In Flow Equine Therapy

14/10/2026

Less is more 🥰

24/09/2026

Some wise words here and well worth the read. Two take homes for me are:
There is a big difference between unsound and non functional
And if we put the energy of “broken” into a horse, they don’t seem to recover. What are we projecting onto the horses 🐎

If you’re looking for broken, you will find it —

With the rise in awareness of physical problems, everything has a diagnosis and a label. In many ways, this is a huge benefit to the horse: we care how they feel now, we want their health and happiness, and we are much less willing to push them physically into what is not right for them.

But —-

If you want to find something wrong, you will turn up that and plenty more.

There is a big difference between unsound and non functional, and having a thing or two -

And if we put the energy of “broken” into a horse, they don’t seem to recover.

I’ve rehabbed many, many horses - horrible x rays, diagnosis, you name it. I can think of only a few who weren’t going to be ok. One of them was my own beloved horse that I did everything I knew how to do for - that is simply the case for some, no matter how sad that is.

But many are going to be just fine, if you can stop thinking of them as broken, and think instead of them stuck in a dysfunctional trap. You can’t get them out of that by babying every lame or timid step, I’m afraid. My own personal horses save for a few are all examples of sound, very functional horses many who were on death row when I got them.

I remember riding a horse for a client to show they were sound - when she insisted the X rays should prove lameness. The X rays showed arthritis, who doesn’t have that? She said, in the end, “you’re just such a good rider that you can ride him through that” and I thought - what other point of riding is there?

I am by no means the greatest rider,  but horses are important enough to me that I have studied the art long enough to help some horses.

If I had an x-ray of every joint in my body, and could know every genetic condition I may or may not have, I would be laying in a bed- but I am pretty active and work on my own health and so I feel great

Not everything is broken. It is not all doom and gloom out there. Hope lies in better riding, stretching your comfort zone, believing a little in your own ability, and not backing off or panicking and retiring the horse every time they wobble or bobble-

 some are not going to make it. Some will not be well and we should take that seriously
-
but many more can.

Strength, alignment, mobility exercises - I have come to love ridng imany horses considered too lame to ride thanks to these very simple, very accessible and inexpensive tools.

Don’t panic. Ride in rhythm.

24/09/2026

The Bladder meridian 🥰

21/09/2026

Certified Masterson Method Practitioner now available for Equine body work sessions in your area. If you want to find out more check out my website www.inflowequinetherapy.co.nz or PM me for more information.

16/09/2026

Yess!!

16/09/2026

Yes!!!!

Is it a “quirk”…or is it really dysfunction?

I’ve probably talked about this before, but it’s come up a lot with clients lately so I felt the need to ring the bell again.

Everyone, myself included, has bought into the idea at some time or another that a horse who presents various behaviors that we deem unsavory is just their “personality”.

A lot of people have “ruled out pain”, and I’m going to say this with love in my heart, but by what means can we really rule that out in horses?

Most exams done to rule out pain are flexions, some palpations, inject whatever joints, treat for ulcers and if that doesn’t make the behavior go away, well, then, your horse is just a dick.
A lack of classic skeletal pain does equal a comfortable, optimally functional horse.

It’s been a frequent conversation recently, but a horse I went to see for a follow-up visit yesterday really brought it home.

A big, lovely thoroughbred gelding who really struggled during his first session a few months ago.
His person reported during that session that he’d always hated being groomed or touched, offering to bite and kick to the point where she would dread dealing with him at all, though he was always a gentleman in the saddle.

Every previous owner this horse has had (which has been at least 5 at this point) that she’s been in contact with has reported the same behaviors, so the consensus was that it was just “him”. He’d been living on previcox, but otherwise was told that it was strictly a behavioral problem and to take a whip in with her when she’d groom him.

When I came to see him the first time, I experienced the same behaviors as everyone else seemed to have.
I backed off until he could find it acceptable and he felt unfortunately like so many other thoroughbreds I’ve put my hands on—neurotoxic and “buzzy”.
He wanted to just jump out of his skin and I didn’t blame him.
We did what we could, and put him on some really excellent herbs in the meantime to help his body recover from years of living in this buzzy state.

The horse I came to see yesterday was different entirely.
I could actually feel his body, not the shell of gunk surrounding it.
He never pinned his ears, offered to bite or kick. He was 100% pleasant, 100% of the time.

The best part? Since his first session and the herbs that followed, his person had been able to groom him, pet him, scratch him, and he’s actually enjoyed it.
Instead of kicking out and biting, he’s leaning in.
She was stunned.
She’d been told for years that his fierce defensiveness was just who he was.
Now she’s finding out that his behavior was actually a reflection of how he was feeling for so long.

He’s one of so many in the same damn boat.

My working theory that the horses continue to prove is accurate is that “quirks” are nearly always man-made, sometimes learned behaviors and/or anticipation is part of it, but so often they’re really indicators of some kind of dysfunction and broken down coping mechanisms.
There is always a reason behind the behavior, whether it is diagnosable and treatable or not.

Somewhere between loving and accepting our horses as they are and asking deeper questions, that’s where the magic lies.

Pictured below is not the thoroughbred in this story, but a sweet standardbred named Dollar.💛

10/09/2026

Im traveling up to Dunedin tomorrow Friday 11th Sep from Balclutha and have an afternoon spot available for a Masterson Method Equine Bodywork Session. PM if your interested 🐎