Cumberland Equine Body Therapy and Services

31/08/2026

30/08/2026

September appointments for Equine Body Therapy, Equine CranioSacral Therapy and Kinesiology taping
Wednesday 2nd - Koroit area
Friday 4th - Warrnambool
Friday 11th - Warrnambool area
Saturday 12th - Hamilton area
Sunday 13th - Allansford area
Wednesday 16th - Hawkesdale to Killarney area
Friday 18th - Mortlake area
Saturday 19th - Colac area
Wednesday 23rd - Port Fairy to Tarrington area
Friday 25th - Warrnambool area
Dates are variable depending on demand and weather
I can be flexible, don’t hesitate to send me a message

28/08/2026

From anxious to at ease.
This is the power of craniosacral therapy.

By gently supporting the horse’s nervous system, we help release tension and restore balance — so they can feel calm, connected, and free.

26/08/2026

This 👇 Wholeheartedly agree! Complimentary therapies are so valuable, they do not replace veterinary care, good management and training but can have a very positive impact on your horse! (Not putting bones back “in”!)

HONEST CONVERSATIONS: DOES YOUR HORSE ACTUALLY NEED A MANUAL THERAPIST?

I saw a post recently arguing (and I mean, reaaaaally arguing) that horses don’t really need osteopaths, chiropractors, physios or manual therapists because most of what we do is temporary, palpation is unreliable, technique doesn’t really matter, and owners could potentially achieve the same effect through general tactile input such as grooming. I was surprised that the post didn’t go as far to say we also don’t need farriers, saddle fitters or vets.

In all honestly - I think there is a really important conversation buried underneath that post.

There are parts of that argument I agree with:

* I don’t believe vertebrae are routinely out and need ‘putting back in’.
* I don’t believe every firm area of tissue is automatically painful (if you read any of my posts, you’ll already know I yarp on about this).
* I don’t believe we can diagnose all pathology through our fingertips, or naked eye.
* I don’t believe manual therapy should replace veterinary investigation where required, appropriate loading, rehabilitation, training or good owner management.
* And I definitely don’t think a horse should need endlessly ‘fixing’ every few weeks because somebody has been told their pelvis, rib or vertebra has mysteriously popped out again (I also hear this one a lot).

Those are conversations our profession SHOULD be having.

But - and there is a but - there is a massive leap between saying:

‘Manual therapy has limitations’ and saying ‘a professional probably can’t identify anything meaningful through touch and your horse might get the same benefit from being brushed’.

Those are not the same thing.

Palpation is not supposed to work like an MRI scanner or an x-ray.

When I assess a horse, I’m not simply searching for one tight muscle and declaring that I’ve found the problem.

I’m looking at the whole picture, always.

* How does the horse stand?
* How do they load each limb?
* Is there asymmetrical muscle development?
* Is one area more guarded than another?
* What happens during movement?
* Does one side move differently?
* Is there altered tissue compliance?
* Is there heat, swelling or a change in muscle tone?
* How does the horse respond to pressure?
* Do the palpatory findings actually correlate with anything I have already observed?
And importantly:
* Does anything change when we intervene?

That doesn’t mean palpation is infallible - it isn’t.

There are genuine questions around reliability, particularly when practitioners use vague terms or poorly standardised methods.

But ‘palpation has limitations’ does not mean ‘palpation has no clinical value’.

Those are very different statements.

The same applies to manual therapy.

We used to hear a lot of very mechanical explanations:
“I released the knot.”
“I broke down the fascia.”
“I put the pelvis back in place.”
“I realigned their vertebra.”

Modern pain and rehabilitation science gives us a much more complicated picture.

Hands-on therapy may influence things such as sensory input, muscle activity, perception of stiffness, comfortable range of motion, guarding, autonomic state and pain modulation.

And yes… some of those effects may be temporary.

But, temporary does not automatically mean pointless.
* a warm-up is temporary.
* a pain-relieving intervention can be temporary.
* an improvement in range of motion can be temporary.

The important question is:
What do you do with that window?

If a horse temporarily feels more comfortable, moves with less guarding or gains a little more usable range of motion, that may create an opportunity to introduce better movement, appropriate loading and progressive rehabilitation.

That is very different from pretending the hands-on treatment permanently ‘fixed’ the horse.

This is where I think the value of a good musculoskeletal practitioner actually sits.

Not simply in the massage,
Not simply in the technique,
And certainly not in finding imaginary bones that need ‘putting back into place’.

The value should be in:
* ASSESSMENT.
* CLINICAL REASONING.
* REASSESSMENT.
* UNDERSTANDING COMPENSATION.
* IDENTIFYING CHANGES IN FUNCTION.
* KNOWING WHEN SOMETHING IS OUTSIDE OUR SCOPE.
* USING HANDS-ON WORK AS ONE PART OF A MUCH BIGGER PLAN.

