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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. For more information about our continuing education short courses for equine professionals and owners courses, please check out https://inhandequinetherapy.podia.com Follow along with our social media sites on FB and instagram under @inhandequinetherapy. #opentheconversation

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. For more information on Shaun, check out her Instagram @ryd_2_win or visit the Bar None Ranches Website at https://barnoneranches.com/ 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. For more information about our continuing education short courses for equine professionals and owners courses, please check out https://inhandequinetherapy.podia.com Follow along with our social media sites on FB and instagram under @inhandequinetherapy. 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 #opentheconversation

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. For more information on Crystal and Carousel Stables, check out their website at https://www.carouselstablescalgary.com/ 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. For more information about our continuing education short courses for equine professionals and owners courses, please check out https://inhandequinetherapy.podia.com Follow along with our social media sites on FB and instagram under @inhandequinetherapy. #opentheconversation

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 tyler.albrecht.horses@gmail.com 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. For more information about our continuing education short courses for equine professionals and owners courses, please check out https://inhandequinetherapy.podia.com Follow along with our social media sites on FB and instagram under @inhandequinetherapy. 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 #opentheconversation

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. For more information on Equicrown products, Donna and the many other Strathcona Venture sales and services, check out their social media on Facebook under Strathcona Ventures, or Instagram @strathcona.ventures, along with their website at strathconaventures.com You can also reach them by email at info@strathconaventures.com, or by phone at 780-464-0485. 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. For more information about our continuing education short courses for equine professionals and owners courses, please check out https://inhandequinetherapy.podia.com Follow along with our social media sites on FB and instagram under @inhandequinetherapy. #opentheconversation

Mention Chuckwagon Racing and it is bound to get the heart pumping!! This is a fast paced, exhilarating discipline that marries the traditions of our western heritage with todays sport performance horses. It has many fans and loyal supporters that follow the wagons around the circuit of Western Canada throughout the spring and summer. The last two years have been difficult for the wagon families, as it has been for many of us, but with families to support and dozens of horses on top of all that, it has been awesome to see them able to start racing again this summer! With so many horses that go down the road with them, they require extensive care. It was great to be able to sit down with two individuals who work diligently on every aspect of their programs. From conditioning, to feed, to herd management, to pre and post care routines and more, Chad and Caitlin opened their doors to us as we sat down to talk all things Chuckwagons. Chad and Caitlin Fike of Chad Fike Chuckwagon Racing, have been living this life since they were born. Both raised in the industry, Chad as a 4th generation chuckwagon family and Caitlin as a daughter of a racehorse trainer, they take it all to heart. This is a family affair and requires everyone to pitch in to make it all happen. For more information on Chad Fike Chuckwagon Racing, check out their social media on Facebook under the same handle, or Instagram @cfikechuckwagon. Interested in learning more about the sport, want to listen to the races live or want to know how you can be a part of it through sponsorship? Check out the WPCA official website at https://wpca.com/ You can listen to more podcasts dedicated specifically to chuckwagons at: Outside The Wagon, Woman of the Wagons and After the Ninth (https://www.aftertheninth.com/podcast-2). 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. For more information about our continuing education short courses for equine professionals and owners courses, please check out https://inhandequinetherapy.podia.com Follow along with our social media sites on FB and instagram under @inhandequinetherapy. #opentheconversation

