Equine Posturelate - Sophie Vandenberg

16/06/2026

Are you activating your horse's muscles well? When done correctly activations may be some of the most valuable exercises we have in creating a responsive and stable posture for our horses!!

Activations: Waking Up Better Movement

Activations are one of the ways we can help prepare the horse’s body for better posture, stability and movement. They are not just exercises to “switch muscles on”, but a way to improve awareness, motor control and the quality of muscle recruitment before and during work.

In this episode, we unpack:

✅What activations are and why they matter in postural rehabilitation
💪How we carry out activations with specificity to target specific muscles
🧘How activations prime nerves and muscles for co-ordination and balance
🧐The difference between true activation and bracing
🏋️‍♂️Why rest, release and time under tension are so important for making the activation effective
🥕Examples of activations including tail shifts, belly lifts and carrot stretches
🔄How activations fit into the bigger picture of assessment, exercise and reassessment

Master the essential, proven, science-based tools to understand posture, movement and behaviour from the inside out - so you can create real, lasting change without overwhelm, pressure or confusion. Enrol now and transform how you support your horse’s body, balance and wellbeing: Equine...

09/06/2026

Great resource from Dr Jane Clothier!

It’s a problem that’s hiding in plain sight. I’ve noticed that in the horse world, relatively little attention is paid to the ongoing effects of premature or dysmature birth in horses. And yet they’re there.

Quite rightly, we focus on the foal’s early days, when surviving the neonatal period free from illness is the priority. After that, angular limb deviations often get looked at.

But what about what happens next – you’ve successfully navigated chapter one in this story, but what about the later chapters in the life story, up to maturity?

There’s some understanding in racing, where later performance on the track is known to be reduced (veterinary research). But in other areas of breeding, many do not even know such a problem can exist, or have noticed some issues, but been able to make sense of them together.

Some of that's because there are issues that only worsen as the youngster grows, or remain hidden altogether until a later date.

My goal is to open up this area of concern for discussion. In my PhD research, I’ve found evidence and made informed observations in the research context relating to:

- progression of angular limb deviations
- conformation differences
- joint health and bone development
- stress responses
- herd behaviour
- cognitive abilities
- ‘silent’ diseases

Now, I always say that not all foals will be affected in the same way – some will have no issues, some will have a few, and some will have multiple issues. The problem is that until you know what to look for, you’re not going to know where your foal is heading. Dysmature foals in particular can fly under the radar completely.

Managing the Miracle Foal is the groundbreaking new handbook that introduces the developmental issues that can affect horses at maturity, with some suggestions on managing for these issues. Written by Dr Jane Clothier, it combines published science and PhD research, unpublished findings, and professional observations for an applied perspective.

These are concerns that will be of interest to breeders, particularly when it comes to simple management measure that can improve outcomes. It offers valuable information for bodyworkers, hoofcare practitioners, trainers and other equine professionals who want to better understand the young horse OR the horse with a history of prematurity or dysmaturity.

The 21,500 word eBook is now available from online stores including: Amazon Kindle (link in comments), Apple Books (see comments), Barnes & Noble, Rakuten Kobo, Everand, Bookshop. org. Or, head to your favourite store and search ‘Miracle Foal’.

There's also more information in the Facebook Group, Managing the Miracle Foal, and on the new website, miraclefoal. com

- Dr Jane Clothier

08/06/2026

This weeks posture podcast!! Episode 89: Collaborative Rehab; Conversations with Your Veterinarian!

Today we are empowering you with the skills to create better conversations with your vet around rehabilitation, especially once a diagnosis has been made. We explore why a rest alone is not the same as rehab, how controlled loading and functional posture can support healing, and how owners can respectfully advocate for a more collaborative recovery plan.

In this episode, we explore

🙌Questions you can ask your vet to guide the rehab conversation respectfully
✅How being proactive and taking responsibility as an owner allows your vet to help you the best they can
‼️How rest can reduce strength, stability and core function
🤸‍♀️Why rehabilitation is about more than just walking the horse
🧰What therapeutic tools, exercises and knowledge you can access to have an excellent recovery journey
🧐When it may be appropriate to seek a second opinion or a vet with rehab experience

Discover The Hidden Physical Issues Behind 5 Common “Behavioural” Problems And How To Solve Them - Without More Pressure, Treatments Or Training Techniques Register for my FREE Online Masterclass - Sunday June 14th https://www.integratedvettherapeutics.com/registrationpbmc Collaborative...

03/06/2026

Lost of discussion about.... Healthy Head and Neck Posture!

Head and neck position alone does not create self-carriage, collection, or correct biomechanics. Today we are discussing how the poll, jaw, neck muscles, cranial nerves, hyoid, nuchal ligament, back, and pelvis can all be affected when the head and neck are held in position rather than responding freely to whole-body posture.

In this episode, we unpack:

✅Why head position should be the result of whole-body organisation
💪How thoracic sling, core, and hindlimb engagement support healthy flexion
🤕What can happen through the jaw, poll, throat latch, and upper neck when flexion is manufactured
😴How fatigue can show up as heaviness, bracing, rushing, or loss of adjustability
🧐What owners can look for before, during, and after work

Healthy Head and Neck Posture Head and neck position alone does not create self-carriage, collection, or correct biomechanics. Today we are discussing how the poll, jaw, neck muscles, cranial nerves, hyoid, nuchal ligament, back, and pelvis can all be affected when the head and neck are held in...

