the horse pt -kissing spines masterclass

so... your horse has kissing spine....

Whether you’re a professional in the industry or a horse owner navigating the diagnosis for the first time - hearing the words “kissing spines” can

quickly send you into a tailspin.

But it doesn’t have to be that way!

Imagine...

Fully understanding the condition of kissing spines: the anatomy, the causes, and all of the variables at play

Having all of the top treatment options explained in one place

Knowing how biomechanics and movement impact recovery - including how to recognize healthy movement and posture

Having a step-by-step process to follow for bringing your horse back into work - a process that can easily be adapted to any horse’s specific needs

Feeling confident your training is supportive of your horse’s spinal health - preventing the condition from returning in the future.

kissing spine

…but rehabbing a horse with presents a number of unique challenges:

Rehabilitation protocols are often vague and non-specific

It’s easy to get hyper focused on the area on the x-ray… the big picture gets overlooked and recovery stagnates

People on the internet are trying to sell you the latest gadgets, supplements, and magic fixes - how do you know what is worth your money and what is snake oil?

The condition can return - even after surgery - if the root cause is never addressed and dysfunctional movement is not changed

There are so many variables at play, so many options for treatment - how do you decide what is right for your horse?

How do you navigate training - is the horse resisting because of ongoing pain? Is this learned behavior? What are you supposed to do?

You’re not alone in this overwhelming experience. Thankfully…

There is a solution.

the

Masterclass

An online, self-paced course that takes horse owners and professionals from overwhelmed and confused to successfully bringing horses with kissing spine back into work through an understanding of anatomy, biomechanics, and physical therapy principles.

The Kissing Spine Masterclass is approved for continuing education credits through NBCAAM

Let’s take a look at

The 6 Steps to Rehabilitation:

Module 1: What is Kissing Spine?

By the time you reach the end of module one, you’ll know everything you need to know about kissing spine. You will:

Gain a solid understanding of the anatomy of the equine back
Learn how to assess your horse’s standing posture to accurately monitor change over time
Take a deep dive into equine spinal biomechanics.

Module 2: What can we do about it?

Become an expert in all of the variables that can impact rehabilitation. We will zoom out to observe the big picture and “set the stage” so you get results that last.

Learn all about the common surgical and non-surgical treatment options available so you can discuss them with your veterinarian with confidence and develop the right plan for the individual horse.

Module 3: The Early Rehab Phase

Module 3 begins with a discussion of rehabilitative exercise and what our big picture goals are throughout the process when working with kissing spine cases.

Next, we dive into a selection of 8 gentle, stall-rest-friendly, exercises for core activation, body awareness, and spinal mobility. Special considerations for surgical and non-surgical cases are discussed throughout.

Module 4: The Handwalking Phase

When I say “handwalking” most people imagine mindlessly leading their horse around for 20 or 30 minutes… but OH - there is so much more to it than that!

Handwalking is where we start inviting a new and more functional posture with movement. We will talk about how to get things started on straight lines and how to progress with transitions, changes in speed, bending lines, obstacles like poles, and walking across varied terrain.

By the end of Module 4 you’re going to love handwalking!

Module 5: The Lunging Phase

This is where I see most people starting to make mistakes. Lunging can be done well - or lunging can be done in a way that actually makes a kissing spine horse worse. We want to avoid that second option at all costs - don’t worry… I’ll teach you how.

Just like with our handwalking, we’ll start simple and then move into the various ways to progress our lunging as the horse builds strength and endurance.

‘Round and ’round in circles just ain’t it. You’ll learn how to do better than that!

Module 6: The Return to Riding Phase

The moment everyone is waiting for! It’s time to get back in the saddle.

I’ve got some tips and tricks to bridge the gap if the weight of the rider is too much in the beginning, and then we’ll walk step-by-step through my riding progression.

By the time you make it through all of the “return to riding” exercises you should be well on your way to returning to your normal ridden work! You’ll also know how to assess for yourself if your horse is ready for whatever you decide to throw at them, because you’ve been building those skills since the beginning of the course.

Here’s How I’ll Walk You Through Every Step:

Over 6 hours of video content

6 modules, 70 lessons, and over 6 hours of video content - tons of information broken down into bite-size chunks. Each video is supplemented with a written summary so you can feel confident you’re getting thorough information in a format you can understand and easily refer back to. As always, you keep lifetime access to the course curriculum!

Full Reference List

You’d better believe I have a source to back everything up! You get the full list of resources included in the course material so you can dive deeper into anything that sparks your interest.

Facebook Group Support

Ask all of your questions, share progress, and find a like-minded community in our dedicated Kissing Spine Masterclass facebook group.

