A Plus Equine Bodywork

04/23/2025

Turnout is one of the most polarizing topics in modern horse keeping. So, let’s skip the debate. We’ve gathered some results from veterinary science, peer-reviewed journals, and international welfare assessments. These are real numbers, from real studies, so you can make strategic decisions rooted in evidence, not tradition.

-A 25% reduction in soft tissue injuries was found in adult horses turned out for at least 12 hours daily, compared to those kept in stalls greater than 12 hours daily. (Reilly & Bryk-Lucy, 2021)

-Comparing turnout duration, a study found that horses with only 2 hours of turnout exhibited significantly higher energy levels, anxiety, and behaviors such as rearing, bucking, and fence running, whereas horses receiving over 12 hours of turnout were more likely to walk, graze, and remain calm. (Hockenhull & Creighton, 2010)

-Foals receiving inconsistent turnout (9 to 23 hours per day) had 4.6 times more musculoskeletal injuries than those with 24/7 access to turnout. Furthermore, for every extra acre of turnout, there was a 24% reduction in injury risk. (Brown-Douglas et al., 2022)

-A study on 2-year-old horses found that those kept in individual stalls required more time to get used to training activities and showed more unwanted behaviors, like resistance or agitation, than horses kept on pasture. The stalled horses needed an average of 26 minutes of training time, while the pastured horses needed only 19 minutes, to complete the same task. Additionally, the stalled horses were more likely to show unwanted behaviors during training (8 instances on average compared to just 2 for pastured horses). (Rivera et al., 2002)

-Stall-kept livestock experience a higher incidence of hoof-related issues, including uneven hoof growth and lameness, while those with access to turnout demonstrated healthier, more balanced hoof development. (Murray et al., 2018)

-A European welfare study using the AWIN protocol assessed 315 horses in group-housing turnout systems. Only 2.3% of these horses exhibited signs of lameness, compared to lameness rates as high as 33% in stalled horses across various studies. (AWIN Welfare Assessment, 2023)

-Within just one day of moving from group turnout to individual stalling, equine cortisol levels spike, and their white blood cell count shows significant changes, including a 25% increase in neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) and a decrease in infection-fighting cells like monocytes and T cells. Additionally, behaviors indicative of stress, such as oral manipulation, neighing, pawing, and apathy, became evident in most horses within a week. (Schmucker et al., 2022)

-Horses with regular turnout showed higher heart rate variability, indicating improved balance in their autonomic nervous system and greater stress resilience. (Rietmann et al., 2004)

-Welsh ponies who received daily pasture turnout in a herd exhibited fewer stress-related behaviors, were significantly calmer, less fearful, less reactive, more interactive with humans, and more adaptable in learning tasks compared to ponies housed in impoverished environments (stalls with limited turnout). Even three months after the study, ponies in the enriched group retained these positive behaviors and demonstrated higher curiosity and superior learning performance. (Lansade et al., 2014)

Can you find a single peer-reviewed study that shows horses kept stabled 24/7 are sounder, healthier, or happier than those with regular turnout? Even the most finely tuned, performance-focused horses are still horses. Just like any other, they require room to roam, stretch their legs, and engage in natural behaviors such as grazing and socializing.

It’s important to recognize that no horse truly dislikes turnout. If a horse resists going outside, it’s due to improper conditioning, previous negative experiences, or being overwhelmed by a sudden change in environment: what’s known as "flooding." Horses who’ve been confined for extended periods or who’ve never had proper exposure to outdoor spaces may react with anxiety or reluctance. These reactions stem from fear, not from an inherent dislike of turnout. With patience and gradual exposure, every horse can be reconditioned to embrace the outdoors. After all, instincts tell them to roam, graze, and move, it's in their nature.

Of course, there are times when limiting a horse's movement is necessary, such as during health issues or transportation. In these instances, it’s crucial to understand the physiological and psychological changes that occur so we can minimize stress and discomfort.

Turnout is a biological necessity. To support our horses’ overall health and well-being, we must prioritize their freedom to move. After all, a healthy, happy horse is one that has the opportunity to be just that: a horse.

04/14/2025

More than massage!

Massage is a fantastic modality but I have found that utilizing a modality such as Equi-Bow has longer and more whole body effectiveness. By addressing neuromuscular patterns, not just the muscle tightness, changes show up throughout the whole body, recurring issues can be prevented, and it helps balance the autonomic nervous system, which can be very beneficial for anxious, shut down, or sensitive horses.

