Elite Equine Bodywork

Headshaking Horses: Fascial Connections With spring upon us we have our usual onslaught of allergy-related headshaking. However, what if your horse headshakes a...ll year round???? It is upsetting for both the rider and the horse. Furthermore it can often be hard for orthodox veterinary medicine to tackle it. As I have mentioned in previous posts, it could well be that your horse is suffering with what could best be described as "mechanical headshaking". Rather than it being a response to a pollen or other allergens it is as a result of physical irritation. It can often be seen that it occurs during exercise. Whether immediately or as the workload or pressure increases. One of the key nerves that is linked to headshaking is called the TRIGEMINAL nerve. It is the fifth of twelve cranial nerves that come from the brain to supply predominantly the head and neck of the horse. To get from the brain within the skull to outside the skull, these nerves need to pass through openings/holes in the skull. The skull itself is made up of lots of bones, knitted together like a patchwork quilt or more accurately like a set of cogs. All of the bones in the skull move. Some a lot and some not so much but they ALL MOVE. When the skull bones are all moving correctly, these openings/holes in the skull have nice wide gaps for these nerves to pass through. If however these openings are narrowed then the nerve becomes restricted. A restricted nerve can become inflamed and irritated. Irritation can lead to hypersensitivity and HEADSHAKING. The TRIGEMINAL nerve passes through holes in the skull very close to the jaw (TMJ - Tempero-mandibular Joint). Therefore anything that may add tension to the TMJ can lead to changes in these holes and therefore restrict and irritate these nerves. The TMJ and surrounding region is incredibly important. Locally we have the TEETH and JAW. Dental issues, bitting/tack problems, poor diet and bad riding style to name a few can lead to issues in the mouth and so TMJ. In addition the HYOID attaches to part of the temporal bone (the bone that puts the T in TMJ!). The hyoid not only suspends the tongue and larynx/pharynx but is a key component to the FASCIAL SYSTEM. It is the FASCIAL SYSTEM that creates all the wonderfully intricate connections throughout the body. Fascia is a connective tissue like clingfilm/seran wrap that covers every tissue in the body. Ie bones, muscles, tendons, organs, blood vessels etc etc. It is the fascial therefore that connects everything physically. FASCIAL STRAIN can cause tension from one area of the body to spread to another. One example is that it strongly connects the motion of the TMJ with the SI (Sacro-iliac) in the pelvis... It is therefore one of the reasons you will find a right SI problem (off hind) and tension on the right TMJ that causes the horse to bend its head to the right. The problem can also go the other way too. There are other reasons for TMJ and SI issues but fascia is firmly on the list. If you therefore have a headshaker then it is wise to ensure that the WHOLE HORSE is evaluated and as many possible connections are considered and dealt with. So while fascial release is part of our treatment process it is never used in isolation. As with all therapies it needs a multi-faceted approach to release as much tension as possible in as many ways as possible. A thorough evaluation is key to understand which parts need tackling. In some cases further veterinary investigation via ultrasound, radiographs (xrays) or even computed tomography is necessary to help understand the issue. It can be a slow process but in the right cases you can get some very good results. Below are some pictures relating to headshaking taken from Google.

May is almost here!! Which means show season is just around the corner! After a long winter make sure your equine partner is show ready by booking your Equi-Bow session today! Equi-Bow helps facilitate the peak performance of horses by rebalancing their system through a series of gentle, noninvasive movements. DM or send us an email at [email protected] for more information!... #eliteequinebodywork #equibow #equine #performance #releasingpotential #showjumping #dressage #westernlife

So grateful to have such amazing clients like @bbergeronn and Dallas! This career is so rewarding and is made even more special when I get to be at specific events with them! Its been an amazing week in Wellington, Fl but now it is time to return to the cold See everyone in soon! ... Posted @withrepost Big thank you goes out to this girl for all the time she spends supporting Dallas and I The results from her work (@elite.equine.bodywork) on Dallas were truly incredible. Thank you so much @vanessaannefrench for this special picture.

