FAQ/What to Expect
A holistic natural lifestyle that parallels as closely as possible to the wild horse model is an excellent example of being able to give what horses need as a species. The 3 Fs that are vital to the horse's emotional, physical, and mental welfare: Freedom, Forage, and Friends.
In addressing the needs of horses as a species first, it will help resolve a lot of stress induced Illness/issues. Once we can provide a much more natural lifestyle for our equines to the best of our ability and decrease the stress levels as much as possible , we can look at each individual horse's needs/issues physically, mentally, and emotionally. From there, we can adjust diet/nutritional therapy, hoof care, dental care, bodywork/rehab, and horsemanship/training/riding to best fit each individual horse and help them live their best possible life and thrive!
There are many forms of stress from limited movement and traditional living in stalls/traditional management practices(diet,hoof care,tack,training methods,ect /isolated from complete touch & social interaction with the herd. It affects the horse's physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual welfare and happiness. Some of the consequences of these stress factors include:
- Obesity, insulin resistance, loss of muscle mass, and sluggish metabolic rate
- Porous bones and potential fractures
- Inadequate blood circulation, reducing the flow of nutrients and oxygen to the feet, joints, tendons/ligaments, and hair follicles
- Potential for digestive disorders including colic, ulcers, and diarrhea
- Compensatory behavior, including weaving, stall-walking, pawing, wall-kicking, chewing, head-bobbing, self- biting, cribbing, depression
- Slowed cartilage and joint development in growing horses
- Accelerated aging, increasing susceptibility to infections, insect-borne diseases, and allergic responses
- Increased oxidative stress, promoting degenerative diseases such as arthritis and equine Cushing’s disease at a younger age
Advantages & Importance of providing freedom of movement & herd interaction with living outside 24/7 & 365 using Paddock Paradise Track System/Equicentral System or hybrid of both .
Ability to control the amount of grass horses are eating. Especially for horses with Cushings , IR, & Metabolic issues
Preservation of pastures
Ability to regulate excess moisture & effects on horses feet.
Using slow feeders & hay nets for free access to forage to promote healthy digestion and manage weight gain/loss
Ability to self trim with a variety of terrain( footing) . Very healthy for hoof health and overall body condition.
Encourage consistent movement with lounge areas. Wild horses will travel 18-25 miles/day eating as they are moving
Provides physical, mental, emotional stimulation
Allow horses to live as naturally as possible and helps facilitate soundness and health for mind, body, & soul
Helps eliminate risk of laminitis, colic, navicular, cushings, and many other debilitating conditions
A Paddock Paradise or track system typically follows the perimeter of the field, making a fenced off area that forms a loop.
Created by Jaime Jackson , the Paddock Paradise was created to provide a domesticated horse with the benefits of a natural, species appropriate lifestyle, optimizing their overall health physically, mentally, emotionally & spiritually. When a horse is on a Paddock Paradise rather than in a paddock, they must move to fulfill their daily needs.
The Equicentral System created by Jane & Stuart Myers of Equiculture, the Equicentral System focuses on a natural environment for horses that maximizes pasture health. It combines good (progressive) land management practices with equine welfare and natural behaviors. It includes and incorporates the concepts of Permaculture, Regenerative Agriculture and 'rewilding' etc. into horsekeeping. Encourages to work with Mother Nature not against her. This creates healthy pastures, healthy horses and healthy ecosystems for the wildlife.
A holistic approach will help support the horses overall wellness & happiness, long-term soundness, and healthy biomechanics. If the mind is stressed the body will be in an automatic stress posture, and healthy biomechanics & free fluid movement and vibrant health will not be possible.
The Holistic Approach consists of looking at the whole horse and their health, lifestyle and environment/management. In looking at the whole horse perspective in what horses need as a species and reducing many of the physical, mental and emotional stress related issues, we will be able to truly help the individual horse heal within their own journey and help them thrive.
A holistic natural lifestyle that parallels as closely as possible to the wild horse model is an excellent example of being able to give what horses need as a species. The 3 Fs that are vital to the horse's emotional, physical, mental and spiritual welfare: Freedom, Forage, and Friends.
