Good performance starts with wellness.
I specialize in physical therapy, sports performance, and wellness coaching for equestrians looking to restore, optimize, and enhance performance for themselves and their horse. And we have fun doing it.
Treat. Educate. Empower. Enjoy.
Getting, and keeping, your horse moving well so they are comfortable and happy in their work is critical to your success. I know that process can feel overwhelming. Do they need bodywork, therapeutic exercise, more work or less work, etc.?
Do you start with the vet, farrier, saddle fitter, body worker, trainer, or dentist? Or maybe an animal communicator? And maybe you’re worried something significant needs to be dealt with that might derail your goals or your bank account.
That’s the puzzle I can help you sort out. I treat horses and riders, and work with you to create a plan to help you and your horse become better athletes. Sometimes that plan is more treatment sessions, or an exercise program, or a referral to other specialists such as your veterinarian. We work together to figure out what feels doable in this season of your life. I’m here to help you and your horse move, feel, and perform better.
I’d love to be on your team.
"By treating horses and riders, and helping equestrians create a horse-first training approach, I help you create a manageable, sustainable, and effective program, no matter your budget or starting point."
Ready to work together? Download my services brochure.
Learn more about how we can work together.
Work with Shelley
Sisters & Horses Equine Performance and Rehab
Shelley's equine physiotherapy sessions combine a scientific and holistic approach to achieve optimum results for your horse. Treatment includes a mix of manual therapy, osteopathic medicine, targeted exercises, and modalities to help your horse release tension, improve muscle activation, and feel supple and strong. This sets the stage for your horse feeling confident and forming a great partnership with you. When your horse is pain free, moving well, properly rehabbed from an injury, and enjoying his work, magic happens!
I run these programs with my sister, Shawna Thomas. Hence, the product name, Sisters & Horses. We have so much fun!
We offer equine physiotherapy sessions to help you achieve performance and/or rehab goals with your horse. We also have an in-barn rehab program if your horse requires intensive physical therapy services to recover from an injury, or you need help drilling down to an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.
I call my holistic approach to helping horses perform and recover from injuries "The Soundness System."
It's important to look at the whole horse.
Is your horse's body balanced, and is movement optimized?
If not, let's use manual therapy, targeted modalities, and therapeutic exercise to achieve this goal.
Are there movement restrictions and compensations due to ill-fitting tack?
If yes, then let's work on improving tack fit, and applying manual therapy and therapeutic exercise to restore function.
Are there movement restrictions and compensations due to hoof balance?
If yes, then let's work with your farrier and vet to create a rehab plan, and use targeted manual therapy and therapeutic exercise to restore function.
Does your horse have adequate nutrition to build muscle and support performance?
Let's review your horse's diet, and if there are concerns, get referred to an equine nutritionist.
Does your horse have postural imbalances and movement restrictions from carrying a weak or unbalanced rider?
If yes, let's work on improving your body alignment, strength, and balance, so you can be a better backpack for your horse.
Is your horse challenged by old injuries or conformational issues?
If yes, let's design the most effective therapeutic exercise program possible to "bulletproof" your horse's body and help them deal with their workload. In these situations, it's important to train smarter, not harder.
Let's make your horse resilient.
Restore. Optimize. Enhance.
Programs for Riders
What you can expect working together
I've got several ways we can work together, in-person and virtually, so you can live anywhere.
Physical Therapy Sessions (on and off the horse)
Physical therapy sessions are targeted at improving your comfort, alignment, and muscle activation in the saddle. I work with you on and off your horse. Before your session, we will discuss your situation and make an action plan.
IW365
This is my monthly membership program focused on rider wellness. It includes an equestrian focused fitness and mobility program, wellness tools for your body and mind, and horse management training to help you keep your horse sound and performing well. There are two tracks: DIY and Coaching, depending on what level of assistance you want to reach your goals or recover from your injury.
Virtual Consults
We can work together via Zoom. It can be a one time consult to assess your movement and recommend some exercises, or we can meet regularly to work on exercises and improving movement patterns.
Here's what I strongly believe and bring into my treatment approach:
I believe every rider, no matter your riding skill, body style, or past history, can improve their movement patterns, and this improvement will translate to your riding. The work you do off your horse translates to better body control on your horse, which is an amazing feeling.
