Services – Horses - Dr. Pat Bona

REQUEST DEMO

Dr. Pat Bona - Doctor of Chiropractic

Services

null
Services for Horses
horses

Dr. Pat Bona has created a legacy in equine wellness by changing the approach to grooming and evaluating a horse. She teaches her clients and followers that “posture is the language of the horse™” as she educates them on the concepts and shares a standard approach to equine management. The first step is to uncover the problem areas that can compromise a horse’s fitness and performance and then learn to manage these areas with a daily Posture Prepping routine.

Posture Prepping for Equine Wellness

Everyone from novice horse owner to the performance veterinarian can apply the Cross Fiber Grooming system for evaluation and treatment of their own horse. Dr. Pat founded the Posture Prepping System on her knowledge of human therapeutics and the application of transverse friction massage and cross fiber massage to loosen adhesions that can cause postural imbalances. By expanding the concept to horses in 1997, Dr. Pat developed the technique for her own horse’s benefit and has been teaching it to the equine world ever since. She introduced the complete package to the horse world in 2011, consisting of the Posture Prep tool and the Cross Fiber Grooming system.

When teaching audiences how to use the Posture Prep Groomer, she starts by introducing the phrase “Dents and Dings™” to refer to old injuries and scar tissue that lead to postural and myofascial imbalances in a horse. Because it can be difficult for most people to identify the Dents and Dings, Dr. Pat describes the RedFlags™ a rider or owner can identify to understand where problems exist. RedFlags include such common visual defects as white hairs, bubbles, concave areas, and loss of hair. Although a wound or injury may heal on the outside, there are often residual areas of damage inside and clearing these areas of myofascial pain and restrictions will help the soft tissue to heal.

Understanding these influences on posture is the basis for the hands-on approach of the Posture Prep Cross Fiber grooming technique, an innovative way to rehab and maintain a horse’s fitness. The goal is to reduce the postural and biomechanical imbalances that can affect performance and your horse’s overall well-being. Dr. Pat is also certified as an equi-tape practitioner and in addition to Posture Prepping, she uses kinesiology taping to facilitate myofascial and postural changes.

Gait Analysis

Dr. Pat has developed an approach to hind end gait analysis that she calls the Ratchet Sign™. She introduced the concept to the AVCA as a practical and efficient way to evaluate hind end gait dysfunction. The approach allows someone to assess hind end biomechanics and evaluate for treatment areas and concerns that may also be associated with RedFlags (mentioned above).

To better inform her clients on horse biomechanics, she is currently working on a teaching format for front-end gait analysis as well as writing a manual on Dents and Dings, RedFlags, Functional Axes of Rotation, and the Ratchet Sign.

Lectures & Clinics

She lectures and gives hands-on clinics to help improve equine postural management.

Her venues have included:
  • Hassler Dressage at Riveredge’s Inaugral Wellness Symposium where she lectured on “Assess and Address the Horse’s Postural and Myofascial Imbalances”
  • The American Veterinary Chiropractic Association where she introduced the concept of the Ratchet Sign.

Dr. Pat is available for individual Posture Prepping consultations (locally) and for speaking at local or national events.

The Power of Posture Prepping

“Beaver, an 8-year-old Himalayan (cat) requires daily brushing. I used a baby brush until I discovered Posture Prep. He jumps onto the toilet seat every morning and awaits his daily grooming, wiggles from side to side, and moans a soothing different kind of purr I’ve never heard before. An excellent product for hair and muscle for kittens.”

Sandra

"I rely on my guide dog to get me around on a daily basis.  We can cover between one and five miles a day, in good weather and bad. Taking care of my dog’s health is critical to my ability to maintain an active lifestyle and I use the Posture Prep to keep her body healthy. She loves it when I message her with the posture prep and gives me lots of kisses in return!"

Cathy Beaudoin, Owner, Fidelco guide dog

"My five dogs who hate to be groomed and run when they see the brush love this product!! Especially my neurologic Great Pyrenees who I believe gets some muscle releases and body soreness relief."

Yvette

"Switch, who doesn't like to be brushed at all, stood like a rock and when I went to use the Posture Prep tool on one of the other dogs, she literally pushed them out of the way and that's not like her to do that. I'd say she loves it."

Maryanne

"Just wanted to let you know that I used the Posture Prep on Piper and Elvis and they both loved it. Piper, who usually dances around stood and leaned into me in rhythm and they both lifted their feet very nicely for me."

Shelley

"Beaver, an 8-year-old Himalayan (cat) requires daily brushing. I used a baby brush until I discovered Posture Prep. He jumps onto the toilet seat every morning and awaits his daily grooming, wiggles from side to side, and moans a soothing different kind of purr I've never heard before. An excellent product for hair and muscle for kittens."