Equi-Bow works fantastic alongside massage and chiropractic work as it helps the body retain the benefits from those modalities.

Want to experience the benefits of Equi-Bow for yourself and your horse? Message me to book an appointment OR learn how to apply basic Equi-Bow techniques for your own horse through their Horse Owners workshop! https://equi-bowcanada.thinkific.com/bundles/equi-bow-foundations-online-clinic-day-live-learning-with-ashley?ref=ebdcb8

04/10/2025

DOING NOTHING IS AN ACTION

Yesterday I published a post on something I termed "Inappropriate Touching" that went a little viral, being shared 3,000 times in 24 hours (you can read that post here https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1274647950690356&set=a.269604291194732).

It was about missing what the horse was offering, and instead trying to touch a part of the horse that they weren't offering. The picture I used was taken at the Horse World Expo in Pennsylvania recently.

Today I want to share a picture of a different demo horse from that expo.

This is a 10 year old Warmblood mare who was a broodmare, and has recently been started under saddle. The owner says she drags everyone around, has severe attention issues, and always has her head up looking around.

That's at home on familiar turf, so you can imagine what she was like at the horse expo. When the mare and her handler came in, the mare couldn't stand still, and her head was straight up in the air looking around. As I usually do at horse expos, if I have an hour session, I usually let the handler lead the horse around (or try and stand still) for the first half an hour, so the audience can really see that the horse is not settled , and isn't going to.

Then I take over.

With this mare, when I took a hold of the lead rope, she immediately greeted me with her nose, which I reciprocated with my hand (Action #1). She then walked off away from me and as she tightened the lead rope, I used my flag to draw her thoughts back to where her body was, so getting her to be present (Action #2). These 2 actions are part of a flow chart I have on my website, which is basically a flow chart for appropriate responses to things your horse does.

These 2 things happened twice more in the first 5 minutes of me handling her, so I did a total of 4 quite subtle things.

And then I waited.

The photo of the mare shows the result after about 20 minutes or so.

The next day I posted the photo on Facebook and said a little about it, and someone asked if I'd videod the session. I replied that I hadn't, and didn't really need to, as I didn't do anything I hadn't captured many times on video and put in my video library on my website.

They said they were in the audience, and that they didn't really see me do much, so must have missed something. I had to point out I only did 4 things (which was actually 2 little things, twice each).

It's more about what I didn't do, that the handler had been doing.

I didn't hold the lead rope short or try to control her (the handler had been doing quite a bit of this).

When she stood there and pawed the ground (which she did quite a bit) I didn't do anything (the handler had been trying to correct that).

When she stood with her head high looking around, I didn't do anything (the handler had been trying to get her attention). Actually I looked at what she was looking at, so I suppose there I did do something.

When she chewed on the lead rope, I didn't do anything (The handler had tried to get it out of her mouth).

When she sidepassed up really close to me, I didn't do anything (the handler had stepped away from her when she did this).

And in relation to yesterdays viral post, I didn't touch her, I didn't pet her, I didn't rub her, and I didn't console her (the handler had been doing quite a bit of this), except for the 2 brief times she touched me with he nose.

In the half an hour I was handling her, those 4 little things I did happened in the first 5 minutes.

The rest of the time I did nothing.

After a while she started having the big yawning releases one often sees with the Masterson Method work. She yawned. And yawned. And yawned.

Then her head started to drop into the posture you see in the picture.

And I said to the audience "Doing nothing IS an action", and it's a very powerful one at that. Then I sat down and crossed my legs, for no other reason than to prove to the audience that I wasn't doing anything to her to get her to stand there.

Many people struggle to be in the presence of their horse without doing something. If there's a problem, they want to fix it. if there's not one, they want to fiddle and groom and touch (remember yesterdays post). Many times these well meaning owners (and the handler of this horse was lovely and well meaning) are doing a lot of work to try to resolve their horses anxiety issues, and many times the incessant fiddling and grooming and touching is part of the problem.

Sometimes the most helpful thing you can do is be a human being, instead of a human doing.

If you are interested in my work, everything I do is available on video and in courses at videos.warwickschiller.com

04/09/2025

Just a few spots left! Sign up early so that you have time to complete the online portion before the hands on learning!

