One of my greatest joys in my work is to hear the updates.

• My horse is doing so much better!
• Our transitions are much smoother
• He is back to his usual antics!
• She is sound again!
• We are finally working on the root cause, not just the symptoms!

These are just a few of the comments I get. So I thought I'd share the story of Erin and Tank. It's a really great example of why I firmly believe that teaching owners some simple bodywork techniques is so important. Being able to work with your horse in between sessions can make such a dramatic difference.

Tank is currently an 11-year-old Paint Horse, and I am a junior at the University of Illinois. I got Tank as a yearling while I was an overjoyed 11-year-old, and we grew up together, becoming quite the pair. I had always had the aspirations to become a competitive rider, and so Tank allowed me to turn him into my all-around show horse. We began at a local level, participating in a few open shows, and worked our way up to the state level through the Illinois Paint Horse Association. When I was in high school, my goals never ceased, and we began showing on a national level, competing at the American Paint Horse Association, and Pinto Horse Association World Shows. Upon completion of my youth career Tank and I had competed in a broad range of events, including halter, showmanship, hunter under saddle, equitation, western pleasure, horsemanship, trail, reining, barrel racing, pole bending, and stake race. We had also earned multiple state championships, world show top 10 placings and completed our APHA Youth Championship.

With part-time retirement imminent for Tank as I began college, our show schedule was narrowed down to what time would allow over my summer breaks. It was not until this past fall when Tank and I discovered the power of equine bodywork. Two days after our last show in September, Tank came up acutely lame on his left hind leg after turn out. After a couple of days of stall rest and being on anti-inflammatories, the lameness persisted without any external indicators. Upon veterinary examination, we decided to have radiographs done to get to the bottom of the lameness. It turned out that Tank had managed to create a 3 cm long fracture on the plantar side of his long pastern, meeting up with the fetlock joint on the proximal end of the bone. With this diagnosis, Tank’s leg was set in a temporary cast and sent home for three months of stall rest. Even if injured, a horse like Tank who is used to daily turnout was not going to be too thrilled with this schedule. While Tank began his stall rest, I started brainstorming. I wanted to look into ways I could help ease his discomfort, and save his sanity for the next few months. I had been looking around for different equine massage therapists when I happened to come across Daniela’s name as a friend of mine on social media. I recalled meeting her at a horse barn where Tank and I took lessons at and remembered her work with horses. So I further investigated into her Healing Hands Equine Body Work website and decided to reach out.

And boy am I glad I did, and I think Tank is too. I began by giving Daniela an extensive history of Tank and me, as well as all of the details of his current injury. The bodywork program she has developed was custom-tailored to our needs and any of Tank’s limitations. Our first session began much as I expected, with Tank still adjusting to his stall rest routine, stress and tension ever present in his body language. I came to see how the effects of body/energy work overcame physical stress and tension by relaxing the muscles and balancing the mind. Within a few short minutes, Tank’s concern transitioned from the anxiety of being left in his stall to actively processing the gentle touches and movement Daniela asked for, and most importantly, never transitioned back. While Tank was learning how to respond to the sensations and release any built up energy and tension “pockets,” I was learning the methods and processes that she was using. Whenever I was home, I could now go back and try some of the methods that she showed me to help create more comfort for Tank in- between sessions. By our third session, Tank practically knew when it was time for his body work. Aside from getting excited for dinner time, Tank had become much more comfortable in his stall without as much pacing and anxiety. When it came to his injury, he had gone from always protecting and favoring the leg, to more evenly distributing his weight throughout his body, encouraging natural healing.

Now that it is almost spring, we are still working on healing that bone. Upon follow-up radiographs we had taken in early February, we could finally see the bone is slowly but surely starting to ossify. To help the process along we decided to admit Tank to the University of Illinois Veterinary Hospital so that he can receive direct shockwave therapy to his leg. This works out well for myself, putting Tank just 5 minutes from where I live. Because I can now visit him almost every day, and perform my small bodywork sessions more frequently. While I am no expert in the field, I still have found great success in incorporating bodywork into my routine. I have found myself to be more actively in tune with Tank’s moods and languages, and see his energy releases! It's great therapy for the both of us when I am finished, and he is practically asleep."

If you are interested in learning how you can help YOUR horse, contact me!