I have had a very busy time in recent couple of months!
During mid March I had the privilege of attending a great 3 day workshop by two leading experts in the field of bodywork. It was particularly exciting to meet Thomas Myers a world renowned presenter on the complexities of fascia in the body. Indeed, fascia was one of the key components Tom Bowen developed his therapy on all those years ago. The book Anatomy Trains is currently used in a section Bowtech Bowen Therapy diploma course. If you are interested in learning more visit http://anatomytrains.com or check out the other presenter on the keys to fascia mobilisation, Ian O’Dwyer, at his website http://odonmovement.com
After this weekend workshop I travelled to Nanango to attend the Nanango Healthy Life Expo as a stall holder promoting the benefits of Bowtech Bowen Therapy for Humans and Equine Muscle Release Therapy on Horses. It was a great day with some 128 stall holders in attendance. The event was well attended by the population of the South Burnett. I met a number of horse owners and look forward to being able to visit regularly for treatments.
Then later in March the Horse and Rider trailer and camp headed to Imbil to attend the Far-Away Endurance Club Easter carnival with an action packed program over four days. As with most endurance events sleep is an optional extra! It was pleasing to see the weather being kinder than last year when torrential rain threatened to stop the entire program with many tracks being remarked away from flooded roads. This year instead we had the demands of heat. It was very hot on the Saturday and Monday which caused a lot of problems with stress on the horses leading to many heart rate dilemmas. I was very pleased to be able to assist a number of competitors in this predicament. To learn more about how EMRT can help with heart rate balancing, see my article here.
The horse and rider combination of Ruth Dixon and Romero was sponsored with treatments and assistance for the marathon (320 km over four days), it was very disappointing when a fit and well Romero developed a cough late Thursday and was forced to withdraw only a few kilometres into the ride at 4am on Friday morning. He was packed up by 5am and headed home to recover and fight another day.
It was a pleasure and very exciting to see many horses treated by Horse and Rider Therapy compete and complete very successfully. I will not attempt to name them all for fear of missing some (lack of sleep at the time and a fading memory don’t help!). A highlight was getting to treat both Brooke Marshall and her horse throughout the marathon for a completion and a great finish.
My client Shelly Chapman was riding Astronomer (above) and she came equal first with her daughter Renae on Phoenix in the 80 km ride on Saturday. I also helped support Kelsey Irvine (below) and her horse, Donoma, who finished third in the same event.
The Boonara Arabian crew had a very successful weekend across a number of 40 km and 80 km rides. Christina Simpson and Evezra. Gwen Bartolo and Harry. It was, as always, humbling and satisfying to be able to assist clients old and new achieve wonderful results over the weekend.
The only event I attended in April was the Killarney Endurance. This beautiful area was to provide a taste of winter the first for the year, I only arrived for Saturday night but was reliably informed Friday night was much colder.
Once again there was a number of pleasing results for clients of Horse and Rider Therapy. A highlight was having provided full treatments or band-aid treatments to all three horses filling first, equal second and third placings in the juniors. Congratulations to the winner of the junior event, Maeve Paten, and the second place getters Mel and Christina Simpson as well. Chris Nichols also received a trophy for third place in the heavy weight 80 km ride.
Hope to see you on the road or at your place some time soon!
Wes