(828) 665-2589

Equine Freedom Solutions

Equine Freedom SolutionsEquine Freedom SolutionsEquine Freedom Solutions

Equine Posture & Movement Analysis - Equine Structural Bodywork & Massage – Saddle Fitting 

Asheville, WNC, Tryon

(828) 665-2589

Equine Freedom Solutions

Equine Freedom SolutionsEquine Freedom SolutionsEquine Freedom Solutions

Equine Posture & Movement Analysis - Equine Structural Bodywork & Massage – Saddle Fitting 

Asheville, WNC, Tryon

ABOUT

Kelly Snyder is an Equine Functional Posture & Movement Specialist providing postural and movement analysis and treatment to horses in the greater Asheville area . Poor posture, aka, Abnormal Compensatory Posture (ACP) can be directly connected to poor movement. Reasons behind a horse developing an ACP  are many, but can include hoof imbalance, poor saddle fit, rider imbalance, certain riding and training techniques, injury and sickness. Left untreated, these postural compensation patterns can lead to painful issues such as kissing spine, hunter’s bump, arthritis, impaired proprioception, and stress-related behavioral problems. 

Equine Structural Bodywork and Massage

Kelly successfully uses bodywork and massage modalities such as Structural Integration and Neuromuscular Therapy to treat her clients’ abnormal compensatory patterns, myofascial trigger points, and overall knots, aches, and pains. She is trained in Advanced Equine Structural Integration from the Equine Natural Movement School and is on their faculty as a Module 1 Instructor. She is also a Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist (NCLMBT #14691), having graduated from the Western North Carolina School of Massage where she studied Neuromuscular Therapy, Swedish, and Prenatal Massage. Kelly has also spent time apprenticing with a highly skilled veteran farrier in order to better understand the relationship between hoof imbalances and ACP. As a result of Kelly’s knowledge and training, she is able to identify structural imbalances and restrictions within horses and riders that create painful compensation patterns within the body. These hinder clear communication between the horse and rider which lead to less than ideal rides as a result of movement, and even behavioral, issues.


Neuromuscular Therapy is an extremely specialized, focused approach to releasing painful knots and trigger points within muscles while also improving nervous system function. These knots and trigger points often develop as a result of muscle overuse or muscle trauma. 


Structural Integration is a holistic form of therapeutic bodywork that slowly 'melts' restrictions in the soft connective tissue called 'fascia'. The most common sources of these restrictions are hoof imbalance, poor saddle fit, rider imbalance, certain riding and training techniques, injury, and sickness. These restrictions are what often lead to abnormal compensatory postures.


Benefits of Structural Integration:

 

  • Helps overcome physical manifestations of emotional trauma 
  • Allows for more efficient use of the body, conserving energy
  • Improves flexibility
  • Improves symmetry and balance
  • Connects the horse's front and back
  • Allows horse greater freedom of movement
  • Helps eliminate behavioral issues caused by pain
  • Allows for better communication between horse & rider
  • Increases the horse's ability to pick up requested canter leads and improves canter departures
  • Allows horse to be able to flex at the poll and accept contact easier
  • Lateral work becomes easier​
  • Provides Relaxation



 ***Structural Bodywork and Massage are not a substitute for veterinary care! Please call your veterinarian if you feel your horse is ill or injured.*** 


Contact Us Today!

Saddle Fitting

Kelly is a professional saddle fitter who has been thoroughly trained by world-renowned, expert saddle-fitter and saddle designer, Ron Friedson of Pegasus Saddles to help meet the saddling needs of horses and riders. Due to the amazing technology within Pegasus Saddles, she finds them super easy to work with and appreciates the freedom of movement they allow the horse. When placed in the correct position and properly used, Kelly has found these saddles act as a form of bodywork in itself due to how they help release restrictions in the fascia and can help prevent future restrictions from developing. 


Benefits of Pegasus Saddles:


  • Distributes rider's weight evenly like a treed saddle
  • Adjusts to fit the width and angles of the horse’s back like a treeless saddle
  • Flexes longitudinally parallel to the horse's spine like a flex-tree saddle
  • Keeps the rider forward, in the natural spot, thereby reducing stress on horses with long or weak backs
  • Has short panels that keep the rider's weight off the horse's back end making them great for short-backed horses
  • Flexible hinges in the tree allow the saddle to be molded to horses of differing conformation saving horse owners with multiple horses money since they only need one saddle
  • No more dealing with screws and screwdrivers to change gullets
  • No more dealing with reflocking adjustments 

Testimonials

Immediate Relief!

