Your questions answered

Structural Integration is a unique type of bodywork that releases restriction in the connective tissue, or fascia, that locks a body into a dysfunctional or compensatory posture that restricts movement, and/or stresses and degenerates tissue.

The goal is to balance and harmonize how the body works as a whole, rather than "fixing" any one part. It a process that aims to improve the body's relationship with gravity and is performed in a series of sessions that build on each previous session allowing for deeper work and more lasting results.

Because SI addresses the root issue of movement dysfunction, a horse’s postural alignment, it is a tremendous benefit to addressing lateral dominance and crookedness in your horse.

An Equine Bodyworker is someone who works with horses using their hands or other tools to release physical tension and/or pain in the horse’s body. Aligned Spirithorse uses a variety of holistic modalities tailored to the horse, including Structural Integration, massage, Masterson Method, acupressure, and energy work. All bodywork can be beneficial, but certain modalities may have a greater, positive impact depending on your horse and his circumstances.

All horses can benefit from bodywork, including all breeds, ages, and disciplines, including retired and pasture horses. Some common issues bodywork helps with are: straightness, short stridedness, lead changes, bending or bracing, ease in movement, suppleness, anxiety and other behavioral issues, and a relaxed state of mind.

Sessions generally run 75-90 minutes and begins with a thorough movement analysis and whole body palpation developed by Dr. Kerry Ridgway as an assesment protocol for his point system related to fascial patterning — an effective, objective measure to gauge reactivity and restriction. You may be asked to walk or trot your horse on a straight line before the hands-on work begins to assess the unique movement pattern or your horse as it relates to tension or restriction.

In each session, the practitioner uses her hands to work the layers of connective tissue to both elongate the fascia and create movement in key junctions in the horse’s body. Every horse is different, and so are their needs, and each session will be different to meet them where they are in that moment. Detailed session notes are compiled and shared with the client.

Straightness is important for a horse's development because it allows for proper body function and reduces stress on the horse's body. A horse that is not straight may have a stiff side and a hollow side, which can lead to greater problems. Since horses don't naturally carry their weight evenly across all four limbs, if a horse's crookedness isn't addressed, it can lead to one-sided injuries. Some signs that a horse may be crooked include:

- Bending more easily to one side

- Pushing in or out with the shoulders

- Tracking in or out with the hindquarters

- Moving laterally to one side more easily

No, massage focuses on relaxing muscles, increasing circulation, and clearing toxins. Uniquely, Structural Integration focuses on lengthening the connective tissue, or fascia, the fabric that will lock a body into a dysfunctional posture and pull muscles and bones out of alignment in the first place. It works very well with, and at times can replace other modalities.

Structural Integration can benefit all breeds of horses in any discipline, from pasture companion, trail or pleasure horse, to the top competitor either working or retired. Every horse has a pattern of restriction that can be improved or changed. This work can also be beneficial as part of a rehab program.

SI addresses the issue of laterality, innate in each and every horse, and beneficial to all horses since all horses suffer from lateral dominance.

To best set your horse up for success, and everyone involved, please have your horse tied in a quiet location or in a stall, free from distractions. Remove feed from the area, it detracts the horse’s ability to connect with the work. If you are riding or working your horse, allow at least 30 minutes for him to cool down before the session begins. His coat should be dry and brushed so that he is not muddy and his feet picked.

After a session, it’s best to give your horse an opportunity for turn out, or 5-10 minutes of hand walking, and the rest of the day off from work to process the work through his nervous system.

Not at all. Bodywork serves as a benefit to relax and release tension to help our horses to maintain suppleness, recover from work quickly, minimize the potential for injury, and improve their state of mind.

Structural Integration can be complementary for injured horses to accelerate healing and assist in their recovery. It can be a tremendous benefit for horses on stall rest to ease their state of mind. Generally, it is best to wait if there is an acute injury or a seeping type wound. In all cases of injury, confirm with your veterinarian prior to booking.

Equine Bodywork can be complementary for injured horses to accelerate healing and assist in their recovery. It can be a tremendous benefit for horses on stall rest to ease their state of mind. Generally, it is best to wait if there is an acute injury or a seeping type wound. In all cases of injury, confirm with your veterinarian prior to booking.

The process of releasing tension from your horse’s system can be a little like peeling the layers of an onion. In the beginning it may best serve your horse to be seen every 1-2 weeks, and as time goes on to put more time between sessions for your horse to integrate the changes. Some horses, however, because of the nature of their work or due to chronic issues may require bodywork more frequently ongoing. It all depends on what works best for you and your horse in your unique situation.

Many times imbalances come from deep holding pattterns and restrictions that cannot be resolved in a single session. A single session will certainly help, and the practitioner would be happy to do a single session particularly where an owner would prefer to see how the horse responds prior to committing to a series, but bear in mind the work is designed as a series to realize the full benefit.

Even after the first session, as superficial tension patterns clear, changes can be seen. The work is progressive so that the compensations are resolved as the horse integrates new postural alignment.

Aligned Spirithorse currently serves the Southern Oregon area (Ashland, Talent, Medford, Central Point). If you are out of the service area, please send us a message to discuss. We would love to figure out a way to work with you and support you and your horse. <3