About Equusential Therapies

About Equusential Therapies

Founded 2016, Equusential (Yvette Waller) brings Equine Myofunctional Therapy (EMT) or horse sports massage, Saddle Fitting and Bit Fitting to the East Gippsland/Gippsland area of Victoria, Australia and is based in Bairnsdale.

Yvette completed her equine massage studies at the National College of Traditional Medicine and has a loyal clientele.

Yvette completed certified saddle fitter training with Peter Horobin saddlery.

Yvette completed accredited training with Bit Bank Australia to become a bit fitting specialist.

Services and Pricing

Yvette provides EMT, Bit-Fitting and Saddle-Fitting services to horses in the Bairnsdale and surrounds regions, within 30 minute drive from Bairnsdale.

Yvette travels further afield in Gippsland on request for multiple bookings (minimum of 5-6 services) in the same area and on the same day.

Exceptions to these terms attract extra travel charges.

Standard rates for services are listed below under each category.

For any services booked please have your horse caught, brushed and ready for their booking time.

About Equine Myofunctional Therapy (EMT)

What is Equine Myofunctional Therapy?

Equine Myofunctional Therapy (EMT) is therapeutic study of the horse's muscles. EMT is the physical application of various massage techniques to the horse. Other terms for EMT are: horse massage, horse sports massage and equine myotherapy.

How might EMT help my horse?

Benefits to the horse of EMT are similar to those for human athletes and include stimulating the healing processes of the horse to facilitate:

• Relieving muscular discomfort
• Improving circulation
• Increased relaxation
• Pain relief
• Improved posture
• Increased athletic ability
• Improved range of motion
• Dilation of blood vessels
• Reduced muscle fatigue
• Tension relief
• Improved muscle tone
• Decreased inflammation
• Prevents adhesions

Following an EMT treatment, Yvette will often recommend a stretching or polework program to get the best result from bodywork: to improve the horse's proprioreception, strength and muscle tone.

Services and Pricing

• Standard rate for EMT is $AUD100.00 per horse first visit, $80.00 follow up visits.

About Saddle Fitting

What is Saddle Fitting? What can I expect?

Saddle-fitting involves assessing your current saddle for your horse, how it fits and affects the comfort of horse and rider, considering the horse's physical conformation and querying any issues.

Assessment determines any adjustments needed, for example widening the gullet or adding wool flocking. Alterations to saddle fit incur additional cost.

Yvette can advise if your saddle cannot be adjusted enough to fit your horse.

Please be prepared for your fitting with any saddles needing checking and adjustments nearby.

How might saddle fitting help my horse?

Benefits to the horse of saddle fitting can include:

• Relieving discomfort or potential injury from an incorrectly fitted saddle
• Increased relaxation
• Increased ability to accept ridden work and the distributed weight of the rider
• Decreased anxiety when ridden
• Increased performance due to more comfortable gear
• Improved communication of seat aids.

Saddle fitting also benefits the rider by improving your balance, position in the saddle, weight distribution, effectiveness of aids and seated comfort.

Services and Pricing

• Saddle Fitting assessment: $AUD150.00 per horse.
• Additional costs per saddle for adjustments such as gullet changes and wool flocking.

About Bit Fitting

What is Bit Fitting? What can I expect?

Bit-fitting assesses your current bit options for your horse, querying any issues, measuring the mouth, considering unique physical characteristics.

This assessment helps to determine what bit mouthpiece might best suit your horse. You work your horse in various bits from Yvette's collection to help decide their preferred bit.

If you have booked a ridden assessment, please have your horse tacked up and ready at the booking time.

How might bit fitting help my horse?

Benefits to the horse of bit fitting can include:

• Relieving discomfort or potential injury from the wrong size or type of bit
• Increased relaxation
• Increased ability to accept and take the bit in contact
• Decreased anxiety
• Increased performance due to more comfortable gear
• Improved communication of rein aids

Following a bit fitting, Yvette will often recommend a style or type of bit available from the Bit Bank Australia range if the owner does not already have a suitable bit in their collection.

Services and Pricing

• Bit Fitting assessment: $AUD100.00 per horse.

Affiliations

Education

Yvette has completed the following relevant courses and training to support providing Equine Myofunctional Therapy, Saddle and Bit Fitting Services

National College of Traditional Medicine

Certificates completed:
• Equine Anatomy and Physiology
• Equine Myofunctional Therapy
• Equine Nutrition
• Herbal Medicine for Horses
• Equine Pasture Management

Peter Horobin Saddlery

• Certified Saddle Fitter Training

Saddle Fit 4 Life (Schleese Saddlery)

• Equine Ergonomist Part 1 - Online Theory
• Equine Ergonomist Part 2 - Practical (currently studying)

Bit Bank Australia

• Accredited Bit Fitting Specialist Course

Sharon May-Davis "The Bone Lady"

• Dissecting the Facts, 3Day Clinic (x2)

Animal Rehabilitation & Health Academy

• Equine Exercise Rehabilitation
• Photobiomodulation

Yvette also regularly completes webinars and training as they arise in relation to equine rehabilitation, horse health, pasture management and muscle issues.

About Our Team