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© 2026 Starline Equine Bodywork
Description
Our mission is to inspire and to motivate, and give you tools for a better life with horses. This podcast is intended to give you takeaways to apply to your own life- whether you're a horse owner seeking more, a bodywork practitioner, or even an aspiring one.
In this podcast you will meet our host, Judith Rathbone. For most of the last decade she’s been a full time equine bodywork practitioner, a renowned sports specialist, an author and a bodywork educator.
During the course of this podcast she will lead deep dive discussions into what she has learned from clients, top bodyworkers and vets in the industry, and unpack some of the most up to date and groundbreaking research into equine physiology, fitness and tissue training.
Connect with us:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/starlineequinebodywork
Web - starlinebodywork.com
172 Episodes
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Cantering and galloping can offer more therapeutic value than bodywork and stretches put together. Still, too many of us miss out on the opportunity to head out and let our horses really stretch their strides. Address gait rhythm issues, back hollowing, back stiffness, and one-sidedness through galloping. Come along as we dive into the advantages of galloping in this fan favourite podcast episode. LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE: Grab your FREE assessment guide for your horse’s back Join th...
Join me as we dive into the world of equine dentistry with our guest, Dr. Christy Barnes, a veterinarian with a special interest in dental care. As an equine bodywork practitioner, I’ve often uncovered hidden mouth issues during assessments that explain puzzling performance hurdles, and Dr. Barnes sheds light on how dentistry is a cornerstone of overall equine well-being. We’ll explore the fundamentals of jaw balance and TMJ function, uncovering how occlusal harmony influences everything. Whe...
Struggling with lead changes? Notice your saddle shifting to one side? The culprit could be your horse’s ribcage! It may seem unexpected, but the ribcage and its surrounding muscles play a massive role in your horse’s overall performance and well-being. Tune in to this fan favourite episode as I dive into the ribcage and share my top bodywork method for getting it mobilized! LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE: Grab your FREE assessment guide for your horse’s back Join the FREE “Stick With It”...
In this episode, we explore spinal segmentation issues in horses, where the spine’s motion segments (comprising vertebrae, discs, facet joints, and ligaments) lose normal micro-mobility or neurological coordination, often before visible structural damage like arthritis appears. Common types include hypomobility, hypermobility (unstable excessive movement), facet inflammation, and multifidus muscle inhibition leading to longissimus over-recruitment. This dysfunction causes pain through r...
In this fan favourite episode, I talk about an article I read warning people to avoid practitioners who claim that taping can strengthen a muscle of a horse. The article had undertones of attempting to discredit other practitioners. That’s just unfair, especially because it used a very narrow definition of what is actually meant by “assisting a muscle” to strengthen it. In today’s episode I talk about why I feel this article is unfair, and dig into the broader science behind what it actuall...
In this hands-on episode, we dive into the horse’s hindquarters—the true “engine” that powers propulsion and performance. Restrictions in the hip flexors (iliopsoas), lumbosacral junction, or sacro-iliac joints often lead to compensatory issues elsewhere, affecting everything from the stifle and hock to the back and neck. Designed specifically for equine bodyworkers, massage therapists, and dedicated horse owners, this episode provides safe, effective tools to identify and address these...
A massive THANK YOU for tuning in to the Starline Equine Bodywork Podcast all year. Your support means everything! We're closing out 2025 with a bang! The final episode is here, packed with the BEST and most unforgettable moments from the year. Fresh, all-new episodes are coming your way in 2026, so stay tuned! Shoutout to this week's incredible featured guests! Go give them a follow on Instagram: Christa Myers: Equestrian Entrepreneur @equestrianentrepreneur Isabelle D'Cost...
Full disclosure: I think this method of horsemanship is GENIUS. And looking back at this fan favourite episode, I believe everyone can benefit from this technique and philosophy- regardless of their profession or discipline within the equine industry. Communicating with horses in way they understand is key to our safety as bodywork practitioners, and to the safety of our client’s horses while in our direct care. Tom Shields is a Master Certified Chris Irwin Method Practitioner who is a wealth...
Ever had show season sneak up on you, only to realize midway through that your horse isn't firing on all cylinders? On this episode of the Starline Equine Bodywork podcast, I sit down with Dr. Amy Bennett from Bennett Equine Veterinary Services. She shares her essential pre-season, mid-season, and post-season checklists for managing performance horses. We're talking soundness checks, targeted treatments, bodywork timing, routine vaccines, and why proactive planning is everything. The result? ...
