Equine Body Balance

Equine Contact & Positioning | January 17, 2023 | Zoom Online - 3 Hour Study Group | Tuesday, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Mountain Time - Susan Smith. A framework for healing—horse and human

Join us January 17th for this lively, informative online Study Group!

Equine Contact & Positioning | January 17, 2023 | Zoom Online - 3 Hour Study Group | Tuesday, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Mountain Time - Susan Smith. A framework for healing—horse and human Our contact with horses can be really close or within their energetic sphere, the same as with humans. With horses, positioning takes on a different factor – safety. With horses, contact and positioning take on a different factor – safety. A horse may have an involuntary release response to the ...

In Equine Body Balance, while we watch for releases in the horse's posture, we also learn to pay attention to the tissue differences under our hands. If we only watch for "licking and chewing" or "yawning" then we may miss some wonderful therapeutic changes the horse is making.

When is stumbling something serious?

A few clients recently have had concerns about their horses stumbling. This article may shed some light on the problem.
https://equusmagazine.com/horse-care/stumble-53088/?tum_source=EQUUSFB&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR3k9WvrCQZHLsHErUA-jdPEcmQYL9soAhchtdcBCfItX0IOYHtFDBB3s6s&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

When is stumbling something serious? A misstep every now and again isn't much to worry about, but some types of stumbles warrant immediate attention. A misstep every now and again isn’t much to worry about. Active horses, particularly those who work over varied terrain, are bound to stumble from time to time.

Equine Body Balance is more about the preferred position you find for your hands and body than it is the techniques. This is what makes the work highly effective. Here the practitioner needs to find the preferred position - where the tissue moves freely and the horse is comfortable with the position.

This week a student came to study Equine Body Balance. This is a great option to receive in-person instruction, in addition to the online and in-person classes offered. Even my young four-year-old Red got into the act and Sabio is still puzzling out the purpose of inedible Christmas decorations!

This should be taken very seriously.

𝑩𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒅
Everyone likes to talk about the harm caused when a horse is ridden behind the vertical... but have you ever wondered why?

One (of the many) problems with a BTV position is that encourages incorrect flexion in the neck. In a healthy horse, the head will flex up and down at the first cervical vertebrae. This bone is known as the atlas or C1.

In an effort to avoid excessive pressure caused by a harsh bit, rider or gadgets (especially draw reins) many horses will begin flexing at the 3rd vertebrae (C3). "Broken at the 3rd" creates incorrect movement throughout the body and will quickly lead to pain and damage. Once a horse begins moving in this manner, it is extremely hard for them to unlearn and they may continue this harmful posture even when at or above the vertical.

Photos from Equine Body Balance's post

Safety First! For Horses and Humans | 3-Hour Study Group | Tuesday, November 29, 2022 | 11 a.m-2 p.m. Mountain Time - Susan Smith. A framework for healing—horse and human

This 3-hour Study Group outlines some safety measures to keep in place while working with horses in various settings. Generally, we work with horses who are haltered and being held by a handler, horses in cross ties, horses in pastures in groups, even loose in their stalls.

This is a different type of safety class. As bodyworkers we are not there to train horses. They should be trained already when you arrive. It’s up to you as the practitioner to decide what animal you’re willing to work with – the unpredictable animal that can’t stand still on a lead line, one that bites or kicks out? So often poor behavior, aside from lack of training, can be due to pain, and that’s why we’re called to help.

Safety First! For Horses and Humans | 3-Hour Study Group | Tuesday, November 29, 2022 | 11 a.m-2 p.m. Mountain Time - Susan Smith. A framework for healing—horse and human A different type of safety class: This 3-hour Study Group outlines some safety measures to keep in place while working with horses in various settings. As bodyworkers, we work with horses who are haltered and being held by a handler, horses in cross ties, horses in pastures in groups, even loose in....

Safety First! For Horses and Humans | 3-Hour Study Group | Tuesday, November 29, 2022 | 11 a.m-2 p.m. Mountain Time - Susan Smith. A framework for healing—horse and human

Safety First! For Horses and Humans | 3-Hour Study Group | Tuesday, November 29, 2022 | 11 a.m-2 p.m. Mountain Time - Susan Smith. A framework for healing—horse and human A different type of safety class: This 3-hour Study Group outlines some safety measures to keep in place while working with horses in various settings. As bodyworkers, we work with horses who are haltered and being held by a handler, horses in cross ties, horses in pastures in groups, even loose in....