We started our discussion on acupressure with Jesse McCowan of Birch Animal Wellness and Tallgrass Canada in episode #5 on March 10 of this year. Today we are going to look specifically at the use of acupressure to help our horses transition from Spring to Summer season. Transitions are something we all experience, a process or period of changing from one state or condition to another. The transitions from one season to season can be especially difficult for a horse when they grow or shed their coats, have hormonal influx or depletion, gain or loose weight, and more. All of that within their own bodies, let alone the transitions happening around them with environment and herd mates. So it’s no wonder that these transition times are often more stressful on them. Today we will discuss transitions from spring to summer as we near the summer equinox here in the northern hemisphere. We have Jesse McCowan joining us again as well as Carol Yates, certified in acupressure for equines by the Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute who works here in southern Alberta. Additionally they have given the bonus of a chart of reference for points you can use with your own horses. This will be posted on our social media sites as well as our YouTube channel. For more information on Jesse, check out her website: https://www.birchanimalwellness.com as well as https://www.tallgrasscanada.com or by email at birchanimalwellness@gmail.com To connect with Carol, please email her at carolayates50@gmail.com 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. For more information about our continuing education short courses for equine professionals and owners courses, please check out https://inhandequinetherapy.podia.com Follow along with our social media sites on FB and instagram under @inhandequinetherapy. #opentheconversation

PEMF or Pulsed Electronic Magnetic Therapy, is a relatively new modality, with the majority of the studies being done in the last 20+ years. It has been talked about more so recently in conjunction with equine therapies as there are now so many various types of equipment and individuals utilizing it. Like many tools, it can be a beneficial addition to a bodyworkers kit when applied properly and knowledgeably. In today’s episode, we’re talking with Cassidy Barnert EST, BSc Kinesiology of Evolution Equi-SportTherapy. Cassidy has been utilizing PEMF in her bodywork sessions for the past few years and has recently joined the InHand Equine Therapy team as one the professional bodyworkers.  As an avid horsewoman, rancher and university athlete herself, it was the searching for answers and subsequent use of PEMF on herself and her horses that made Cassidy want to pursue this modality for her own business. For more information on Cassidy, check out her website: http://evolutiontherapy.ca/index.html and like and follow her on Facebook and instagram under @evolution equi-sport therapy. 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. For more information about our continuing education short courses for equine professionals and owners courses, please check out https://inhandequinetherapy.podia.com Follow along with our social media sites on FB and instagram under @inhandequinetherapy. #opentheconversation

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. Our next guests are Alex and Holly Grayton. Alex is a professional trainer and Holly, his wife, a competitor as well in the sport of show jumping. Jumping is a natural movement for horses, and they are well suited for clearing obstacles with their power and speed. In combination with a rider, horses have been going over objects for centuries to simply get from one point to another, by way of sport (hunting and following prey over fence lines), and through wars. Show Jumping became more popular in an arena setting for spectators, as opposed to watching the cross country events of steeplechasing and eventing through the country side. It’s history dates back to the late 1800’s and it’s a sport that is judged not only on the horse and riders ability to get around the course without knocking a jump, but also factors in time, on how quickly and effectively the course is completed. It is one of the oldest equestrian sports with it first appearing in the Olympic Games in 1900. Alex has mentored and trained with some of the industries top trainers such as Ian Millar, Emile and Paul Hendrix, Kyle King, George Morris and more. He has developed, shown and trained horses for FEI, International and Grand Prix competitions. Holly, an avid competitor herself, shows at top level in FEI and Grand Prix rings. They operate Grayton Farms from Calgary, AB with their training and sales program. Holly also runs GraytDesigns which offers private photography at show, portrait and studio shoots, print media and website design. For more information on Alex’s program, check out the website: https://www.alexandergrayton.com/ or through Facebook @Grayton Farms Ltd or Instagram @grayton_farms. For more information on GraytDesign, check out https://www.graytdesigns.com/ 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. For more information about our continuing education short courses for equine professionals and owners courses, please check out https://inhandequinetherapy.podia.com Follow along with our social media sites on FB and instagram under @inhandequinetherapy. 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 #opentheconversation

