Sound Strategy Equine Therapy

Schedule for the next 10 days !

Energy healing is such an important part of overall wellness !

Christa is also a fellow NR practitioner

I’m officially a Certified BodyTalk Practitioner! You can book an online BodyTalk session with me at https://calendly.com/mysticmareholistichealing

I am honoured to be able to offer this work. My first BodyTalk session in 2012 literally transformed my life. I used to struggle with a self destructive behaviour that I had done since I was a kid. After my first session I no longer revert back to that certain behaviour. There are so many things BodyTalk has helped me with; I used to be sensitive to eggs, have seasonal allergies, have a strange skin irritation where if I scratched my arm it would stay raised for over 30 minutes. I no longer struggle with any of those issues. Recently I was struggling with a lot of lower back and hip pain. It was to the point this winter that I could barely get out of bed for a month. I was still able to do my chores, but it took me a long time. Thanks to BodyTalk I can finally say that my back is feeling amazing again. This modality has also been really supportive with processing the passing of my mom over 10 years ago as well as the passing of many beloved animals. BodyTalk has helped me with my mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. Overall I find a BodyTalk session just feels really nourishing, relaxing and supportive.

You can schedule directly through my Calendly link or message me at (306) 830-9113 (within Canada) or email [email protected]

This is where things get missed.

From a bodywork perspective, discomfort often shows up as:

– changes in attitude under saddle
– inconsistent contact
– subtle resistance in transitions
– difficulty relaxing through the body
– “quirky” behaviour that comes and goes

And because the horse is still technically sound, it gets overlooked.

But sound doesn’t always mean comfortable.

And comfortable doesn’t always mean performing well.

The earlier you learn to see the subtle signs… the earlier you catch the pattern, the easier it is to get your horse back on track

Stability pads are misunderstood, in my opinion. They don’t look like they could be a useful tool for a 1000lb animal.. But they’ve become one of my most recommended .

Stability pads are NOT about making horses wobble around or creating a dramatic reaction.
And it isn’t about going out and buying the entire SureFoot pad collection ( although I am a huge fan, and that is my chosen brand)

They’re a tool that, when used properly, can be used to create subtle changes in proprioception, stability and postural awareness.

They create instability, which challenges the horse’s balance. The instability helps bring awareness to specific limbs, and challenges proprioception. In turn, your horse will begin to engage the postural muscles to find stability.

They can be useful for me during a bodywork session as they can reveal compensation patterns the horse is already carrying - depending on how they react to different pad densities and pad placements.

When your horse is on a pad, or a combination of pads, the “work” they are doing looks very subtle.

– shifting weight
– unloading or loading a limb
– swaying
– deeper breathing
– improved awareness through the body ( I’ve had horses keep looking at their hind legs when a pad is being used on a hind limb like “ whoa I can balance like that on these things?” )
– nervous system down regulation

However, More instability is NOT always better.
The softer the pad = the more challenging it is
The softer the pad = the more the hoof and limb have to balance laterally ( side to side)
Because for certain horses:
– too much instability creates stress
– overwhelms compensation patterns
– increases guarding
– or pushes the body further into protection mode

This is why I start with the firmest pad, off the start
The horse tells me what level of input they can handle - some horses say no. In that case, it is important to go back to the drawing board and see where else they need support.

Some horses say “ yes”.. But for short intervals

Some horses will stand on them all day

Stability pads are a tool — not a magic fix.

And like any tool, they work best when used intentional

Availability for the next 2.5 weeks !
Hoping for an appt and don't see a date that works ? Message me and I'll see what we can do !

*Schedule subject to change *

First thing first ,this isn't a post about whether steel shoes, composite shoes,boots or barefoot is better . Quite honestly , I'm tired of each side of that argument thinking they are superior to the other .

Second , why does a bodyworker care about this ? Because the hoof and the input it is receiving impacts the ENTIRE BODY .

I don't think it's fair to label a horse that can't trot across the gravel barefoot without bobbling, as unsound . Not if they live in a coddled footing environment .

The modern environment can make it hard for the horse to develop functional neural pathways . Ie ) ones that actually protect them from injury and encourage a solid hoof .

