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Holding space, and the beauty in the pause.
I've learned how much it enhances my bodywork when horses are 1. allowed the time and space needed to pause and integrate, and 2. have the self-regulation skills needed to be present in their bodies and process changes within their nervous system.
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There are two kinds of situations I experience in my equine therapy practice; horses who improve drastically over a short period of time, and those who improve incrementally over a long period of time. Why does this happen?
This is a complex topic that I'm going to break down as simply as possible, but I can't possibly cover all of the infinite reasons why every horse responds differently - they are all individuals with unique situations.
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Parasympathic activation. Receiving energy. Consent. These terms may be unfamiliar to some, but they are hugely important in my work as an equine therapist.
Despite the fact that many - including some of the teachers and mentors who have taught me over the years - have been working in respect of those states for a very long time, sadly the information is still missing from a lot of professional development.
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Somewhere I read the phrase "one is a treat, more is a treatment" and it really stuck with me.
There isn't anything wrong with booking a single bodywork session for your horse, as long as you understand the difference between a single appointment and ongoing care with an equine wellness professional.
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Every once in a while I talk to someone who is interested in what I do, but comments that their horse doesn't really do much and therefore doesn't require any bodywork.
Everyone has a different opinion on whether any horse "requires" bodywork, but let's reframe it and pose this question - can a horse benefit from bodywork even if they "don't do much"? That I can confidently answer with a resounding yes!
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If there is one piece of advice I can offer to both new equine bodyworkers and to human partners of horses, it would be this: whatever you are doing, do it softer. When you think you're being soft, be softer still.
Intention is a form of energy that I find most people struggle to control around their horses. Equine therapists have to learn this skill quickly because without it, many horses - especially if they have pain or anxiety - will refuse our touch. It's an ongoing skill development that doesn't occur overnight and is never fully learned. But it is an easy one to begin and when you do, you will notice a significant shift in how your horse responds to you.
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A letter to my dear fellow horse professionals, specifically equine therapists, but this can apply to anyone who helps or cares for horses for a living.
To my dear fellow equine practitioners and caregivers, please give yourself some grace. I know it can be a very thankless career, and I want you to know that you are seen, understood, and you are not alone.
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How is equine craniosacral therapy the same or different from other equine therapy methods?
CST has given me a whole new way of working with horses' minds and bodies. Embodiment of the necessity of consent from the body and appreciation of its ability to self regulate and heal. It has refined my palpation, deepened my listening, and opened my mind.
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I am happy to announce that I have completed all components for certification in Equine Craniosacral Therapy.
It has been amazing to look at horses through the lens of CST and realize that many of their chronic symptoms can be traced to dysfunction in the craniosacral system. As someone who has always questioned things like WHY a certain muscle group is always tight for certain horses, CST has been a guiding light to discovering these answers.
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Being a good listener doesn't end with the horse. Half of the partnership that we are working with in equine manual therapy is the horse's human steward. And I can say with confidence, having been a horse owner for almost twenty years myself, that they are rarely truly listened to. As a horse owner, you get very accustomed to people telling you what to do - and what not to do - with your horse.
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