I offer a unique and customized session for the horse that offers a mix of alternative therapeutic techniques. Including bodywork, sports massage, Shiatsu, myofascial release, and acupressure points. Using these hands on techniques I allow the horses to participate in the process. Customizing my work to their needs and responses.   

Each horse is a unique individual, with it's own history of work, injury, or accident, all of which can contribute to restrictions held within the muscles.  Each time something happens to create muscle tension in the horse, they will make adjustments to movement and over time these are layered with additional restrictions & tension.  These can result in improper gait, inability to flex properly, refusal or inability to move in various ways or just unwillingness to perform.  Eventually this will result in other areas of the body working harder and creating soreness and imbalance. 

Bodywork and the other therapeutic techniques I use, aid the horse in the release of these areas. Releasing muscle restrictions, relaxing and relieving tension, while bringing about increased flexibility and range of motion. Bringing balance to the body, mind, and spirit as comfort and release are achieved. Performance outcomes increase as horses move without restriction or discomfort.

While the release process is happening, the horse, as a prey animal feels vulnerable.  I work with the horses natural instincts, and provide an environment they feel safe and relaxed in. I listen to their language...body, breath, eyes, and even more subtle queues. Bringing about a softening and relaxation to the horse that amazes most owners that witness it.  

Contact me for more information or to schedule an appointment for you equine partner.  I travel throughout the nation.  Too see more about me and how I came to this work...more About Tamara.

Veterinary care should always come first, as your vet is your first and best resource for your horses health care. Horses that are ill, do not need bodywork, they need medical treatment, so please don't think this is designed for use during illness. However, I do work with veterinarians to assist in tracking changes during a horses recovery from injury, surgery, or even aging. Sharing what I find during a session, and following veterinary instructions, as we all work toward a goal of full recovery and quality of life for the horse.  

Poco is a 4 year old Registered Paint gelding.  He was injured when still a foal, although the cause could not be determined, he just seemed off when he moved.  He was put out to pasture and not handled until he was 2 1/2 years old, but he was still not moving right, so was given to a good home.  Poco is now 4 years old, he is learning to interact with people, but still has issues with having his feet lifted, even for trimming.  

Poco's first work was January of this year, but due to weather, his second was not scheduled until May 29th.  He is in good condition, friendly, and interacts well. He becomes worried if you try to lift his feet so I didn't.  He did offer one once, but for this session the feet were to stay on the ground, not my usual pattern. But as I like to say, each work is customized to the horse and what they horse is able to handle, at that given time.  My goal was to release him from the top, with the least amount of stress over feet as possible.  ,

Owner stated he had been trimmed recently, but even with the most patient of farriers, they could not get the left hind trimmed.  

Poco's session took two hours and I alternated between flexion and acupressure releases throughout his topline and legs, with a full range of releases for the back.  I suspect that a part from not learning to lift his feet, that Poco's guarding of having his feet lifted was a result of it causing discomfort in his back, and hip area.  I found quite a lot of muscle tension and restricted movement in the glutes, sacrum, lumbar, and shoulders.  As a yet untrained and unridden horse he also had rib and spine soreness, which all contributed to him holding himself in a rather rigid posture, and holding his head high when stressed.  

We took a lot of walks to relax and release muscles after I had released them manually.  This combination of patient light releases with walking was key to getting Poco to allow me into his safety zone.  With rocking release of his spine and acupressure release to the sacrum/lumbar portions of the spine, he allowed approxiamately seventy percent of the tension he held in the hind quarter go. With an outcome of huge yawning releases.  Followed by shifting and dropping his hips first one then the other, (while I continued to slip in more work), then finally resting his left hind in a contented relaxed state...while he watched the barn cats playing. 

The owner watched and commented in awe, that in the 2 years she had owned Poco, she had never seen him rest the left hind.  

Progress has been made, but restrictions that have been held this long cannot and should not, all be released at once.  Poco will have 2 weeks to adjust to the new range of motion he has achieved.  His muscles will get used to being used differently and any soreness (like us when we use muscles that have not be working in a while), will have dissipated .  Then we will remove another layer, toward bringing Poco to a new and balance body, free from restriction and soreness.  And maybe...next time...he'll get all 4 feet trimmed.