When I was a kid, I could be seen running around the farm , barefoot . I remember the winters after wearing boots for 6+ months , those first trips across the thawed ground hurt and my balance was poor . By July I was sprinting across the gravel.

Did my skin physically toughen up ? Absolutely. But my body also adapted to the amount of stability needed to travel across the gravel , mud, dirt etc.

Your horse isn't really that much different. Their body adapts to what it's exposed to, most .

A horse that goes from its soft pen.. to the perfect arena ... Back to the soft pen.. doesn't get a chance to develop the structure of a hoof that has the strength or density required to comfortably travel over uneven , hard, sharp, terrain. Or even wet , slippery terrain. They may require the protection and grip of a shoe or boot to be comfortable in anything that isn't soft and ideal .

I'm not anti shoe . I'm pro giving our horses what they need so they can be happy in the modern environment they live in.

Eyes glazing over because it makes no difference to you if your horse lives in shoes or boots forever ? That's totally ok, because like I said , this post really isn't about shoes vs. barefoot .

Exposure to different sensory inputs in the form of varied footing and terrain is VERY important for soundness. Whether your horse has a shoe on its foot or not .

The body adapts to what it is exposed to . That's not even my opinion, that's fact.

Sometimes the answer is both!

If you’re seeing:
– sudden lameness
– swelling
– injury
– neurological signs
– or anything acute ( ie) it wasn't there this morning, and it is in the afternoon

Start with your vet.

But if your horse is:
– suddenly resistant
– struggling with softness
– feeling uneven without obvious lameness
– tense through the body
– or just feels “off”
- Struggling with something they are trained to do (like their leads, direction changes, even load in the trailer)

That’s often where bodywork can help.

The tricky part is that horses compensate REALLY well.

So not every issue shows up as a dramatic limp or obvious injury.

A lot of discomfort shows up first through movement and posture changes, behaviour, tension patterns, or subtle performance issues.

The best results usually come from professionals working together — not competing with each other.

Your horse doesn’t care about ego.
They care about getting the right help.

I recently saw a TikTok of someone using a pen to dig into reflex points and saying something along the lines of :
“If your horse can’t do this, there is something wrong with them .”

From a bodywork perspective… this isn't even kinda accurate , and needs context.

First — reflex points should NEVER be tested with tools.
These are sensitive neurological areas and should only ever be assessed with:
– fingers
– light, intentional pressure
– and an understanding of the horse’s response

Not pens ( or deer antlers, sticks , hoof picks.... )Not force. Not digging.

Second — a reduced reflex response is NOT a diagnosis.
A horse that doesn’t show a strong flexion or extension response may be:
– in a protective nervous system state
– in a posture that from a functional standpoint, doesn’t allow flexion or extension ie )the lumbosacral joint is already in extension or flexion - this can be for MANY reasons
– experiencing fascia or muscle restriction
– or simply not processing the stimulus clearly

It is not a “pass or fail” system.

Third — what a healthy response actually looks like:
– smooth
– appropriate to pressure
– consistent side to side
– and returns to baseline quickly

Not exaggerated. Not forced. Not dramatic.

⚠️
Owners should be very cautious about testing reflex points without proper training.

Misinterpretation can lead to unnecessary concern or incorrect assumptions about the horse.

" true strength comes from better function"

From Compensation to Strength — Part Five

This is how I build strength

Strength is not just about doing harder exercises.

A horse can be doing poles, hills, transitions, lateral work, circles, and ridden schooling — and still be strengthening the wrong patterns.

True strength comes from better function.

The horse needs to be able to carry themselves with more balance, better alignment, more connection through the back, and less compensation through the body.

That is why my process is the same whether I am developing a young horse, improving a ridden horse, or working through rehabilitation.

First, understand the body.

Then find the biggest issue.

Then choose exercises the horse can actually do well.

Then reassess as the body changes.

Then build the next layer.

This is not about rushing to the final result.

It is about creating a horse who is stronger, more comfortable, more confident, and more able to do their job happily.

That is always the aim.