Have any questions? Message me for more details!

https://equi-bowcanada.thinkific.com/bundles/equi-bow-foundations-online-clinic-day-live-learning-with-ashley?ref=ebdcb8

04/08/2025

Multiple studies have shown that increased flexion of the neck during riding or lunging can have many negative effects on the horse’s body and is a welfare issue. Please read this comprehensive article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-72766-5

Image:
Riding behind the vertical or lunging while restricted with side or draw reins can also damage the nuchal ligament. The nuchal ligament is the main ligament of the neck, running from the occipital bone to the thoracic spine with attachments to the cervical vertebrae. It plays a crucial role in supporting the neck during locomotion and allowing for energy-efficient movement.

During hyperflexed head and neck positions, there is increased tension on the cord portion of the nuchal ligament and its attachment to the occipital bone. In horses ridden behind the vertical, the nuchal ligament does not function as a unit, with both parts – the cord and lamina- complementing each other. The cord is under increased tension, which over time can lead to degenerative changes in the ligament and bone changes at its attachment site, resulting in new bone formation – exostoses.
Between the first cervical vertebrae and the nuchal ligament are often developed nuchal bursae, cranial that is above the atlas, and caudal nuchal bursa between the cord and axis. When the nuchal ligament is under extensive tension, that can also initiate inflammation of those thin-walled structures. Cranial and caudal nuchal bursitis can be confirmed by ultrasound.

https://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/pdfs/vet/2020/08/01.pdfhttps://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/237/7/javma.237.7.823.xml

Links to my work:
Patreon page that supports my work
https://www.patreon.com/equineanatomyinlayers

Whole Horse Dissection online (12 months access)
https://ivanaruddock.podia.com/the-equine-anatomy-in-layers

Atlas of the Equine Musculoskeletal system
https://ivanaruddock-lange.com/equine-atlas/

04/07/2025

Equine Orthopaedic Assessment of the Forelimb through EQ Therapeutics has probably been one of the best courses I’ve taken to date. I’m currently working my way through the hind limb assessment one now and it’s just as good! Any bodyworker or farrier/trimmer needs to take this series. These courses are intense but the amount of detail and support Elisse and her team put into them is incredible. It has up-leveled my assessment process and has been a very helpful tool in helping me better decide which techniques to use, what to further investigate, and when to call in other professionals.

04/04/2025

Not sure if bodywork or corrective exercises can fix this… 😂

As seen in a Kentucky Kroger…
Folks if your horse’s legs look like this you may want to call the vet. 🫣

Here’s your pass: Feel free to share your best keyboard warrior recommendations of how we should treat this horse. 🧐

📷 credit: Sandra Middleton

04/02/2025

🌿 April is Craniosacral Therapy Awareness Month! 🌿

Have you ever noticed your horse struggling with tension, stiffness, or unexplained behavioral changes? Sometimes, the key to helping them feel better is in the smallest, gentlest adjustments. Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a light-touch technique that works with the horse’s nervous system to release restrictions, improve mobility, and restore balance.

Horses love it because it helps with things like:
✨ TMJ pain & headshaking
✨ Poll, neck, and back tension
✨ Anxiety & nervousness
✨ Performance issues & asymmetry
✨ Recovery from injury or trauma

The best part? It’s completely non-invasive and deeply relaxing for them! When their body is in balance, they move better, feel better, and perform at their best.

Since April is all about raising awareness for Craniosacral Therapy, I’d love to share more about how it can help your horse. Feel free to reach out with any questions! 💙🐴

03/30/2025

03/29/2025

The industry needs to normalize shorter trim cycles. It will save you money in the long run and be more beneficial for your horse’s body.

Psst.

8+ weeks is too long.

I said what I said. 🤷‍♀️

Hooves grow an average of a 1/4" per month.

What's traditional is not always harmless.

Just because it "didn't kill them" doesn't mean it is optimal.

It isn't about "looking long" or not.

It's about the entire animal above the hoof. It's time to get curious about it.

It's the difference between damage control, good enough, and the best we can give them.

03/29/2025

Criticism

Perfection is the flaw of the vain, and we all can be guilty of criticising as we all have our standards and often, we forget that we all our on a journey and if we have reached ours, we must not stop others some time taking the same path and making all the mistakes that we made as it is at that point when we can learn the most.

Often when I go out to a horse and maybe find something that another professional hasn't, owners can think why didn't they, now I never criticise because (and the other way round)

A. we see our horses for maybe an hour a day and the rest of the day they are trying to injure themselves

B. I don't know at what stage that other professional is at in the horse's rehab

C. we all need to have the opportunity to change and often it is at these moments we think f**k I have to look at this issue differently

D. different views see different things

E. we are all human and we all make mistakes

But social media can be cruel for those that don't fit the new ideal of perfect we now need to have a certain look of perfect teeth, perfect hair, perfect lips and sadly it doesn't matter what you say, you could have the most poignant point to make but if your image is not matching everyone else the only replies you often on your appearance not the powerful point you are making.

