Testimonials

Beanie is a 7 year old Paint gelding that was purchased as a yearling. His show career came to an abrupt halt when he was diagnosed with Head Shakers Syndrome the fall of his 3 yr old year. Beanie was seen by numerous vets who recommended different treatments, none of which worked. We also tried the Patch, a homeopathic remedy from Australia, allergy shots, and a treatment recommended by U.C. Davis. None of which gave him much relief. All of this took place over a 3 year period. In 2010 a friend of mine sent me the link on Cranial Sacral Massage for headshakers. I immediately contacted Shea. After talking with Shea I must say that I did feel a little skeptical but thought it was certainly worth trying. Shea was kind enough to work with my schedule to get to Central TX for Beannie's first treatment on August 15, 2010. My husband walked in during the treatment and told me it looked like a waste of money. But when we both saw the results, we were absolutely AMAZED!!! For the first time my gelding had some relief from his Headshakers Syndrome. Beanie had another follow-up treatment on October 28, 2010 prior to attending the 2010 Paint World where he placed Top Five in two Hunter Under Saddle Events. After one year and two treatments, Beanie is still not headshaking! Thank you Shea for all of your work and dedication to horses with Head Shakers. Susan Matta, Marion, TX

I had tried numerous modalitites over the last three years to help my QH gelding find some relief from his chronic navicular type pain. While the treatments seemed to provide some pain relief, none of the treatments seemed to provide much long-term relief or change the way he moved. I was impressed with the results I had seen with craniosacral work on my other horses, but I did not have as much hope that it could change this gelding's way of going. After Shea did a craniosacral session on him, I noticed several things that had never changed with other body work. Previously, his feet always grew up and narrow, like soup cans. After the craniosacral, his feet retained some semblance of a normalangle. His feet still have a long way to go, but it is the first time he seems to be weighting his heels. I also noticed that the incredible tension that he usually carries in front of his shoulders, presumably from walking on his toes, was much softer. In addition, his back was much softer. He always had a very rigid back. He also has a brighter look in his eyes now. It seems that the craniosacral works allowed him to shift his weight back and carry himself in a more normal manner. I just pulled his shoes to see how he does barefoot. When I tried pulling his shoes before, he was far too foot sore to go barefoot on pasture. While he still has a long way to go to be sound for riding, the craniosacral work is the first thing that has seemed to make a long term difference in the way he moves and uses his body.

Stephanie Roundy, Ione, CA

"My 14 year old Arabian gelding Dandy has not been quite right since he came to live with me as a 3 year old. Before I ever started his saddle training, he demonstrated back soreness - particularly in his sacral/lower back. Additionally, in his 10th year he foundered from overeating acorns - and was at that time also diagnosed with Equine Metabolic Syndrom/Insulin Resistance AND Cushings. Over the years he has been called my 'Humpty Dumpty' horse, which I keep having to put together again. He has had regular chiropractic support, massage therapy, nutritional therapy & a balanced diet, meticulous hoof balancing & care, exercise, dental care, Reiki, laser therapy, Feldenkrais, drug & hebal therapy, correct saddles that fit and other voodoo magic type stuff. He has enjoyed all the attention and bodywork. Unfortunately, I have not been able to ride him 2 days in a row without drugs, because of his back pain. Sometimes, when I lightly run my hand across his back he will almost drop to the ground. I decded to have Shea out for a CranioSacral session for my horses. When she worked on Dandy (and the others) they became relaxed and enjoyed the session. Shea brings a positive balanced energy that permeates the barn, such that the people, horses and dogs that are in the vicinity of her relax as well! (really!) It was all well and good. Although Shea noticed at the end of the session some postural changes in Dandy, I was not sure if this would be any different than the other therapies we had done. Most didn't 'hold' for more than a week or so - and when I went out for a ride everything got out of whack again - and I'd have to figure out how to put Dandy back together again, pain free. The following weekend I went for a ride with Dandy and a friend. At the trail head there is a step over about 2' high. Horses and people just walk over it and it prevents large motorized vehicles from entering. Dandy jumps over this, and has on occassion outright refuse to go. When he refuses, I know he is in pain and I need to get the chiro out or do something else. One time, after a long ride, he stood there mustering up the courage to jump over it for 20 minutes (he must have been really locked up). So on this day, I lead Dandy to the trailhead, walked over and turned as I always do to ask him to come...and was stunned to realize Dandy was standing with me!!! He walked over it painfree without any hesitation! Elated and surprise I said something to my friend Terri. She said - 'wow! He must feel good today!!' WOW is right! We rode for a couple hours, and when we came back, he again walked right over!! That may seem like such a simple task walking over a 2' bar. For Dandy, that demonstrated that he was able to move freely for the first time -and that his hips were unlocked. He didn't hurt. The only thing that was different, is that Shea had provided a CranioSacral session earlier that week. I completely attribute Dandy's improved movement to the CranioSacral work that Shea did. The results on Dandy were so dramatic, that I can say that the CranioSacral therapy that Shea provide is the most effective and powerful than any other treatment that Dandy has received! Thank you Shea for helping Dandy to feeling better. He is most grateful for the ability to move better!" Stacy Berger, Shingle Springs, CA

