Bayer Hug Equine Therapy
588 McPherson Rd 744668 Smiths Falls, ON, Canada

Happy Thanksgiving! Spent the day yesterday at Fort Garry Stables spoiling their lesson horses! Ten thankful ponies! I love when riding schools take care of their most prized possessions!

Just a little heads up! I will be unavailable from the 28th of October until the 4th of November. Please book early if you would like me to come and see your horse before I am away!

Hi everyone! It's been a pretty crazy year, and it's not over yet! I'm so thankful to do what I do and help out you and your horses both on the ground with their body and in the saddle. I'm really trying to keep this service affordable to the average horse owner, so every time I have to raise my prices it doesn't come easily. October 1st my prices are going up to $100 a session. I hope you all understand! ... I'm looking at adding another modality to my roster soon! So keep an eye out for that!! Stay safe out there everyone! Thanks for supporting me!

Hi everyone! Its been a pretty crazy year, and its not over yet! Im so thankful to do what I do and help out you and your horses both on the ground with their body and in the saddle. Im really trying to keep this service affordable to the average horse owner, so every time I have to raise my prices it doesnt come easily. October 1st my prices are going up to $100 a session. I hope you all understand! ... Im looking at adding another modality to my roster soon! So keep an eye out for that!! Stay safe out there everyone! Thanks for supporting me!

It feels SOOOOO good to be back and working on horses! Daisy and Flaire agree ;) Contact me today to help your partner feel and move better after their little holiday!

With the state of emergency being declared in Ontario and the closure of Barns, I unfortunately will no longer be travelling to treat your horses or teach lessons. This is for the best to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Hopefully it is controlled soon and we can resume our regular riding and enjoy the spring weather that is coming. Sessions and lessons can be pre-purchased and booked at a later date. This would help me out greatly as this is my full time job. Stay safe everyone, wash your hands and keep your chins up! We got this!

Sessions now include a complementary shedding session! Spring is just around the corner and therefore, so is show season!! Get your partner turned up for another amazing summer of riding! Whether it be in the show ring or hitting the trails!

Jisk checking out the Leg Saver Equistim equipment on his hocks.

