Moss Equine Matrix

For the final part of our immersion, we got real about the business side. You can be the best bodyworker in the world, but if you don't have a legal foundation, you won't last!

We covered the "Non-Negotiables":
Business Legitimacy: Setting up an LLC, hiring a good accountant, and separating business/personal finances.

Protection: Investing in a solid liability insurance policy and having a lawyer-approved waiver—you shouldn't touch a horse without them!

Customer Service: Remember, the human pays the bill, not the horse! Great customer service and "show and tell" during sessions provide massive value to the client.

Strategy: We discussed route density—scheduling with a strategy so you aren't spending all your profit on gas!.
It was an honor to mentor these future pros! 🌟

You know, a fan can help blow all your worries away… and make you look like a beauty commercial. I mean, whatever you’re going for 💚🐴😂🤷🏻‍♀️😉💚

I care a lot.

I have a client who calls me “Magic Hands” and I giggled the first time heard it. Now it’s helped affirm what I already knew, sometimes, my hands really are magic.

I want to be a part of your team. Any horse owner knows it takes a full team of professionals to keep our horses happy and healthy and around for a long time. Let my magic hands and my heart for people and horses be a part of your team.

When your horse does a horse thing and tweaks something, and you panic because they aren’t moving right, let me part of the team that helps. When you get to feel the results of my magic and you let me know… I’ll be just as excited as you. 💚🐴💚

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I’m going to do another 4-part series starting by discussing the anatomy and function of the hyoid apparatus!!

Aka one of my all-time FAVORITE anatomical topics to nerd out about🤭

The hyoid apparatus looks a lot like a swing from a playground located in between the two mandibles. Attaching up to the skull underneath the temporal bone (underneath the ear) at the temperohyoid joint.

Dysfunction of the hyoid can present as a slew of different symptoms such as behavior issues, mysterious lameness, and/or neurologic changes, etc. I’ve seen it first hand with Booty… leading me to where I am today, so impressed by anatomical connections from head to tail…literally! HOW COOL is the body?!

The hyoid apparatus is a team of several bones that work together to assist the body in many functions.

Some of the key functions -
𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭
The hyoid apparatus provides the primary skeletal framework supporting the tongue.
Without it, coordinated tongue movement would not be possible.

𝐒𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠
During swallowing, the hyoid apparatus elevates and moves caudally, coordinating movement of the tongue, pharynx, and larynx.
Super important in protecting the airway and moving feed towards the esophagus!!

𝐔𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 / 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
**We’re going to dive more into this later… Follow along in this series 😉**
Helps stabilize the larynx

𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐥 + 𝐒𝐤𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐬
Because the stylohyoid bones connect to the temporal bones, movement of the tongue and larynx can influence forces transmitted to the skull.
Likewise, restrictions at the poll or temporohyoid region may affect hyoid function.

𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐬
This is where things get SO cool.

The hyoid apparatus functions as a biomechanical bridge between from the head, ultimately throughout the entire body through muscular and fascial connections.

Several major muscles attach directly to the hyoid apparatus establishing direct connections between the head, sternum, shoulder, throughout the trunk, all the way back to the hind end. There’s a lot to this that I will talk about more specifically in later posts.

𝑵𝒐𝒘, 𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒎𝒚!
Starting with the bony structures -

𝐓𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐡𝐲𝐨𝐢𝐝 (2 total, paired)
Small cartilage connecting the stylohyoid to the temporal bone

𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐡𝐲𝐨𝐢𝐝 (2 total, paired)
The longest pair, articulating to the temporal bone
Extend dorsally (up… think dorsal… dolfin fin) toward the skull
Most susceptible to temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (THO)

𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐡𝐲𝐨𝐢𝐝 (2 total, paired)
Located between the stylohyoid and ceratohyoid

𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐡𝐲𝐨𝐢𝐝 (2 total, paired)
Connects the epihyoid to the basihyoid
Extend from the basihyoid toward the skull
Transmit forces between the tongue, pharynx, and upper hyoid structures

𝐓𝐡𝐲𝐫𝐨𝐡𝐲𝐨𝐢𝐝
Attaches to the thyroid cartilage of the larynx
“Thyro”hyoid…Attaches to “thyro”id cartilage😉

𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐡𝐲𝐨𝐢𝐝
Supports the lingual process of the tongue
Located beneath the tongue… The “base”
Primary attachment point for numerous muscles assisting in tongue movement, swallowing and laryngeal position

𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬
Projecting rostrally (towards the front) from the basihyoid
Extends into the base of the tongue

𝑴𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒔!!