"In training with Shea, I have gained the confidence I needed to handle and train my horses that I have not had in the past. I have developed a profound level of communication with them, as well."Robin Stepp, Shingle Springs, CA

"Over the past decade spent rehabilitating older horses, I have explored many types of therapy including acupuncture, chiropractic, and body work, in addition to traditional veterinary medicine. Although helpful, none effected the dramatic and lasting changes that Craniosacral Therapy has with our elderly equine friends. I believe this astounding success can be attributed not only to Shea's in-depth knowledge of CST itself, but also to her remarkable 'feel' for horses, and her clear understanding of how to best support them from the equine perspective. On behalf of all the mending Hearts horses: Thank you, Shea! CST really does work." - Michele Lamelin, Founder, Mending Hearts

Shea first treated my 22 year old Peruvian Paso gelding in September, 2010. Several months before, "Sundance" had been ultrasound diagnosed with DSLD(degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis), in both back legs, and his left front leg. He had spent a very difficult several months, due to the deep mud from a very rainy winter. More and more often, I found him lying down and he had great difficulty getting up again. I worried that he might have to be euthanized. After his diagnosis, we were able to move him to a flater paddock, iced his legs daily, followed by wrapping. We also added Duralactin to his feed, which is a long term anti-inflammatory. The best I could do was to try and keep him as comfortable as possible. I found Shea in an online search. Because DSLD is an incurable genetic disease, I knew that Sundance wouldn't magically get well, but I was very surprised by the change in his posture after his very first treatment. Here is my email to Shea, along with the "before and after" photos:

"Hi Shea, I wanted to share with you an amazing change in Sundance's body,just the next day after you treated him on Sept. 13.I have included before and after pictures. I ice his legs with ice boots. They kept sliding down so the manufacturer sent me a nylon web strap with velcro ends, to attach and hold the boots up.Well, the strap is too short; I had lengthened it all the way, but there was only about an inch on either side to attach to the boots. It was pretty tight on his back, and I kept pulling it in front of his hip bones to make it less tight.Then, the day after your treatment, we again put on the ice boots, and, much to our great surprise, the strap was very loose! About 4 inches on each side of extra strap. Here are those pics, before pic is on the LEFT, you can see his posture and how tight the straps are...."

Sundance has had 3 subsequent treatments and Shea will be coming to our area again next month. I plan to have her treat him on a regular basis for as long as I can keep him happy and comfortable. He loves Shea's hands-on approach and almost immediatly falls asleep under her gentle ministrations. She intuitively knows exactly where to touch him and he responds with deep sighs, lots of "licking and chewing," and even deeper relaxation. For days afterward, we can see how much better he feels all over. He has even become playful again, which brings me great joy. I recommend Shea for virtually any issues you may be having with your horse. Whatever the problem, she will be able to help.

Pam and Sundance

Shea's horses, from left to right, Mouse, Rosebud, Monterey, and Birch. Bella is out grazing somewhere.