Animal Mechanics including Equine Osteopathy, in my opinion, is concerned with the study of functional mobility within the equine body. Biomechanically, biolo...gically, anatomically, physiological and mentally and the manner in which these integrated systems influence movement and behaviour on a mechanical, emotional, neurologic, chemical and behavioural level. The neuro-muscular-skeletal system when it has disorders affects the horse on all levels. The horse has to adapt and defend itself against lifelong internal and external influences. The only tool it has its own vitality and mobility. If this is not sufficient, somatic dysfunction occurs which over time can lead to pathology. The horse is a social, psycho-somatic totality and will respond and react on all influences, (positive or negative adaptation, compensation). Horses have evolved to hide pain as they are a prey animal and wired as such. Any display of pain, weakness, disability causes the horse to become vulnerable enabling predation or being driven out and expelled from their herd. This is a natural instinct so the vulnerable horse will not jeopardise the safety and survival of the remainder. HIDING PAIN IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE HORSES SURVIVAL SYSTEM WITHIN THE BRAIN AND THEY HAVE EXTRAORDINARY WAYS OF HIDING PAIN AND CHANGING MOVEMENT PATTERNS TO BE ABLE TO FUNCTION AND COMPENSATE. Animal Mechanics looks to improve health and focuses on the restoration of comfortable motion to structures within the body. There are a variety of techniques that influence the connective tissues, fluidal mobility, joint articulations and posture. individualised treatment is looking at the whole animal, not just symptoms and separate systems. The therapist aims to help nature as much as possible by removing mechanical hindrance for the restoration of efficient function. Stimulating the bodies inherited, innate self-regulating and healing mechanisms to enhance wellbeing, functional efficiency and harmonious physiology. The body is in dynamic mechanics and has continual compensations and adaptations to posture. The ligamentous system together with fascia is most important towards the successful rehabilitation of somatic dysfunction. Muscles are also important but if the connecting fibres and fascia are compromised, the neurology is impaired then the muscle ceases to be as efficient in its function. To restore neurology and functionality of movement, stretching and broadening of fibres can repair and decrease stiffness. There are contractile structures in ligaments and ligaments respond the same as muscles i.e. relax and contract. Every moveable bony joint has ligaments and capsules as well as their associated muscles and fascia. Contraction and elasticity loss at the ligaments causes extra rigidity, ligaments can also calcify which makes therapy more difficult, however without locomotion it worsens. The main function of a muscle is to contract. Mobilising muscles, fascia and ligamentous structures by separating adhesions between fibres to restore movement followed by adequate active use can stop the adhesions reforming to be freed up and both broadening and the lengthening of the fibres to restore relaxed mobility. In horses, there are three categories of muscles. Postural (tonic), these muscles are constantly working to maintain tone for posture, balance and stability and are prone to shortening and tightness. Phasic muscles for locomotion, more prone to lengthening and weakness. Mixed muscles of both tonic and phasic fibres for movement and posture. The mixed muscles are the most common to have more restrictions and have a higher chance of hyper tone contraction. The psoas muscle is a prime example of this and can contract more into flexion contributing to hip, stifle, hock, pelvis, sacrum and lumbar problems Common articular fixations occur are where there are a lot of fibrous attachments converging, or where the spinal joint angles change. Many horses have problems lumbar-sacral, sacroiliac, stifle and hock. All these problems are interrelated as these structures work in unison. Dysfunction is often displayed as poor performance, intermittent lameness, lack of rear impulsion and local pain or discomfort. The horse can still look symmetrical, sometimes with therapy or rest the pain subsides and motion improves again. There are times horses are presented for treatment with the following observations: a flaccid tail, muscle atrophy, in particular, the Gluteus, Quadriceps and top line, poor body condition even though being well-fed and worked, perianal atrophy, urinary faecal disturbance, atrophy behind the shoulders, an overdeveloped underneath neck musculature, and over development in the hamstring muscle, as well as poor performance, lack of impulsion discomfort or pain. The horse may need a veterinary diagnostic examination to check for pathologies such as fibro cartilage damage, displacement, bone remodelling, or calcification. which can be diagnosed from ultrasound, palpation, or other diagnostic testing. The findings will then allow the therapist to proceed with the best treatment plan for the horse. If there is sufficient pathology where permanent damage and change has occurred, often the horse may be rehabilitated and maintained at a comfortable functional level with constant maintenance. It may, however, not return to full function where it can be expected to perform showjumping, racing, high-speed sports with a lot of torque (reining, cutting, barrels)as this could irritate and worsen problems, creating further strain and disorder A young horse still growing with good posture An Animal Mechanic does not necessarily" put back in place" a misaligned joint but aims at restoring movement for return of function at a relaxed level of motion. Working the articular surfaces, the connective tissues and the muscle fibres can restore movement. It is important to know what the underlying structures, anatomic function and physiology serve to effect a positive result. Follow on rehabilitation or maintenance with knowledge of the correct exercises for the horse to gain improved performance. This is time-consuming and often repetitive, however, when the time is put in you will see very positive results.

We are now offering Mico-current therapy with the Equi-Stim by Leg-Saver. Leg Saver helps manage: Arthritis, Lactic Acid Removal Muscle soreness Sshoulder pain... Azutoria or Tying-up Lung bleeding Hunter Bump / Sacroiliac Osslets Check Ligaments Colic and Stomach disorders Immune System Stimulation, poor appetite Increased stamina Leg Saver: Removes inflammation (swelling and edema) Stimulates circulation Reduces acute and chronic pain Increases range of motion and eases tightness Increases performance and stamina Ask Melissa if the Leg-Saver can help your horses recovery, today!