We see it often, a horse that is sore, lame or simply just “off”. Recovery is often dependent on so many factors including the individual itself (age, temperament and severity of injury), environment they can recover in (large or small, controlled or just turned out?), time commitment of caregiver (are they around 24/7 or only can deal with it once a day?) and use of a team approach (including the vet, farrier and bodyworker). Sometimes not matter how well the recovery seemingly goes, underlying compensation patterns could remain. Many more factors can be in play as well but the general idea is that when a horse becomes sore and requires attention to help it heal, we are not only looking at it from this initial injury but also at preventing future injuries due to improper healing, or from overuse of other tissue from compensation that weakens other areas. So that little trip they had a month ago, you guessed it, might be the culprit of your torn ligament today! In our episode today we chat with one of Alberta’s best lameness and sport medicine veterinarians, Dr Chad Hewlett of Energy Equine. Dr Hewlett has been in practice for over two decades, specializing in equine locomotion. So we sat down with Dr Hewlett to talk all about equine locomotion pathologies. For more information on Dr Hewlett, check out the website: https://www.energyequine.ca/ and like and follow them on Facebook and instagram under @energyequine. They also have a YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5T1JGiRjDDUbIAVX4M0NpA Interested in joining us for the upcoming short course on locomotion pathology with Dr Hewlett? Friday May 21st from 7-9pm MST which will be available recorded as well to re-watch at your leisure. Sign up here: https://inhandequinetherapy.podia.com/short-course-locomotion-pathology-with-dr-chad-hewlett 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. For more information about our continuing education short courses for equine professionals and owners courses, please check out https://inhandequinetherapy.podia.com Follow along with our social media sites on FB and instagram under @inhandequinetherapy. #opentheconversation

In the world of health, there can often be more than one way to approach a problem. Always looking at it from a team approach, but many modalities exist to help form individual health plans. In today’s episode we are going to look into one such modality that has been around for millennium, but which has only recently been formally studied and given a name; Zoopharmacognosy (an animals ability to self select elements to help itself heal). We will be talking with one of the few individuals trained in this, and hopping across the Atlantic to do so. Our guest today is Carly Hillier of Whitethorn Equine Health Ltd of Sligo, Ireland. Carly has been studying Equine Science for decades and became involved with Zoopharmacognosy when she had a difficult case of reoccurring colic in one of her own horses. The results she witnessed were astounding and it has driven her to continually want to find out more and share this knowledge with others. For more information on Carly, check out the website: https://www.whitethornequinehealth.com/ and like and follow her on Facebook and instagram under @whitethornequinehealth. Her retail website is: https://www.whitethornherbals.com/ 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. For more information about our continuing education short courses for equine professionals and owners courses, please check out https://inhandequinetherapy.podia.com Follow along with our social media sites on FB and instagram under @inhandequinetherapy. #opentheconversation

Chiropractics.  Always a word that will evoke a lot of discussion when you talk about it in the equine world, especially the Equine Bodywork world. We tackled this topic last year with Dr Sarah Pedersen as well and had a phenomenal interview with her, talking about what the legalities of using this modality are and why it is so important to ensure you have a qualified, insured and certified (by a governing body) practitioner who is laying hands on your equine partners. There are two types of practitioners that are qualified under the guidelines of the veterinary association here and around the world (be sure to check your local veterinary acts to know what is allowed in your area). All under the guidance of their respective veterinary boards, Veterinarians or Doctors of Human Chiropractics, both of whom have taken specialized training and further education on top of their degrees, to work on animals. Today we are talking to one such Doctor of Chiropractics, Dr Blaine Bugg, to get his perspective on chiropractics. Dr Bugg has a unique practice here in central Alberta working on both equine athletes and equestrians. He has worked as treating chiropractor for the Calgary Flames hockey team, the University of Calgary rowing team and the Canadian Pro Rodeo Sports Medicine team, of which he is now serving as president. Have a listen as Dr Bugg talks us through the interplay between horse and rider biomechanics. For more information on Dr Bugg, check out the website: https://www.calgary.spine.ca/ or give them a call at 403.270.7001 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. For more information about our continuing education short courses for equine professionals and owners courses, please check out https://inhandequinetherapy.podia.com Follow along with our social media sites on FB and instagram under @inhandequinetherapy. 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 #opentheconversation