“HELPING HORSES RELEASE TENSION, RESTORE BALANCE AND MOVE INTO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL”
Equine Structural Integration is a form of bodywork that restores connective tissue and alignment within the horse’s body. Connective tissue, called fascia, is a dense, web-like network that surrounds and supports muscles, bones, organs, blood vessels and nerves. Thus giving the body its shape. The health of a horse’s fascial system affects the horse’s postural alignment, quality of movement and overall well-being. Healthy fascia is smooth and glides easily, allowing the horse to move freely with ease. When fascia becomes injured, stressed or experiences wear and tear it begins to thicken and develop adhesions that create restrictions which develops compensations and ultimately imbalance.
Using Equine Structural Integration, The Equine Natural Movement Series consists of five sessions. Throughout the series, the practitioner works with depth and sensitivity in resonance with the horse to identify and sequentially unwrap fascial restrictions. As the horse progresses through the series and restrictions are released, the body restores its natural alignment. Through this process, the series works to:
- Improve suppleness, fluidity and flexibility
- Increase impulsion and energy
- Increase efficiency in movement
- Assist in recovery and rehabilitation from injury
- Promote proper muscle tone
- Reduce risk of injury
- Eliminate behavioral issues stemming from pain
- Improved postural alignment
- Promote overall sense of comfort and well-being
THE EQUINE NATURAL MOVEMENT SERIES
Session 1
Build trust and rapport with the horse
Evaluate the horse’s tension patterns
Benefits:
Release tension/holdings in surface musculature
Based on information gathered from session 1, develop a body map to guide the remaining sessions in the series
Allow 1 week before session 2
Session 2
Continue building trust with horse
Evaluate changes from previous session
Clear tension in shoulders, hips, hindquarters and legs
Benefits:
Reestablishes power in the hind end
Frees up tendons and musculature of all four legs
Initial freeing of superficial and mid-level fascial restrictions in the neck, shoulders, lumbar, pelvis and hip joints.
Provides horse a better sense of balance and stability, allowing them to feel more secure in moving on and off the ground
Allow 1 to 2 weeks before performing session 3
Session 3
Assess changes since previous session
Release tension in rib cage and topline
Benefits:
Improves spinal mobility
Integrates muscle groups that share movement functions
Allow 2 to 3 weeks before session 4.
Session 4
Perform movement assessment
Assess changes from previous session
Identify and release remaining tension identified in movement assessment
Benefits:
Connects front and hind ends through the barrel
Enhances fluidity of whole body motion
Allow 3 to 4 weeks between session 5.
Session 5
Assess changes from previous session
Identify and release remaining areas of tension
Identify and release any deep adhesions that present
Benefits:
Reinforces the flexibility of fascia as the horse establishes an integrated movement pattern
Maintenance session 3-6 months or as needed