Now, you might be wondering who I am and how I’m qualified to be teaching this course…

Hi! I’m

Dr. Barbara Parks

PT, DPT, CERP

I’m an equine physical therapist and I’ve

for equine professionals and horse owners rehabilitating horses with kissing spine, to take them from disheartened, confused, and on the verge of giving up

to having a fully rehabilitated, strong and resilient equine partner.

crafted this masterclass

The Kissing Spine Masterclass is a of my life’s work.

culmination

Six years ago, I jumped on the opportunity to take a certification program to apply my human physical therapy knowledge to horses, combining my passions and expertise.

But as I dove into the equine healthcare industry - I noticed something was missing…

Back pain was rampant - but rehab programs were vague, non-specific, or putting band-aids on symptoms rather than attacking root causes.

And that’s what I hope to change.

By educating both owners and equine professionals about equine anatomy, biomechanics, movement science, and the principles of safe exercise progression, we can bring the benefits of physical therapy to the equine world.

Physical therapy is standard of care for humans with back pain - but many horse owners don’t have access to an equine physical therapist in their area.

Too many horses weren’t getting better - or staying better.

That’s where the Kissing Spine Masterclass comes in!

After helping countless horses through kissing spine rehabilitation, I knew I had to bring this information to the masses - until it becomes common knowledge in our industry.

Kissing spine is one of the most common diagnoses I see with some studies finding it in over 40% of horses.

I know how devastating this condition can be for the horses and their owners…

It’s time for the equine industry to do better! But we need your help!

You. can. do. this.

**As a friendly reminder - This course is for educational purposes and is not intended to serve as a substitute for veterinary care, but rather a supplement to it. The best rehabilitation plan involves a team of professionals led by your veterinarian**

Saying

What People are About This Course:

It's one of those, "once you see it, you can't unsee it" type of experiences.

I came to know and work with Dr. Parks unfortunately as a last resort.

I tried and did all the things vets were recommending to me and despite my hardest efforts and thousands upon thousands of dollars spent, nothing was working. I knew there had to be more out there available than what I was being offered, and there was!

Barbara began working with me and my horse after he was diagnosed and surgically treated for Kissing Spine and multiple lateral left stifle tears including a torn meniscus. I was at a point where medically we had done everything we could do plus the time off given and I was not seeing the improvement(s) that I had hoped for.

In one visit she proved to me that my horse could go sound, we just needed to rewire his way of carrying himself that he had become accustomed to from years of pain compensation.

I am a professional in my discipline and have been considered such for nearly 20 years. Working with Barbara and her approach to therapy in motion has been completely life changing for me. My understanding of the horse has been completely changed and actually even simplified; not only from a physical standpoint, but an emotional one as well.

It's one of those, "once you see it, you can't unsee it" type of experiences.

The horse that we worked together on went back to full competition, even competing at the highest level, where he was only given a "fair" prognosis from his surgeon.

I use her methods now on every single horse that I work with because I believe that it truly helps them all to be their best. I am so thankful for our time together, my only regret is not knowing about this earlier in life!

-Casey F.

Learn more about Casey’s story:

“this course was above and beyond what I could have hoped for”

Hi Dr. Parks! I just wanted to leave a review for your KS class!

I just finished it this week and I LOVED it.

I don’t have a horse with Kissing Spines, but I work for a rescue and we see a lot of horses come through in all sorts of horrible conditions. There is one in particular right now that might look fine to an untrained eye, but is definitely in pain.

I’ve been implementing the bodywork exercises you teach in the course and I can see him starting to think about being in his body.

The knowledge I gained in this course made me feel so much more in control of the situation and so much more aware of each horse that comes into the rescue and what I can do for them.

And if I feel out of my depth - now I know who I can reach out to!

I love that you had us do the exercise on the ground to REALLY show us what our horses were experiencing. It’s something I’ll never forget.

This course was above and beyond what I could have hoped for. Especially with all of the citations for us to keep learning on our own, the Facebook group, your email for questions, you’ve outdone yourself.

Thank you!

-Kelsey R.

This course was easy to follow, extremely informative, and had helpful tips to assist with horses diagnosed with kissing spines.

I am so thankful to have additional knowledge to train my eye and add to the scope of my practice.

-Shayna W.

Thank you for making such a great course, I really enjoyed it and definitely learned some things!

I've really enjoyed the exercises, any time I can work more gently and more with their bodies I prefer it and I was really impressed with [the horses] responses to them.

I love the thought process of encouraging proprioception instead of causing a reflex.

I'm glad I now have something to suggest to clients who are struggling with these issues or just generally want to help their horses use their bodies in a better and healthier way.

-Madi H.

Are you ready…

To confidently assess all of the available treatment options and choose the best option for YOUR horse

To approach training with a thorough understanding of anatomy and biomechanics - ensuring long-term spinal health no matter the discipline

To be able to discuss your horse’s care with your vet in an educated way - so your entire care team stays on the same page

To get your horse pain-free and back to being the best version of themselves

Then the Kissing Spine Masterclass was MADE for you.

What are you waiting for?

Get started today!

Enroll Now

Not sure yet if this is the right course for you? Let’s hop on a call so I can answer any questions and make sure it’s the right fit before you commit.

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