I believe something is better than nothing. Most riders are juggling a full-time career, family, and their horse hobby. Adding in time and energy for workouts and mental training is daunting. I get what it feels like to commit to the goal, and then think "how in the holy heck can I do this?" I help you stop beating yourself up about what you haven't done, and instead get real about what is possible, and together we make that effective!
Getting more fit isn't always the answer to riding better. Rather, you need to improve your body alignment, neurological activation, and motor control. Then you can add load and work on your endurance. But if you skip the first steps, you just feel like your workouts are in vain. You're doing all these workouts, but it's not translating to better riding, and you're so disappointed. It's not a lack of effort though. Rather it's lack of quality programming. When we work together, I'll help you get the results your need to make your riding more effective and fun.
I also want you to focus on your fitness, not your body shape. Your horse wants you to be strong, better balanced, and in control of your body. Your body weight and shape has far less to do with these things than society leads you to believe. I want to empower you to focus on fitness and taking actions to be better for your horse.
Let's help your horse by helping you.
Restore. Optimize. Enhance.
Success Stories
It's been instrumental having Shelley join our team. I've struggled over the years finding physio that helped my horses and actually benefited them long-term. After having Shelley join our team, I can see a huge difference in the core strength of my horses and flexibility. Riding is one key part of building flexibility and strength, but having Shelley help develop exercises for each of my horses has been a game changer.
I am utterly thrilled, exhausted and amazed after my ride today! Maya is now at a place where I don’t have to spend all my energy and focus on her and her attitude and frame. We can start just having fun. So I decided to focus on me more in the saddle. Amazing!!! I am amazed at how much taller I am in the saddle, how much longer my leg, how much less I need to do to influence Maya and how she responds in kind in her body
Shelley has been an integral part of my team for many years now. Her ability to monitor my horse's movement, performance, and fitness gives me comfort in knowing that we are being proactive in maintaining sound performance horses. Shelley's biomechanics program is also extremely important to both myself and my clients' ability to maintain fitness and strength in the saddle. I refer clients all the time to Shelley for the pure fact that Shelley and her team help me do my job better. Happy healthy horses and riders all around.
Hi there! (One of my students) had a lesson this morning. We did a lunge lesson so she could do the core strengthening exercises you gave her. It is all so cool! I can see the obvious improvements and how beneficial the approach was. Just letting you know I'm really digging what you are doing and I think it's brilliant.
Hi, I'm Shelley Thomas
If you're looking for support, for yourself or your horse, to help you both move, feel, and perform better, you're in the right spot! I'm passionate about helping you keep your horse sound and feeling good, improve your own body control and alignment, and support you in creating a "horse first" training program.
I have been treating people for 24 years and treating horses for 7 years. I have a very busy practice and treat about 100 horses and work with dozens of riders in my online programs each month. This volume has helped me figure out what works best to help both the equine and human athletes.
I am also a rider and competitor. I’ve ridden through the preliminary level in eventing, up to 4th level dressage, and spent several years pursuing goals in the show jumping arena. I’ve worked for top level riders, managed barns, run my own horse business, and had enough experience to say I’ve done a lot wrong, learned many lessons, and like to think I’m working smarter nowadays. But of course, it’s horses, so the learning will never be done!
Shelley's Calendar
1st quarter, 2024
January 8 - March 10, 2024
I will be based in Aiken, SC for the winter.
I'm traveling to Aiken with our four horses (Pangloss, Mani, Elliot & Khaleesi) to escape the Idaho winter, get everyone legged up, and train with Allison Springer. Let me know if you'd like you or your horse treated! I'd love to work with you. Email me at shelley@intrepidwellness.com or set up a free consult.
Winter 2024 Date TBD
Clinic in Chapel Hill, NC
I'll be in Chapel Hill, NC treating horses and riders. Interested in securing a spot? Email me at shelley@intrepidwellness.com or set up a free consult.
March 31, 2024
Wasatch Sport Horses Ice Breaker Show, Eagle, ID
Hopefully the horses will travel home well from Aiken and head to this schooling show for some show jump rounds.
The rest of the year
Here's a snapshot of the rest of 2024.
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