Jenna takes pride in using the Holistic Approach in healing, caring for and rehabbing horses in the best way for them naturally, the way Mother Nature intended them to be. Looking at the whole horse approach- 60% of the equine body weight is pure muscle. The muscles, skeleton and joints work together to create motion. Everything plays a part in how and why a horse acts, thinks, feels and what creates tension/pain/discomfort within the musculoskeletal system and emotional trauma. Some examples to look at in using the Whole Horse Approach:
- Diet
-Environment/management /lifestyle
-Stress: includes mental, emotional, and physical stress
- Dental issues
-Hoof issues/Improper shoeing/trimming/Lower leg pain
- Injury
-Insufficient warm up/cool down
-Saddle fit/bit/bridal & other tack
- Bad footing/terrain
- Training/overtraining/methods
-Riding Style/Rider imbalance
-Conformational/Straightness Issues
Looking at it from a holistic viewpoint, it can help Jenna figure out how to help your equine partner live a happy healthy balanced life and overall wellbeing and performance at her/his best. Jenna enjoys collaborating with other equine healthcare professionals involved in your horses' care to work together to give the absolute best care possible.
Principles of the Holistic Model
For true Healing to happen, every dimension of the horse’s being must be addressed- Mind , Body & Spirit.
Every horse must be treated as a unique individual
To be effective, the underlying cause must be identified
Modalities of the Holistic Model include:
Diet
Lifestyle
Emotional health
Stress Management
Natural Hoof Care
Therapeutic nutrition
Medicinal plants
Homeopathy
Bodywork
Energy work
Focusing on Clean Whole Food based species specific nutrition, supporting healthy micro biome with prebiotics, probiotics and digestive enzymes using natural remedies like herbs, essential oils, homeopathy to regularly promote health. Focus on supporting & strengthening the immune system(70% of digestive system) will aid the body/spirit/mind back to Health.
To support all horses to maximum state of health, well-being and happiness mind body and spirit as holistically and natural as possible. Allowing Mother Nature to be the guide for what horses need naturally as a species and as individuals.
8 Laws of Health:
Nutrition
Exercise
Water
Sun
Moderation
Air
Rest
Trust
Horses as a species need:
- Forage - high fiber low nutritional content, roughage, forage - Access to forage 24/7
- Minerals/vitamins
- Salt
- Variety of Whole Foods/herbs
- Water
- Freedom of movement 24/7
- Herd
5 Elements:
The 5 Element Approach uses the 5 Elements of Water, Fire, Wood, Metal and Earth. Each element has a connection to specific organs and meridians in the body. In TCM the organs connected with Water are the Kidney/Bladder; with Fire, the Heart/Small Intestine/Pericardium/Triple Heater; with Wood, the Liver/ Gallbladder; with Metal, the Lung/Large Intestine and with Earth, the Spleen/Stomach.
The Yin/Yang or Zang/Fu TCM organs have expanded functions over what Western medicine considers. When the TCM function is being considered, the word will begin with a capital letter. When the Western meaning is considered, the first letter will be lower case.
Each element has an extensive set of relationships like sound, emotion, climate, season, color, sense organ and body tissue. It is these relationships that allow the constitutional types to be recognized.
This theory can describe a specific or general state of imbalance and is based on the idea that symptoms tend to occur in clearly recognizable and repeatable patterns. When can be able to establish what tendencies an individual is prone to it can be very helpful in determining the current state of imbalance and in developing a therapeutic plan. Once a type is recognized, then can recommend certain nutritional and lifestyle choices to support health.
Using the 5 Element Theory, each horse can be a specific temperament type based on the 5 Elements. This is used as a general guide based on his/her personality and lifestyle.
Horses are unique individuals, and like any human, they have their own quirks and traits. Humans & horses can be classified into different temperament types, each with its own strengths, weaknesses, needs, and wants.
Foods are commonly evaluated for their nutritional value only, but they also have energetic properties. These properties include a food’s ability to build Yin or Yang energy; balance cooling or heating; disperse or contract energy; and move energy inward or outward in the body. TCM bases the energetic property of a food on its flavor or combination of flavors. If foods were assessed only by their nutritional value alone, a particular food would be expected to act the same way for every horse. In viewing foods energetically, it will have different effects on different horses, depending on their Five Element temperament type.
We should also consider the 4 seasons when evaluating the diet. The qualities and changes in the seasons are reflected in the inner workings of each individual. In balancing the horse’s diet according to their Five Element type first and if needed to the season, it will encourage the state of Health and Balance in the body. It is important to not go to extremes with any flavor as too much can have the opposite effect and weaken the organ that needs the additional support.