In this episode of the Starline Equine Bodywork Podcast, we dive into the fascinating science and practical application of 128 Hz weighted tuning forks – a gentle yet powerful tool for accelerating tissue repair in horses and humans alike. Often called the “Otto 128,” this low-frequency fork creates coherent mechanical vibrations that travel beautifully through bone and dense connective tissue. Backed by principles of vibroacoustics, mechanotransduction, and piezoelectricity, the 128 Hz frequ...
Who themselves hasn’t worked out to the point of being a little bit stiff and sore? Horses aren’t different. In this fan favourite episode we talk about how there is a fine line between working muscles to an appropriate place to allow tissue adaptation and fitness to increase, and a place where you have pushed too far. Join me for this episode of the podcast where I discuss delayed onset muscles soreness, muscle micro-damage, and tissue adaptation. I will also have a look at bodyw...
Horses aren’t just animals—they’re individuals with their own thoughts, feelings, and voices (if only we learn how to listen). In this deeply personal episode of the Starline Equine Bodywork Podcast, I open up about a horse who came into my life under less-than-ideal circumstances…and how everything transformed in just four short days. It all shifted because of one sentence. Dr. Marisa Markey of Full Circle Equine Veterinary happened to be at the farm that day. With a single observation, she ...
This is the muscle group, that in my opinion, is too often overlooked. I believe that it is largely responsible for long term soundness in the pelvic limb and its joints, low back health and correct way of going. Join me for this fan favourite episode where I look at the equine iliopsoas group. I look at anatomy, function and dysfunction that appears in horses. Of course I will also look at ways to exercise to promote the health and optimal function of this muscle group. PLEASE CONSIDER R...
Ever wonder why your horse is proficient at left circles but falls apart on the right? Or why they spook more from one side? It’s not stubbornness—it’s laterality. In this week’s episode of the Starline Equine Bodywork Podcast, we break down what “handedness” really means in horses, how to spot it, and why ignoring it is the downfall of performance and soundness. From facial whorls to canter leads, you’ll get practical tests and a step-by-step plan to turn your crooked horse into a symmetrica...
This week’s episode is a fan favourite. Words carry more weight than we often realize—they shape meaning and set expectations. Let’s examine two terms that are frequently swapped without a second thought, and uncover why that’s a mistake! Flexibility vs. Mobility Tune in as we explore how flexible horses are developed, and the right times to focus on flexibility training. We’ll dive into mobility for horses, how it’s built, how the nervous system turns mobility exercises into fluid movement, ...
Come on a hack with Katie Wood (The Equestrian Physio) and me! We catch up, and discuss the idea for the need for critical thinking in the equestrian industry. Are you an innovator? Early adopter? Early majority? Or are you part of the majority? Join us for this episode of the Starline Equine Bodywork recorded entirely from horseback and hear Katie spill the tea on her new venture- trust me, you don’t want to miss this! PLEASE CONSIDER RATING, REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING THIS SHOW. ...
In this fan favourite episode we look at why is back pain a common recurring issue in horses. This question should be front and center in your mind as a horse owner or bodywork practitioner. So here‘s the reality. If your horse suffers from a period of back pain, it’s common for it to re-occur. Seriously. Frustrating…. Right?! There are a variety of reasons why. Join us for this episode where we discuss 4 reasons for recurring back pain and a simple “back hack” to help your horse....
In this week’s episode of the Starline Equine Bodywork Podcast we dive into the unsung hero of your horse’s spine: the multifidus. This small but mighty muscle plays a massive role in both human and equine spines, but it’s uniquely adapted to support your horse’s four-legged, weight-carrying lifestyle. We’ll explore the key differences between the human and equine multifidus, why these distinctions matter for movement, and how understanding this muscle can elevate your horse’s training and bo...
Join me for this fan favourite episode where I share my thoughts on shortening distances between jumps and training bounces in order to produce a better quality jump and step in the horse. As a bodywork practitioner, I'm often concerned that the essential prerequisites for these exercises are overlooked, putting horses at significant risk. In this podcast episode, I share insights on preparing horses to manage bounce and shortened distances, covering both bodywork and training perspectives. I...
The rib cage is more than just a protective structure for a horse’s vital organs; it’s a dynamic framework that significantly influences movement and comfort. However, stiffness, misalignment, or tension in the rib cage can disrupt this harmony, leading to back pain, even in the lumbar region. This episode explores how biomechanics, nerves, muscles, and fascia intertwine, revealing the rib cage’s critical role in equine health. Issues like poor saddle fit or uneven riding can cause rib ...
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