What Clients have to say about:
Equinesse Equine Bodywork & F.I.M. Riding Clinics.
I have been a Professional Dressage Trainer in San Diego County for over 20 years. I am fortunate to have multiple options when it comes to treatments/therapies/vet care for the horses I have in training. I am very picky and often skeptical when I am introduced to a new treatment that is suppose to work miracles and is better than anything else available. I am the type of trainer who likes to keep what is already working, working. I met Marcella when a client of mine had her out to work on her horse. I had noticed this horse getting better and better in the training but had not tied it to anything more than the fact that he was getting fit. This client also had Marcella work on another mare who belonged to her best friend. This mare had ulcers in the past, she was very nervous, always in hurry, girthy etc....
After just one session with Marcella this mare's temperament did a complete 360 degree turn around. She is one of the sweetest, most wonderful, fun mares to ride now. So to take it one step further, after watching Marcella work on these horses for several months and having the opportunity to talk with her I finally gave in and had her assess my own mare. My mare is a 7 year old Holsteiner whose background is a mystery. She basically is a rescue. Although she has amazing talent for Dressage, she also had very quick reactions to noise and general overall tension constantly. She was a stall pacer as well. She had difficulty staying on the bit for more than a few minutes even though she was getting stronger and fitter. I also had an extremely hard time getting her ribs to stop showing even though she had gained 200 lbs in my care and was working properly over the topline.
I stood watch, with the owner of the first horse while Marcella worked on my mare for the first time. I wish I had a video to show you the "miracle" transformation taking place before my eyes. My mare's ribs were almost 100% invisible after just one treatment. Marcella was able to release muscles and tension and pain that were causing my mare to have her hips turned out the wrong way and thus not able to carry her back up and pelvis underneath. I was truly amazed. Marcella has now completed 4 sessions on my mare and she is a completely different horse. She no longer stall paces, she is much friendlier, more focused, quiet and relaxed. I can now ride her past jumps without her trying to run out of the arena. I credit Marcella for this mare's change in attitude. Her ribs no longer are visible, she is square on all 4 feet and moves in a straight line. I now have confidence that this mare is going to live up to the potential I saw in her when she arrived. I am looking forward to starting her show career next year.
I highly recommend Marcella Smit for horse bodywork. She will be a part of the Angie Taylor Dressage Team for a long time to come.
Sincerely, Angie
Angie Taylor Dressage http://www.angietaylordressage.com/
"Marcella's work with my mare Sequoia is a true Godsend. The mare had years worth of accumulated, unnatural injuries: Ridden abuse, a bad fence, a broken pelvis, hock surgery, all of which left her in such a state of hobbling atrophy and painful limitation that not only was she unsafe to ride, her excellent chiropractor said there was nothing more he could really help her with. I had tried other modes of healing with her but they gave only minimal relief. The farrier still could not even work on the worst hoof, as her fear of pain was overwhelming.
One day recently, a mutual friend raved about Marcella's amazing results and suggested I might want to try her as she happened to be in the area to help someone else. Skeptical, but still hopeful for some relief, I asked Marcella if she would see what she might do for Sequoia.
What happened was truly amazing. On meeting Sequoia, Marcella instantly understood the difficulty - with respect, perseverance and gentle skill she worked for nearly two hours in fading light and poor conditions to bring relief to that horse. When they were finished, I could not believe my eyes - the horse was transformed - her eyes were soft, tension gone. Energized, she took off running in the pasture - her gait was unrecognizable - before, she ran like a mechanical plastic horse with hind end locked and both legs as if glued together in a stride less than a yard long - this horse was now open, each hind leg independently moving in a normal canter stride, her trot flowing and even. Her body language was happy and confident.
One week later the mare's entire top line and musculature had shifted dramatically - she looked fabulous - and her stance was normal, hind legs no longer tucked under, front legs actually flexing and holding weight as they should. And, the farrier worked on all four feet while Sequoia stood relaxed and at ease in the pasture. I may even contemplate riding her one day.