More info on 5 Elements Theory:
- Intro to 5 Elements by Madalyn Ward D.V.M.
- Horse Harmony: A Feeding Guide by Madalyn Ward D.V.M.
https://equinewellnessmagazine.com/feeding-horses-tcm-temperament-type/
https://holistichorse.com/health-care/five-element-feeding-the-five-flavors/
https://www.rdrequine.com/post/the-five-elements-and-your-horse-part-1-metal
You will be asked to fill out an equine client intake form before the session. It is prefered to have all the information before the session so a plan can be created and also have a full understanding of your horse's needs and situation during the first meeting.
Jenna asks for your patience during the session, as she will be giving your horse her complete attention and will answer any questions after. The first therapy session will be approximately 1.5-2.5 hours depending on how your horse responds to the healing.
Before the session, she may ask you to walk and trot your horse so can do a movement evaluation to detect any areas of muscle tightness.
The body work session will last from 1-1.5 hours. The session can be in the horse's stall /run in shed or in a quiet place where he/she feels comfortable and safe, and has enough space to move around. Jenna combines several healing modalities during a session depending on a horse's needs.
The horse’s responses to touch during massage/bodywork may be subtle or obvious. Jenna uses this observation of the horse’s response to her advantage when doing massage and bodywork. The areas of restriction, pain, and discomfort are reached more accurately and the releases are deeper and more profound when she combines her skill of palpation with knowledge of equine body language and energy healing.
Light follow-up exercise is very beneficial to massage/bodywork sessions. It helps in re-educating the muscles fibers to the correct alignment without tension or tightness and become comfortable working with a new range of movement .
10-15 minutes of hand-walking, lunging, groundwork/liberty and turnout will be great for the horse. A short trail ride is also an option. Avoid collective work and tight circles, focus more on stretching exercises, bending and big circles . Movement also helps circulate the blood and can aid in helping the horse release old waste and toxins which have been trapped in the tissue.
Be sure the horse has water available and has a chance to relieve him/herself after the session. Changes made in bodywork use more water than normal, which result in thirst and a full bladder. Drinking water after the session can also help release waste products from the tissues.
It's possible that your horse could be sore for a day or two after the massage/bodywork. While this could be due to excessive pressure during the massage, more often it's part of the natural healing process-- the result of toxins which had been trapped in soft tissue being removed from the body, strengthening of weak muscles and rebalancing old postural habits. Movement and good hydration will help speed the recovery process.
Your horse should be reasonably clean and dry for the massage session. If you know you won't have a chance to groom your horse prior to the session, Jenna is happy to do that for you for additional fee. Please have your horse's brushes and grooming equipment available for use.
*This is only a guideline, will adjust to match you and your horse's needs and budget.
Monthly or bi-monthly bodywork:
Pleasure horses (lightly ridden)
Broodmares
Young horses not in training
Retired horses
Weekly bodywork sessions:
Horses in training (ridden 3 to 5 days per week)
Performance/ Athletes horses
Working horses (police horses, cart horses, ranch horses, therapy horses, etc.)
Geriatric horses (arthritis)
Horses with known imbalances and non-acute lameness (clubfoot, old chronic injuries, ringbone)
Laminitic horses
Multiple bodywork sessions per week:
Horses with heavy workload (ridden every day)
Performance/ Athletes horses
Horses in acute injury recovery (particularly if stalled)
Laminitic horses (early stages)
Chronic imbalances/injuries (start of therapy)
If the horse has been diagnosed by the vet with an injury that requires stall rest and hand walking only, Massage/bodywork for the stall-bound or hand-walking horse will aid in the recovery and rehabilitation process by keeping the circulation going, the muscle fibers elastic, and the joints in full range of motion. Also it will make her/him feel better and happier!
Massage for the stall-bound or hand-walking horse will aid in the recovery and rehabilitation process by keeping the circulation going, the muscle fibers elastic, and the joints in full range of motion. Also it will make her/him feel better and happier!
Equine Body Work involves the application of hands on modalities. It is important to clarify any contraindications or veterinarian diagnosed conditions prior to commencing body work so that body work may be applied appropriately.
