Niki Taylor Equine Bodywork

11/07/2025

Horses come into our lives for a reason. If you’ve ever had a special horse in your life, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Share with me in the comments below how your horse came into your life and changed it.

25/05/2025

This is so lovely to watch. Sally is such an inspiration.

25/05/2025

COMPOUND HORSE FEEDS ARE NOTHING LIKE HUMAN ULTRAPROCESSED FOOD!

Yesterday I said I'd tell you more about this:

We can't compare processed human food to processed horse feed - they are worlds apart.

Ultra-processed human food tends to be far too high in fat and/or sugar to be healthy if eaten in significant quantities and is often scant in vitamin and mineral content.

Such foods are often very tasty (hyperpalatable), so are easy to overeat. Furthermore, they are usually calorie dense, so will contribute to obesity if overeaten.

Processed compound horse feeds are completely different. (Compound feed is a description of any horse feed that contains more than two ingredients). They contain the specific vitamins and minerals that horses need because they cannot get them out of their forage.

Plus, these processed compound feeds contain correct amounts of protein and calories (energy) if selected correctly for an individual horse.

A processed compound horse feed is more like a finished meal you've prepared in your kitchen, which contains a balanced amount of essential nutrients from all the food groups, and uses some processed ingredients e.g. quorn, mince, flour, cheese, pasta, breadcrumbs.

Processed compound feeds often contain fibrous products of the human food industry because they are healthier for many horses compared to whole cereal grains and seeds.

So we need to be careful when assuming human food characteristics on horse feed because they are, in many ways, worlds apart.

Feel free to share to help clear misleading nutribaloney!
🐴🍏

24/05/2025

Small ponies aren’t taken seriously 🐴

There is a somewhat unpleasant attitude towards smaller ponies within the industry that is often dressed up as humour. Ponies referred to as “devils” or “sh*tlands”. People seem to find small ponies displaying extreme stress behaviours hilarious and somehow just a quirky personality trait instead of an animal in distress.

I think a lot of small ponies are treated horribly. I wonder if it is because they feel easier to dominate and intimidate so we don’t feel the same sense of fear or respect around their behaviours. A tiny shetland kicking or rearing at you just doesn’t feel particularly dangerous so we feel more comfortable trashing through their boundaries and forcing them to comply.

They are still equines who have the same needs as any larger horse and should be treated with the same respect.

Life is hard when you’re a small pony, think about how defensive you would feel as a prey animal when everyone handling you towers over you. They are often lead with their heads pulled upwards in uncomfortable postures or when we handle their legs we may pull them too high to make it more comfortable for us. They are often given to children and expected to put up with being kicked and yanked about, then labelled “sassy” or “stubborn” if they don’t put it up with it quietly enough. Many are used just as companions to larger horses and their own needs fall by the wayside, often being left on unsuitable forage and grazing which damages their health.

I have several clients with smaller ponies, from miniature Shetlands to Exmoors and riding ponies, and all of them feel they have not been taken seriously when they have gone to the vet or other professionals with concerns. There is an underlying feeling of “why would you bother spending all of this money and time on “just" a small pony”. Although I guess this speaks to the wider industry problem of horses being seen as things to “use” rather than as sentient beings we care for unconditionally.

Earlier this year I met a lovely Shetland pony who had been purchased for my client’s young son. He was “fine” to ride but she really wanted her son to be able to handle and groom him. The previous owners had said he was always grumpy and an adult needed to handle and put his tack on because he would “take advantage” of children. The pony I met was very shut down and uncomfortable. He nipped and pulled faces half-heartedly still trying to communicate a discomfort he knew would be ignored. We addressed his management so he had appropriate forage 24/7, he had bodywork and was treated for stomach ulcers. We then worked on building positive associations with people using fun enrichment activities and clicker training. I also worked with the client on how to handle him with his posture in mind to make sure we weren’t pulling his head upwards all of the time and making him sore. Her son can now lead, groom and tack up his pony and is really enjoying him while learning to have respect and empathy for horses.

