Starline Equine Bodywork

Judith Rathbone

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/starlineequinebodyworkWeb - starlinebodywork.com

  1. 13 HRS AGO

    The Right Thing At The Wrong Time

    In this episode, we explore a gentle but important shift in how we prepare horses for work. Many of us incorporate passive stretching with the best intentions- to loosen up, show care, and support our equine partners. But, emerging insights suggest that timing matters deeply.  We break down the key differences between passive (static) stretching and dynamic, movement-based preparation, drawing from solid performance research to understand how each affects a horse’s neuromuscular system, power output, and coordination right before activity. You’ll come away with a clearer picture of why dynamic warm-ups may better prime the nervous system, enhance proprioception, and support explosive, controlled movement, while learning when passive techniques truly shine. This conversation is designed to empower equine bodyworkers and dedicated owners with practical, horse-centered insights you can immediately apply or share with clients. A free resource is available as a support to this episode! LINK BELOW LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE: Grab your FREE assessment guide for your horse’s back Equine Reaction Points Skill Accelerator Course Stop Pre-Workout Stretching: FREE RESOURCE Connect with us: Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt Website - starlinebodywork.com DISCLAIMER: The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.

    24 min

  2. APR 29

    Exercises To Build Strength In Horses

    When creating an exercise program for horses, it’s really important to remember that every body is an individual. It’s important to look at where we are, where we need to be, and what timeframe we have made to get to our goal. Join me for this fan favourite episode where I look at some of my go-to strengthening exercises (from the neck all the way to the pelvic limb) that can be adapted to where your horse is in its strengthening and fitness program. Connect with us: Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt Website - starlinebodywork.com DISCLAIMER: The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.

    12 min

  3. APR 22

    Energy Healing With Lindsay Regan

    In this episode of the Starline Equine Bodywork Podcast, I sit down with Lindsay Regan of Firefly Energy Healing to explore the world of energy healing for horses. We dive into how subtle energetic practices can support equine well-being, addressing everything from emotional balance and physical comfort to overall relaxation and performance. Lindsay shares her insights on working with horses through energy healing, including practical approaches, common observations from sessions, and the unique ways horses respond to this gentle modality. Whether you’re a horse owner, bodyworker, or simply curious about holistic equine care, this conversation offers thoughtful perspectives on integrating energy healing into equine wellness routines. LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE: Lindsay Regan- Firefly Energy Healing: @firefly_energyhealing Grab your FREE assessment guide for your horse’s back Equine Reaction Points Skill Accelerator Course Connect with us: Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt Website - starlinebodywork.com DISCLAIMER: The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.

    43 min

  4. APR 15

    Can Your Horse "Make It"?

    When we take a horse for a trial ride, we’re really just seeing a snapshot of what its body can do in that exact moment. It’s not always a reliable indicator of its long-term sustainability, suitability, or soundness. Join me for this fan favourite episode as I chat about why we need a better way to measure and assess a horse’s preparedness for sport. LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE: Grab your FREE assessment guide for your horse’s back Equine Reaction Ponts Skill Accelerator Course Connect with us: Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt Website - starlinebodywork.com DISCLAIMER: The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.

    7 min

  5. APR 8

    Social Media Ethics With Averill Pessin

    In this episode of the Starline Equine Bodywork Podcast, I sit down with Averill Pessin, a social media, communications, and business development expert specializing in the equine industry. We explore how bodywork business owners can thoughtfully define their social media ethics and create a responsible online presence that builds trust while protecting everyone involved. Averill shares practical guidance on balancing social proof with client privacy, what to include in client agreements (including sample wording), handling comments and negative feedback, representing sale horses and before-and-after images, deciding whether to tag owners, navigating kids on social media, and maintaining professional interactions… even when opinions differ. Whether you’re growing an equine bodywork practice or simply want to show up more ethically online, this conversation offers clear strategies to check the boxes of education, advertising, and social proof without compromising integrity. LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE: Contact Averill Pessin: averillpessin@gmail.com Grab your FREE assessment guide for your horse’s backJoin the FREE “Stick With It” private podcast series here and learn 3 ways to use kinesiology tape that nobody ever told you about!Equine Reaction Ponts Skill Accelerator Course Connect with us: Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt Website - starlinebodywork.com DISCLAIMER: The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.

    46 min

  6. APR 1

    Tissue Preparation

    What we practice is what we get. Walking horses prepares them for…. (insert drumroll here)…Walking. The true fitness of a horse dictates what happens in a bodywork session and what homework will be left for the horse between sessions. There are many aspects to fitness: general fitness, sport specific skill acquisition, and tissue training. This last type of fitness is what is most commonly overlooked and misunderstood by practitioners. It includes ROM, control of ROM, strength in ROM and lastly, stamina.  The specific exercises left for horses by a bodyworker should come from an understanding of tissue training. This is the key to moving forward with a horse’s training! In this fan favourite episode I jump into the concepts behind true body fitness in horses. LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE: Equine Reaction Ponts Skill Accelerator Course Connect with us: Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt Website - starlinebodywork.com DISCLAIMER: The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.

    15 min

  7. MAR 25

    Is Their Thoracic Sling Primed?

    Join me for this episode of the Starline Equine Bodywork Podcast where we look at the thoracic sling. This is the horse’s built-in shock absorber and suspension bridge.  It is a powerful muscular-fascial hammock made of the serratus ventralis, pectorals, subclavius, trapezius, rhomboids, and longissimus that lifts the thorax between the front legs and carries 60–65 percent of the rider’s weight. When the sling is weak, tight, or restricted, horses often compensate with a high head carriage, hollow back, short forelimb stride, tripping, or forelimb lameness. Tune in to learn simple five-minute range-of-motion and strength tests you can run on level ground, plus owner-safe bodywork techniques that directly free and strengthen the sling.  You’ll also pick up daily groundwork homework that builds lasting support, clear ways to tell whether the problem sits in the sling itself, the withers, or the neck-shoulder junction, and a green-light checklist to confirm your horse is truly ready before you add collected work, lateral movements, or jumping.  LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE: Grab your FREE assessment guide for your horse’s back Join the FREE “Stick With It” private podcast series here and learn 3 ways to use kinesiology tape that nobody ever told you about! Equine Reaction Ponts Skill Accelerator Course Connect with us: Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt Website - starlinebodywork.com DISCLAIMER: The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.

    24 min

  8. MAR 18

    Workout Wisdom: Show Prep

    This fan favourite episode is based on a listener question about prepping her dressage horse for the demand of show season without overloading the horse’s tissues. I chat about assessing weaknesses, planning exercises to overcome them and how to gauge where the point of fatigue/ failure is. I also reveal my 2 secret tips for a body “re-set” to help horses maintain correct form in workouts while we are increasing fitness levels. We love listener questions! Feel free to send us topics you want to hear more of. LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE: Grab your FREE assessment guide for your horse’s back Join the FREE “Stick With It” private podcast series here and learn 3 ways to use kinesiology tape that nobody ever told you about! Equine Reaction Ponts Skill Accelerator Course Connect with us: Instagram - @starlineequinebodywork Pinterest - https://pin.it/7kvSCpt Website - starlinebodywork.com DISCLAIMER: The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.

    14 min
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

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/starlineequinebodyworkWeb - starlinebodywork.com

Information

  • Creator
    Judith Rathbone
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    184
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Starline Equine Bodywork
  • Show Website
    Starline Equine Bodywork

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