Safety First! For Horses and Humans | 3-Hour Study Group | Tuesday, November 29, 2022 | 11 a.m-2 p.m. Mountain Time - Susan Smith. A framework for healing—horse and human

https://susansmithsantafe.com/product/safety-first-for-horses-and-humans-3-hour-study-group-tuesday-november-29-2022-11-a-m-2-p-m-mountain-time/?fbclid=IwAR0jaWWXRkJlikShjlewdkUbGIhsMu2Lzbw6FoRYChxUf-This 3-hour Study Group outlines some safety measures to keep in place while working with horses in various settings. Generally, we work with horses who are haltered and being held by a handler, horses in cross ties, horses in pastures in groups, even loose in their stalls.

This is a different type of safety class. As bodyworkers we are not there to train horses. They should be trained already when you arrive. It’s up to you as the practitioner to decide what animal you’re willing to work with – the unpredictable animal that can’t stand still on a lead line, one that bites or kicks out? So often poor behavior, aside from lack of training, can be due to pain, and that’s why we’re called to help.

Safety First! For Horses and Humans | 3-Hour Study Group | Tuesday, November 29, 2022 | 11 a.m-2 p.m. Mountain Time - Susan Smith. A framework for healing—horse and human A different type of safety class: This 3-hour Study Group outlines some safety measures to keep in place while working with horses in various settings. As bodyworkers, we work with horses who are haltered and being held by a handler, horses in cross ties, horses in pastures in groups, even loose in....

Checking spinal alignment on this young mare.

Equine Body Balance - Coccygeal Individual Vertebrae Technique for Tailbone

An effective technique for the entire spine!

Equine Body Balance - Coccygeal Individual Vertebrae Technique for Tailbone The tailbone is part of the spine and can greatly influence the rest of the spine. Equine Body Balance, www.susansmithsantafe.com

Some ways to recognize pain…

Understanding enteroliths

Fascinating article on enteroliths.

Understanding enteroliths

Notice the feet as part of your assessment.

Hoof, Pastern and Fetlock Techniques

Here are some effective ways to work with the hoof, pastern and fetlock. https://vimeo.com/676478578/aa4720d95c

Hoof, Pastern and Fetlock Techniques These techniques are helpful in addressing the bones of the hoof and pastern, and bringing more flexibility into both. Equine Body Balance(TM), Susan Smith, www.susansmithsantafe.com

Photos from Equine Body Balance's post

SOBI | General E-Bulletin

https://associationdatabase.com/aws/SOBI/ebulletin/view_mail/207515/1945386

SOBI | General E-Bulletin In this study group we will work with three perspectives of the horse’s spine: spinal junctions and how the change in the shape of the various vertebrae may influence movement, spinal curves, and degrees of motion available in the spine.

If you have always wanted to work with equine fascia in an exciting, more informative and effective way, this course is for you. The course (originally titled “Equine Fascia Network Anatomy”) includes the zoom recording of the course taught in spring of 2022, home-grown videos, charts, handout, student examples and class assessments. Students will be taking it as self-study, with instructor support where requested. The course is a pre-requisite for the upcoming Equine Fascia Network Anatomy Part II held September 6-October 4, 2022.

In the equine and all mammalian bodies, fascia is connective tissue with extensive relationships, functionalities and structures that connect the entire anatomy holistically. Its continuity is a place to begin – to move awareness beyond biomechanics, assess the tensegrity structure, and instead look at those lines of fascial connection that are the basis for vitality. This course takes an Ortho-Bionomy approach to working with the fascia by fostering self-awareness and deeper understanding in the equine body.
https://susansmithsantafe.com/product/equine-fascia-network-anatomy-i-zoom-recording-online-5-part-course-self-study/

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Great article by Tallgrass founders! https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0017/2018/9003/files/EW__Spt_Coronary_Band._06_22pdf.pdf?v=1654807048&fbclid=IwAR1X-wR9ZT_m9PUV9XR8etrCXxNw4VwJmLRkRjvTQPMTiqIGHoO7zms-NNk&fs=e&s=cl

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Equine Hamstrings

Working with the hamstrings - a video from our current Stepping Out: Equine Limbs, Ligaments & Tendons class. https://vimeo.com/718487077/022793b9e7

Equine Hamstrings Working with the semitendinosus, semimembranosus and the biceps femoris muscles support flexion and extension in the hind limbs. Equine Body Balance(TM), www.susansmithsantafe.com

Food for thought….

5 Things Your Horse Will Always Remember!

Horses have an exceptional level of awareness meaning that they can understand situations much more deeply than other animals. They are so attentive that they can pick on other people's emotions through body language, voice, or just the general vibe you give off. This type of awareness can lead to much more intense experiences for horses. Here are some experiences your horse will remember forever!