And it's no different when you post about horses everything must be perfect. All horses must have the same thing the same feet, the same posture, the same diet, the same rehab routine almost emulating some weird stepford wives of the equine world

But in real life this is not always possible if your horse has fused joints, it may not move the same as one that doesn't, if your horse has dental issues then the body will follow suit...if your horse has ever had an accident, it will be different.... if your horse has gut issues then how can it move without compensation ...the point is every horse is an individual and should be treated like so. I often say there are idealists and realists in the equine industry and often the realists (and often owners aswell) sit with their head in their hands at the end of the night as out there the ideal sometimes is not just achievable.

But when we do put our work out there then we must be open that someone else may see something we do not and constructive criticism can often make you sit back and think blummin heck I didn't even see that, but remember what you mean when you type your words can often be read differently and we can never negate or tell someone how they should feel, often a flippant remark can do a lot of damage...i used to employ staff and often if a customer had said something horrible to them, I would explain that the customer will say the word to make the biggest impact in a short space of time and not think of it again yet you will carry that word all day affecting how the rest of your day goes and even beyond, so when I talk to someone, I try to think how would I feel if someone was saying that to me.

We never carry the positive we will always reflect back on the negative as our bodies try to not get into that situation again,,,,,so remember when we are working with horses that positive will always carry through to the next sessions, negativity will carry through all its life

And to put it into perspective can you imagine if sharks had social media

03/29/2025

I’m so looking forward to teaching some awesome horse owners bodywork techniques they can use to support their horses in between professional sessions! We’ve only got a couple spots left in each clinic so sign up quick!

The online portion completed ahead of the clinic will help familiarize you with the anatomy, how to assess your horse, and how you can support and work with your horse’s nervous system so that when we get to the hands on day (either April 19 or 26), we can spend the day working with the horses and learning the hands on techniques that you can use to support your horse at any time!

Any questions, please reach out and I’m happy to answer them!

https://equi-bowcanada.thinkific.com/bundles/equi-bow-foundations-online-clinic-day-live-learning-with-ashley?ref=ebdcb8

03/27/2025

So incredibly honoured to have received a PHCP scholarship for this year. With only one mentor in Canada, I have to travel to the US frequently for my hoof care training and these funds will help subsidize that cost.

Why did I choose Progressive Hoof Care Practitioners to do my certification through? I couldn’t find a more comprehensive program here. With the intensive mentorships, required courses on nutrition, metabolic issues, reading radiographs, hoof protection, and their whole horse approach to trimming, it has been a really good fit that aligns with my bodywork practice.

So very excited to see what this year brings and the new knowledge I can bring to my clients.

https://progressivehoofcare.org/2021/03/phcp-education-scholarship/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR09x2GUFui6XvJEvsKdZocQS5IuW3v8UJoa0mrcgdYFGB-8kR-pAVQR_NI_aem_YKvwalSqyO7PPnWg8U

Read about funds that help students in need cover required clinics, webinars, mentorship fees, and travel expenses.

03/24/2025

03/23/2025

03/23/2025

Don't rush young horses!

I see it all the time.

Someone buys a young horse full of potential. They are excited to get started with riding and competing. I often see these horses a few years down the road when they are struggling with injuries and their owners are disappointed in the lack of progress.

Look...

I totally get the excitement of starting your young horse, but the truth is these are large animals and they take a long time to develop their bones, musculature, and mental maturity.

The top photo is of a 2 year-old horse during his first bodywork session with me. His neck and shoulder are visibly weak and immature. He is tight along the lower portion of the neck and underdeveloped along the topline, with a dip in front of the withers. If this horse was pushed to work too hard, too quickly, it would be setting his body up for failure.

The bottom photo is this same horse now as a 4 year-old. There is significantly more muscle mass throughout the body. The muscle development is also much more mature and appropriate. The topline and middle portion of the neck have filled in, giving the neck a softer, rounded appearance. As this horse's workload begins to increase, he is showing some tension near his shoulder blades and triceps... which is where I come in as a bodyworker (PS. this is why young horses need bodywork too). 😉

While I won't get into when is the exact right time to start young horses (as it really depends on the individual), I urge horse owners to be patient! Start your youngsters slowly, with an emphasis on developing their muscles so that they can be healthy, strong adults.

03/22/2025