Equine Bodytalks

Allergies…. A seasonal irritation for some and a constant worry for others. Allergies can present a major health challenge for our animals and ourselves. When they become severe, it can be critical to get medical intervention quickly. As humans, we can vocalize our discomforts and evaluate what factors may have been at play to cause our bodies to go into a histamine response. For our animals however, its’ not that easy to determine when they start to feel unwell and then trace it back to what factor is at play. Anyone who’s dealt with allergies in their animals can attest to how difficult a journey it can become!

Today we chat with Calee Dufva. Calee is a long time InHand client who has run the gauntlet when it comes to allergies with her basset hound Mookie. We sit down with Calee (and Mookie) to hear how she was able to work through his health challenges and bring him to a healthy life.

Our goal with this podcast is to continually open the conversation around equine wellness and bodywork. It is through open conversation that we can grow this industry with knowledge and understanding of our equine partners. Ever evolving along with tried and true methods of horse husbandry, it’s by learning from one another that we will elevate the care of these amazing animals and partners.

So don’t be afraid to connect through social media, both Facebook and Instagram @equinebodytalks

My co-host, Tina Watkins EST, EEBW3, is the founder of InHand Equine Therapy which strives to improve the lives of horses through equine bodywork. She also has over a decade of experience teaching other bodyworkers and offers both mentorship and continuing education for professionals and owners alike.

As a bodyworker, we can see a variety of horses in any given day and we likely have worked on horses from many disciplines. However, it isn’t uncommon to get in involved with having more clients based in a certain discipline. Whether that be because it’s the discipline we ourselves compete in, or because it’s the barns we’ve been working in predominantly that have a specific focus.

Whatever it may be, we thought it would be fun to chat with individuals from a variety of different equine sports to discuss the ins and outs of their discipline as well as talk about what specifics we might find as bodyworkers in the horses that perform there.

Today our focus is on Barrel Racing. Fast is an understatement when most races are won in under twenty seconds with mili-seconds between contestant times!! A discipline that on the outside seems simple enough, but when you add in all the elements required, one sees how in-depth and technical it truly is.

Today we sit down with Shaun Rathy, manager for the rehab and breeding operations of one of Alberta’s premier facilities, the Bar None Ranch. Shaun has been involved with horses the majority of her life, she started out in the hunter/jumper world before switching to Barrel Racing. Her training and conditioning program is superb so it was fabulous to sit down with her and find out the inner workings of this sport.

Often when we talk about riding for straightness, the image of a horse, collected and engaged, going in a straight line down the long side of the arena comes to mind. But how do you achieve straightness in the corners? Or out in the field? And why is it important to work on straightness in our horses? How do we as bodyworkers, help riders achieve success here?

Today we chat with Crystal Kroetch of Carousel Stables. Crystal is a master at the art of achieving straightness in horses and has worked with and rode in a variety of disciplines from ranch work to FEI level dressage. She is also a PanAm silver medalist in dressage.

Todays guests are Tyler and Kayleigh Albrecht of Albrecht Performance Horses. Tyler is a professional trainer and Kayleigh, a non-pro in the western performance discipline of Working Cow Horse.

One of the most exhilarating western sports to watch, working cow horse competitions showcase an incredibly athletic horse, versed in multiple events, all combined into one sport. With roots going back centuries to the vaqueros of Mexico working cattle on large tracks of land primarily in the state of California, it is an event that thinks about the development of a horse through the various stages of growth. A finished bridle horse is one with extraordinary talent.

While Tyler started his own business only about a decade ago, he has been involved in the industry since he was a youngster, with his family showing reining horses, and has worked with some of Alberta’s top trainers, including a mentorship with Doug Reinhardt. Kayleigh as well has worked for a number of cutting horse trainers including Brad Pedersen. Together they operate Albrecht Performance Horses just outside of Trochu, Alberta.

For more information on Tyler’s program, check out their Facebook @Tyler Albrecht Performance Horses or Instagram @albrecht.cowhorses. You can PM them through their social media accounts or reach Tyler at 403.443.0349 or by email at [email protected]

My co-host, Tina Watkins EST, EEBW3, is the founder of InHand Equine Therapy which strives to improve the lives of horses through equine bodywork. She also has over a decade of experience teaching other bodyworkers and offers both mentorship and continuing education for professionals and owners alike.

We have been bandaging and splinting horses limbs for years, in order to help heal an injury, to hopefully prevent one from occurring or to give support during stalling and shipping. But the technology of compression bandages took a turn for the better many years ago with the Equicrown products.

In todays episode, we talk with Donna von Hauff of Strathcona Ventures who is the technical specialist and distributor for Equicrown products here in Canada and many other parts of the world. Her knowledge on the uses for the products as well as when and where they are most appropriate, make her a valuable member of many equine wellness teams. Including those going to the Olympic level.