Sandra

"Dr. Pat’s work has significantly helped the top line of two of my horses. One, a 22-year-old quarter horse, had a sagging back and his withers were sinking down between his shoulder blades. The other, a 13-year old Welsh Cobb driving pony, was severely jammed up in his shoulders/wither area and his back was hollow. Both horses have seen their backs come up and their withers emerge from their shoulder blades."

Eliza

"I began using the Posture Prep on my standard poodles in July 2014 with the goals of having peak athletic performance in agility events and decreasing any possibility of injury. The POSTURE PREP is a great warm-up for agility runs and I can see that it allows them to comfortably fully extend when running and jumping. The added bonus is that it aids in our connection before our agility runs. Bar dropping has decreased about 80%! My 8 year old is Genasha, #1 poodle in AKC agility."

Russ Thorpe

"Molly (four-year-old golden retriever) comes running when she sees POSTURE PREP in my hand. She immediately sits in front of me with her "golden smile" lifts her paw and waits for her massage. She seems to relax all over and really seems to enjoy the massage and relaxes putting her head on my lap."

Julie

"My rottweiler Jazzie loves her posture prepping time, she plops down and relishes it from her head to her belly."

Don

"Dr. Pat’s work has significantly helped the top line of two of my horses. One, a 22-year-old quarter horse, had a sagging back and his withers were sinking down between his shoulder blades. The other, a 13-year old Welsh Cobb driving pony, was severely jammed up in his shoulders/wither area and his back was hollow. Both horses have seen their backs come up and their withers emerge from their shoulder blades."

Eliza

"We have found Posture Prep to be so beneficial we use it as an integral part of our training program. It helps our horses overcome training blocks in a shorter time and a happier manner. Posture Prep is the ideal pre-ride warm-up allowing more effective use of under saddle time. Posture Prep is our favorite equine product, we use it on all our horses; 4 year olds to FEI!"

"My horses enjoy being groomed with it so much that they groom me back! All of them love the massage and I enjoy paying extra attention to them. It's particularly great for my old mare who is so bony. She just blisses out!"

Eliza Walbridge

"I have used your Posture Prep tool and my Prix St George stallion, Gideon, really likes it! To be honest, it surprised me, since he is so sensitive, but he immediately began relaxing and yawning. I found his muscles to be softer afterwards, including the spots where he can sometimes hold tension. Your directions are clear."

Kim Walnes

"Molly (four-year-old golden retriever ) comes running when she sees POSTURE PREP in my hand. She immediately sits in front of me with her "golden smile" lifts her paw and waits for her massage. She seems to relax all over and really seems to enjoy the massage and relaxes putting her head on my lap."

Mary Lou

"Dr Pats posture prep is a must have in all barns. The unique grooming techniques allow you to truly help your horses comfort level no matter whether pleasure horse or advanced eventer. We at World Class Grooming like to use the posture prep as part of our daily grooming routine. Being able to pick up subtle soreness early is paramount to helping the advance horse have a longer, more sound and happier life. We have yet to find a horse not enjoy this product."

Emma Ford and Cat Hill, World Class Grooming

"My horse’s chiropractor recommended belly lifts for him to keep up his topline and improve the atrophy he has behind his shoulders. I can hardly get him to lift that belly, but the posture prep helps to get a little bit of a lift out of him…"

"My daughter's mare, a chestnut appendix QH, barely tolerates grooming. But she completely enjoys her Posture Prep sessions & actively participates by positioning herself, showing me where to focus & displaying some comical 'that's the spot' behavior. Sometimes she 'grooms' me back. Such a wonderful tool."

Jacquelyn Saint

"My 27 year old horse Mac has been in stall rest due to a severe ruptured tendon. Using the Posture Prep groomer has helped keep his muscle toned and his posture square as he recovers."

Martha Lubow — Quakertown, PA, United States — Synergis

"I have known Dr Patricia Bona DC ( Dr Pat ) for many years. She is an inspiration to us all with her electrifying enthusiasm that she radiates throughout her profession. With this, she also brings a tremendous wealth of knowledge to the arena of animal welfare by being (AVCA) American Veterinary Chiropractic Association certified Chiropractor. This means her professional statue is unprecedented by the promotion of her "Grooming Tool".,,,, In other words, try it and you will see the difference."

Dave Duckett, FWCF

"I have been a massage therapist for over 20 years. Wish I had your Posture prep groomer sooner, it makes my job so much easier! Also recommending it to all my clients for follow up work. Thank you Pat!"

Sharon Spaziani, ncmt

"Hi I have my equine posture prep for two years now and my horses love it! It takes a lot of hard work out of my hands and the horses respond beautifully. One of my geldings had a chronic problem in his right hip and has gotten lots of relief from it. When he sees me get it out he walks right up to me and presents his hip without my asking!"

Denise Kutchko

Instructional & Educational Opportunities

null

Virtual Consultations

null

Workshops & Clinics

null

In-Person Lectures

Inquire about speaker & clinic opportunities:

    0
      0
      Cart
      Your cart is emptyReturn to Shop