This story is not exaggerated. I am now working to get Marcella back here to help me with a couple of other horses, none with such dramatic issues, but Marcella is one of those rare healers who truly has a gift that goes beyond excellent technique. Sequoia and I are lucky, indeed, to have crossed paths with her.
I recommend her unreservedly to anyone who wants to
improve the quality of life or performance of their equine partners."
Andrea Felsovanyi - Menlo Park, CA June 2013
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Marcella Gets Terrific Results. - I’m a polo player whose horses must be relaxed but in tip-top shape. For over two years Marcella has worked with two of my Thoroughbreds and my Arabian—and the results are terrific! Not only can she discover and work out the “knots” in each animal’s muscles, but she leaves them happy and raring to go. She actually cured a couple of quasi-lameness problems in one horse that had been caused by over-worked/compensating muscles, and then gave me solid riding instructions about avoiding a repetition of the problem. Marcella’s a stand-out in terms of her forthrightness, honesty, and genuine care for each animal’s well being."
Art Campbell, Lakeside Polo Club, Lakeside, California March 2013
-------------------------------------------
" I first met Marcella at Del Mar Showpark in August, 2012. I was seeking a body worker for my horse, Cascavello 5, aka Ares as he was travelling completely crooked to the jumps! After his first treatment, he was substantially better! By his second treatment, he was straight and jumping amazing! He was third in the Low Jr/AO Classic! Marcella worked on him a third time and he won the classic the following week!
Marcella has subsequently come to Arizona to work on my horses. I have a young horse (who fractured her right hip as a one year old) that was kicking out under saddle, and having difficulty maintaining her right lead. After two days of sports massage, she stopped kicking out, and maintains her lead almost all the time! Marcella is truly a gem to the horses, and I highly recommend her for horses with issues, or simply maintenance of your horse! "
Sonja D., Scottsdale, AZ Dec 2012
Update Feb 2013: 'Cascavello had 5 (five) consecutive double clean rounds in Thermal, CA. Since Marcella has started working on him he is consistantly jumping better and better.'
Sonja D., Scottsdale, AZ.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Marcella helped my mare Rosie. She would trip frequently during my riding lessons. Since receiving body work from Marcella she has improved in many areas. Her tripping stopped completely, something none of the previous professionals had been able to solve. Attending Marcella's 2-day Riding clinic boosted my confidence and made riding so much more enjoyable for both of us.
Chris S. - Skaneateless, NY winter/spring 2010/2011
------------------------------------------------------------------
Marcella added a missing element to Affinity Farm's riding program. With her thorough knowledge of human and horse anatomy, she was able to clearly convey how we as riders effect our horses' balance and movement. Without exception, all of our riders who participated in Marcella's 2-day clinics experienced their horses' transformation from stiff and resistant to willing and soft. Our riders and horses are grateful to Marcella for the education she brought to us!
In addition to helping many of our horses through equine massage sessions, Marcella has added an element to our riding program that we will never forget!
From all of us, thank you again,
Kim Allen, Owner & Trainer @ www.affinityfarminc.com
Skaneateless, NY winter/spring 2010/2011
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once my horse received the obvious benefits of body work sessions with Marcella, it was only natural to follow up with her Riding Clincs. Riding with Marcella has done so much rounding and softening for my horse!
I believe that her strong background in the ortho/ med trained field and her current horse massage practice is an ideal blend for teaching riders to communicate with their horses and listen for their horses responses.
Her focus of a soft and natural approach to allowing the horse to find balance has helped my Percheron-cross 5-year-old warm blood begin to muscle and round her topline where she has been woefully (no whoa pun intended) shallow and soft. She moves forward now with the impulse from her hindquarters and rounds up naturally with a soft yield to the bit.
It took a lot of patience, which Marcella has a seemingly endless supply of, to get me to relax my bad habits, especially hanging on the inside rein! I also did not realize how much I was overusing my knees and legs in cueing my horse. Just fussing with her all the time instead of letting her relax and find her own balance. I should tell you I have been riding, training and showing for 35 plus years. Marcella has a way of bringing your faults to light by letting you figure it out as you go along with each progressive ride a progressive series of learning for both you and your horse. I would recommend her for any level rider, as you can tell from my background, I had some accumulated bad riding to undo which my horse has responded to wonderfully.