Wow! What a summer it has been! Im so thankful for all my wonderful clients. Just wanted to post a note to remind clients this is a very busy time, and to get the times you desire, booking two or more weeks in advance is required. Sometimes I can slot you in on shorter notice, but you may be subjected to travel charges and less than ideal times. I will be taking weekends off starting this week until labour Day weekend as my husband is in town. ... Following that, weekend spots will be open again! Just a little update! Thanks again!

I scratch your back you scratch mine and Ill scratch his, ok. #clickertraining#equispeak #heroncreststables #horses #scratches

Hi everyone! It has been a while since I have posted on here! Lets just say I have been very busy! I wanted to thank you for allowing me to do what I love each and every day. Such a blessing! I am away to visit my husband the 26th of June to the 2nd of July. Shortly after I return, on the 6th of July my bodywork session will be increasing to $90 a horse. Thank you again for supporting me and refering me to other equestrians. I really appreciate it!

My fancy pony ridden by @jisklikedad #athena #yesifeedtreats #horse #friesiansporthorse #blackhorse #heroncreststables

@eat.sleep.eventing and the amazing Cavachino in a clinic this weekend @westarfarms with Jen Hamilton

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and happy holidays! From Melissa and her reindeer in training ;)

You have your riding instructors present all planned out.. but what about your horse or your lesson horse/pony? What better gift than to finish the year out supple and free after a Bayer Hug body work session! Best part? It will help you improve and get you ready for next years show season goals! Contact me today to book!

And thats it! Thanks so much for your generosity! I will message the winners for payment and delivery!

The other two have been so popular, and its only been an hour, so I will offer a third session! One body work session Value $80 min bid: $20

A Locally Roasted Coffee Gift basket. 2lbs of coffee of your choice and a Huskarl Mug! Value $60 Min bid $15

One body work session Value $80 Min bid $20

One body work session. Value $80 Min bid. $20

With No Stirrup November just around the corner, be sure to take care of your horses back as you are building your strength. If you didnt do you homework and practice/build strength before now, perhaps do only half of your ride without stirrups. No matter who you are, PLEASE! always warm up with your stirrups. Your horses back needs to move and to do that you need to be up and light, very very hard to do that without stirrups. And last but not least, book your athlete a Bayer Hug session to keep their back strong and supple!

Only taken 5 months for me to put it on... but its on and it looks amazing!