She felt like a new girl!

She felt like a new girl!

 "Immediate relief to damaged muscles, freedom of gait - especially in  hind legs = happy horse!" Looking forward to more sessions with you!  Many, many, thanks!"

 - Allison Hayes

She felt like a new girl!

She felt like a new girl!

She felt like a new girl!

 

"When finished with her "spa day", SweetPea trotted into her pasture and bucked! She felt like a new girl! Many thanks, Kelly!"
 - STAR Rescue Ranch, Waynesville 

More Fluid!

She felt like a new girl!

King of the World!

"Lily is more sociable with humans and members of her herd. She is moving more fluidly in general, and with greater ease and calmness under saddle, physically and mentally." - Rebecca Crawley

King of the World!

Old Horse Feels Young!

King of the World!

"When I took Sonny to my trainer after the second session, she was amazed at his change. Before I really struggled to keep him in a jogging/sitting trot. Now he was prancing around like the king of the world! ." - Laura Nelson, Equine Facilitated Learning Coach

 

Old Horse Feels Young!

Old Horse Feels Young!

Old Horse Feels Young!

 "Kelly knows more about restoring horses to healthy movement than anyone else I've met in the horse world. I once watched her help an older thoroughbred that could barely stand. In just one session that horse felt so good afterward that he was bucking and jumping with joy at the end of the lead rope due to finally being able to move freely!"  

 - Catherine Hunter, Nationally rated rider/instructor, licensed trainer,  author

He's Swinging!

Old Horse Feels Young!

Old Horse Feels Young!

"Kelly performed structural integration for my 15 year old dressage horse, Felix. Before, it would take almost an hour before Felix would start swinging at the walk, but now he starts off swinging."

- Helen Sandven, Tantalus Farms

Under Saddle

Kelly has been riding for over 25 years and has trained with many knowledgeable, talented instructors. She apprenticed for two years with nationally rated rider/instructor, Catherine Hunter, author of Sacred Connections Horsemanship and one of the few remaining instructors trained in Traditional American Forward Riding. Kelly utilizes her knowledge of horsemanship to figure out if there are any underlying issues in the riding or training of the horse that could be creating restrictions and compensations within the horse’s body. This knowledge is also useful when Kelly recommends exercises that will benefit the horse while other parts of the therapeutic treatment plan are being carried out.

 

Kelly incorporates what she calls Traditional American Forward Riding techniques in her riding evaluations and exercises. Over the years she has discovered that many of these riding techniques act as a form of bodywork in itself due to how it helps release restrictions in the connective tissue and fascia and can help prevent future restrictions from developing. This is because the goal of this method of riding is to produce efficient movement through interfering with the horse's natural way of going as little as possible. This method of non-interference frees up the horse's body, especially the back and neck.

  

Benefits of Traditional American Forward Riding are: 

  

  • Supports other equine therapies such as massage, bodywork, chiropractic, and acupuncture
  • Creates a well-rounded physique by fostering proper muscle development in the horse
  • Helps horses develop and maintain self-carriage
  • Helps restore the horse's natural balance and promotes correct forward movement
  • Assists in freeing and balancing the horse's myofascial kinetic lines
  • Builds horse's confidence and trust
  • Enables clearer communication between horse and rider by breaking down communication barriers
  • Is easy for both horse and rider to learn and perform
  • Works for the majority of horses, no matter their primary riding discipline

Traditional American Forward Riding has its roots in the riding techniques developed by  Italian cavalry officer, Captain Federico Caprilli during the early 1900s. Caprilli has been recognized by the International Society of Equitation Science as being a pioneer of horse welfare and of having teachings in line with their training principles...


“Beginning in the late 1890s, after centuries of studied and purposeful abuse of horses by mankind, Caprilli invented a system of training that was humane in every aspect... the relief from suffering that he brought horses is the true key to his greatness.” - 3-time Olympic Equestrian, Jim Wofford

Pricing & Scheduling

An overall evaluation of the horse’s posture and movement - unmounted and under saddle, along with the fit of the horse’s current saddle, is necessary before proceeding with any treatment plan. Massage and bodywork are usually able to be performed immediately following the scheduled evaluation. If, during the evaluation, Kelly discovers that a client’s current saddle does not fit, she can provide information the client can use in possibly correcting the fit, purchasing a saddle of their own choosing, or the client has the option of purchasing a Pegasus saddle with Kelly’s help.