Thank you Marcella. Keep ridin!
Jennifer Matthews, MS, APRN-BC, OCN
Clinical Nurse Consultant
Skaneateless, NY winter/spring 2010/2011
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I am a firm believer in trying anything once and that results speak for themselves, so when I was offered the chance to have Marcella come out and work on my older mare…I thought…why not?
Little did either one of us realize how much of a difference her work would make.
Let me clue you in as to an accident my mare had about six years ago that left her rideable but nothing more than light work.
She was tied at a hitching rack and got spooked. We all know what that means! PULL BACK!!! She is a well muscled quarter horse mare and she put her ALL into it. The resulting injury tore the left major muscle that runs down the back of the leg. Vets said surgery could break up the scar tissue but I didn’t have that kind of cash for a 'maybe'.
The years since had left a slight curvature of her spine just prior to the point of hip (probably from trying to over compensate for her gait) and a fairly short step on that leg.
Marcella worked on her for an hour and a half, giving her a little of everything. I was amazed that at the end of the session the curve in her spine had all but gone away and her gait was much better. The muscles over the stifle area were much looser and so I asked her to come back again and work on the actual injury sight. The area was a ball of scar tissue (about the size of a large lime!) that was easily visible when looking at her from the rear..
Marcella came back and did an other session on her. The difference was a sight. Her stride and general confirmation was at least 90% better. My mare almost had a normal stride and you could barely see where the injury sight was.
Each time Marcella comes back, she is definitely working on my mare and in just another month or so; I may actually take her out again for some rides.
Thanks Marcella!! Wonderful work!!!
Aloha and Mahalo Nui Loa From Dream Dancer’s mom,
Yvonne Bringuel, Maui, Hawaii, Summer 2005
Equinesse Equine Bodywork & F.I.M. Riding Clinics.
I have been a Professional Dressage Trainer in San Diego County for over 20 years. I am fortunate to have multiple options when it comes to treatments/therapies/vet care for the horses I have in training. I am very picky and often skeptical when I am introduced to a new treatment that is suppose to work miracles and is better than anything else available. I am the type of trainer who likes to keep what is already working, working. I met Marcella when a client of mine had her out to work on her horse. I had noticed this horse getting better and better in the training but had not tied it to anything more than the fact that he was getting fit. This client also had Marcella work on another mare who belonged to her best friend. This mare had ulcers in the past, she was very nervous, always in hurry, girthy etc....
After just one session with Marcella this mare's temperament did a complete 360 degree turn around. She is one of the sweetest, most wonderful, fun mares to ride now. So to take it one step further, after watching Marcella work on these horses for several months and having the opportunity to talk with her I finally gave in and had her assess my own mare. My mare is a 7 year old Holsteiner whose background is a mystery. She basically is a rescue. Although she has amazing talent for Dressage, she also had very quick reactions to noise and general overall tension constantly. She was a stall pacer as well. She had difficulty staying on the bit for more than a few minutes even though she was getting stronger and fitter. I also had an extremely hard time getting her ribs to stop showing even though she had gained 200 lbs in my care and was working properly over the topline.
I stood watch, with the owner of the first horse while Marcella worked on my mare for the first time. I wish I had a video to show you the "miracle" transformation taking place before my eyes. My mare's ribs were almost 100% invisible after just one treatment. Marcella was able to release muscles and tension and pain that were causing my mare to have her hips turned out the wrong way and thus not able to carry her back up and pelvis underneath. I was truly amazed. Marcella has now completed 4 sessions on my mare and she is a completely different horse. She no longer stall paces, she is much friendlier, more focused, quiet and relaxed. I can now ride her past jumps without her trying to run out of the arena. I credit Marcella for this mare's change in attitude. Her ribs no longer are visible, she is square on all 4 feet and moves in a straight line. I now have confidence that this mare is going to live up to the potential I saw in her when she arrived. I am looking forward to starting her show career next year.