It is so important that routine equine bodywork accompanies regular veterinary care, balanced nutrition, training/conditioning, and regular dental and hoof care to support your horses' balance, musculoskeletal health ,overall wellness, and optimum performance.
If in doubt- Always contact your veterinarian.
****ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR VETERINARIAN. EQUINE MASSAGE AND BODYWORK IS NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE THE ADVICE AND
TREATMENT OF A QUALIFIED VETERINARIAN. EQUINE MASSAGE AND BODYWORK SHOULD BE A
SUPPLEMENTAL THERAPY TO REGULAR VETERINARY CARE.****
As a prey animal, the horse attempts to always appear strong. If the horse shows signs of pain or weakness it will be the one first noticed by the predator, or may be left behind by the herd. Every horse will guard against showing signs of pain, weakness, lameness in the body. That is why it can be so difficult to evaluate lameness in a horse.
The Masterson Method® accesses that part of the horse’s nervous system that will give certain signs that tell where tension is being held in the body, and when it is being released. With the correct level of touch or pressure, and following what the horse’s own body is indicating, it will release the tension it is holding onto
When use light touch and/or movement while staying “beneath their natural blocking/survival response” we help them become aware of and release tension without being threatened by our presence. Scientifically it is believed that these releases – licking and chewing, yawning, etc. – are signs that the horse is shifting from a state of stress (sympathetic, sometimes called fight/flight) to a state of relaxation (parasympathetic, sometimes called rest and digest).
It is a results driven interactive method of equine bodywork which finds and releases accumulated tension in key junctions that most affect balance, movement & performance. Unlike most modalities, it allows the horse to participate in the process. It is something you do with the horse not to the horse, which is what makes it fascinating for those who use it. Results can be observed immediately through visual tension releases & increased range of motion.
Kinesiology - is the scientific study of movement, and that is what this tape is for: supporting and promoting movement. It does not compress the tissue which allows it to support proper muscle movement. There are many different application patterns for your given goal. For example, it can activate or relax muscles, support joints or assist fascia correction.
Benefits:
Decompresses the tissue thereby enabling increased blood flow and oxygenation which promotes and facilitates healing
Decreases muscle spams, tension, soreness and trigger points
Helps relax overused muscles
Decreases edema and swelling
Provides support to tendons, ligaments and joints in both athletic and injury rehab situations
Helps to improve muscle and joint mechanics
Tissue decompression helps provide pain relief by decreasing the pressure on the skin's pain receptors and how the receptors respond to messages from the brain
Can be used in a preventative manner for horses that have weaknesses or are prone to injuries
Can help horses recover faster in athletic training situations
Can assist with horses that have chronic conditions such as lesions, kissing spine and chronic stiffness
***I am in process of becoming ceritfied and will be using this modalitiy along with Sports Massage and Masterson Method.
Consent is about listening to our intuition and being able to ‘read the room’. In adapting to others and not expecting them to adapt to us, it demonstrates the more evolved peacefulness of human abilities that we are capable of. This can be a powerful catalyst for transformation of the human condition
Asking a horse for their consent before a healing session or any interaction with them is something Jenna values and is a fundamental part of her way with horses. Energetically asking for consent is respecting the horse as a sentient individual with the right to choose to accept healing or interacting with us humans. In doing this, we are mindful of when our presence begins to affect the horse. If they start to become tense as we approach, we back off and give them space until they are relaxed. This shows them we recognize and respect their comfort level and voice. This takes as long as it takes and this process should not be rushed. It's on the horse's time, not the humans.
With horses, remaining attuned to them energetically while in their presence, we can be able to notice if any shifts happen in how they are feeling about us. Checking in regularly and being able to recognize these moments and continue to reinforce a calm attentive state of being will help build a strong foundation of authenticity and trust. Horses will be able to become genuinely interested in interacting with us.
The world is composed of a Universal Life Force, also known as energy. Everything within the universe runs on vibrational frequencies. Energy healing works on the premise that any disease or illness causes an imbalance in a person’s (or horse’s) energy (mind/body/spirit). The practice of energy healing works to remove those imbalances and blockages to allow energy to flow more freely. A healer facilitates the healing through visualizations, intentions, and simply by infusing the person or animal with loving energy.
