, running my hands over them, checking their legs and their feet. I would watch all of their subtle facial expressions carefully. I was convinced that I KNEW them. Geez… WAS I EVER WRONG! With all of that attention, I never actually stood back and looked at them. I hadn’t ever noticed their posture, no...

When I was about to take my first equine kinesiology taping course, it was not a thing people were really doing with horses. It was however quite popular with human athletes. I took my first course with a friend, who shared my doubts. Before we attended our course, the conversation began kind of like this: “Do you think it’s just a mental thing? Part of the pre-game ritual? Not actually functional...

What do you feel when you palpate muscle? Healthy muscle and “bad muscling” have a different feel and a different cause. It’s important to know the difference, the reasons muscles are developing the way they are, and to be able to break the cycle of laying down “bad muscle”. Join me for this episode where I explain what I am looking for in the horses I work with in my visual and palpation assessme...

The horse’s diaphragm is not discussed often enough in bodywork and training. The diaphragm can be directly linked to good movement in horses, plus a healthy emotional and physical state. In this episode I discuss the diaphragm, and its implications on performance. A horse’s breath and movement are linked through respiratory locomotor coupling, or the syncing of breath and movement. We will look a...

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 today’s episode where I look at some of my favourite strengthening exercises (from the neck all the way to the pelvic limb) that can be adapted to where your hor...

Canter and gallop can be more therapeutic than bodywork and stretches combined. Yet, so many of us don’t really get a chance to get out and open our horses step up. Solve rhythm irregularities in the gait, hollowing off the back, stiffness in the back and one sidedness with galloping. Join me to explore the benefits of galloping in this episode of the podcast. PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND...

Safety, communication, session length, scope of practice, transparency, teamwork and the timeline for recovery/ rehab. These are big… nope…. HUGE topics. Communication around these topics is what will really make or break the practitioner/ client relationship. Join me for this episode, where I dive into all the things practitioners and clients needs to communicate to one another. PLEASE CONSIDER R...

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 PRE-RELEASE. “The Essential Equine Kinesiology Taping Manual” is for anyone who wants to be a hands-on helper for horses. T...

Proprioception is the horse’s understanding of where it is in time and space. Joints, muscles, tendon and ligaments are full of these nerve receptors. They are extremely important for making movement quality. Join me for this episode where I look at risk factors for poor proprioception, symptoms of poor proprioception and (of course) my favourite exercises to improve proprioception. PLEASE CONSIDE...

Whether you are a bodywork practitioner or a horse owner, using the tips I chat about in this 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 training intens...

What if I told you that it is possible to improve your horse’s core strength and balance, all while creating controlled range of motion in as little as 5 minutes a day?   Well it is possible! In this episode we will discuss the role dynamic mobilization exercises play in strengthening your horse, the research behind the exercises, and the benefits of this type of work. PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVI...

As any bodyworker will tell you, there are certain areas of the horse that always seem to be tense and reactive to palpation. This seems to be the case regardless of sport, and regardless of the level of sport that horses participate in.   Now while it is important to address this tension with bodywork, it is also important to know how the body works, so that we can train better and more responsib...

Before & After photos are posted on so many bodywork accounts. But are they really useful? Join me for this episode where I discuss the ethical/privacy issues photos raise, the illusions created by photography, the misrepresentation of a bodyworker’s skills, and the ever confusing photo caption “Can you see the difference?”. Now, there is a time and place for photo journalism of sessions, but...

Topline isn’t just an aesthetically desirable trait, it’s an indicator of health and wellbeing in horses. Join me for this episode where we look at how to support your horse’s topline. We will explore: -The definition of topline including which muscle make up the dorsal chain and why the ventral chain cannot be ignored. -The factors that effect topline quality and how to troubleshoot some of these...

With show season comes a social media feed full of show photos, announcements of wins, and barn families celebrating. But what if you aren’t showing? What if your horse isn’t ready, is injured, or what if you just don’t want to compete? Join me as I discuss 4 ways to measure true success outside the show ring. PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW. This will help us reach more...

While most people tend to focus on strength and cardiovascular fitness, balance training is a critical component to well rounded athleticism, and can be done with horses at any level of training. As riders we have all had that feeling that our horse fell into a halt transition, taking an awkward step to rebalance and catch himself. The inability of the horse to shift his weight back is cause of ma...