Evaluations $235


No additional charge for Massage and Bodywork performed the same day as evaluation.


Follow-up Massage and Bodywork Sessions

$135

Or save and buy a package of 5 sessions!

$625


***Equine Freedom Solutions reserves the right to charge extra for services performed extending past the greater Asheville area


Equine Freedom Solutions Accepts Cash, Check and PayPal


For more information or to schedule an evaluation, please contact Kelly at 828-665-2589 or kellysnyder.efs@gmail.com


Clinics & Classes

Looking to host an educational weekend at your farm or need an interesting subject for your next horse club meeting? Equine Freedom Solutions has you covered! Kelly also teaches Module 1 classes for the Equine Natural Movement School. Check below for available dates.  


Learn about fascinating topics like:

  • Evaluating equine posture
  • Evaluating equine movement
  • Equine fascial meridians
  • Equine proprioception
  • Saddle fitting
  • Forward riding techniques that benefit every horse
  • How to communicate with horses
  • Basic energy work
  • Feng Shui around the Farm*
  • And much more!


Clinics can be 1 or 2 days and are typically unmounted. Mounted clinics are held in association with Sacred Connections Horsemanship.


Module 1 Equine Natural Movement Series Training, June 11 - 17 2022


*Kelly is a certified BTB Feng Shui consultant.

  

For more information or to schedule a clinic, please contact Kelly at 828-665-2589 or kellysnyder.efs@gmail.com.



Apprenticeships are available for equine professionals looking to deepen their knowledge and skills. Must be 18, have an open mind, be willing to learn, have a valid driver’s license, and reliable transportation.  

More About Kelly

Besides working on horses at various farms in and around Asheville, Kelly is also a practitioner at Ebb & Flow Massage Therapy Center where she is available to help riders relieve pain, increase mobility, balance, strength, and overall health.


Need a helping hand navigating life and goals while attempting to make sense of your thoughts and emotions? Visit Partsdiscovered.com to learn about life coaching sessions and more. Sessions are available over Zoom, or if you prefer, you can request a session to be conducted at your farm surrounded by the comfort and support of the horses you love and care for.

Contact Us

For more information or to schedule a bodywork or saddle fitting session for your horse email or call

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Kelly Snyder

828.665.2589 kellysnyder.efs@gmail.com

Testimonials

I highly recommend Kelly

Drastic Changes in Timber

I highly recommend Kelly

"I highly recommend Kelly for her expertise in equine structural integration, her kind and loving manner, and her intuitive energy healing capabilities."

- Laura Nelson, Equine Facilitated Learning Coach 

Most Dedicated

Drastic Changes in Timber

I highly recommend Kelly

"Kelly was one of the most dedicated and talented students that I have ever worked with. Kelly's expertise with equine structural integration probably surpasses my own due to her strong equestrian background."

- Jack Boyd, Asheville Structural Integration 

Drastic Changes in Timber

Drastic Changes in Timber

Drastic Changes in Timber

"I was amazed at the changes Timber displayed physically and mentally during his sessions! Physically just to look at him from the first session to the last was a drastic change. He came out every week looking more filled out, bigger, and softer all over."

- Michelle Mallonee 

Less Pain and Stiffness

She Connects with Horses

Drastic Changes in Timber

"Since working with Kelly, I have noticed a difference in my co-therapist, Jenny. I noticed that with a reduction in pain and stiffness, Jenny's attitude towards work has significantly improved." 

- Rebecca Stares, Spirited Connections Equine Facilitated Counseling

 
 

She Connects with Horses

She Connects with Horses

She Connects with Horses

"Kelly Snyder has a passion for horses that is evident when you watch her work. The way she connects with the horses is beautiful. Her work is steady, deliberate, effective and informed by an innate, intuitive sensitivity. I highly recommend her."

- Joseph Freeman, founder Equine Natural Movement School 

Obe Has More Freedom

She Connects with Horses

She Connects with Horses

"Obe has become more elastic longitudinally through her spine - I can feel this in the transition between collected work and extended work. I can also see this in her tail carriage - up and away from her body rather than clamped."

- Jennifer Hippensteel

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