In using Energy Healing or Reiki if attuned, it will help the horse's healing journey in relieving a variety of conditions. These conditions can include anxiety or mistrust, Trauma/PTSD, chronic pain and acute illness. Bringing balance and healing to the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health of the horse.
Chakras
A chakra is a spinning wheel of energy located along the center line of the body. It communicates with all the other centers about the overall health of the body, mind and spirit. When chakras are out of balance, it presents itself physically, emotionally & behaviorally. Some physical examples can be a shifting lameness in the front legs, headaches, soreness in back Emotional examples can be not as joyful and brightness in eyes are less, trust issues. Behavioral examples can be resistance, girthiness, fearfulness. Behavioral issues come from physical, mental & emotional imbalances.
Balancing the horse’s energy centers greatly impact the healing of their overall health, welfare and happiness. There are major benefits for the digestive tract, functioning of all the internal organs, and the systems as a whole, along with the structural system. This rebalancing also truly helps the emotional, mental and spiritual levels in decreasing stress, restoring a zest for life and increasing feelings of safety, trust & willingness.
Horses share seven Major chakras with humans; Crown, Third Eye, Throat, Heart, Solar Plexus, Sacral and Root, but animals have another called the Brachial chakra and Bud chakras. Another difference is that animal chakras are aligned horizontally instead of vertically.
Blocked energy in any of the chakras can contribute to pain, illness and influence mood so it’s important to understand what each chakra represents and what we can do to keep this energy flowing freely.
Traditional Chinese Medicine & Meridians/5 Elements Theory
TCM focuses on how Chi or vital life force flows throughout the body. It determines where the pattern of Chi is disrupted or imbalanced in the body. Utilizing the concepts of yin/yang, the five element theories, and the eight principles, TCM incorporates Chinese herbs, acupressure, and acupuncture. TCM is primarily focused on the meridian system.
The Meridian System
In the body, there are 12 meridians. They are paired up as Yin and Yang to maintain the balance of Chi. Each of these meridians is related to a specific organ system and has a paired meridian and works together. If one of the two meridians is treated, the other benefits too. For example: the Kidney meridian (Yin) and Bladder meridian (Yang) are paired. There also are 2 other important meridians that travel along the midline of the body- Conception Vessel ( linked to all Yin meridians) & Governing Vessel ( linked to all Yang meridians )
Meridians are associated with internal organs, and a blockage of energy flow affects the function of the organs, and can lead to disease, dysfunction, and lameness. A disease condition further reduces the body's ability to self-regulate its energy.
The meridian system is part of our energetic anatomy and strongly influences our physical anatomy. Using acupressure and/or acupuncture can have a powerful effect on restoring strength and mobility, eliminating pain, and increasing vitality. Balance in the vital flow of Life force- Chi and Prana is an essential aspect of healing.
5 Element Types
The 5 Element Approach uses the 5 Elements of Water, Fire, Wood, Metal and Earth. Each element has a connection to specific organs and meridians in the body. In TCM the organs connected with Water are the Kidney/Bladder; with Fire, the Heart/Small Intestine/Pericardium/Triple Heater; with Wood, the Liver/ Gallbladder; with Metal, the Lung/Large Intestine and with Earth, the Spleen/Stomach.
The Yin/Yang or Zang/Fu TCM organs have expanded functions over what Western medicine considers. When the TCM function is being considered, the word will begin with a capital letter. When the Western meaning is considered, the first letter will be lower case.
Each element has an extensive set of relationships like sound, emotion, climate, season, color, sense organ and body tissue. It is these relationships that allow the constitutional types to be recognized.
This theory can describe a specific or general state of imbalance and is based on the idea that symptoms tend to occur in clearly recognizable and repeatable patterns. When can be able to establish what tendencies an individual is prone to it can be very helpful in determining the current state of imbalance and in developing a therapeutic plan. Once a type is recognized, then can recommend certain nutritional and lifestyle choices to support health.
Using the 5 Element Theory, each horse can be a specific temperament type based on the 5 Elements. This is used as a general guide based on his/her personality and lifestyle.
Horses are unique individuals, and like any human, they have their own quirks and traits. Humans & horses can be classified into different temperament types, each with its own strengths, weaknesses, needs, and wants.
References
https://horsetemperament.com/index.html
https://ezinearticles.com/?Comparing-Five-Element-Horse-Temperament-Typing-to-the-Parelli-Horsenality-Types&id=2693206