I also struggle with the claim that technique doesn’t matter.

It may well be that some techniques, and even gadgets, have been previously outdated and marketed with mechanisms we can’t properly support.

That doesn’t mean all tactile input is interchangeable.

* Pressure matters.
* Speed matters.
* Duration matters.
* Positioning matters.
* The tissue you’re interacting with matters.
* The horse’s response matters.
* The context matters.

A gentle groom and a sustained manual intervention may both provide sensory input - that does not automatically make them equivalent.

In the same way that walking to the field and completing a structured rehabilitation programme both involve movement, or popping to the kitchen to put the kettle on and weight lifting in the gym both involve movement.

They are not therefore the same intervention - this is where I think we need to be really careful with science and research-based evidence.

Good science should help us become more precise.
It should make us question outdated claims.
It should stop us overpromising.
It should encourage better assessment and better rehabilitation.

But it shouldn’t be used to replace one oversimplification with another.

The answer is probably not:

“Manual therapists can fix everything.”

But I also don’t think it is:

“Your horse just needs tickled with a feather duster.”

The much more interesting question is:

What can manual therapy realistically influence, for how long, in which horses, and how can we use that alongside movement and rehabilitation to actually improve function?

THAT is the conversation I want to have.

Not whether hands-on work is magic, and not whether it is useless.

But, where it genuinely fits.

📸: the beautiful Roxy.

25/08/2026

I have a few spaces available over the coming weeks for horses who could benefit from some gentle, supportive bodywork.

Whether your horse is feeling a little restricted, is recovering from an injury, competing, getting older, or you simply want to help them feel their best

Every horse is different, and I work with how they present on the day, using a gentle whole-horse approach.

If your horse is due for a session, or you’ve been thinking about booking one, send me a message to secure an appointment.

📍 Warrnambool, Hamilton, Colac, Timboon, Mortlake, Port Fairy & surrounding areas

Limited appointments available

24/08/2026

When was the last time your horse had some time just for them?

Our horses are constantly adapting — to training, changes in workload, hoof balance, old injuries, compensation patterns, and simply the everyday demands of being a horse.

A bodywork session gives them the opportunity to slow down, soften and reconnect with their body.

My approach is gentle, individual and whole-horse focused. Every session begins with seeing what your horse is presenting on the day, rather than simply working through a routine.

✨ Supporting relaxation
✨ Encouraging healthy movement
✨ Helping the body let go of tension and compensation
✨ Giving your horse time to rest, reset and process

You don’t need to wait until something is “wrong” to book a session.

Sometimes prevention, maintenance and simply listening to your horse are the most valuable things we can do.

If your horse is due for some bodywork, send me a message to book a session.

Your horse will thank you

24/08/2026

This is a great post describing the amazing Thirza Hendriks. She is also running clinics in Victoria in November.
Reach out for details

I have found over the years that the best practitioners are often the worst with self-promotion, too busy being booked out globally and nerding out on 'the thing' 😅 With her clinic coming up for late October, I thought it would be nice to share a little bio on Functional Horse Training by Thirza Hendriks!

A lot of people assume she is another high-level dressage lady, without realising the incredible depth of knowledge she has to peel back all of the layers of the onion across multiple disciplines and change your horse's life. She trains your horse as a compassionate scientist from the inside-out in every way. I feel so privileged to be taught by her and I still can't believe she comes all the way out to Adelaide (also I am living proof that she caters to all abilities)!

Thirza Hendriks (MSc, Pg. Dip.) is a scientist, educator, and training coach specializing in Equine Movement Science and Functional Training (Progressive Movement Therapy). With a strong foundation in anatomy, movement science, and exercise physiology, she is dedicated to advancing evidence-based, horse-centred practices in management and training.

Since 2018, Thirza has been a member of the Equinestudies Dissection Team, conducting around 10 full-horse dissections annually across the globe—including primitive breeds and zebras for comparative anatomical research. Each case includes thorough hands-on assessments and complete medical histories, which provides a unique opportunity to map movement patterns and link them to dissection findings.

It is Thirza’s passion to translate knowledge of the horse inside out into practical management and training considerations so horse owners and professionals can make better informed decisions to optimize the horse’s quality of life and performance.

Thirza collaborates closely with international pathologists to explore complex systemic diseases—such as autoimmune conditions—and to improve diagnostic approaches.

In the area of training, Thirza holds qualifications in exercise physiology (Pg dip) and studied at various (classical) training institutions. She has also successfully competed in the past (carriage driving, jumping & dressage).
Her integrated knowledge has led her to develop a unique approach to Functional Training—aimed at helping horses move and perform efficiently with minimal effort.