Dallas becoming very relaxed during his Equi-Bow sessions this week in Wellington, Fl! Good luck to @bbergeronn and Dallas during this weekends Nations Cup! Contact [email protected] to book your session today! ... #eliteequinebodywork #equine #bodywork #equestrian #showjumping #dressage #palmbeachmasters #balance #pamperedpony #happyhorses #conformationvscompensation #releasingpotential #change #equibow

A time-lapse of a basic body balance taken at a recent session. The basic body balance is a nervous system startup that reboots and rebalances the body before moving into more advanced and focused procedures. This allows the body to switch from a sympathetic to a parasympathetic state in which the body can heal. Contact Elite Equine Bodywork today to book a session and release your horses full potential. ... #eliteequinebodywork #equine #bodywork #equestrian #showjumping #dressage #racehorse #western #balance #pamperedpony #conformationvscompensation #releasingpotential #change #equibow

Great diagram! Something to keep in mind when working with young horses!

The Equi-Bow face. #tbt to this summer at @triplecstables and a few of the horses going into a zen zone during their sessions! #eliteequinebodywork #equine #bodywork #showjumping #dressage #barrelracing #western #racehorse #sporthorse #balance #pamperedpony #relaxation #releasingpotential #change #equibow

Too often the horse is asked to move in a way that is unnatural to him causing him to develop muscles which put strain on his body and attribute to poor behavio...r and performance. If you experience frequent difficulty when working with or riding your horse hes likely not been properly developed in his key muscles to assist him in proper behavior, balance, and coordination. If your horse suffers from frequent injury from work or in the stall hes likely not being worked in a way that is natural to his prey animal nature and grazing posture. The horse is a simple creature requiring basic exercises to keep him healthy, happy and safe. Learn these basics with our free mini video series complete with downloads. https://deanna-cummins-montero.mykajabi.com/Equine-Developm

Did you know 70% of horses involved in sport will sustain at least one lame episode in each competitive season? The majority of these lame episodes will be due to body postures your horse has developed as a compensation technique. Equi-Bow is an effective modality to utilize to aid in injury prevention for your horse! Help keep your horse balanced this season by contacting Elite Equine Bodywork today!... Information from: Williams, G. (2016). Horse movement: Structure, function and rehabilitation. J A Allen. #eliteequinebodywork #equine #bodywork #showjumping #dressage #sporthorses #balance #pamperedpony #conformationvscompensation #releasingpotential #change #equibow

Watch closely! I love this video. This is a great way to show how interconnected fascia is throughout the body. In the video you can see that I make a move over the upper neck, but the pectorals also begin to contract. This is an excellent example of just how effective Equi-Bow is on the entire body. Just because we are working in one area, doesnt mean its not creating change in another. #eliteequinebodywork #equine #bodywork #showjumping #balance #pamperedpony #conformationvscompensation #releasingpotential #change #equibow

BEFORE & AFTER Can you spot the changes between each photo? 1st: Before first session 2nd: After first session (45 min later) 3rd: After 3rd session (Two weeks later) ... Hunter had some fascial dehydration and tightness/restrictions. These changes to his body were purely made with Equi-Bow. No other changes were made to his routine. Contact Elite Equine Bodywork today to see how we can help your equine partner.

Great post to show the importance of working from the ground up with our equine athletes

NEW YEAR, NEW ADVENTURES Im so excited to announce the launch of my new business... Elite Equine Bodywork! Friends and family know that this is something I have been relentlessly pursuing for the last year and to all of them thank you for your unwavering support. Equi-Bow is a modality I truly believe in and can help all levels of horses release their full potential. Im so grateful that I found a career path I truly love in an industry which I grew up in. I am honoured to ...be officially named a Certified Equi-Bow Practitioner. For booking or more information please send me a direct message or E-mail me at [email protected] Please follow me on: Facebook - Elite Equine Bodywork Instagram - @elite.equine.bodywork Website - Eliteequine.ca Equi-Bow is a unique bodywork modality that consists of a blend of Bowen, Cranio Sacral and Feldenkrais based techniques. The technique functions as a form of neuromuscular re-patterning, working primarily by addressing the nervous system on both structural and energetic levels to bring about change. It is very gentle and non invasive and incorporates a specific series of muscle and connective tissue movements designed to address a wide range of problems and injuries. LINK IN BIO