I have met some very frightened, traumatised small ponies who have been labelled “nasty little sh*ts” by professionals when they have tried to defend themselves after all of their warnings had been ignored. If we started treating them with respect and considered how they’re experiencing the world, they wouldn’t feel the need to be so defensive. They have all the same body parts that can be sore as larger horses do.

Have you got a small pony and felt you haven’t been taken seriously when looking for help? 🐴

www.lshorsemanship.co.uk

www.patreon.com/lshorsemanship

20/05/2025

This is SO good!

A few years ago, I had a conversation with Warwick Schiller about relaxation- what it is, how we recognise it, and how it shows up in both our horses and ourselves.

At the time, I had just bought Nadia, my big warmblood mare, and let’s just say the dream of us riding off into the sunset was quickly replaced with something much more humble: taking off all the gear and going right back to the beginning.

Her anxiety told me riding towards sunsets were off the table for now.

🧘‍♀️ The only thing I was doing? Helping her relax.

Not long after, a bodyworker came to see Nadia and was shocked at how much her shape had changed over a relatively small window.

"What have you been doing with her?" she asked.

And my honest answer was:

“I’ve just been playing with how to help her relax.”

At the time, my understanding of the nervous system was fairly surface-level. I knew that when we’re anxious, scared, or depressed, we carry ourselves differently—that was obvious, even intuitive. We all know what it looks like to see (or feel) posture reflect mood.

But what I thought I was observing in Nadia—muscles softening, tension releasing—was actually something much deeper.

🫁 What we often miss: The organs’ role in posture

In all the conversations we have around body and behaviour, what rarely gets mentioned is the role of organ placement and internal pressure systems in shaping posture.

Just like every other part of us, our organs- and our horse’s organs- aren’t static. They’re constantly moving, shifting, responding. And their position is directly influenced by the state of the nervous system.

Each of the major survival responses- fight, flight, freeze, and collapse- has a specific motor reflex pattern. The body rearranges itself to serve that response.

For example:

🔹 In fight, it prioritizes force.
🔹 In flight, it prioritizes acceleration.

When the nervous system chooses one of these, the body- organs included- shifts to match.

Think of the size and mass of structures like the lungs, diaphragm, and liver. Where they sit in the body dramatically affects outward form.

To illustrate this, what I've come to understand is:

🫁 In a parasympathetic state, the lungs sit higher in the neck tube, helping stabilize the deep front line and neck.

🫁 In a fight-or-flight state, the lungs drop lower, often creating that rounded “hunchback” posture we associate with stress.

🎗️Support from the inside out

In the parasympathetic system, the body functions differently. Each internal “chamber” is pressurized. The fascia is responsive and alive. The organs are not just in place—they’re vibrant, spinning, and vital.

And this creates a body that is supported from the inside out.

Posture becomes full without force.

Muscles soften, not because they’re “letting go,” but because they no longer need to brace.

The skin has vitality. The body, ease.

🐎 That’s what I was seeing in Nadia.

Not just muscles releasing.

Her entire system was reorganising—physically, mentally, emotionally.

And here’s the most important part:

This wasn’t something I did to her.

It was something her nervous system chose- a different operating system, a different postural template. One that created change from the inside out.

One that affects things from the top down and inside out: physically, mentally and emotionally.

It's changed my understandings about posture, and what we are truly observing when we see physical and structural changes in our horses.

As ever, I'd love to hear your thoughts,

xx Jane

28/04/2025

The wonderful upgraded teaching room at Brandy House Farm

22/03/2025

So insightful. Let’s all see how similar we are to our beloved animals 💗

Why Anthropomorphising Matters.

I still hear so many horse trainers describing the danger of anthropomorphic thinking in relation to horses. And I understand why - it’s a back lash against all the years of us attributing horses with the capacity to ‘get one over on us’ ‘take the p*ss’ - all that stuff.

