Starline Equine Bodywork

Your horse’s comfort in the bridle affects more than its mouth. The level of trust your horse has of your hand, ultimately makes or breaks its entire self carriage.
And, a well fitted bit affects the movement and shape of the horse from head to tail.

Join me for this episode where I chat with bit fitting expert Diana Giles. We look at considerations for fitting a bit conformationally, all the myths about bit fitting we’ve been told in the past, and how to work with a professional bit fitter to ensure your horse is in the correct equipment.

PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW.

This will help us reach more people and more horses, to support their journey and relationship together.

LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE:
>> https://starlinebodywork.com/book
>> triumphtape.com
>> Concordia Bit Fitting:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088378224245&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Connect with us:
Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork
Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt
Website - starlinebodywork.com
Book - starlinebodywork.com/book

DISCLAIMER:
The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.

High/Low Syndrome is the oh-so-common condition where there is asymmetrical heel height in a horse’s hooves.

This has huge ramifications on the biomechanics and function of the hooves, and to the horse’s body as a whole.

Join me for this episode where we do a dive into this common condition, its causes, ways to address it, and effects in the whole body that should be addressed with bodywork.

PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW.

This will help us reach more people and more horses, to support their journey and relationship together.

LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE:
>> https://starlinebodywork.com/book
>> triumphtape.com

Connect with us:
Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork
Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt
Website - starlinebodywork.com
Book - starlinebodywork.com/book

DISCLAIMER:
The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.

After foaling out a mare’s body is very different than it was pre-pregnancy. They adopt new postures and issues that require a different approach to back-to-work than injury rehabilitation.

Join me for this episode where I discuss back-to-work plans for broodmares with Canadian breeding expert Louise Masek.

We discuss the unique considerations mares face postpartum, new postures, interval work, tackling pelvic angle changes, and when to ride again.

Louise also owns a fabulous performance and breeding stallion, Beau Balou (aka “Charlie”). So, I couldn’t resist asking a few questions about Stallion management too!

PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW.

This will help us reach more people and more horses, to support their journey and relationship together.

LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE:
>> https://starlinebodywork.com/book
>> triumphtape.com
>>Instagram: @beau_balou_charlie
>>Instagram: @lookaheadsporthorses
>> FB: Beau Balou

Connect with us:
Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork
Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt
Website - starlinebodywork.com
Book - starlinebodywork.com/book

DISCLAIMER:
The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.

Believe it or not, the way you warm up and cool down your horse can make a huge difference in not only their performance, but in their long term soundness.

Join me for this episode where I go through my favourite warm up and cool down routines to keep horses in top form.

Learn when to add a more connected frame, lateral work and different paces in your workout. Discover how to stretch out after workouts and how to prepare the horse’s body before you even mount!

PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW.

This will help us reach more people and more horses, to support their journey and relationship together.

LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE:
>> https://starlinebodywork.com/book
>> triumphtape.com

Connect with us:
Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork
Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt
Website - starlinebodywork.com
Book - starlinebodywork.com/book

DISCLAIMER:
The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.

Before you drag jump poles out to make exercises in your arena, have a listen to this week’s episode of the podcast.

From low-impact rehabilitation exercises, to high-intensity gymnastic style workouts, there is a pole exercise for almost every occasion.

Pole work used well, and with the correct lay out, can improve balance, proprioception, core muscle recruitment, improve rhythm, and correct movement patterns and joint flexions in the horse.

Join me for this episode of the podcast where I explain what each style of exercise does for the horse, so you can choose your patterns to suit your horse’s needs!

Learn my favourite exercises for balancing pelvic limb movement,, core recruitment, tackling shoulder bulges and preventing leaning on your leg, and correcting anticipation of lead changes.

PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW.

This will help us reach more people and more horses, to support their journey and relationship together.

LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE:
>> https://starlinebodywork.com/book
>> triumphtape.com

Connect with us:
Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork
Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt
Website - starlinebodywork.com
Book - starlinebodywork.com/book

DISCLAIMER:
The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.

Nutrition is a building block for developing healthy muscles and topline. It’s literally the first step in how we create a super athlete.
 
