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Feather Touch Equine Bodywork

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24.01.2022 Lots of happy smiles today, love my job!

22.01.2022 **The following post shows images of an equine stomach post mortem. ** STOMACH SIZE I get asked all the time about feed and all manner of horse care topics. Alo...ng with all of the usual discussions about type of feed for particular horses, weights of feed etc... there is the topic of HOW MUCH to feed. How many dippers of chaff, how full should the 20litre bucket be, 1 feed per day or two??? Through the amazing process of dissections we have been involved in, we always look at the stomach. Sometimes finding ulcers or bots and varying degrees of health of the stomach lining. One thing I’ve noticed is that the larger horses of mixed breed (say between 14-17hh) is that the stomach size doesn’t vary all that much. Horses are grazing animals, we know this. Horses do well on smaller feeds more often, we also know this. A lot of people struggle to truly grasp this until they see it or it is explained thoroughly enough for them to fully understand from an anatomy perspective. Here I will show you a stomach (approx 15.2hh tb mare) she had had a normal breakfast but also a big special bucket of carrots and apples right before being laid to rest (not her daily feed, just a one off treat bucket) and then the contents of that stomach in relation to a very average sized 15 litre tub. I will also show you the absolute MAXIMUM sized feed I would ever feed a horse of that size. There are plenty of great articles around that talk about overflow of undigested feed into the hindgut and the subsequent problems, feed sizes and ulcers, gut health in all forms but I’m not here to talk about that. I am simply sharing in order to give the average horse owner a deeper understanding of the relative lack of size of the average sized horses stomach ** This post is not about what to feed or even how often. That will be very specific to each horse, it’s environment and situation. Please seek advice from your trusted equine veterinarian or independent nutritionist. ** Dissection with thanks and in conjunction with Southern Holistic Equine & Ev’s Equine Services

22.01.2022 Rye grass (& clover) bad bad bad for your horse's health...

20.01.2022 What a lovely day spent working on horses, couldn't ask for anything better!

19.01.2022 There is always a freeloader

19.01.2022 This has made my day! One of my favs Warwick Schiller talking about the Masterson Method!

18.01.2022 I should create an album for all the freeloaders... Cheeky sneaking up behind me...

18.01.2022 Good to get back to working on this guy again after a little hiatus....also lovely to see his paddock mate feeling safe enough in our space to lay down and have a sleep...even on her blind side. When using this method it creates a lovely healing space where horses find such deep relaxation...so amazing to see and feel

16.01.2022 Special Offer!!! Due to a late cancellation I now have availability this Sunday 4th October and offering 12% off the cost of a bodywork session! Treat your horse and make them feel good in their bodies, they will love you for it!! (For Geelong area and surrounds)

14.01.2022 CONNECTING AND FUNDAMENTAL FEEL IN GROUNDSKILLS BANYANDAH - HOWLONG, NSW - NOV 28-30 http://www.melfleming.com.au/archives/6640 BATHURST , NSW - DEC 12-14 htt...p://www.melfleming.com.au/archives/6402 Learning how to truly connect to your horse and understand how they think and feel (and it is not all about prey/ animal predator psychology - there is sooo much more going on than that), combined with learning the intrinsic and ever elusive quality of "FEEL" that horses desire, are the secrets to amazing partnerships with horses. Connect your heart and mind with your horse's heart and mind to achieve your dream relationship with your horse. With this relationship you will feel safe and experience friendship, ease, harmony and joy in your interactions with your horse. AND it is very possible to have an athletic performance horse and this dream relationship at the same time. This course is the beginning of the journey to achieve this. Happy Horses and Happy Humans. Click on the links above to find out more details.

14.01.2022 Quite often I hear horses who are not freely forward described as lazy. There are a few problems with this : 1- lazy is an anthropomorphic description. Horse...s don’t care about our ideas of work ethic, or even know what those are. Their priorities are eat, be secure in a herd, look out for danger, and eat. Their priorities are not inside leg to outside rein, they don’t care about doing straight flying changes, and they certainly don’t care that you have a show coming up. The only way they can become invested in your work is if it makes them feel good, as in brings them mental and physical well-being. Otherwise, you can threaten with your leg all you want and inspire fear response, but they aren’t lazy - they just don’t share your priorities. 2- most sluggish horses are extremely tight. Moving forward with a rider on their back is actually double or triple the amount of work that it should or could be. They are moving with a tight back, tight shoulders and weak abs and haunches. Likely the rider is tight as well, and quite likely the rider is not balanced as well as they could be and using reprimanding or nagging aids. This horse is working FAR harder then they need to be. If a horse’s shoulders are supple, back is free to lift, core is engaged and working without interference, hind legs swinging at optimum range of motion, movement is easy and enjoyable. So your lazy horse is far out working a horse with looseness and alignment, because they have to work much harder just to go forward. Imagine being pulled off your couch, given a 70 lb pack to carry that slips around and isn’t stable, and being asked to move forward through a series of obstacles without being fit or knowing how to position yourself. You aren’t going to be moving very fast either, and someone nagging you to speed up incessantly will probably make you quite resentful. Something to think about next time you whip out the L word; which in my barn is a very very dirty word, along with stubborn ;)

14.01.2022 This article is great to see, in my experience there are always options - you just have to open your mind up to the possibilities...and to remember a decision doesn't have to be made right then and there, do your research and go with what feels right