1. TRAPEZIUS MUSCLE Seen on the outside of the horse as the wither and base of the neck the trapezius muscle is actually divided into two parts - the cervical a...nd the thoracic part. The trapezius muscle action is to draw the shoulder (scapula) forwards and backwards. The trapezius is also responsible for elevation of the shoulder. The trapezius muscle originates from the nuchal ligament and supraspinous ligament of the second cervical vertebrae and the tenth thoracic vertebrae. This region of the horse is also the junction point for several major muscle muscle groups of the back and the neck. The upper (dorsal) branch of the accessory nerve (Cranial Nerve 11) is involved in the innervation (switching on) of the trapezius muscle. WHY IS THIS MUSCLE IMPORTANT? There is a branch of the accessory nerve (Cranial Nerve 11) that has a negative impact on the horses movement if it is pinched or compressed. This is because horses have one weak spot. Stay with me as I try and explain. You may have seen how a lion attacks a zebra in the wild. The lion will jump onto the zebras back and bite at the base of the neck just in front of the wither. The action of pressure on the location of the Cranial Nerve stops the innervation (movement) of the trapezius muscle which in turn stops the zebra from fleeing. It is the weak spot in the defence of the zebra and our horses. What does this mean for saddle fit you might ask? If your saddle tree pinches your horses shoulders and (Cranial Nerve 11) your horse may not be able to stride out or extend. They may not stretch into jumps, jump flat, refuse or evade jumping altogether. This is sometimes seen as the horse misbehaving or being naughty when all the horse is trying to do is avoid pain. If you place your saddle on the horses shoulder (not behind it) when you saddle up then you are already causing discomfort and pain. If you see horses with a dip in front of their saddle this can indicate trapezius muscle wasting caused by improper use of the muscle. The dip in front of the wither is caused by the trapezius muscle shrinking and loosing strength which in turn affects the horses ability to move its shoulder. 2. LATISSIMUS DORSI MUSCLE The latissimus dorsi muscle is a triangular shaped muscle located just behind the shoulder (scapula). Its action is to help the horse flex the shoulder joint and move the upper leg (humerus). The latissimus dorsi attaches into the horses long back muscle fascia (thoracolumbar fascia) and inserts onto the upper part of the front leg (humerus, teres minor tuberosity). This muscle is innervated (switched on) by the thoracodorsal nerve which runs along the top part of the horses back. WHY IS THIS MUSCLE IMPORTANT? Imagine a tree that is too tight pinching the horses shoulders. A horse with a tense back is no fun to ride. What can make their back tense and why do they tense up? One reason could be your saddle. If the back has limited elasticity because the horse is trying to cope with a badly fitting saddle it will have a direct affect on how the horse uses its front legs. Its stride will become shorter and it will display what is sometimes called sewing machine action. The front leg is thrown forward from the elbow and the movement becomes stiff and fast. The horse wont be able to use its back correctly and wont be able to track up and its hind quarters may trail out behind rather than engaging. This then places more stress on the horses muscles as it tries to compensate. Muscle soreness and injury and ligament damage can occur. 3. TRICEPS MUSCLE The triceps muscle is part of your horses shoulder and is seen as the muscle that forms part of the front leg and is directly in front of the girth. There are actually several parts of the triceps muscle but we will be looking at them as one group. The action of the triceps muscle is to extend the elbow joint and flex the shoulder joint. The triceps muscle attaches on the scapular (shoulder) and also the ulnar (front leg). It is a fan-like muscle with its broadest attachment being on the scapular and a much smaller concentrated attachment on the ulnar. The triceps is innervated by the radial nerve. WHY IS THIS MUSCLE IMPORTANT? If the triceps muscle is unable to move smoothly because of tension in the back making the horse move quickly with short strides then you can see that the interlinking relationship of the muscles means they can become sore. Tripping and stumbling can also be indicative of issues with saddle fit and cause muscle tightness and soreness. With any muscle group pain and pressure can create a negative response which is muscle wasting. It takes at least 12 months to develop the top line muscles on a horse but it takes a fraction of that for the muscles to disappear or waste. 4. PECTORALIS MUSCLE The "deep" pectoralis muscle runs from the chest between your horses front legs and under their rib cage. There are also other parts to this muscle known as Superficial, transverse (side to side) and descendens (lower) you can see these when looking at your horse from the front they are commonly referred to as chest muscles. The action of the deep pectoralis muscle is to support the trunk or abdomen of the horse and assists in stabilising the shoulder joint. The deep pectoralis muscle attaches from the horses sternum (between the horses front legs) and a the thick layer of fascia known as the yellow abdominal tunic! The other attachment is the front leg or top of the humerus (front leg). This muscle is innervated (switched on) by the cranial and caudal pectoral nerves. WHY IS THIS MUSCLE IMPORTANT? This is really important to know as your girth can affect how this muscle functions. Its really important that the girth buckles never lie on the edge of this muscle. If the girth is too short it will sit just behind the elbow of the horse and can lead to pinching and pain. The pinching of the girth means the horse may not want to extend their front leg as it causes discomfort. The girth should ideally have double elastic on all the buckles to allow for the chest to expand and contract and be wide enough to be comfortable. Some girths look lovely and soft but dont distribute the pressure on the horses chest over a wide surface area due to the way they are made. A note on the girth. If the girth is tightened severely this will affect the comfort of the horse. While it will not affect breathing it will have a negative impact on comfort and the ability for the muscles to move. The girth should be tightened equally on both sides and be well clear of the horses elbows (if a short dressage girth) to ensure comfort. (PC - Julia Field)

Accepting new clients! Willing to travel for multiple horses Equine Remedial Therapy is a combination of massage, Osteopathy, craniosacral, acupressure, kinesiology taping, red light therapy and more modalities to come! I am continuing to learn more and better ways to help your four legged athletes. With show season here now, stop any mid season break downs in its tracks by addressing any bobbles in performance now!

