Meet Kyra Fraser, a professional dressage trainer with a robust program, and her equine partner, Lennon, a 2016 KWPN. In this client spotlight, Kyra shares their transformative journey with equine bodywork and how it’s impacted Lennon's well-being and performance.
Introduction
"My name is Kyra Fraser, and I’m a professional dressage trainer and coach in the Pacific Northwest. I’ve been riding since age 9, and I’ve worked extensively in the veterinary field and have worked for and trained with FEI trainers and clinicians. I started riding professionally in 2014 and run a busy program. My horse, Lennon, is a 2016 KWPN gelding by Netto out of a Lord Leatherdale mare imported from Van Olst. I chose bodywork for Lennon because he needed help, and training alone wasn’t working. You can’t ‘train’ out pain."
"Lennon was imported as a 4-year-old, started here in the States, and at some point in his early training, he flipped over backward in side reins and was injured. They gave him a year off due to his injuries, which included an array of traditional and alternative rehabilitation therapies. However, his lameness persisted with no real diagnosis. The owners x-rayed him from ears to tail and speculated he had a hyoid injury. He was lightly restarted under saddle in a bitless bridle; however, he was insecure, explosive, and rein lame. He could not tolerate a bit. As soon as he was bridled, he would start striking at his face and try to flip over. He would not stand to be mounted, and if you managed to mount you couldn’t really steer. If he felt insecure, he would run backwards into a wall and rear. He was really skilled at positioning himself against the wall so you couldn’t really redirect him.
When he came to me, Lennon showed all the signs of deep trauma. I wasn’t the first trainer to attempt to rehabilitate him; he had flunked out of several programs that could not help him with the bucking, rearing, and bolting that were a regular feature of his rides. Recognizing his behavioral issues might stem from unresolved pain, I decided to incorporate equine bodywork hoping it would help alleviate potential musculoskeletal issues and also address his underlying trauma.”
Transformative Impact of Equine Bodywork
“The first time Monica worked on him, he was very tense, upset, and difficult. She took her time to build his trust, and as the session went on, he began to relax and experience some huge releases. He was yawning and totally Zen by the end. The second time Monica worked on him, I was surprised to see how relaxed and open he was and how much more she was able to accomplish."
"Since he’s received bodywork, we’ve been able to have safe and productive training rides. He’s finally able to reach from behind and stretch his neck and head downward — something that didn't feel possible before. His soundness has greatly improved, and in general, he is much more rideable. I can now ride him in a bridle. The bucking has completely stopped, and rearing is no longer a normal part of our ride. He's continuing to improve as he learns to trust and as we develop ways to communicate without triggering his defensive fight or flight reactions. We’ve attended several clinics and are really able to enjoy our rides together."
Improved Connection
“I think bodywork was critical to Lennon’s rehabilitation. It’s not only strengthened our connection but has also significantly improved his mental and physical wellbeing. We listened to him and now that he's feeling better, Lennon's becoming more cooperative, offering more and more, and showing his immense talent and potential."
Bodywork as Essential Therapy
"I strongly recommend bodywork as an essential therapy to other horse owners; I actually recommend it to all of my clients. Bodywork is important to keep our horses feeling their best and in the best mental frame of mind for learning. I plan to continue bodywork with Monica… she’s become an integral part of the care routine for my entire barn and my clients rave about her. Whenever she is in the area, I make sure my barn is on her schedule! I’m confident that bodywork with Monica will help Lennon progressively let go of tension, find balance in his body, and grow in trust with his people.”
Advice for Others
"Bodywork can make a huge difference in your partnership and in the trainability of your horse and how good they feel. I recommend Monica to everyone." — Kyra Fraser
Comments