Come out to the World of Pets Expo & Educational Experience in Timonium Marylan

Come out to the World of Pets Expo & Educational Experience in Timonium, Maryland January 29-31, 2016.

I'll be speaking on Friday evening (6pm) about massage you can do with your animal companion and other healing modalities, including the importance of a healing team.

"Kneading Animals- Basic massage techniques YOU can do on Your Animal Companion"

*Do you "knead" animals?? I know I do! Come learn a few ways in which you can help massage your pet! You will be given instruction on how to massage your own animal(s), including contraindications, when and when NOT to massage, an overview of body parts, and those which tend to "knead" it most and what to look for when choosing an animal bodyworker for your companion.

http://www.worldofpets.org/MDmain.shtml

It's all comparative and relative!

I absolutely LOVE this!! Those who are musculoskeletal geeks like me will also find this fascinating ((including a number of my equine dentists and HCP -Whole Horse/Body nerds)). Now, many of my like minded peers understand the relevance and importance of looking at the horse (or dog/animal) as a whole functioning being. The teeth, feet, posture, and muscles are all codependent when it comes to balancing the whole. They all must be in proper alignment/balance to have a fully healthful and functioning system. Additionally, the teeth and/or hooves/feet have a direct correlation to each other and the rest of the body. This will show up in lameness, gait, and/or posture. You may have shortening or lengthening of muscles on each side, high/low in hooves, muscles in spasm, TMJ tight and out of whack. The same information can be transferred when looking at dogs. As with horses with long toes, dogs with long toenails also create stress in other parts of their musculoskeletal system. It is all comparative anatomy. Check this article out on the relevance of teeth and posture as it relates to humans. Truly fascinating information.

http://starecta.com/body-posture-depends-teeth/

Excerpt:
"Why teeth are so important for the posture? The skull is the heaviest part of our body and it is supported at the top, on the last cervical vertebra (atlas). To ensure that our head, which weighs on average 4 kg, remains at the top with the least expenditure of energy, Mother Nature has devised a very ingenious "bio-mechanical system of levers".

The question that we must ask is: "What or who is holding the skull on the last cervical vertebra?"

We will try to give you a picture of the situation.

posture skull

Until a few decades ago people believed that the skull was simply supported by the neck muscles operated by our willingness to stand upright. Over time and with the birth of gnathology science, clinical trials have shown a functional-anatomic and physiopathological link between skull-mandible (CMD) and skull-cervical dysfunctions, aggregating various areas of the body in a single tonic-postural system: the skull-cervical-mandible joint.

In short, scientific literature, or rather some pioneers in this new sector, has started to understand the role of the mandible in the human postural system, and that consequently neck and back problems are caused by skull-cervical-mandible disorders.

Having established that, we can realize that in this bio-mechanism that keeps sustained our head on top of the first cervical vertebra, the "jaw" has a vital role in supporting the skull.

It is a matter of fact that these medical-science pioneers have managed to understand, more or less, the bio-mechanism and how to act on it with the use of a bite in order to alleviate people health problems, but they have always proceeded by trial and error without ever being able to develop a proper relationship between correct body posture, jaw and teeth."

FDA? Are they credible?

What do you think? Does the FDA have the best interests of your family and animal companions in mind?

You've read my thoughts about conventional processed food and it's no secret I am a proponent of raw and species appropriate food. Susan Thixton writes another thought provoking article. How trustworthy is the FDA really??

"It's perplexing how the FDA can tell consumers to "not feed your pet a raw diet" but it is acceptable to the agency for euthanized animal remains or animals that have died in the field – lying in the sun decomposing for days – to be cooked into a slurry or powder and dumped into dog and cat food.  Raw pet food made from USDA inspected and approved meats are dangerous for your pet and you – but decomposing, diseased animals are "suitable for use in animal food" and perfectly safe for you to handle.

The FDA cannot see they just discredit themselves with each 'announcement' like this.  They lose more and more respect from the public.  How sad.  This raw pet food witch hunt needs to stop.  The outright FDA permission for pet food to violate federal law needs to stop.   Who is the FDA really protecting?"

http://truthaboutpetfood2.com/is-it-an-fda-lie-or-fda-neglect

What a great day!