I highly recommend Marcella Smit for horse bodywork. She will be a part of the Angie Taylor Dressage Team for a long time to come.
Sincerely, Angie
Angie Taylor Dressage http://www.angietaylordressage.com/
"Marcella's work with my mare Sequoia is a true Godsend. The mare had years worth of accumulated, unnatural injuries: Ridden abuse, a bad fence, a broken pelvis, hock surgery, all of which left her in such a state of hobbling atrophy and painful limitation that not only was she unsafe to ride, her excellent chiropractor said there was nothing more he could really help her with. I had tried other modes of healing with her but they gave only minimal relief. The farrier still could not even work on the worst hoof, as her fear of pain was overwhelming.
One day recently, a mutual friend raved about Marcella's amazing results and suggested I might want to try her as she happened to be in the area to help someone else. Skeptical, but still hopeful for some relief, I asked Marcella if she would see what she might do for Sequoia.
What happened was truly amazing. On meeting Sequoia, Marcella instantly understood the difficulty - with respect, perseverance and gentle skill she worked for nearly two hours in fading light and poor conditions to bring relief to that horse. When they were finished, I could not believe my eyes - the horse was transformed - her eyes were soft, tension gone. Energized, she took off running in the pasture - her gait was unrecognizable - before, she ran like a mechanical plastic horse with hind end locked and both legs as if glued together in a stride less than a yard long - this horse was now open, each hind leg independently moving in a normal canter stride, her trot flowing and even. Her body language was happy and confident.
One week later the mare's entire top line and musculature had shifted dramatically - she looked fabulous - and her stance was normal, hind legs no longer tucked under, front legs actually flexing and holding weight as they should. And, the farrier worked on all four feet while Sequoia stood relaxed and at ease in the pasture. I may even contemplate riding her one day.
This story is not exaggerated. I am now working to get Marcella back here to help me with a couple of other horses, none with such dramatic issues, but Marcella is one of those rare healers who truly has a gift that goes beyond excellent technique. Sequoia and I are lucky, indeed, to have crossed paths with her.
I recommend her unreservedly to anyone who wants to
improve the quality of life or performance of their equine partners."
Andrea Felsovanyi - Menlo Park, CA June 2013
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Marcella Gets Terrific Results. - I’m a polo player whose horses must be relaxed but in tip-top shape. For over two years Marcella has worked with two of my Thoroughbreds and my Arabian—and the results are terrific! Not only can she discover and work out the “knots” in each animal’s muscles, but she leaves them happy and raring to go. She actually cured a couple of quasi-lameness problems in one horse that had been caused by over-worked/compensating muscles, and then gave me solid riding instructions about avoiding a repetition of the problem. Marcella’s a stand-out in terms of her forthrightness, honesty, and genuine care for each animal’s well being."
Art Campbell, Lakeside Polo Club, Lakeside, California March 2013
-------------------------------------------
" I first met Marcella at Del Mar Showpark in August, 2012. I was seeking a body worker for my horse, Cascavello 5, aka Ares as he was travelling completely crooked to the jumps! After his first treatment, he was substantially better! By his second treatment, he was straight and jumping amazing! He was third in the Low Jr/AO Classic! Marcella worked on him a third time and he won the classic the following week!
Marcella has subsequently come to Arizona to work on my horses. I have a young horse (who fractured her right hip as a one year old) that was kicking out under saddle, and having difficulty maintaining her right lead. After two days of sports massage, she stopped kicking out, and maintains her lead almost all the time! Marcella is truly a gem to the horses, and I highly recommend her for horses with issues, or simply maintenance of your horse! "
Sonja D., Scottsdale, AZ Dec 2012
Update Feb 2013: 'Cascavello had 5 (five) consecutive double clean rounds in Thermal, CA. Since Marcella has started working on him he is consistantly jumping better and better.'