Tongue Muscles
• Genioglossus
• Hyoglossus
• Styloglossus

Suprahyoid Muscles
• Mylohyoideus
• Geniohyoideus
• Digastricus

Infrahyoid Muscles
• Sternohyoideus
• Sternothyroideus
• Omohyoideus

𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐡𝐲𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬
Connects the hyoid to the sternum, continuing into the pectorals, abdominals, all the way to the pelvis through fascia

𝐎𝐦𝐨𝐡𝐲𝐨𝐢𝐝
Connects the hyoid to fascia around the shoulder joint medially (towards the midline)
From the shoulder, the ventral fascia line continues through the body running back the hind limb

𝐎𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐡𝐲𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐞
Connects the hyoid to the poll, linking through the dorsal line (nuchal ligament and dorsal fascia) back to the hind end

Next, we’ll dive deeper making connections between the larynx and pharynx with the hyoid!!

#𝙐𝙣𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨

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Muscles of the abdominal wall are layered — 4 different muscles with 4 different fibre directions. They work in perfect coordination, but still there has to be a gliding interface between them, allowing them to work through all combinations of action during movement.

P.S. As my page is again in trouble for not following some standards, and it is not recommended by FB, so for you to see it you need to like it or comment on my post.

A successful bodyworker knows they are one piece of the health team, which includes:

Vets & Chiropractors
Farriers & Saddle Fitters
Nutritionists & Rehab Specialists

Building this "two-way street" of referrals ensures the horse gets the best care possible. We also talked about the importance of continuous learning—going to clinics and learning about other disciplines so you can be a well-rounded professional who understands the unique demands of a dressage horse vs. a trail horse.

One of the big "aha!" moments for the students was realizing that everything in the body is connected. In equine bodywork, we don’t just look at where it hurts; we look for the source.

We discussed anatomical chain reactions, like:
The Jaw & Poll: Tension in the Masseter (chewing muscle) often leads to secondary tension in the poll (Re**us Capitus Lateralis).

Dropped Shoulders: A tight TMJ and hyoid can create tension in the Brachiocephalicus, which is often responsible for "dropped" shoulders.

The "Engine": Problems in the Iliopsoas (deep in the hindquarters) are a common cause of lower back pain and can even make the rib muscles (Intercostals) reactive!.

By understanding this neural communication loop, we can treat the cause of a "toe drag" or a "stiff back" rather than just the symptom.

These students and I also chatted about the tools of the trade. Many were surprised to learn that it’s not just about the hands!
I use:
Hands: Our most vital tool for palpation, feeling for muscle tension, heat, and imbalances.
Wet Wrags: Used to provide traction and gentle release for tight structures.
Guasha Tools: Specialized detail tools used for myofascial release, applying pressure into connective tissue restrictions to restore motion.

But the real magic is putting the puzzle together. 🧩 We have to "listen" with our hands through palpation while simultaneously listening to the owner, trainer, or rider. They provide the context for performance problems—like an inability to bend or pick up a lead—that helps us determine the best approach for that specific horse.

I had the pleasure of hosting two high school students for a school career immersion experience! One of the first things we tackled was a common question: Is this just a horse massage?

While often used interchangeably, equine bodywork is a broader, multi-faceted approach that incorporates various physical therapies—including myofascial release, stretching, and massage—to maintain athletic performance and holistic health. While equine massage specifically focuses on manipulating muscles and soft tissues to relieve stress and enhance circulation, bodywork aims to improve the interconnectedness of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems.

It was so fun showing these ladies that our goal isn’t just relaxation—it’s functional performance!

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