Roxana Soler, owner ofBalanced Equus, has been passionate about horses for as long as she can remember. Growing up in a family that owned horses and being a rider herself, Roxana learned about the strong bond between human and horse. Understanding this has been an invaluable asset in our physiotherapy practice.
Because horses cannot verbally communicate with us, they use their body language to relay messages of pain or discomfort. Unfortunately, we do not always listen and mistake it for poor ground manners or lack of training. This was Roxana's experience when at an early age she suffered an accident on a horse. While the accident could have been much worse, it left her with pain, limited range of motion and to this day occasional flare-ups on one of her ankles. Even though she was young, she always wondered if the horse had the same pain and difficulties as she did after the accident. Looking back the horse was trying to communicate that he was in pain but, our lack of knowledge prompted us to classify him as difficult.
This experience among other circumstances was the catalyst to Roxana's pursuit for a career where she could do what she loved— working with horses to help increase their comfort and mobility— and, thus, make a difference— both to the horses— and to the owners who love them.
Says Roxana:I love hearing back from my clients and many times I’m left in awe when I get their feedback. I remember once I received a phone call from one of my clients. I had done maybe 3 sessions on her two horses and I will never forget that phone call. She almost made me cry. She told me that she had owned her two horses for 10 years and I was the first person to truly make a difference. One of her horses had poll and neck issues.
How Is The"Equine Physiotherapy”Offered by Balanced Equus Different Than"Equine Massage”?
While they might look the same massage and physiotherapy are very different. The techniques, amount of pressure applied, and the structures worked are different. Physiotherapy focuses on myofascial release which means thatwe work mostly with the fascia which is the thin membrane that encases all the structures in the body from the organs to the bones and muscles.
While massage does somewhat work the fascia, the techniques used are directed towards muscle relaxation. That is why massage is strongly encouraged before and after a show. With myofascial release each session is different by focusing on different areas, structures and techniques. Not only are we peeling back layers until we find the root of the issue but by doing so we are restoring the horses biomechanical balance which allows the horse to carry his weight correctly, in order to work properly and prevent injury.
Some benefits of physiotherapy are:
*Increase in performance
*Reduces or eliminates pain
*Increases range of motion
*Behavioral issues caused by pain may disappear
*Willingness and attitude improvement
What good is having talents and abilities that people can’t afford? Roxana is driven by a love of horses- and yes, while she has spent thousands of dollars acquiring the skills and knowledge that she has, she brings them to your horses at very affordable prices! And because Balanced Equus’ priority is your horse Roxana continues to further her education in order to be able to provide other services coming soon!
Assessments— 30 minutes— Free OF Charge. All assessments take place before the physiotherapy series starts. We evaluate, movement, range of motion and test for discomfort.During this time we spend which allows us to target the problem areas for your horse— you aren’t charged one single dime!
Equine Physiotherapy— 90 minutes (1.5 hours!) just $100. Yes— this is where we get to work that “magic” (favorite term from clients) that we are famous for.
Assessment and Rehabilitation Package— $120.This is for the hands-on owner that cannot partake in the series but would like an assessment and rehabilitation recommendation. This option includes an initial visit and a follow up visit 4 weeks later. No Equine Physiotherapy will take place at this time. Certainly an extremely reasonable charge to find out what is wrong— and how to fix it!
“I have worked with Roxana for over a year. She has made such a difference in my lower level dressage horse. Despite joint supplements and regular chiropractic care, my guy was resistant to softness and bend. I noticed a difference in him after our first session, and after a few follow ups, he was a different horse. Roxana has a very comforting approach that horses’ sense and respond to. I recommend Balanced Equus as an integral part of horse health-no matter what the discipline.”– Sandy Goldman
“I highly recommend Roxana!! My horse, Tia, has been having regular bodywork sessions for the last 6 months and I have seen huge improvements in her overall ability to move and stretch. Tia loves Roxana, her kind and gentle demeanor puts horses at ease, I will definitely be continuing Tia’s sessions!!!”– Pam Scott
“I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for Alfie since first working on him. Your skills. Compassion, and ability to pick upon subtle changes in his muscles and body have really been a blessing”– Theresa Vanden Heuvel
“As a trainer and riding instructor I want to keep my horses comfortable and moving their best. Sometimes proper nutrition and vet care isn’t enough. Roxana completes my horses’ wellness regimen and help me bring out the very best in each horse whether it’s a 20 year old lesson pony or a competitive show horse, I highly recommend Balanced Equus to anyone wanting to provide their horse with the best care and reach your horse’s true potential”– Ruth Hughes (Pine Meadow Farm)
Note:Balanced Equus is based in Naples, FL. We work closely with Equi-Trust Equine Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation owned by certified equine physiotherapist, Esteban Suarez located in Miami, FL. Both Balanced Equus and Equi-Trust travel throughout the entire state of Florida.—contact us for our reasonable travel charges to your area.
