Mane and Tail

13/10/2026

Monday night out hacking something happened with Blue's left hind whilst trotting...I don't know if he trod on a stone or momentarily became unbalanced for some reason,but I immediately felt the twinge in his back and his discomfort so I got off and led him the rest of the way home. (Thank you to my very patient riding buddies .griffith.71 and Christine for keeping the slow walkers company on the way home x).

It was getting too dark for a proper assessment in the school when we got back, so I left it until Tues am to have a good look to see what was going on. It was clear that Blue was uncomfortable around the lumbar spine although not obviously lame. Palpation confirmed reactivity in that area.

So Tuesday evening we had a bodywork session to help relieve the muscular discomfort. He will have a quiet week this week and do some in-hand work to help him mobilise without carrying load, so long as he doesn't appear to be in pain.

I think its sometimes harder treating your own horse as the level of emotional attachment is so great. Don't misunderstand...every horse or pony I see for treatment will receive the same level of care and respect, I just think sometimes objectivity with our own horses can be harder.

What are your thoughts?

13/10/2026

Rugging and Muscle Tension

Now that some of our horses may be wearing rugs more of the time, its worth considering how that can affect their bodies in terms of muscle tension and restrictions to movement.

Even a well-fitting rug sits on a horse for up to 24 hours a day, adding constant weight and subtle restriction across delicate areas:

🔹 Withers & Trapezius: Downward pressure can lead to soreness and muscle tension along the thoracic spine.

🔹 Chest & Shoulders: Restricted forward extension can cause shortened strides and tight pectorals.

🔹 Topline Stiffness: Bracing against cold drafts or heavy layers often leaves the back muscles tight and reactive.

Quick Check: Does your horse flinch when you remove their rug, show rub marks, or feel stiffer than usual during warm-ups?

🙌How Massage Helps: Targeted soft tissue therapy releases restriction around pressure points, restores full range of shoulder motion, and keeps the topline supple all winter long.

12/10/2026

'View from a Massage'

It was a pleasure treating this senior lady (26 and doesn't look it!). She's had a few issues this year and has suspected arthritis in her neck, so treatment needed to be mindful of this and aimed to support areas that have been carrying extra tension as a result of some previous discomfort.

Regular massage is a great way of helping to relieve stiffness associated with older age conditions like arthritis and is also highly beneficial for stimulating healthy circulation and joint mobility in the colder, damper months when conditions affecting the joints often become more problematic.

09/10/2026

The time for wearing shorts and t-shirts seems to be coming quickly to a close😬

As we move into the cooler months how does this affect your horse or pony's body?

As the temperature drops, horses naturally carry more tension to stay warm, may spend more time standing in stables due to turnout restrictions, and move less overall.

Massage helps counteract this seasonal stiffness by:

🐴 Improving Circulation: Boosts blood flow to cold limbs and tight muscle tissue when turnout is reduced.

🐎 Easing Cold-Weather Stiffness: Helps keep joints flexible and relieves tension built up from shivering or cold drafts.

🐎Warm-Up Efficiency: Prepares muscles for ridden work so they warm up faster and with less risk of strain.

❄Book a pre-winter assessment to keep your horse supple throughout the cold months.

08/10/2026

I had a lovely quiet and connected session with Truffle today, using mixed massage techniques and Emmett technique.

One of the many reasons I love this work is because no two sessions are alike. Each horse or pony will need something different each time I see them and it is my job to do my best to understand what that is; to interpret what their bodies and behaviour are telling me.

It is a fascinating and wholesome place to be 🥰

06/10/2026

Team work and monitoring progress....

Seeing clients regularly and being part of a multidisciplinary team including vets, physiotherapists and farriers is important for me as an equine massage practitioner, as it is always interesting and part of my professional development as a therapist.

During the spring Oscar had been doing really well with his endurance rides and had started to experiment with some dressage to music, but sadly had a set back in June with a suspensory branch strain.

During his rehabilitation he has continued to have regular maintenance bodywork with me (with vet consent). His guardian has been totally committed to following his vets rehab advice and guidance, and it is really great to see him now rebuilding the muscle and fitness he lost during his initial recuperation and time off from exercise.

Providing massage and bodywork for horses and ponies isn't just about looking for issues to support, its about celebrating when things are going well and their bodies and minds are feeling good 😁🐎✨️

03/10/2026

Gotta love that big strong b***y 💪 🍑

01/10/2026

Equivet Mobile Horse Veterinary Services

This is the first lecture in a 3 part series giving a veterinary perspective on lameness in horses. Part 1 looks at Forelimb lameness. An overview of diagnosis and treatment of forelimb lameness and the issues associated with it.

https://iaat.org.uk/product/hopping-at-trot-investigating-equine-forelimb-lameness/

24/09/2026

A little reintroduction for new followers....

I'm Siarrad (Sid for short) and I've been running my animal care business Mane and Tail since 2014.

My working life has been quite diverse, something which I am quite proud of as I have always been involved in care and advocacy whatever path I've taken, and all of my experiences have shaped me into the person I am today.

In my 20's I worked for several years in Social Care supporting adults with learning difficulties in residential settings and in the community.

I then spent time working in Countryside Management alongside earning a BSc (Hons) 1st Class Honours in Ecology & Biography.

When I moved back to Hampshire from Sussex in 2012 I decided to go self-employed and work with my first love - animals.

My animal care business has grown, changed and evolved over time, and I've spent the past 5 years or so focusing on my training and education in moving towards working with horses full time.

I became fascinated and impassioned by bodywork when I saw how much it helped my mare and I've now gained qualifications as an Emmett Technique Practitioner, Professional Equine Massage Therapist, studied Equine Psychology, and I am committed to continual learning and development; I consider myself a lifelong student!

After a brief obsession with dinosaurs (don't we all?!), I became infactuated with horses aged around 4, and I now want to spend the rest of my working life living out that dream of helping horses every day through my Integrated Equine Therapy practice, supporting horses and ponies to feel as healthy and happy as possible.

I hope to have the pleasure of meeting and supporting you and your equine companions along your journey 🐴🙏✨️

24/09/2026

Exactly what was needed tonight!