I encompass a range of therapies under equine bodywork: Mctimoney Corley Spinal Therapy, Sports Massage Therapy, Myofascial Release Therapy, Craniosacral Therapy and Stretching. I believe with these various therapies I have at my disposal various techniques, thus enabling me to treat a variety of symptoms when I go to treat a horse or pony.

Mctimoney Corley Spinal Therapy
McTimoney-Corley Spinal Therapy is a method of restoring health by gentle corrective manipulation of the bones of the head, spinal column, pelvis and limbs, thereby ensuring the proper functioning of the nerves and endocrine systems which control the natural self-healing capability of the body.

Whilst some other manipulation techniques rely on fierce, (or invasive), long-lever adjustments to correct bone misalignments, McTimoney-Corley Spinal Therapy works with the body, not against it. Treatment of the whole skeleton each time means that any misaligned bones are not forced back into place, but are coaxed gently into re-alignment by manipulative adjustments that encourage soft tissue release.

It is important to realise that McTimoney-Corley Spinal Therapy does not just relieve pain, but it can, and often does, remove the cause of other disease. No cell or organ of the body can function properly without its correct supply of nerve impulses.

McTimoney-Corley Spinal Therapists are trained to assess bone misalignments by using their hands, and to correct any of these subluxations with highly refined yet extremely gentle manipulations. Remedial exercises will be recommended and advice will always be given to help avoid a recurrence of the problem. The whole body is usually treated during each session, because a problem in one part of the body can lead to problems in other areas. Hence our motto, 'The Whole Body Whole'.

McTimoney-Corley Spinal Therapy, when used regularly, can also be used as a preventative therapy.

Massage Therapy
The prime purpose of sports massage therapy is to help alleviate the stress and tension which builds up in the body’s soft tissues during physical activity. Where minor injuries and lesions occur, due to overexertion and/or overuse, massage can break them down quickly and effectively. Above all, it can help prevent those niggling injuries that so often get in the way of performance and achievement.

This treatment is not just for the sports horses: any horse can benefit from sports massage, (occupational, emotional and postural stress may produce many similar characteristics to sports injuries).

Sports massage tends to be deeper and more intense. It is based on the various elements of Swedish massage and often incorporates a combination of other techniques involving stretching, compression, friction, toning, and trigger point response techniques. The skilled therapist brings together this blend of techniques, knowledge and advice during treatment, to work effectively with the client to bring about optimum performance and to provide injury-free training and minimise post event injuries.

Myofascial Release Therapy
Myofascial Release is a very effective hands-on technique that provides sustained pressure into myofascial restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion. The theory of Myofascial Release requires an understanding of the fascial system (or connective tissue). The fascia is a specialized system of the body that has an appearance similar to a spider's web or a sweater.

Fascia is very densely woven, covering and interpenetrating every muscle, bone, nerve, artery and vein as well as all of our internal organs including the heart, lungs, brain and spinal cord. The most interesting aspect of the fascial system is that it is not just a system of separate coverings. It is actually one structure that exists from head to foot without interruption. In this way you can begin to see that each part of the entire body is connected to every other part by the fascia, like the yarn in a sweater.

Fascia also plays an important role in the support of our horses bodies, since it surrounds and attaches to all structures. These structures would not be able to provide the stability without the constant pull of the fascial system. In fact, our horses bones can be thought of as tent poles, which cannot support the structure without the constant support of the guide wires (or fascia) to keep an adequate amount of tension to allow the tent (or body) to remain upright with proper equilibrium.

In the normal healthy state, the fascia is relaxed and wavy in configuration. It has the ability to stretch and move without restriction. When your horse experiences physical trauma, scarring, or inflammation, however, the fascia loses its pliability. It becomes tight, restricted and a source of tension to the rest of the body. Trauma, such as a fall, whiplash, surgery or just habitual poor posture over time and repetitive stress injuries has a cumulative effects. The changes they cause in the fascial system influence comfort and the functioning of the horses body. The fascia can exert excessive pressure producing pain or restriction of motion. They affect flexibility and stability, and are a determining factor in the ability to withstand stress and strain.

Cranial Sacral Therapy
CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a light touch therapy pioneered by Osteopathic Physician, Dr. John Upledger. This therapy works with the rhythm and flow of the CerebroSpinal Fluid (CSF) that bathes your horses spinal nerves and your horses brain all contained within the dural membranes. It is these structures that make up the CranioSacral System. The subtle rhythm and flow of the CSF in the dural membranes can be felt throughout your horses entire body. By working with this rhythm and flow, the therapist can release restrictions within these membranes which improves the function of the CranioSacral System. These restrictions can be formed from stress and trauma to the body. The benefits of improved flow of the CSF includes increased sense of well being and an increased energy level.  CranioSacral Therapy is a perfect way to increase our horses body's natural healing process.

Reiki
Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy. The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words - Rei which means "God's Wisdom or the Higher Power" and Ki which is "life force energy". So Reiki is actually "spiritually guided life force energy." A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing. Many have reported miraculous results. Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use. It has been effective in helping virtually every known illness and malady and always creates a beneficial effect. It also works in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery. An amazingly simple technique to learn, the ability to use Reiki is not taught in the usual sense, but is transferred to the student during a Reiki class. This ability is passed on during an "attunement" given by a Reiki master and allows the student to tap into an unlimited supply of "life force energy" to improve one's health and enhance the quality of life. Its use is not dependent on one's intellectual capacity or spiritual development and therefore is available to everyone. It has been successfully taught to thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds. While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion. It has no dogma, and there is nothing you must believe in order to learn and use Reiki. In fact, Reiki is not dependent on belief at all and will work whether you believe in it or not. Because Reiki comes from God, many people find that using Reiki puts them more in touch with the experience of their religion rather than having only an intellectual concept of it. While Reiki is not a religion, it is still important to live and act in a way that promotes harmony with others. Dr. Mikao Usui, the founder of the Reiki system of natural healing, recommended that one practice certain simple ethical ideals to promote peace and harmony, which are nearly universal across all cultures.

During a meditation several years after developing Reiki, Dr. Usui decided to add the Reiki Ideals to the practice of Reiki. The Ideals came in part from the five prinicples of the Meiji emperor of Japan whom Dr. Usui admired. The Ideals were developed to add spiritual balance to Usui Reiki. Their purpose is to help people realize that healing the spirit by consciously deciding to improve oneself is a necessary part of the Reiki healing experience. In order for the Reiki healing energies to have lasting results, the client must accept responsibility for her or his healing and take an active part in it. Therefore, the Usui system of Reiki is more than the use of the Reiki energy. It must also include an active commitment to improve oneself in order for it to be a complete system. The ideals are both guidelines for living a gracious life and virtues worthy of practice for their inherent value.