Equine Reset with Niki Barker

Happy Christmas to all my lovely clients and friends, happily many of you are both 😊. Look forward to seeing you and all the lovely ponies in the new year 😍

I love this video by @animal.athlete.phys! You can clearly see the difference in the mobility of the spine in walk and trot! In walk there is quite a large amount of lateral bending of the spine as well as pelvic rolling. There is also an opportunity for spinal flexion, helping to release the back and increase space between the dorsal spinous procesess. This also encourages the horse to lower their head to help with stabilisation. Whereas in trot the spine and pelvis are naturally more rigid! The spine is predominantly in extension. Epaxial back muscles are recruited to stabilise the trunk against the forces from the limbs. Now let's have a think of what could happen then if the horse for example has a poorly fitting saddle or bridle, poor foot balance or foot pain, chronic pain, low grade lameness, poor posture etc etc... this is going to affect how the horse moves. Compensatory postures and movement come into play causing back pain, neck pain, limb pain , resulting in reduced range of motion, reduced stride length, lameness and pathology! Walk is such a great gait for rehabilitation work, especially in hand to help flex the spine and lower the head and create a release through the horses body! I love seeing biomechanics in action! Its so fascinating! Its definitely one of my weaker areas of assessment but loving throwing myself into learning as much as I can!

Charlie enjoyed his massage on the sun. He is retired now but still needs keeping mobile and happy Laverne Francis

Love a Shetland and Frank the Shetland works hard with his carriage driving

Frank thoroughly enjoyed his session today with Equine Reset with Niki Barker. He’s been working hard lately so had a few tights spots that needed some attention. Amazing to see him be so receptive to his treatment today, stood rock still so Niki could work her magic.

Only 4 days left this month with any spaces for horses in Suffolk. 15th July, 23rd July, 29th July and 30th July. PM slots only left.
Big thank you as always to all my clients keeping me so busy 😘

Now taking bookings from 7th July onwards but only a few spaces that week and the 2 following weeks. Thank you lovely clients for keeping me so busy 😁

Today was very tall horses in Cambridgeshire day 😆. Nothing under 16.2hh so feel my arms might be aching tomorrow but they were mostly well behaved with no real issues just a few tight spots so all good. Back in Suffolk tomorrow with a variety.

Frank was pleased to see the fabulous Equine Reset with Niki Barker yesterday for a treatment. With one thing or another it turned out it had been a long time since his last treatment! He’s being working very well both ridden and driven but was interesting to learn he was very tight left shoulder which is unusual for him. And tight over his pelvis. He did some great releases but given what Niki found we’ll look to get him in again in a few weeks. It’s easy to forget how important it is to get them checked even if you don’t see any problems! Thanks Niki 😊

Always a pleasure to treat a Shetland though Frank was a bit bitey where his shoulder was tight! He likes to let me know lol

Frank was pleased to see the fabulous Equine Reset with Niki Barker yesterday for a treatment. With one thing or another it turned out it had been a long time since his last treatment! He’s being working very well both ridden and driven but was interesting to learn he was very tight left shoulder which is unusual for him. And tight over his pelvis. He did some great releases but given what Niki found we’ll look to get him in again in a few weeks. It’s easy to forget how important it is to get them checked even if you don’t see any problems! Thanks Niki 😊

Sometimes I come across a horse that I can’t help. If I go to see a horse and I think for any reason that what I do won’t help or could even aggravate a condition I will always stand down and advise the owner to call a vet, farrier or other type of professional.
I don’t charge for a visit if I can’t do a treatment and would rather risk losing a client by being honest than by ignoring the horse.