Join me as we chat with MasterFeeds Equine Nutrition Expert Jenna Beach about the science fuelling our performance horses.
Learn how to develop muscle/topline, how to look at feed ingredients, when to call a specialist, and how to gauge when to alter feed.

So many take-aways are in this information- packed episode!

PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW.

This will help us reach more people and more horses, to support their journey and relationship together.

LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE:
>> Facebook: MasterFeeds Horse Feed
>> Instagram: @hellohappyhorses
>>topline building tips: https://starlinebodywork.com/podcast/episode20
>> https://starlinebodywork.com/book
>> triumphtape.com

Connect with us:
Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork
Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt
Website - starlinebodywork.com
Book - starlinebodywork.com/book

DISCLAIMER:
The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.

What does starting horses and re-staring horses have to do with bodywork? LOTS!

Join me for today’s episode where I chat with Claire Hunter of Braecrest Farm. Claire has, in my opinion, the most incredible approach to breaking horses with special attention to the signs they show through their autonomic nervous system response.

This is how bodywork practitioners read horses during sessions as well. 🤯

Her understanding of equine physiology and body language has resulted in her incredibly unique breaking process that honours the horse most authentically.

Her techniques can be translated into everyday work with your own horses, even if they are started and going. The results will astound you!

We make several references to “Sirenity's Story” in this episode. You can watch that 3 part story on Claire’s YouTube Chanel. We’ve linked it below.

To contact Claire, or to follow her on socials, check out the links below.

Plus, I have made a special FREE download for this episode. “The Autonomic Nervous System Checklist” will help you recognize signs of the sympathetic and parasympathetic state in your own horse.

Grab it here:
https://starline.myflodesk.com/checklist

PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW.

This will help us reach more people and more horses, to support their journey and relationship together.

LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE:
>> Saving Sirenity: https://youtu.be/2nTLqt27T3A?si=UsVqFbejIyT6qXtM
>> Braecrest Farm Instagram: @braecrestfarm
>> Web: https://www.braecrestfarm.ca
>> https://starlinebodywork.com/book
>> triumphtape.com

Connect with us:
Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork
Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt
Website - starlinebodywork.com
Book - starlinebodywork.com/book

DISCLAIMER:
The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.

The thoracic sling is the group of muscles that translate the power of the hind end from a forward propulsion to the “picking up” of the withers in locomotion. This allows the horse to move forward against the force of gravity.

With horses carrying 60% of their bodyweight on their front end, developing and understanding the thoracic sling is a really important part of developing a strong and healthy equine athlete.

Join me for this episode where we talk about the importance of knowing the signs of a weak thoracic sling, and how we can manage and strengthen our horses in this region. I’ve packed a huge number of groundwork and mounted exercises into this must-listen episode.

PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW.

This will help us reach more people and more horses, to support their journey and relationship together.

LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE:
>>join our email list: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/64ef9613c2836fce4ecfb43f
>> https://starlinebodywork.com/book
>> triumphtape.com

Connect with us:
Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork
Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt
Website - starlinebodywork.com
Book - starlinebodywork.com/book

DISCLAIMER:
The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.

Horses=Injuries. Period.
Whether in sport or a paddock accident, it can happen to your horse. What then?

Join me for this episode where we break down the categories of injuries that horses face. Trauma, conformational complications, sport specific injuries and functional/body misuse injuries are all discussed.

And, of course, we look at what is appropriate for each phase of injury rehabilitation, from the acute phase all the way through return to play. These steps include:

-Pain control
-Range of motion restoration
-Control in range of motion
-Strength in range of motion
-Stamina

Don’t miss this take-away filled episode!


PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW.

This will help us reach more people and more horses, to support their journey and relationship together.

LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE:
>> https://starlinebodywork.com/book
>> triumphtape.com

Connect with us:
Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork
Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt
Website - starlinebodywork.com
Book - starlinebodywork.com/book

DISCLAIMER:
The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.

Join me for this episode where I share my thoughts on shortening distances between jumps and training bounces in order to produce a better quality jump and step in the horse.

As a bodywork practitioner it will come as no surprise that I feel often the prerequisites for these exercises are overlooked. And, this puts the horse at great risk.

In this episode of the podcast I discuss what to do to prepare horses to be able to handle the bounce and shortened distances- from a Bodywork and from a training perspective.

