I do not currently offer single modalities, such as a single kinesiology tape application. This is because everything in the body is connected, and I will be able to get the best results for your horse and your money spent by looking at the whole body to identify where the horse needs the most support. If your vet has recommended or prescribed a specific modality, please reach out to me to discuss.

I do travel! You can find my most up-to-date travel schedule on my Instagram, @bullseyeequine . If I’m not planning on being in your area but you are still interested in my services, please send me a message! I am always willing to travel to barns or specific shows if there is enough interest.
Travel fees are charged based on GPS mileage from 08889/33414. Please contact me for detailed pricing guides.

To get the best results from your horse's session, I recommend that the horse has the rest of the day off, and very light work the following day (light lunge, hack, or trail ride). Specialized show prep sessions are available which will prepare the horse to perform the same day.

Actually, this is arguably one of the most critical times a horse may benefit from bodywork! Stall rest is incredibly taxing on a horse - both mentally and physically. Muscles, tendons, and joints can become tight and restricted due to the reduced movement. While one area of the body is attempting to heal, other issues (called compensations) can appear throughout the rest of the body - and can cause significant other problems when its time to return to work. Bodywork during stall rest, in conjunction with an excellent care and rehab plan from the vet, can alleviate these compensations and ensure your horse is ready to go when the vet gives them the green light. The process of healing of an injury also requires a lot of support to ensure the new tissue lays down correctly, to provide as much strength and stability as possible and prevent the chance of re-injury due to poor healing. If your horse is healing from a specific injury, we can work together with your vet to determine modalities to support his body through the healing process.

Every horse responds differently to bodywork, and it is difficult to know how each horse will react. Sometimes, by the very next day they will feel amazingly loose, supple, and more balanced. In other cases, the horse may feel slightly different as they are adjusting to the released restrictions, or the problem area feels better, but suddenly a different area feels tighter. This can be completely normal and is actually a great sign that the bodywork is making a difference. When restricted areas of the body are freed up, sometimes it takes a bit of time for the horse to get used to the new free movement he has. It is also possible that by providing comfort to an area that was bothering the horse for so long, there is a more subtle, but still problematic area, that we can now identify and work to correct.

Please have your horse groomed and ready in their stall or cross ties. If the horse was in turnout or ridden recently, please allow them time in their stall to urinate and get a drink so they are relaxed and comfortable for their session. Horses that are muddy, dirty, wet, or sweaty cannot be worked on as this negatively affects most modalities. Please do not apply any coat or shine sprays. I will need a handler to trot up the horse, as well as someone to ride the horse in whatever tack they use on a daily basis. Please also have all paper work submitted at least 24 hours prior to the session so I can review and discuss with your horse’s vet as needed.

This is difficult to predict and varies from horse to horse. Some horses will show noticeable improvements immediately after a session. Most horses will take at least 3 sessions to really begin to show significant changes - this allows me to begin to develop a relationship with them, and fully understand their bodies and where they need the most help. Bodywork sessions do have a cumulative effect - and consistent sessions offer the best results.

This is also very case dependent. In an ideal world, for a high performance horse, 1-3 sessions a month is great for maintenance. If they are having an acute issue and the vet has requested services, a few visits a week may be required to help get them past a difficult point. I will also give home exercises and simple massages or stretches for you to do to help prolong the benefits of the session and spread out the frequency of my visits.

Unless otherwise specified, horses should move in some way directly after a session. Ideally this is turnout, but could also be a 20 minute hand walk. The movement will help circulate blood and help reinforce the newly released areas of tightness or restriction, so they don’t lock up again. Bodywork can stimulate stagnant blood and fluids to move and be eliminated from the body, so as always, but especially after a session, plenty of fresh water and forage should be provided to help the body get the maximum benefits.

Aside from the initial session, I should not need any assistance during follow up sessions. It is helpful if someone is there at the beginning to jog the horse if requested, and answer any questions or give me an update on the horse. As long as I have a safe space to work, I do not need anyone to hold the horse for me.

All of those modalities are fantastic and can help support your horse. They work on different theories and different tissues in the body than the modalities I use. One modality does not replace the other, and stacking multiple techniques can have outstanding results. In fact - bodywork before or after a chiropractic session can help relax and loosen the muscles, therefore making the adjustments easier and helping the body to hold them longer. Please remember - in the US, chiro and acupuncture should only be carried out by licensed veterinarians. PEMF is a great modality to target certain specific conditions, and is a fantastic compliment to other, hands on bodywork methods.

In the US, the title of “physiotherapist” or “physical therapist” is reserved for vets only. I knew this going into the program, but I still chose to pursue it because I knew the level of knowledge and expertise required to graduate from a 3 year, hands on, Master’s level education couldn’t compare to the week long classes in equine massage that are offered in this country. Even though I cannot call myself a physiotherapist, the years of teaching about injury healing, physiology, anatomy, therapeutic modalities, remedial exercise and rehabilitation greatly influence the bodywork sessions that I am allowed to do in the US.

I am a firm believer that every ridden horse can benefit from bodywork, and especially sport horses. If you have ever felt that soreness in your muscles after a hard workout the day before, you know how debilitating it can be. Your horse is an athlete - and their body needs just as much support as a human athlete’s would to remain in peak condition. Even if you have a pasture puff instead of an Olympic prospect - they can still become sore or have compensatory problems from past injuries.

If you feel like your horse just isn’t happy with the contact, and you find yourself constantly staring at the wall of bits in a tack store and feeling overwhelmed and confused, I am here to help! Some signs that your horse may be unhappy with the current bit choice include: difficulty to bridle/refusing to open mouth for bit, frequent yawning when bridled, opening the mouth, crossing the jaw, constantly chewing the bit, lack of brakes or steering, very high or low head carriage, rooting, head or poll shyness, difficulty bending the neck/body or with lateral work, sticking out the tongue or placing it over the bit, grinding teeth, throwing the head, wounds or bleeding from the corners of the mouth or tongue, lacking hindlimb impulsion, refusal to accept contact, or difficulty collecting. (These can all also be signs that something else is off with the body, and to cover all bases I would strongly suggest a bodywork session as well to determine if it is a bit or body problem!)

Bodywork can have many different goals and outcomes. In a regular session, I will prioritize helping to improve any problem areas the horse may have. These techniques can sometimes make the horse a bit sore before they feel better, and therefore would not be productive to do just before a performance. In a show prep session, I will instead focus on techniques that will prep the horse for the show ring - emphasizing optimum muscle function, focus, and blood flow.

Bodywork is very safe and effective when performed by a practitioner with lots of experience and training. Some modalities have contraindications - meaning pre-existing conditions the horse may have which may make them react poorly or be unsafe. In an abundance of caution, I may want to discuss your horse’s health with their vet so I can get a thorough understanding of their body and their needs.