Harmony & Balance

One of the questions I get asked most often is, "Where should we do the massage?"

The truth is... where we work matters far less than how your horse feels in that environment.

Many horses are perfectly comfortable relaxing in cross ties. Others become anxious, brace their muscles, or simply can't settle there. If that's your horse, then the stall may be the better choice. And if neither of those locations allows your horse to truly relax, working outside in their pasture (weather permitting & herd permitting) may be the perfect solution.

The goal of every bodywork session is to encourage the nervous system to shift into a relaxed state. A horse that feels safe and comfortable is much more likely to release muscle tension and respond positively to their session.

Every horse is an individual. There isn't a one-size-fits-all approach, and that's okay. My priority is creating an environment where your horse feels secure, comfortable, and able to let go of the tension they've been carrying.

Sometimes the best session doesn't start with the techniques we use it starts with choosing the right place.

💙 A relaxed horse is a horse that can fully benefit from bodywork.

✨ A little personal update from Harmony & Balance... ✨

Some of you already know, but I wanted to officially share the exciting news...

Our family is growing! 🤍 We are so incredibly grateful and excited to be welcoming another little one.

As many of you know, my passion has always been helping horses feel and perform their best, and that isn't changing. I plan to continue scheduling appointments throughout my pregnancy while listening to my body and making adjustments as needed to ensure the safety of both myself and our growing baby.

As we get closer to my due date, I'll keep everyone updated on my schedule and any temporary changes. If your horse is due for maintenance bodywork, I encourage you to book ahead so we can keep them feeling their best.

Thank you all for your continued support, encouragement, and for being such an amazing part of the Harmony & Balance family. Your kindness means more than you know, and I'm so excited to share this new chapter with all of you.

Now, if you'll excuse me... I'm bodyworking horses while growing one of my own! 💕🐴👶

😁😁😁

There comes a point where you realize horses communicate in ways that don't require words.

As equine bodyworkers, we're taught anatomy, biomechanics, and muscle function. I was fortunate enough to go to a school that also dived deep into connection. Those things are incredibly important. The longer I do this work, the more I realize the greatest lessons come from simply listening.

Every horse has a story written into its body. Tension, compensation, fear, trust, resilience they all leave their mark. When we slow down enough to truly observe, feel, and respect what they're telling us, we create an environment where healing can begin.

Bodywork isn't just about releasing tight muscles. It's about building trust, honoring the horse in front of us, and giving them the opportunity to be heard in a way they may never have been before.

The greatest gift horses give us isn't just their strength or athleticism. It's their ability to teach us patience, presence, and compassion. If we're willing to listen, they'll tell us exactly what they need.

🤍 Every session is a conversation. My job is simply to listen with my hands.

— Harmony & Balance Equine Bodywork

August is almost fully booked! 🎉

I just want to say thank you to every client who continues to trust me with your horses. Your support means more than you know, and I'm so grateful to be a part of your horse's wellness journey.

If you've been thinking about scheduling a bodywork session, now is the time! I only have a few appointments remaining before my August calendar is full.

Whether your horse is competing, in training, or simply due for maintenance, regular bodywork helps keep them moving comfortably and performing at their best.

📅 Message me today to claim one of the remaining August spots before they're gone! I can't wait to see you and your horses soon. ❤️🐴

These photos capture one of my favorite parts of bodywork... the release. ❤️

When the horse stands quietly, and begins to soften and let go of tension. Then comes a big yawn; a response many horses offer when their nervous system shifts into a more relaxed state. While a yawn isn't the goal of a session, it can be one of the many signs that a horse is processing, relaxing, and feeling safe enough to release built-up tension.

Every horse communicates differently. Some yawn, some lick and chew, some sigh, blink slowly, lower their head, or simply stand quietly and soften throughout their body. These subtle changes tell us so much about how they're feeling.

Bodywork isn't just about muscles it's about creating an environment where the horse's body and mind can work together to unwind. When they feel safe, amazing things can happen.
Have you ever noticed your horse yawn after a massage or bodywork session? I'd love to hear what signs of relaxation you've seen in your own horse. 💙🐴

Passive vs. Active Stretches: What's the Difference?

Stretching can be an incredible tool for horses but like any tool, it's important to know when, why, and how to use it.

Passive stretches are performed with the horse remaining relaxed while a handler gently moves a limb or body part through its available range of motion. These stretches are often used after bodywork to help maintain mobility, encourage flexibility, and reinforce the improvements made during the session. They should always be slow, gentle, and never forced.

Active stretches are different. These require the horse to actively engage its own muscles to create the movement such as baited carrot stretches or exercises that encourage the horse to lift through its core or step underneath itself.

While active stretches have tremendous benefits for building strength, improving coordination, and increasing body awareness, they also need to be introduced thoughtfully. Asking a horse to actively stretch beyond what its tissues are currently prepared for can create tiny microtears in the muscle fibers. Although small amounts of muscle stress are a normal part of strengthening, too much too soon can leave the horse sore, create compensatory movement patterns, and delay progress.