I reveal all the details of my favourite exercise to prepare my horses to safely jump shortened distances and have control of their bodies off the ground and throughout the jump effort.

PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW.

This will help us reach more people and more horses, to support their journey and relationship together.

LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE:
>> https://starlinebodywork.com/book
>> triumphtape.com

Connect with us:
Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork
Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt
Website - starlinebodywork.com
Book - starlinebodywork.com/book

DISCLAIMER:
The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.

Join me for this episode where we go in-depth on stifles. It’s a huge information-packed episode, so fasten your seatbelt!

I will run through risk factors for stifle issues (aside from trauma, and birth issues). And, I will go through some symptoms of stifle issues, or behaviours you will notice in training that could indicate that you need to take a look at your horse’s stifles.

A huge focus of this episode is on weakness in the quadriceps. I cover not just anatomy, but how to keep stifles strong and functioning at optimal levels for long-term soundness.

PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW.

This will help us reach more people and more horses, to support their journey and relationship together.

LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE:
>> https://starlinebodywork.com/book
>> triumphtape.com
>> “Focus On Stifles” https://starlinebodywork.com/online-education

Connect with us:
Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork
Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt
Website - starlinebodywork.com
Book - starlinebodywork.com/book

DISCLAIMER:
The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.

Deciding on a training strategy is one of the biggest challenges for sport horse trainers and riders.

Do horses actually do best with time off? What does “downtime” for the fit horse in competition season look like? How can we keep our horses fresh and fit all at the same time?

When do you train at 100% effort and how does this affect peaking your horse’s performance for big classes?

Management of fitness programs not only makes for better results, but also can make or break an equine athlete physically.

Join me for this episode where I talk training intensity strategies. I dive into how to assess your horse’s external factors, internal factors and individual case history to make a solid individual training program.

PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW.

This will help us reach more people and more horses, to support their journey and relationship together.

LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE:
>> https://starlinebodywork.com/book
>> triumphtape.com

Connect with us:
Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork
Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt
Website - starlinebodywork.com
Book - starlinebodywork.com/book

DISCLAIMER:
The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.

The development of a horse’s neck says a lot more about him than people realize. Muscle development patterns can indicate tension, and a need for bodywork intervention.

Join me for this episode to explore the common patterns we see as bodyworkers, and what that means for the horse.

I even reveal my favourite bodywork moves for releasing tension in the jaw, which in turn helps the horse use its neck better under tack.

PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW.

This will help us reach more people and more horses, to support their journey and relationship together.

LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE:
>> https://starlinebodywork.com/book
>> triumphtape.com

Connect with us:
Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork
Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt
Website - starlinebodywork.com
Book - starlinebodywork.com/book

DISCLAIMER:
The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.

Buzz word? Maybe. Common area of issue? Absolutely.

Join me for the episode where I discuss SI joint issues.

I look at the anatomy of the SI joints and their importance to the horse. Let’s look at subtle indicators that point to needing a vet to look at your horse’s SI.

I reveal my favourite exercises and managerial strategies to use when coming back from a diagnosis of SI joint issues.

PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW.

This will help us reach more people and more horses, to support their journey and relationship together.

LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE:
>> https://starlinebodywork.com/book
>> triumphtape.com

Connect with us:
Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork
Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt
Website - starlinebodywork.com
Book - starlinebodywork.com/book

DISCLAIMER:
The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.

I just love science, don’t you?

Join me for this conversation with special guest Dr Kendle Dykstra, Equine Chiropractor. We take a deep dive into the science behind chiropractic work. Have you ever wondered how adjustments actually work on a horse’s body? This information-packed episode is the information you need to know!

PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW.

This will help us reach more people and more horses, to support their journey and relationship together.

LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE:
>> https://starlinebodywork.com/book
>> triumphtape.com
>> https://www.unitychiropractic.ca
>> https://www.instagram.com/unitychiropractic.inc

Connect with us:
Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork
Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt
Website - starlinebodywork.com
Book - starlinebodywork.com/book

DISCLAIMER:
The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.

I have heard more than one professional bodywork practitioner say they don’t feel the “carrot stretch” (Dynamic Mobilization Exercise) that puts the horse’s chin to their chest is necessary. In fact, they implied it is rehearsing Rolkur (or deep hyper flexion under tack).