13.01.2022 HAVING A BASIC UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHATS INSIDE YOUR HORSES HOOF AND WHY ITS NEEDED IS VITAL TO THEIR LONG TERM HOOF HEALTH. The functioning health of your hor...ses frogs and digital cushion are extremely important . Have a good look where the navicular bone in the photos below, where it is located in the hoof , and why it is so important that the structures and tissues underneath are in good working order . Unfortunately navicular damage, caudal heel pain ( a whole hoof problem ) is far to common in domesticated horses . Also remember this , the sole of your horses hoof takes a lion share of the weight every time he connects with the ground , strong soles are also very important to the structures inside their hooves . When you lift this weight bearing sole off the ground with shoes or incorrect trimming for example you are loading the weight onto the hoof walls which is again NOT as nature intended. Too much thinning of this area can and will also cause problems for your horse long term . Good strong hooves , their soles / frogs can be achieved with multiple types of surfaces for your horses to walk on daily. End photos of wild horses living on all surfaces with fully functional hooves as nature intended. And some horses out on different surfaces to help create strong natural hooves .

12.01.2022 Love this video! So good to see him let go and enjoy the process. He loves being in control, you don't tell him what to do - he will tell you ahh Bizzle bless you

10.01.2022 We also give (orange) sweet potato to some of our horses, for varying reasons. But once again Anna Blake nails the relevant things to remember re affirming your... horse and being kind... "Affirmative Training is all about rewarding and affirming the horse. It isn't that we don't use treats, it's that we don't take shortcuts. We constantly reward our horses, but we do it in his language of calming signals. It's subtle sometimes, but we know the value of an exhale. We'll change our own personal human calming signals to adjust our body-voice, and take the time necessary to express affirmations to build his confidence. We'll use our internal energy to become the partner the horse needs. Feeding a carrot would take a whole lot less effort, but would it say the same thing? As promised, an introductory list of inedible treats: Self-awareness: Share the situational awareness your horse has in his environment. Literally see it his way. Less tunnel vision, more 'big picture' understanding. Consistency: be the same person while training that you are when mucking. Be a source of interest and curiosity and not correction and aggravation. Silence: Let the air be mostly still, give him a chance to get a word in edgewise. Learn the art of quiet focus and connection. Talk with people some other time. Choice: Let your horse take you for a walk. Just go along with him, give him his head. Spoiler: he wants to graze. Touch: Communicate peace, lay a quiet still hand on his neck, flank, or hind, but leave his face alone. Learn to be supportive, not intrusive. Praise: Be generous with kind words and exhales and laughter. Horses read our emotions; they like us happy. Then let the air rest again. Autonomy: Give him his space. Let him hold his own self up. Stay at least 3 ft away from his head, use a long lead, and notice his eye soften. Listen: Learn his language and acknowledge his calming signals. Be aware of the anxiety you create, work for his safety. Answer in his language. Slow down: Give the horse the gift of time to answer the question and then the time he needs to process. Quit before you want to, stay hungry for more. Rhythm: No stiff coyote stares, move with a smooth rhythm while leading or riding or swaying in the breeze in the pasture. Movement is release. Most of all, breathe as a cue. Trust that an exhale is more eloquent and effective than any training aid possible. Watch your horse agree. Please, know that you have all you need; that you are more than enough for your horse. Horses always require some soul-searching honesty, but then begin the nuanced work of becoming your horse's partner. You can be his oasis of sanity. You can be the treat." ~ Anna Blake #wadifarmlife #gowiththeflow #livelighter photos (c) KAW

10.01.2022 Such a tough life...#twoforthepriceofone

09.01.2022 Can't believe the difference in this guy, staying so calm and relaxed now throughout our sessions, even when the weather is awful!

07.01.2022 I never had a horse when i was a kid, my local riding school was my solice, my weekly horse fix. I loved all of those school horses like they were my own.. here is a shout out to all those old gems that taught me to ride...Bold Tale, Marcus, Spotty and Clive

05.01.2022 Laminitis, EMS/Metabolic issues, Cushings, Ulcers, Cancers, navicular/foot issues...theses issues are becoming so common now, it seems like every second horse is suffering from at least one of these.... why are these dreadful issues becoming so wide spread...some late night musings and food for thought Get back to basics, try not to fall for clever marketing, know what is in your feeds- and even better prepare it yourself...maybe our horses might thank us for it....

03.01.2022 Happy Birthday my beautiful boy!!! Some scratches, your favourite feed AND an apple = Best day eva!!

02.01.2022 This little Australian girl singing her horse to sleep is the sweetest thing you will see all day via ViralHog

02.01.2022 Why Wednesday ~ Why does light touch work on horses? Answer: We are searching for an area of discomfort that the horse might be covering up. Horses survive by ...blocking out tension, so we find that by using more pressure the horse will push back. If you use very soft pressure or light touch, the horse can’t push back and block out discomfort. They can feel a small amount of pressure and when lightly moving over the skin, they exhibit subtle responses. When we see those subtle responses we wait for a release. We are working with the parasympathetic nervous system which bypasses the survival part of the nervous system to relax, regenerate and restore health. We are allowing the horses nervous system to release tension in areas that they respond to with light touch. To read more about The Masterson Method, https://mastersonmethod.com/ #MastersonMethod #LIghtToTheCore #HorseBodywork #MastersonTechniques #BodyworkForYourHorse #EquineBodywork #HorseCare #SubtleResponse

02.01.2022 Happy Birthday to all of our wonderful horses out there What did you get up to with your horse today?