Wow! It's certainly winter now as temperatures have suddenly dropped. So many horses are now clipped and spending much longer in the stable for the next so many months .

​Things to consider include: feeding from the floor as much as possible. This natural feeding position is the best posture for your horse to be eating from.

You may feel your horse will benefit from some magnetic boots; Introduce gradually or your horses legs will swell.

A huge straw bed may look inviting to us, but consider the impact on breathing and their legs, getting around the stable . Also uneven beds could cause overloading of the forelegs, if it doesn't come up to the door.

They need as much time as possible out of their stable. Take at least 20 mins to gently warm them up and 15 to cool down...an exercise blanket for fully clipped horses is ideal to look after their back and quarters.

Unable to ride due to the weather ? An individual set of exercises can be done in the stable. Pilates for horses is much more than carrot stretches and done regularly will have a massive impact on the postural imbalances.

Feel free to contact me. Please share.

Stay safe this winter!

OK - Pilates class: second week. 

It's the day after. We did activating the core, stretching the hip flexors and plenty of back stretching.

Wowza! I have to say I can really feel I've worked on my abs today. Pilates is so, so gentle and subtle. In the past I've tried hundreds of sit-ups at all kinds of gyms. Yet this gentle class has made the most of working my abs.

I feel that, doing it this way - gently reminding your body that the core has a job to do (I'm 10 months post-operation too so very weak core)  - is quite the way forward.

Now I know how my horse feels when I am doing those sternum lifts and dorsal reflex stretches. 

Oh, and the gentle hip flexor work we did....Wowza again!

This really showed up how I am weak down my left side, and collapse over to my left. No wonder my right leg grabs ...that's obviously to stop me from falling out the side door. Even though it's subtle it's having a massive impact on Missy’s jumping and flat work. 

Starting to feel I will be so much improved by next year.
 
Stay tuned for next week’s Horse & Rider Plates Report

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22/04/15 Satisfied customer Melanie Murchison posted: Penny having her first physio session with the lovely Helen Est Thornton

The Bowen Technique is a gentle form of muscular release treatment.
Contact Helen Thornton to arrange a Bowen Therapy Centre consultation
Specialising in horse and rider therapy

Ref: Painted Horse 2015 - Equinology and Manolo Mendez

One horse taken in at a time (so he/she will get 100% attention):

•  for post operative care
• whether still in a cast / with stitches etc 
• nothing a problem 
• post KS op 
• rehab work done also 

On very private quiet yard, using excellent techniques (straightness training.com) halter work and ridden as all horses need to be taught how to re-train their one-sidedness.
 
Based near Lincoln

Any queries please call 07947 623923 or contact me here.