While Thirza is widely recognized for her successes in rehabilitation, her true passion lies in prevention:
Educating both professionals and horse owners to allow them to make informed decisions regarding breeding, selecting form to function and functional training to set a new improved standard within the industry so that not rehabilitation, but instead functional and fluid movement becomes the norm for (performance) horses.

Today, Thirza is a much sought-after international clinician and lecturer in the field of Anatomy, Physiology, Movement Science, as well as Exercise Physiology and Functional Training for horses.

🌍 Currently, she travels to Italy, Sweden, USA, Taiwan, South Africa and Australia on a yearly basis, working together with other highly valued and renowned veterinarians, body workers, saddle fitters, and trimmers.

Together with Equinestudies, Thirza is a main driving force behind international research centres including Gilvarry Equine Medical Centre in Cape Town, South Africa.

🔗 More information about Thirza and clinic bookings can be found on: www.thirzahendriks.com

If you would love for your horse to be assessed and assisted by the best, we amazingly still have a few spots remaining for her SA clinic. I can't recommend it highly enough!

23/08/2026

Your touch is so soft—how can it even work?”
I get this question all the time. But horses are incredibly sensitive—more reactive to a fly than a firm hand. If I push too hard, they brace. When they stay relaxed, we get a bigger, better result.

I watch closely for where the horse holds tension. Just because the lumbar’s sore doesn’t mean that’s the root cause—often, it starts somewhere else. I follow what they show me, not just where the pain shows up.

“Do we need someone else after your work?”
Well… is your horse moving better? That’s your answer.
But I’ll be honest—if I feel your horse needs someone else (vet, dentist, chiro), I’ll say it. I don’t pretend to fix everything. That’s just doing right by the horse.

I’m always learning, always looking for better ways to help.

22/08/2026

I have some appointments available this week on Wednesday and Friday
Please call or message for details

21/08/2026

Finding Balance with Equine Craniosacral Therapy

Craniosacral therapy is a very safe and gentle manual, complimentary therapy that works with the central nervous system and the connective tissue called “fascia.” The light touch technique is used to help the body’s own healing properties to lessen the restrictions found in the nervous system. It works primarily on the central and autonomic nervous systems, and has been proven to help calm and rebalance these systems, especially in the horse.

The central nervous system (CNS) of the body is the “computer network system” that controls every aspect of what happens in the body. It is a very complex system that consists of the brain, cranial nerves, spinal cord, and all the nerves that run off the spinal cord into the body. These components not only tell the body what to do, but also process the information the body sends back to the brain. Consequently, it is of the utmost importance to ensure that this system of the body works at full capacity.

The intricate and delicate system is protected by the craniosacral system, which consists of the skull/ cranial vault, cervical spine, thoracic spine, lumbar spine, sacral/coccygeal spine, and the pelvis. Running through and around all these bony structures is the fascia, which also extends throughout the body into the extremities and the body cavities. Through this craniosacral therapy can help keep the CNS running smoothly by removing restrictions to the motion that is found within this system.
The craniosacral motion, or rhythm, is hard to feel on palpation, but much like a heartbeat, it can be felt and measured. This rhythm is part of what moves the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) through the brain and spinal cord. This faint motion comes from the extension and flexion of the spine and bones of the skull. When this rhythm is disturbed and not able to move fully it can cause a domino effect through the rest of the chain, which in turn can affect the CNS.

Craniosacral therapy aims to use light manual touch to restore this cranial rhythm and also affect the nervous system at its core in the brain and nerves. The most important nerves are the cranial nerves that originate from the brain and either enter or exit the skull through small openings called foramen. There are 12 nerves in total and help control everything from sensory organs to facial muscles to the digestive tract. So these nerves are very important to consider when looking at a horse using craniosacral therapy.

The therapy itself is very non-invasive and employs a light touch that most horses really enjoy. The aim is to increase the activity in the parasympathetic or “rest and digest” part of the nervous system and decrease activity in the sympathetic or “fight or flight” part. It is through this process that the body can allow healing to occur and relieve internal stressors. The CST itself opens up restrictions in the fascial planes and restores motion to the cranial bones allowing the body to rebalance and restore normal function to the nervous system.

The uses for craniosacral therapy are limitless. Owners can see great benefits in using it on healthy, working horses to keep them feeling their best. But it also very beneficial to horses who have performance issues, behavior problems, chronic pain, chronic medical conditions, and many other conditions.
Before using craniosacral therapy for horses with any medical issue , first make sure a veterinarian has evaluated the horse and approved them for manual therapies.