Tuesday I was fortunate enough to ride along with 2 PHENOMENAL equine professionals. Daisy of Daisy Haven Farm and Suzanne of Appalachian Hoof Care. There is so much collective knowledge between these two women. We helped a few worthy horses and I learned a ton. Extending my gratitude to them for including me in on this day. I look forward to our next meeting. Be sure to check them both out. Truly amazing and educated equine professionals. ~**Inez

My 4H Weekend. I LOVE this group!!

Just getting home from a FANTASTIC long weekend in West Virginia where I spent some time teaching/coaching/guiding and learning from a lovely group of PHENOMENAL young people. The 4H High Riders Horse Club's camp. This year the theme was "Healthy Rider, Healthy Horse." You may have heard me mention in the past how much I absolutely LOVE and ADORE this group and what they are doing. My dear friend, Suzanne, of Appalachian Hoof Care is bringing a whole new dynamic and paradigm to these girls (& boys), outside of "conventional" thought and training. She is opening their world up to Holistic Care and truly BEing with their horse(s). A true *honoring* of the horse. I am so honored, thrilled, and grateful to be a part of this collective (last year's theme was "All About Balance"). I am also humbled by the true desire and compassion this particular group displays and their capacity and hunger to *learn* and know more. I LOVE teaching and sharing what I do, holistic health, integrative therapies, and the "healing team" concept. The group of instructors that served as my peers are also all truly phenomenal individuals. From healthy eating to trails and obstacles. From following a "feel" to learning to feel. The changes in the girls and transformation of the horses in their care is and was such a blessing to witness, acknowledge, and be a party to. I am extremely proud and grateful to the fact that these girls and what they have learned from my teachings and that of others, are our next generation of horse tenders.  How lucky is this world to have them??? Wonderful, wonderful weekend!!! What did you all do??~**Inez

If you're interested in reading and learning more about this very special group, check out these 2 articles.

http://www.naturalhorse.com/PDF/kids-roundup-balance.pdf

http://blog.easycareinc.com/blog/team-easyboot/4-h-goes-bare-and-booted

Never. Stop. Learning.

I am **SUPER** excited to be headed down to West Virginia later today for the High Riders 4H camp. You may remember me talking about last year's camp, "All About Balance" where the weekend was an immersion in holistic/balanced horsemanship, with a natural hoof care practitioner, balanced dentistry, centered riding, positive reinforcement training, healthy eating, and my self with bodywork. A true Whole Horse paradigm. "Healthy Horse, Healthy Rider" is this year's theme. Again, I am honored to be invited back to teach and participate. Those who know me also know that I LOVE sharing knowledge and learning. I look forward to sharing information on how we can all partner with the horse holistically and of course learning from the group. Every "teacher" knows, you also learn from the "pupil." We are all students in life. Never stop learning. ~**Inez

"There is no end to education. It's not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born, to the moment you die, is a process of learning."
~**Jiddu Krishnamurti

Beautiful night ponderings.

Another absolutely GORGEOUS night!! I LOVE this time of year! Upon getting home at a quarter to dark o'clock, I sat outside while my horses ate and listened to the sounds of them chewing. The frogs are pretty silent, as are the crickets, which is odd for so warm an evening. Everything is so "still" outside. After Kopper Top finished, he did his usual (hang out wherever I am-which in this case was on a mounting block outside the fence). There is absolutely NOTHING in this world like the love and affection of an Arabian horse. After wuffling and mussing my hair (which is a favorite thing for him to do to me), he gave me sweet, horsey kisses. Honestly, I absolutely ADORE the love and "in your pocket" trait of the Arabian. I was telling someone earlier today that I am a complete sucker for an affectionate horse. And how grateful and fortunate am I to have the love of two?? Arabians ROCK!! There is so much about them that I admire and cherish! ((I also noticed that I have a nice 11-piece luggage set under my eyes! Moon madness catching up! Perhaps I should get to sleep "early")).

With thoughts of joyous sunshine and rest,

Inez