Roxana Soler, owner of Balanced Equus, grew up around horses in a horse-owning family. As a young rider she suffered an accident that left her with lasting pain, limited ankle range of motion, and occasional flare-ups still today. The experience made her wonder whether the horse she'd been on had similar pain — and whether what people had read as "poor ground manners" or training problems was actually pain the horse couldn't tell us about. That question became Roxana's career: equine physiotherapy focused on increasing horse comfort and mobility.
They look similar but they're not the same. Massage uses techniques aimed at muscle relaxation — strongly indicated before and after a show. Physiotherapy focuses on myofascial release — working with the fascia, the thin membrane that encases everything in the body from organs to bones to muscles. Each physiotherapy session focuses on different areas, structures, and techniques, peeling back layers to find the root of the issue. Per Roxana, the goal isn't just relief — it's restoring the horse's biomechanical balance so they can carry weight correctly and prevent injury.
Fascia connects, stabilizes, and protects. Per Balanced Equus, horses are designed to carry 60–65% of their weight in their front quarters, 35–40% in the hind, and 50% on each side. When a horse is in pain or discomfort, they shift weight to cope — and the fascia tightens both around the affected area (to protect) and where the weight has shifted (to stabilize). The result is limited range of motion, decreased performance, and behavioral changes that get misread as the horse being naughty when really they're hurting.
If your horse has pain or soreness, isn't moving properly, can't do exercises he or she did before, or has had a behavior change — the series will likely help. Even if your horse seems fine, physiotherapy can be preventative; the stronger and healthier the soft tissue, the less likely the horse is to injure himself. Roxana also notes that horses are good at hiding issues — survival instinct — so what looks like "fine" sometimes isn't. The best way to find out is the assessment.
Every horse starts with a 30-minute assessment, free of charge. The owner or trainer fills out an intake form (history, nutrition, hoof care, training), Roxana watches the horse move, and runs a range-of-motion and pain test. From there, a rehabilitation plan. The classical series is 6 sessions over 5–6 months, with the first three sessions up to 2 weeks apart. There are also two expedited options for horses with travel or showing windows. After the series, most horses move into a maintenance schedule — some monthly, some every 3–4 months, some every 6 months, depending on the horse.
Per Balanced Equus: Assessment (30 minutes) is free of charge. Equine Physiotherapy session (90 minutes) is $100. Assessment and Rehabilitation Package (initial visit + follow-up 4 weeks later, no physiotherapy in this option) is $120 — designed for hands-on owners who want a plan they can execute themselves. Pricing as quoted is subject to change due to economic factors — confirm current pricing with Balanced Equus directly. Travel charges apply for areas outside the regular service zone.
Balanced Equus is based in Naples, Florida and works throughout the state of Florida. Roxana also travels to other states by request with reasonable travel charges. Balanced Equus partners with Equi-Trust Equine Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation (certified equine physiotherapist Esteban Suarez, based in Miami, Florida) — both practices serve the entire state. Roxana also works alongside your veterinarian, farrier, and trainer to build a coordinated management team for your horse, regardless of discipline.
Jane Mendelsohn (Sunset Valley Farm) on two years of work with Balanced Equus: "The horses love them, and we see so much improvement in their performance and attitudes. They are extremely gifted at what they do." Sandy Goldman's lower-level dressage horse, despite joint supplements and chiropractic, was resistant to softness and bend — "I noticed a difference in him after our first session, and after a few follow ups, he was a different horse." Pam Scott's mare Tia: "Tia loves Roxana, her kind and gentle demeanor puts horses at ease." Ruth Hughes (Pine Meadow Farm), trainer and riding instructor: "Roxana completes my horses' wellness regimen — whether it's a 20-year-old lesson pony or a competitive show horse." Roxana also tells a phone-call story she still remembers: a client who'd owned two horses for 10 years told her after a few sessions she was "the first person to truly make a difference."
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