Cristina’s Equine Bodywork

09/11/2026

What a great visual! Thank you Becks Nairn for all the work you do! I am really looking forward to meeting you in a few weeks to learn more.

With the welcomed addition of Dr Carol Shwetz DVM to this work I’ve been very quiet on the pelvic collapse front….not because there hasn’t been work happening but because joining all the dots together with the breadcrumbs horses bodies leave us has become a recognisable pattern. One that has formed quite the data set for collecting information and recognising patterns. With the formation of Etica Equine Charitable Trust to under take this mammoth task in collating the data. We are lucky to have two academics on the board of trustees to oversee this study.

Organising all the data points and understanding what might be happening at what point is a massive task! The changes we are seeing from hooves to lumbar and up the connections of soft tissues is truely quiet the chain of action and reaction. Compensation seems to play a huge role in the way the body adapts to such a mechanical failure of the skeletal system. The changes to soft tissues are notable and obvious in dissection.

I value working as part of a team so much because this work is truely overwhelming at times. If you follow me on patreon, I’ve been very honest about the toll of the work. This is going to take a community of collaboration. For more information on our pelvic study, check out the Etica website www.eticaequine.com

I have done an updated video on patreon discussing some of the new discussions happening around what the bones are recording and how dissections are leading the conversations.

https://www.patreon.com/Becks_nairn/posts/pelvic-collapse-169186730

09/09/2026

A cat 🐈‍⬛ slicker brush can be a great tool to be used on your horse!!

A slicker brush provides gentle stimulation to the skin and superficial fascia, helping improve sensory input and encouraging the nervous system 🧠 to reduce muscle tension.

Best used over large muscle groups … neck, shoulders, hind end (glutes, quads, hamstrings).

Be cautious over the back and ribs … if your horse enjoys it, that’s great! If not, avoid these areas.

Be gentle and go slow ✨

Fascia is richly supplied with sensory nerve endings. Gentle, slow stimulation can change muscle tone and the horse’s perception of tension more effectively than forceful pressure in a guarded area.

09/09/2026

09/08/2026

“Our clinical experience has shown that canted-in posture in horses is closely associated with dental malocclusion and distorted morphology of hoof capsules,” says Gellman.

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: While we tend to focus on how a horse moves to try to figure out how he feels, maybe we need to look more at how he stands. New research is exploring what a horse’s posture says about his health. Click the link the comments to learn what they've uncovered.

09/08/2026

As Dr. DeClue says, we need to treat the whole horse, not just the loudest symptom.

09/05/2026

✨ I am back home after a fantastic 2 days spent with other bodyworkers, trainers, equine dentists, farriers and SO many vets !!

I finally got to meet Henlea Equine Wellness | Émilie and montanaharman_ in person! Great meeting you both!!

09/01/2026

KWPN-NA Keuring 2026

Vaéla (“Riley”) On Ira x Arko III x Espri

charlotte ✨ THANK YOU 🥰 - could not have done this without you!!

Linsell Farm thank you for making the best baby 💕

Kevin Tomas is now obsessed with conformation and movement movement!!

09/01/2026

It’s shocking how often we show up for a saddle fitting appointment only to meet a horse who is in no condition to be ridden at all. Even scarier is how many riders simply do not realize that their horse currently lacks the foundational strength required to carry weight safely.

To be clear, this is never about pointing fingers or assigning blame. The owners who book these evaluations are doing so out of love and responsibility, eager to do right by their partner and ensure their tack is as comfortable as possible. But having to break the news that riding needs to pause is always a delicate and tough conversation.

More than anything, it highlights a critical gap in our industry, recognizing whether a horse can or cannot be ridden in their current physical state, ought to be a foundational skill within every owner’s toolkit, rather than a surprising revelation delivered by a saddle fitting professional.

We need to recognize that a horse’s back was never naturally “designed” to carry weight and that riding isn’t what builds a horse’s topline.

Asking an unconditioned horse to build postural strength while carrying the weight of a saddle and rider is the human equivalent of getting off the couch after months of inactivity, walking straight into a gym, and attempting heavy barbell squats.

You won't build healthy muscle, you will compensate, strain your body, and inevitably hurt yourself. Expecting a horse to "ride into fitness" creates that exact same cycle of strain and physical breakdown.

You have to build the bridge before you drive over it.

A horse’s inability to carry a rider comfortably is rarely a simple fix, because a weak topline is usually a symptom of a larger, systemic picture:

👉Posture and Pain: If a horse is experiencing underlying discomfort, whether from joint soreness, dental issues, or soft tissue tightness, they will hollow their back and brace to protect themselves, making healthy muscle development impossible without manual bodywork.

👉Hoof Balance: Improper hoof angles disrupt the entire kinetic chain, altering how the horse places their feet, affecting posture and movement.

👉Nutrition and Metabolism: Without the proper balance of amino acids, minerals, and digestible energy, the body physically cannot synthesize muscle tissue, no matter how much work you do.

👉Environment and Movement: Extended stall confinement drastically limits natural movement. Horses need regular turnout and low-impact motion to maintain basic core tone and joint mobility.

Developing a horse that is genuinely fit to carry weight requires time, patience, and structured preparation from the ground. Long-lining, in-hand work, and targeted core exercises teach the horse how to lift their thoracic sling, engage their abdominals, and lift their back before we add extra load.

Even when a horse is fully fit, riding alone is never enough to maintain that strength. Groundwork and cross-training must remain permanent pillars of your weekly routine to protect their long-term soundness.

Ensuring your saddle fits is a vital part of horsemanship, but being a responsible owner also means stepping back, looking honestly at the horse in front of you, and asking the most important question first: Is my horse physically ready to carry me today?

Giving them the time, foundation, and conditioning they need from the ground first, is the greatest investment in their longevity you will ever make.

08/30/2026

3 awesome pole exercises - from the ground or ridden.

Two poles, three exercises, 10 minutes: this core workout boosts your horse’s strength and footwork when you don’t have time to ride. Read more below

08/30/2026

FINDING BETTER CONTACT: A RIDER’S WORKSHOP

Are you struggling with your contact?

Maybe your reins feel inconsistent, your hands feel uneven, or you’re unsure how to create a soft, steady connection with your horse.

I’m considering offering a small-group workshop in November focused specifically on understanding and improving your contact—and I’m currently judging interest before choosing a date.

Through a combination of off-simulator exercises and practical work with Tes, my equine simulator, we’ll explore how your body, balance, breathing and position all influence what happens at the end of your reins.

Together, we’ll work on:

✨ Understanding what creates a stable, independent contact
✨ How your position influences your hands
✨ The relationship between breathing, movement and rein connection
✨ Exercises to develop body awareness and coordination
✨ Using Tes to explore and demonstrate different aspects of contact
✨ Practical exercises and homework you can take back to your own riding

The workshop would run approximately 10:00 AM–3:00 PM and be limited to 6 participants, creating a supportive, interactive environment where there’s plenty of opportunity to learn, experiment and ask questions.

💰 $150 + HST per participant
🥪 Light snacks and refreshments provided — please bring your own lunch.

🎁 BONUS: Each participant will receive a $25 voucher toward a single private session on Tes, so you can continue working on what you learned with individualized coaching.

Interested in joining me? Send me a message with “CONTACT” and let me know if you’d be interested in attending. If there’s enough interest, I’ll choose a November date and open registration!

Gxo
Empowering equestrians one stride at a time.