Bonnie Kiefer
bonnievkiefer@gmail.com call/text: (561) 938-4685 Palm Beach, Florida
equine massage & behavioral therapy
Certified & Insured
" . . . with every new case, I continue to witness how massage & behavioral therapy combined has truly been a life changing experience for these horses"
Are you seeking help with your horse due to:
>> mysterious signs of lameness, poor performance or undesirable behaviors?
>> has it gotten to the point where no one can figure out the source of the issue?
. . . If so, I can help. ​
Is your horse doing anything listed below?
Mysterious Lameness:
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- Is clearly lame
- Just seems to be "off"
- Is not moving naturally, fluently or comfortably
- does not move in well in one direction or both directions
- The timing of a leg or legs is off
- Seems to "stab the ground" with a leg when moving
- Seems to "pogo-stick" with a leg when moving
- Has had a previous injury
- Is currently injured
- Lameness symptoms or behaviors that cannot be explained by Vets or other Equine Specialists
- Treatments and various therapies do not seem to be affective
- Holds its head up higher than normal
- Stands unbalanced
- Lifts one leg up and out to the side when moving
- Leg shakes or spasms when lifted
- Throws the leg down hard when trying to lift it
- Constantly shifts its weight
- Cannot bare weight on its other legs when one is picked up
- Has a crooked tail, holds tail to one side
- Drags a leg/s
- Trips or Falls
- Sways, cannot walk straight
- Has bouts of unexplained body movement
- Holds its head or body oddly
- Shakes its head
- Has no stamina
- Difficulty moving certain limbs
- Has swelling in legs or body
- Has any level of hoof sensitivity
- Has heat in the hooves, legs or body
- Has SI, stifle or hock issues
- Cross canters/disunites
- Has difficulty transitioning gaits
- Needs corrective shoeing
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Health:
- Has lost muscle/atrophy
- Is developing muscle on one side or in one area of its body and not the other
- Has a recurring or chronic condition
- Has colicked or colics often
- Has a current medical condition (EPM, Cushings, HYPP, etc.)
- Looks ill
- Has a poor body score
- Is severely under or overweight
- Has a poor coat
- Has a skin condition
- Is having diarrhea
- Is not eating or drinking normally
- Has conformational defects
- Has a parrot mouth, underbite or overbite
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Performance:
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- Hollows its back
- Has body stiffness
- Head tossing/jerking
- Braces against the bit
- Ducks behind the vertical
- Pulls/yanks to one side
- Does not bend well
- Poor range of motion
- Does not pick up a lead
- Disunites/cross canters
- Has difficulty transitioning
- Cannot perform certain maneuvers
- Refuses to swap leads
- Charges forward when asking for the canter
- Throws its head when asking to move
- Pins ears when asking for transitions
- Bucks at random times
- Bucks or crow hops when picking up or switching leads
- Bucks riders off
- Anxiety when being groomed, tacked or handled
- Tries to not allow the rider to mount
- Over reacts to seat and leg aids
- Anxiety level raises when being ridden
- Hesitates to perform
- Refuses jumps
- Twists or repeatedly takes off or lands poorly over jumps
- Knocks jumps over or runs through them/into them
- Acts frustrated or impatient
- Cannot seem to focus
- Rears up or attempts to rear up
- Bolts off or goes too fast
- Runs off after mounting
- Will not go forward at all
- Backs up too much
- Refusal to load in Trailer
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Behavior/Attitude:
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- Holds its head up higher than normal
- Seems anxious, scared or nervous
- Seems to have "too much energy"
or is "too lazy"
- Is grumpy/cranky, in general
- Displays anxiety, especially when being tacked up
- Is "girthy"
- Acts "mare-ish"
- Will bully you when handled
- Extremely sensitive to touch
- Flinches when touched
- Is head shy
- Runs off when being approached
- Runs off when trying to catch in the turn out
- Jerks its nose up if you touch its muzzle, nostrils, etc
- Hates being groomed
- Moves around when being groomed
- Moves around when being fly sprayed
- Has a sour expression
- Pins its ears
- Grinds its teeth
- Constantly paws the ground
- Does not get along with certain people/handlers
- Does not get along with other horses or animals
- Pulls back when being tied
- Bites
- Kicks
- Swishes tail
- Head tossing/jerking
- Throws its head when asking to move
- Pins ears when asking for transitions
- Bucks at random times
- Bucks riders off
- Anxiety when being groomed, tacked or handled
- Tries to not allow the rider to mount
- Over reacts to seat and leg aids
- Anxiety level raises when being ridden
- Hesitates to perform
- Refuses jumps
- Acts frustrated or impatient
- Cannot seem to focus
- Rears up or attempts to rear up
- Bolts off or goes too fast
- Runs off after mounting
- Will not go forward at all
- Backs up too much
- Refusal to load in Trailer
- Seems distant, depressed or expressionless
- Cribs
- Wind sucks
- Weaves
- Shakes its head
- Shows aggressive behaviors
- Will come at you aggressively
- Will strike out
- Has threatening behaviors
- Will attack people
- Presents Stallion-like behaviors
- Has Stallion-like behaviors but is not a Stallion
- Is biting at itself
- Is harming itself
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2025 PRICING:
Call me for a free consultation . . .
