EQUINE SOMA MOVES

Horses assume habitual postures due to repetitive movements, injuries, surgery and emotional stress. This may result in chronically contracted muscles which can lead to imbalances in posture and movement patterns which restrict flexibility and limit the range of motion in joints. While bodywork techniques may provide relief to the musculoskeletal system the body tends to revert to movement patterns that are familiar and habitual.

After an injury a horse will adopt compensatory patterns in order to move around pain. Moving around the problem further contributes to poor posture, restricted movement and muscular tension. After rehabilitation the horse will, out of habit, continue to use the compensatory patterns pulling the body back into dysfunction, encouraging bracing and poor alignment.

Equine Soma Moves uses techniques of lifting, sliding, rocking and circling, guiding horses through a series of slow and gentle movements. These non-habitual hands on movements provide kinaesthetic information to the horse’s nervous system in a non-threatening manner thus helping the nervous system to change inefficient movement patterns, restoring balance to horse’s musculature, improving posture and emotional wellbeing.
 

"Walk like a cat
pull invisible strings
move like a river
stop like a mountain."

~ Anonymous