The cranial nerves play a HUGE role in the horses well being. They have influences throughout the whole body. Bridle fit is something many are not concerned with. The tightness of your noseband especially. Double check your fit or get a 2nd opinion

https://youtu.be/0lPvyxzSER0 A bit of a long watch, but so educational! Highly reccomemd it Many underlying pain issues in horses go unnoticed or are brushed off as the horse being "naughty". Watch and see if any of the signs relate to your horse and take a look at what is going on. ... Body work and correct training are so important for the soundness of your horse. Any of these ring a bell? Give me a shout to piece together whats going on! See more

For those people who still insist in tying their horses mouth shut!!! The Temperomandibular joint (TMJ) is The joint with the most proprioceptive nerves in the... horses entire body". When the horses lower jaw cannot move, it cannot, therefore, transmit accurate positioning data to the horses body, which results in poor movement and performance. TMJ dysfunction reaction in horses are as follows: Balance may be impaired Ability to perform lateral movements will be impaired Range of motion of the cervical vertebrae will be impacted Contraction of the long hyoid muscles can put other muscles into spasm and tension The horse wants to go behind the bit to relieve tension in the muscles between the hyoid and the scapula and/or the sternum It sets the stage for a hollow back It shortens the horses stride STILL Want ot tie the horses mouth shut?

SHOUT OUT to Melissa Bayer-Lester! Had an amazing ride on young Rikki out on the roads with Spring surprises, deep water ditches, geese, deer, trucks, motorbike...s. She was a star! Thank you for putting in so many dedicated hours riding her for me while I was recuperating. It really shows the fine work you have done with her!! So happy with her! Cant wait for hunting season again with you and the OVH! Anyone looking for an excellent all round horse professional- Melissa is da bomb! Best kept secret right in your backyard in the Ottawa Valley!

The hyoid is such a delicate structure that has so much impact on your horses performance! Keeping the jaw free and the tongue relaxed is SO important!

Happy ponies after their treatments today.

IS IT TIME TO SAY NO TO NOSEBANDS? This poster was designed by Pamela Blades Eckelbarger of Equus-Soma Equine Osteology, Anatomy & Bodywork. It clearly shows h...ow fragile the hyoid apparatus is. Bridles and nosebands need to fit properly and never be tightned to keep a horses mouth shut. Not only is this highly uncomfortable for the horse, but a compromised hyoid apparatus will create many additional problems. See more

A very useful point to remember.

I will be in the Osgoode area on the 8th of April with new knowledge and several appointment open in the afternoon. Send me a message if you would like more information or to set up an appointment!

Normally in the winter, K-Taping is out of the question with the long hair and dander from being blanketed. Im thankful this guy has such nice short healthy hair! This was the third treatment and to date neither I nor his owners could stretch his hamstrings. Driving to the farm for this treatment, I remember I had a roll of tape in my bag and decided to give it a shot, knowing how much it helps the flexibility of my forearms. It stuck, AND it worked wonders! No more kicking!

Finally got our logo on my jacket! And soon to be on my car! Done by Raising the Bar!

Hi everyone! I will be in the Dunrobin area March 3rd in the morning. I am finished my one appointment at 11am. Send me a message if you would like in!

HIND LIMB BIOMECHANICS- STIFLE & HOCK SOUNDNESS- great info for the hoof care professional. This is so well written, I am re-posting as a stand-a-lone message. Thanks to Melissa Bayer-Lester of Bayer Hug Equine Therapy. The Art. Genus (stifle) is comprised of three joints:...Continue reading

Heads up horse owners in the Cornwall area, Melissa will be in that area this Saturday if anyone is looking for a session.