This is why timing matters.

Stretching is most beneficial when:
✔️ The horse has been properly warmed up.
✔️ Restrictions have been addressed through bodywork or appropriate exercise.
✔️ The stretches are tailored to the individual horse's current strength, mobility, and limitations.
✔️ Quality of movement is prioritized over the amount of movement.

More isn't always better. A horse that moves comfortably within its current range will progress much better than one that is pushed beyond it.

Every horse is different, and the best stretching program is one designed specifically for their needs, goals, and stage of training. When used appropriately, stretching can improve mobility, support healthy muscle function, reduce compensation, and help your horse move more efficiently for years to come.

Harmony & Balance Equine Bodywork
Helping horses move better through thoughtful, individualized care.

What does "stuck" fascia feel like in a horse?

Fascia is the connective tissue that surrounds and supports every muscle, tendon, ligament, nerve, and organ. When it's healthy, it glides smoothly, allowing the body to move freely and efficiently. But when fascia becomes restricted or "stuck" it can create tension that affects far more than just one muscle.

A horse with fascial restrictions may show:
• Decreased range of motion
• Shortened or uneven stride
• Difficulty bending or picking up a lead
• Resistance under saddle
• Areas that feel dense, tight, or "stiff" to the touch
• Compensatory movement patterns as the body tries to avoid restriction

One restriction can create a chain reaction throughout the body. The horse may not be sore where the problem started they're often uncomfortable where the body is working overtime to compensate.

This is where myofascial release becomes such a valuable part of bodywork.

Unlike techniques that focus only on the muscles, myofascial release works with the fascia itself. Gentle, sustained pressure encourages the tissue to soften and regain its natural glide. As restrictions release, horses often show deeper breathing, licking and chewing, softening through the topline, and a greater willingness to move.

The goal isn't just to help your horse feel better for the day it's to restore healthier movement patterns so the entire body can function more efficiently.

Every horse tells a story through their body. By listening to the fascia, we can often uncover restrictions that have been affecting movement long before obvious lameness or pain appears.

Harmony & Balance Equine Bodywork believes that lasting change starts by treating the body as a connected system not just the area showing symptoms.

Great information for all of us dealing with the air quality from the wild fires.

When now the smoke seems to be a problem for more days, Dr van Wessum put together some scientifically based information to explain what to do and what NOT to do. Dr van Wessum is a ACVSMR board certified specialist in Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, which gives him great insight in how to deal with sport related problems, and he is board credentialed by the Dutch AVMA in Equine Medicine.

The first remark is to realize how your barn is. Most barns will not have an air filtration system, so the air in the barn is the same as the air outside. With required good ventilation (especially with higher temperatures - and ammonia vapour from the stalls can really damage the lining of the lung, much more damage than inhaling particles will do) there needs to be a high air turnover, so outside air is inside air. That means there is no advantage to keeping horses in 24-hours. Being outside in early morning, when temperatures are relatively low and do not trigger a higher respiration frequency, being outside has one GREAT advantage: the horse’s head is down while grazing, and mucus and debris can easily be moved from deeper airways to the trachea and out. This will not happen that way when locked in the barn. The mucociliary clearing (little whip hairs that move mucus from deeper airways to the trachea) is the best defense mechanism the horse has against small, inhaled particles, and we take that partly away by keeping them inside. When they are inside, feed hay from the ground for that reason!
Second point is that when horses are in the barn only, some small parts of the lung will no longer be used in breathing, and smoke particles can get lodged in into those lung parts, giving a breeding ground for infection later (it can cause pneumonia!). When the horse is walking for 10-15 minutes at east, those lung parts stay open, ventilated and with adequate blood flow, which again is a big part in the defense mechanism for the horse’s airways. Take them out for a walk in the morning or do some walking exercises in the arena to keep your horse’s lungs healthier!

Research has shown that ANY particles in the lungs of the horse in the healthy horse are removed within 24 to maximum 48 hours. There is NO need to wait 3 to 4 weeks after the smoke has cleared before starting to work again. It is even detrimental, because normal function of the lungs is limited when at stall rest (while most barns are not “clean”, often many dust and even fungus particles load the airways more than when they are outside or at work).

The mistake that is made here is that the longer period of 3 to 4 weeks is when the horse has been exposed to fire with smoke. Hot air from a fire will damage lungs much more than inhaling just some particles, and that is where the confusion stems from.

Only when your horse has a pre-existing long problem (allergies, COPD) then it may take much longer to clear the airways.

When starting to work again you should pay attention to your horse, when it is breathing faster or shallower, or has some mild exudate in the nose or does cough a bit, then take it easy and reduce workload. Being outside in the morning is still encouraged!

We hope to have explained some of the misunderstandings and misinformation that is out there by a specialist in the field with large scientific credentials to keep us all doing the best for our horses and let’s hope we can return to a more normal situation soon.