Sonja D., Scottsdale, AZ.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Marcella helped my mare Rosie. She would trip frequently during my riding lessons. Since receiving body work from Marcella she has improved in many areas. Her tripping stopped completely, something none of the previous professionals had been able to solve. Attending Marcella's 2-day Riding clinic boosted my confidence and made riding so much more enjoyable for both of us.
Chris S. - Skaneateless, NY winter/spring 2010/2011
------------------------------------------------------------------
Marcella added a missing element to Affinity Farm's riding program. With her thorough knowledge of human and horse anatomy, she was able to clearly convey how we as riders effect our horses' balance and movement. Without exception, all of our riders who participated in Marcella's 2-day clinics experienced their horses' transformation from stiff and resistant to willing and soft. Our riders and horses are grateful to Marcella for the education she brought to us!
In addition to helping many of our horses through equine massage sessions, Marcella has added an element to our riding program that we will never forget!
From all of us, thank you again,
Kim Allen, Owner & Trainer @ www.affinityfarminc.com
Skaneateless, NY winter/spring 2010/2011
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once my horse received the obvious benefits of body work sessions with Marcella, it was only natural to follow up with her Riding Clincs. Riding with Marcella has done so much rounding and softening for my horse!
I believe that her strong background in the ortho/ med trained field and her current horse massage practice is an ideal blend for teaching riders to communicate with their horses and listen for their horses responses.
Her focus of a soft and natural approach to allowing the horse to find balance has helped my Percheron-cross 5-year-old warm blood begin to muscle and round her topline where she has been woefully (no whoa pun intended) shallow and soft. She moves forward now with the impulse from her hindquarters and rounds up naturally with a soft yield to the bit.
It took a lot of patience, which Marcella has a seemingly endless supply of, to get me to relax my bad habits, especially hanging on the inside rein! I also did not realize how much I was overusing my knees and legs in cueing my horse. Just fussing with her all the time instead of letting her relax and find her own balance. I should tell you I have been riding, training and showing for 35 plus years. Marcella has a way of bringing your faults to light by letting you figure it out as you go along with each progressive ride a progressive series of learning for both you and your horse. I would recommend her for any level rider, as you can tell from my background, I had some accumulated bad riding to undo which my horse has responded to wonderfully.
Thank you Marcella. Keep ridin!
Jennifer Matthews, MS, APRN-BC, OCN
Clinical Nurse Consultant
Skaneateless, NY winter/spring 2010/2011
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I am a firm believer in trying anything once and that results speak for themselves, so when I was offered the chance to have Marcella come out and work on my older mare…I thought…why not?
Little did either one of us realize how much of a difference her work would make.
Let me clue you in as to an accident my mare had about six years ago that left her rideable but nothing more than light work.
She was tied at a hitching rack and got spooked. We all know what that means! PULL BACK!!! She is a well muscled quarter horse mare and she put her ALL into it. The resulting injury tore the left major muscle that runs down the back of the leg. Vets said surgery could break up the scar tissue but I didn’t have that kind of cash for a 'maybe'.
The years since had left a slight curvature of her spine just prior to the point of hip (probably from trying to over compensate for her gait) and a fairly short step on that leg.
Marcella worked on her for an hour and a half, giving her a little of everything. I was amazed that at the end of the session the curve in her spine had all but gone away and her gait was much better. The muscles over the stifle area were much looser and so I asked her to come back again and work on the actual injury sight. The area was a ball of scar tissue (about the size of a large lime!) that was easily visible when looking at her from the rear..
Marcella came back and did an other session on her. The difference was a sight. Her stride and general confirmation was at least 90% better. My mare almost had a normal stride and you could barely see where the injury sight was.
Each time Marcella comes back, she is definitely working on my mare and in just another month or so; I may actually take her out again for some rides.
Thanks Marcella!! Wonderful work!!!
Aloha and Mahalo Nui Loa From Dream Dancer’s mom,
Yvonne Bringuel, Maui, Hawaii, Summer 2005
Based in North San Diego County, California.
P.O. Box 3302 - Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
In practice since 1999. Proud to be part of countless success stories!
Copyright 2013 - present. Marcella Smit. All rights reserved.