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I would love to hear all about your horse!
BEST FOR optimal performance by keeping your horse frequently limber, calm and helps prevention of injuries and expensive vet bills.
Includes:.
. a mini massage session.
. gentle stretches and range of motion exercises.
. notes on the results are texted to you if requested.
. continued guidance as needed.
Duration: up to 30 minutes
Mini Maintenance Massage! $30 (an initial Massage is required)
Local Wellington/Loxahatchee FL areas only
Maintenance Massage / $80
BEST FOR continuing to improve the progress of the horse and for clients who have occasional massages on their horse but would still like a full session.
Full Assessment + Massage / $165
BEST FOR (the best way to start) first-time/new clients and horses experiencing mysterious lameness, poor performance and undesirable behaviors
Includes:
. a full, whole body mini massage session.
. range of motion exercises.
. notes on the results are texted to you including any issues found + updated recommendations.
. continued guidance as needed
Duration: approximately 1-1.5 hours
Includes:
. a full Tack Assessment (saddle/bridle/bit, etc).
. review of feed/nutrition and living accommodations.
. ground assessment (lunge/ride) if needed for further assessment.
. a full hands-on, whole body massage session with attention to difficult areas.
. gentle stretches and range of motion exercises.
. a comprehensive report, emailed to you as a PDF that includes my observations, treatment suggestions, helpful recommendations, links to resources and more.
. continued guidance as needed.
* session may include assessment during ground exercising and/or riding depending on the case.
Duration: approximately 3+ hours
What's Involved in a Full Assessment?
Basic Session Information:
​Consultation > Observation > *Tack Assessment > Bodywork
> Behavioral Help > Recommendations > Guidance
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* Within the initial session, I am able to greatly help your horse and assess what might be the underlying cause(s) of your concerns going on with your horse, offering an awareness and understanding of why such things are or have been occurring.
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* I incorporate general desensitizing and behavioral help techniques throughout the session (if needed) which helps the horse feel more relaxed, confident, and trusting and will help towards easier handling, grooming and tacking up of your horse in general.
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* If needed, I offer helpful recommendations that pertain to healthier muscles, a better range of motion, a greater quality of performance and improved overall well-being of your horse regarding things like feed/nutrition, supplements, additional therapies as well as any helpful tips regarding handling techniques, exercise/riding, etc.
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* I begin with a Level 1 static tack assessment that is included for all 1st time clients (saddle, bridle, bit, halter, etc). This complimentary service is currently optional but highly recommended, since over 95% of my cases involving mysterious lameness, poor performance and many behavioral issues in riding horses is due to tack fit of the saddle with the remaining % coming from the fit of the bit, bridle, halter or other reasons.
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* I am able to determine if your horse is in need of immediate chiropractic help or not and will help prepare your horse for a more successful adjustment through relaxing the body, mind and muscles in general and help your horse have a better range of motion.
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* At the end of the session, I go over the results and show you some techniques you can use and practice on your horse yourself.
* A full comprehensive report will be emailed to you after a few days (depending on my schedule) in the form of a PDF that can be used as a helpful guide and to reference back to for tracking purposes.
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* I offer continued guidance to clients from that point on until the issues are either well understood and/or are fully resolved. This includes guidance through individualized recommendations to the most up-to-date equine products, therapies and much more.
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* Long term clients have the benefit of having me get to know their horse well enough to track even the most subtle details or micro-changes going on with their horse, which is useful for preventing injury and helping to keep their horse as comfortable and happy as possible.
TRAVEL INFO:
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I travel to Palm Beach and Broward counties of Florida:
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I am also available to all areas of Florida with a guaranteed minimum
depending on location (please inquire)