Your body shouldn’t be holding you back, no matter your age or riding level.
Tightness and discomfort will impact your ability to communicate with your horse and to ride effectively.
If you have had an injury or surgery that has left you functioning differently, there is still potential for improvement.
Jennifer has studied the Testt method by Andy Thomas, linking body asymmetry with rider-horse performance. She is also a current rider in training.
Para Riders welcome.
“When I broke four vertebrae in a horseback riding accident in December of 2018, Jennifer happened to actually be present (talk about service!).
In the time that I was healing, she inquired about my well-being and provided support. Once healed and back in the saddle (I had a baby via c-section in there too!), she worked in partnership with my riding coach to help me redevelop my musculature and reduce the chance that I would injure or re-injure myself.
Jennifer supported me with realistic yet effective exercises. (It’s not always possible to get down on the floor and do 20 minutes of stretches three times a day with a newborn, which Kaiser doesn’t seem to understand.) Seven months on from getting back in the saddle in November 2019, I am as strong and capable an athlete as I ever was and probably more so.
Additionally, some of the other aches and pains I had before my injury and pregnancy have also resolved, which I attribute to her careful, holistic approach to my body.
Having had more than one round with Kaiser PT services, I was impressed by how much more effective Jennifer was, with actually less time spent doing the activities than when I was with Kaiser.
Though I was at first worried that working with Jennifer would cost a lot more than working with the Kaiser PT department covered under my plan, it actually ended up being not that much more since the work we did was a lot more efficient.
Plus, there was a personalized aspect to working with Jennifer that helped me feel listened to in a way that Kaiser just couldn’t provide. They seemed unable to comprehend or work with the idea that I was pregnant with a broken back and once the baby came there were two issues that needed physical therapy, whereas Jennifer seemed to take the idea that everyone comes to PT with multiple issues as a given. I refer people to her all the time (most recently outside the x-ray room at Kaiser!).
—Lark B.
“Like many people “of a certain age,” I had chronic lower back problems. My chiropractor could relieve my back pain, but didn’t give me any ways to prevent it. When my back issues got worse and interfered with my horseback riding, I knew I had to find a better way to deal with them.
My riding instructor suggested that I make an appointment with Jennifer, who was also taking riding lessons at our barn. I am so glad I did!
Jennifer’s technique of myofascial release was unlike any physical therapy I’d ever had. She gently manipulated my body to find hidden places where the muscles were tight & painful, and relieved them, both through sessions at her office and by giving me exercises to do at home. She also taught me ways to support my spine while doing daily activities.
I enjoyed my sessions with her very much! She is incredibly knowledgeable about the human body, and I learned many fascinating things. Best of all, I am now able to ride with NO pain, either while riding or afterwards. My flexibility while in the saddle has improved as well.
I would recommend Jennifer to anyone without reservation, but if you are a horseback rider you MUST check her out! Whatever your level, she can help you improve and ride pain free. Also, I found her price to be reasonable, and she is always on time.”
—Heidi T.