Frequently Asked Questions
Rachel doing cranial work on an endurance horse.
Photo courtesy of Sierra Westlake.
Rachel sees each horse as a complete individual, and focuses on their needs that need to be met that day. Using varying modalities of body work to help your horse find their perfect balance.
3 years of body work, ground work, focus on biomechanics during riding for myself and my horse, proper nutrition, and time to be a horse. Produced a more balanced horse physically and mentally.
Top photo (2017), Bottom (2019)
-Rachel Ashworth-Hernandez
What is Body Work?
Equine Body work is a therapeutic method of manipulating the different systems of the equines body to promote general health and overall well being. Using an array of different modalities.
Why should my horse receive body work?
Horses are just like us and suffer from aches and pains. Often times these aches and pain come out as misbehavior or “poor attitude”. Keeping your horse mobile helps keep them comfortable and allows your horse to perform their job to the best of the their abilities.
What should I expect from my appointment.
If it is your first appointment, it will be about two hours and follow up appointments will take about an 1 hour to an hour and a half. Rachel needs a flat space with some room to move. Usually stalls or arenas work great. The most important piece is that the horse is comfortable in the space provided. Rachel will examine your whole horse and work with with your a horse holistically. After the appointment you will receive some homework to help support your horse after the appointment.
Can you Help My Lame Horse?
Yes and no. You should always call your vet at any sign of lameness or if you have questions if your horse is sound or not.
I view body work as more as preventive care. Making sure all joints are mobile in the body is what allows for healthy blood and nerve flow.
I can help make a horse more comfortable and by balancing their nervous system out by bringing them into a more parasympathetic state(rest and digest).
What makes Rachel different from other body workers.
Having just one tool to get a job done doesn’t get the whole job done. What makes Rachel different from other body workers is that she can mobilize a structural joint, as well release soft tissue around the joint. Allowing for more overall mobility. Rachel loves to keep learning and expanding her tool box so she can provide that best body work for horses.