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Standing on Foam
how to make it easier

A while back I wrote a little bit about 'Standing on Foam' for the horse.  I have recently found a different pad called a 'Chef's mat' which is thicker and which I've taken to doubling as well.  A couple friends have experimented successfully with a foam memory pillow and a camping mat.  I'm thinking the foam mats for kid's rooms might work, too.

Looking for a way to be more consistent, I have begun using it while I'm grooming.  What I'll do is rotate which foot I place it under.  Monday - left fore; Tuesday - right fore; Wednesday - right hind; Thursday - left hind.  There's no particular reason for this order.  I just want to make sure that after 4 days I've done all four legs. 

If you figure there are 7 major bones in the leg column (shoulder, humerus, 'forearm,' cannon bone, long pastern, short pastern, coffin bone) then you'll ideally have the horse standing for 14-15min.  This gives each joint two minutes to release.  

This doesn't mean each joint will release, of course! The whole time may be spent on 'one joint.'  And it's not just about joints.  The proprioceptors that are getting new messages are in the joints, tendons, and muscles.  The whole horse, however, is still involved and still benefits.

This has been an easy way for me to be consistent.

So if you're not able to set up an Equine Positional Release session, give the foam pads a shot.  Or a pillow or a sleeping mat.

If you try it, let me know how it goes!  And if you'd like some hands on, call me up for a session.  Part of every Equine Positional Release session involves how to continue on with 'self-care' when I'm not around.

Cheers!

L

Books: Amazon Assoc. / Old Favs

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"The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn, the bird waits in the egg, and in the highest vision of the soul a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of realities." 

~ James Allen