I have a very different opinion.

Join me for this episode where we define the difference between passive and dynamic movement, discuss the interdependence of one joint to another, and the importance of working through all available ranges of motion.

PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW.

This will help us reach more people and more horses, to support their journey and relationship together.

LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE:

>> https://starlinebodywork.com/online-education
THE DME’S Challenge™️ SELF STUDY FORMAT

>> https://www.triumphtape.com

Connect with us:
Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork
Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt
Website - starlinebodywork.com
Book - starlinebodywork.com/book

DISCLAIMER:
The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.

Today’s episode is a bit of a hot topic. And, I expect many of you will have questions. That’s great! We need to talk about this more.

Let’s look at the science of our warm up routines with our horses. This information certainly made me rethink stretching-based warm ups for my own horses and I’m certain it will give you lots to think about too!

Here goes!

Fact: Recent science has shown that pre-workout static stretching can do more harm than good.

Stretching does EXACTLY what we think it does — it temporarily loosens muscles and accompanying tendons. And that may not be what we want to do BEFORE exercise!

PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW.

This will help us reach more people and more horses, to support their journey and relationship together.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Pre-workout Stretching: Is it Causing Poor Performance? (FREE PDF)
https://view.flodesk.com/pages/63b6f982d4043cac46b33cc8

https://www.triumphtape.com

Connect with us:
Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork
Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt
Website - starlinebodywork.com
Book - starlinebodywork.com/book

DISCLAIMER:
The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.

Before & After photos are posted on so many bodywork accounts. But are they really useful?

Join me for this episode where I discuss the ethical/privacy issues photos raise, the illusions created by photography, the misrepresentation of a bodyworker’s skills, and the ever confusing photo caption “Can you see the difference?”.

Now, there is a time and place for photo journalism of sessions, but perhaps it’s time to stop using it as a way to judge the skills of an individual practitioner.

PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW.

This will help us reach more people and more horses, to support their journey and relationship together.

LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE:
>> triumphtape.com

Connect with us:
Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork
Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt
Website - starlinebodywork.com
Book - starlinebodywork.com/book

DISCLAIMER:
The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.

I used to think that I knew my horses well. I would spend hours each week carefully grooming them, running my hands over them, checking their legs and their feet. I would watch all of their subtle facial expressions carefully. I was convinced that I KNEW them.

Geez… WAS I EVER WRONG!

With all of that attention, I never actually stood back and looked at them. I hadn’t ever noticed their posture, nor did I ever notice their stance.

Standing back and observing was a real game changer for me. And, to this day postural assessment is a HUGE tool I use when looking at the horses in my Bodywork Practice. It’s when one stands back and looks that all the clues as to what is going on with the horse becomes evident.

This the information that will truly let you know your horse. It will show how he is feeling (physically and mentally), how he will perform, and ultimately how he will develop as an athlete.

The majority of behavioral, performance and soundness issues we see in sport horses stems not from running or jumping, but from how they stand. With that in mind, IT’S TIME WE TAKE A STAND ON HOW OUR HORSES STAND!

PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW.
This will help us reach more people and more horses, to support their journey and relationship together.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
https://starlinebodywork.com/posture

https://www.triumphtape.com

Connect with us:
Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork
Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt
Website - starlinebodywork.com
Book - starlinebodywork.com/book

DISCLAIMER:
The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.

When I was about to take my first equine kinesiology taping course, it was not a thing people were really doing with horses. It was however quite popular with human athletes.

I took my first course with a friend, who shared my doubts.

Before we attended our course, the conversation began kind of like this:
“Do you think it’s just a mental thing? Part of the pre-game ritual? Not actually functional?”

Horses don’t lie! So they were the ultimate test of out theories.

Join me for this episode where I tell the story of how kinesiology taping horses became a big part of my life and practice, and why!

PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW.

This will help us reach more people and more horses, to support their journey and relationship together.

LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE:
>> https://starlinebodywork.com/book
>> triumphtape.com

Connect with us:
Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork
Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt
Website - starlinebodywork.com
Book - starlinebodywork.com/book

DISCLAIMER:
The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.