1. Places

Horses have quasi photographic memory, meaning that they can remember places very clearly. It can be positive or negative, depending on the experience they had in a particular place. Imagine your horse witnessed a very traumatic event. Most likely he will never forget the place or event and move away from that area. If your horse seems hesitating to go somewhere, listen to him, comfort him and trust him, he knows what he's doing!

2. People

As horses have an almost photographic memory, it’s no surprise that they remember people by their faces. Show them the picture of someone they know and they will probably react. Horses can even recognize people after years of being apart! But their memory goes far beyond our general appearance. Horses can read our facial expressions and remember them for later, too.

As part of the study, horses were shown pictures of people with happy or sad expressions. After meeting these people in person (with neutral expressions), the horses reacted based on the original expression they had memorized in the photos. If you meet a horse for the first time, then you have to make a very good impression on him!

3. Emotions

Besides places and people, horses have an innate ability to recognize human emotions. Horses have a tendency to perceive body language, even the most subtle, which helps them determine a person's feelings. If we are feeling stressed, sad or angry, our physical appearance tends to reflect this. Same goes when we feel happy or excited! Horses don't just read emotions, they also remember a person based on the last emotion they felt from their last interaction. This is a useful strategy for horses to avoid any possible aggressive encounters.

4. The other horses

Humans aren't the only ones who can leave an indelible imprint on a horse! Horses can remember and recognise other horses from their social network. Whether it takes a few years or decades, one horse will never forget its relationship with another. This doesn't mean as much they will pair up with each other if they ever get together. One horse will only react to another if the bond they had was particularly strong. If he knows a horse from a previous encounter, he may treat it differently than others.

Other important bonds between horses, like the one that unites a mare and her foal, are known to last a lifetime. As horses also remember smells, this can help a mare recognize her baby, even years after separation.

5. The words

Horses are able to understand words much deeper than we thought, but not in the traditional sense we give words. They understand the words by tone, height and length of the voice. Words with fewer syllables tend to stick better to horses. They can tell when someone is insulting them and when someone is complimenting them. Don't underestimate their intelligence, because there's a good chance they're listening very attentively to every word you utter.

Horses are incredibly gifted animals, and should be treated as such! Having an idea of the memories horses hold with them forever will allow you to understand and communicate with them even more deeply. Whatever the experience, good or bad, you can be sure your horse has felt it fully. Do your best to give them a good memory, and they will surely do the same.

Scar Tissue Techniques for Lower Limbs

Just one of the videos we will be learning from in the upcoming online course, Stepping Out - Equine Limbs, Ligaments & Tendons beginning June 7th! Here we are working with scar tissue found in the region of the leg ligaments and tendons.
https://vimeo.com/524359479/651724c7dc

Scar Tissue Techniques for Lower Limbs These techniques to address scar tissue can be used anywhere on the limb to promote flexibility around ligaments and tendons. Follow the tissue fibers. Equine Body…

Our Equine Body Balance “Heal Equine Trauma Through Bodywork” workshop this weekend. Thanks to all who attended!

Equine Body Balance - Exaggeration of Preferred Posture

https://vimeo.com/450944751/97d7979582
The wonderful Ortho-Bionomy principle of Exaggeration of a Preferred Posture is really helpful for increasing movement in the area you are trying to address.

Equine Body Balance - Exaggeration of Preferred Posture This technique is used to enhance a position that the horse already prefers. It can be used at the neck, legs, ribcage and spine, or other places to provide spaciousness.…

Stepping Out: Equine Limbs, Ligaments and Tendons | 5 Classes | June 7th - July 5th, 2022 | Tuesdays 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Mountain Time | Zoom Online - Susan Smith. A framework for healing—horse and human

https://susansmithsantafe.com/product/stepping-out-equine-limbs-ligaments-and-tendons-5-classes-june-7-july-5-2022-tuesdays-11-a-m-2-p-m-mountain-time-zoom-online/

This is an exciting online course to give you a greater understanding of the importance of the ligaments and tendons in the horse limbs and how to support them. Early Bird Deadline June 5th. Don’t miss it!

Stepping Out: Equine Limbs, Ligaments and Tendons | 5 Classes | June 7th - July 5th, 2022 | Tuesdays 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Mountain Time | Zoom Online - Susan Smith. A framework for healing—horse and human This course focuses on the equine limbs and the structures that contribute to the healthy movement of limbs.

Equine Body Balance - Cat Paws & Rocking

This is one of the techniques we address in our Equine Body Balance courses. https://vimeo.com/441334123/4e7552f806

Equine Body Balance - Cat Paws & Rocking These two integration “Post-Techniques” are valuable for helping process bodywork. Equine Body Balance, Susan Smith, www.susansmithsantafe.com