13/04/2026

Rebuilding Well: Bringing a Horse Back Into Work

Strap yourself in - this is an episode where you are going to want to take notes!

Today we are talking through how to bring a horse back into work without rushing the process and risking injury. Within 3 months of no work a horse's body looses their fitness. Fitness and strength is represented by physiological changes in the muscles and cells that increase energy storage, oxygen delivery and energy use efficiency. This lack of fitness means a loss of endurance, loss of strength, and reduced capacity to handle work safely. Today we aim to give you a specific roadmap including session length, intensity, frequency to bring your horse back into work safely!

This conversation is especially relevant for broodmares after a foal, or any horse coming back into work without an injury but with a body that still needs thoughtful reconditioning. It will be useful resource for every single person who rides a horse.

In this episode, we unpack:

🐴 Why 6 to 8 weeks is a realistic minimum timeline for rebuilding baseline fitness and why it is integral for injury prevention and your horse's wellbeing
🧐What to assess before you begin, including posture, core strength, laterality, and old compensations
💪How to structure the first few weeks with stability, balance, neuromuscular control, and short, effective sessions
🏃‍♀️When and how to introduce more trot, canter, and higher intensity work without overdoing it (including how long your increases in intensity should be)

Rebuilding Well: Bringing a Horse Back Into Work Strap yourself in - this is an episode where you are going to want to take notes! Today we are talking through how to bring a horse back into work without rushing the process and risking injury. Within 3 months of no work a horse's body looses...

08/04/2026

Episode 80: Guest Animal Communicator Trisha McCagh - What Horses Really Think

Trisha McCagh is a world renowned Animal Communicator - she has communicated with almost all animals you can think of and has so many amazing stories as well as being recommended by Veterinarians!

Today we discuss the profound communication between humans and horses. Discover how animals reflect our purpose, teach us about authenticity, and share their wisdom through subtle behaviors and telepathic connection.

In this episode, we cover:

🥰How animals may communicate about purpose, relationship, and what they are here to teach us including simplicity, fun, authenticity, and presence
🤐How labelling horses can interfere with understanding their behaviour
✅Why communication, trust, and cooperative care matter in handling and treatment
☯️If you have ever wondered whether animals are trying to tell us more than we realise, or how to build a quieter, more honest relationship with your horse, Trisha's knowledge will help you achieve just that.

You can find out more about Trisha McCagh at:
~ https://animaltalk.com.au/
~ Animal Talk Podcast with Trisha McCagh

https://www.integratedvettherapeutics.com/podcasts/the-equine-functional-posture-podcast/episodes/2149176386

Episode 80: Guest Animal Communicator Trisha McCagh - What Horses Really Think Trisha McCagh is a world renowned Animal Communicator - she has communicated with almost all animals you can think of and has so many amazing stories as well as being recommended by Veterinarians! Today we discuss the...

29/03/2026

Episode 79: Rehabilitating Tendon Injuries- Rest Alone is not Enough

Tendon injuries can be one of the more frustrating and drawn-out issues to navigate. Many horse owners are given a basic plan of confinement and gradual turnout, but true rehabilitation needs far more. Today we unpack tendon rehabilitation from a whole-body perspective, including why these injuries happen, how posture and loading patterns influence healing, and why the quality of the rehab plan matters just as much as the diagnosis itself. Our most important takeaway - the tendon is usually not the primary issue!

In this episode, we discuss:

🧐Why a proper disagnosis and injury grading from the beginning is important and how this information influences your rehabilitation plan depending on the type: tendon, ligament, sheath, and strain injuries
🌪️Why tendon injuries are often not just a local problem, but part of a bigger picture involving posture, hoof balance, thoracic sling function, pelvic mechanics, and overall limb loading
🚶‍♀️How controlled movement, targeted exercises, appropriate tools, and structured progression can support better healing, reduce scar tissue, and lower the risk of re-injury

Rehabilitating Tendon Injuries Tendon injuries can be one of the more frustrating and drawn-out issues to navigate. Many horse owners are given a basic plan of confinement and gradual turnout, but true rehabilitation needs far more. Today we unpack tendon rehabilitation from a whole-body...

22/03/2026

Episode 78: Reading Sacro-pelvic Alignment (Before you blame conformation…)

The lumbosacropelvic area is one of the key regions involved in propulsion, swing, and hind end function, but it is also an area that is often mis-interpreted In this episode, we unpack how to begin reading sacro-pelvic alignment, what a more neutral and functional pelvis looks like, and why posture is so often mistaken for conformation.

In this episode, we discuss:

🐴Why posture and conformation are not the same thing
🦄What a more neutral and functional pelvic alignment looks like
🐴How to observe sacro-pelvic inclination from the side when the horse is standing square
🦄What a more flexed or “tucked” pelvis may mean for stride length and propulsion
🐴What a flatter or more extended lumbosacral posture may tell you about engagement and swing
🦄Practical ways to support healthier pelvic function through movement variety, hoof care, posture, and bodywork

19/03/2026