Jessica Blackwell
Horse health / Care
Jessica Blackwell hails from a scientific background, but has a love for horses and Equine Therapy. Jessica has been a competitive rider since 1995 and has also been involved in breeding and rehabilitation.
She has multiple qualifications in the Equine therapy field (Sports Massage, Bodywork, Myofascial Release, Red Light Therapy, Tissue Mobilisation, Taping and Reiki) and has also done extensive study in Biomechanics, anatomy, nutrition and exercise physiology. She has been fortunate to have trained under some of the worlds best including: Dr Barb Crabbe, Dr Eleanor Kellon, the late Dr Kerry Ridgeway, Gillian Higgins, Ruth Mitchell-Golliday, Sharon May Davis, Di Jenkins and more.
Jessica has been a full time professional equine therapy practitioner since 2005 utilising not only her hands on techniques but also a range of other tools including ultrasound, laser therapy, photonic therapy, microcurrent therapy, cryotherapy, PEMF, taping and more. She has been teaching since 2008 and has guest lectured at many events.
Jessica is the director of Equestricare and has been training practitioners in Horse Massage since 2010 with a Certificate in Equine Sports Massage and many online courses. She has also developed a muscle supplement and her own range of photonic therapy products.
Visit Jessica Blackwell at the following sessions
Details
Sunday November 17th
Off The Track Boulevard Arena
Maintaining your Horses Muscle Health
All horses, ridden or not, need good muscle health to be able to function efficiently and be pain free.
Whether just plodding around the paddock or performing FEI dressage work, 5* eventing, barrel racing etc. As riders, trainers and owners there are things we can do ourselves that help maintain good muscle health such as massage moves, stretches and adequate nutrition.
This demonstration will go through a variety of things that every owner or rider can do for their horse to maintain optimum muscular health. It will include muscular assessment and massage techniques, stretching exercises, and a discussion on topical and nutritional supplements and tools aimed at maintaining good muscles.
Jessica will also look at some common muscular issues and how you can address these.
Details
Saturday November 16th
Off The Track Boulevard Arena
Understanding the Equine Back
As riders the equine back is second only to the feet in its importance to the ridden horse. But do we as riders, owners, trainers, coaches etc understand how it really works?
Having knowledge of the horse’s back structure and anatomy is invaluable for horse owners and therapists alike. Knowing what the back is actually capable of and where the movement really comes from will astound you. Especially with how it interacts with the rest of the spine. Knowing more about how the back works and what you as owners, riders etc can do to help it function more effectively and remain pain free will help enable the horse to perform to its best whatever that task.
This demonstration will look at the anatomy of the back using live horses and real skeletons to demonstrate the function of the back it self. It will also look at techniques you can use to maintain good back health and prevent issues occurring, as well as some common issues that occur in the back and how they can be prevented.