However, it is pretty widely recognised now that we’re more similar than we are dissimilar. We share more emotions than we don’t with many other animals. And maybe if we really dared to anthropomorphize that might significantly change how we treat animals - which is probably why we don’t do it.

For instance, I have just ‘bought’ a new horse. Even at that level of possession and ownership of another being I find myself baulking, but it’s the truth.

I believe he has many of the same emotions and needs as I have. Fear, jealousy, curiosity, contentment. The need for safety, the need for comfort, the need to move and to rest.

Last year I went on holiday by mistake, I was going to visit a friend in Spain and en route I spent a few days at what turned out to be a very busy seaside resort on the Med. I have travelled solo a lot in my life but I’ve never really ‘holidayed’. When I realised the numbers of people were much greater than I had experienced in many years , and I was ‘stuck’ here for several days I went into full blown panic. My senses were in absolute overdrive and my choices were taken away. Now, I got over myself, worked things out and had an excellent time - reminding myself that this was actually all my own choice.

The horse I have just arranged to be transported from Portugal had no such choice. He didn’t know why he was leaving his familiar and safe surroundings. He had no sense of why he was in this huge metal box full of other horses. He knew no one, understood nothing about the present or the future. He could not call his friend to be talked down and reminded that everything would be OK.

Ethologists are changing the nature of how we study and understand the more-than-human animal kingdom and are even daring to use words such as ‘love’. Maybe if humans can experience love for each other, then the complex animal communities they observe can also contain love. Maybe?

Possibly the reason your horse is ‘trying to get out of work’ is because the work feels bad. In just the same way you want to go home early if your job is boring or stressful. Maybe the reason your horse is being ‘difficult’ about having their feet picked up is because they’re confused or someone taught them badly - just like you might be ‘difficult’ about doing your accounts.

The new horse who has landed here on Dartmoor is actually doing brilliantly, but the first day he arrived he was really frightened and I felt it in my stomach. Just imagine if you were him….

I’ve taken things really slowly with him, only changing one thing at a time and keeping his world pretty small. He seems to appreciate that and is enjoying some things which are new in his life, like the view and endless armfuls of hay and slow quiet scratches.

If we just for a moment considered that animals are more like us than they are different - well I wonder where that might lead.

Photo shows 4 year old Lusitano Rural learning about delicious herbs on a Devon bank.

06/01/2025

Unwanted behaviour is communication and we need to try to find out what the horse is trying to tell us.

Is Your Horse Difficult to Clip? Understanding the Underlying Physical Connections

As equine therapists, we often hear about the “difficult-to-clip” horse. You know the one—constantly flinching, tossing their head, or outright refusing during clipping sessions. While behaviour is often attributed to sensitivity or temperament, the root cause is frequently physical discomfort, particularly in the neck, shoulders, and surrounding areas. Let’s dive into why this might be happening and how it ties into deeper physiological structures like the phrenic nerve, brachial plexus, and fascia.

The Phrenic Nerve

The phrenic nerve is a critical structure originating from the cervical vertebrae (C3, C4, and C5 sometimes C7). It innervates the diaphragm and plays a key role in respiration. When tension or misalignment exists in the cervical spine or surrounding fascia, the phrenic nerve can become compressed or irritated. This can lead to referred discomfort or hypersensitivity, particularly in areas where the nerve travels.

For a horse, this hypersensitivity can translate into an overreaction to stimuli like the vibration of clippers near the neck or shoulder. If your horse resists clipping around the jugular groove or base of the neck, it might be a sign of tension or restriction involving the phrenic nerve.

The Brachial Plexus

The brachial plexus is a network of nerves originating from the lower cervical and upper thoracic vertebrae (C6-T2). These nerves provide sensory and motor control to the shoulder, forelimb, and parts of the chest. Dysfunction in this area—whether due to muscle tension, poor saddle fit, or fascial restrictions—can result in heightened sensitivity or even pain in the shoulder and surrounding areas.

When clippers approach these regions, the horse may perceive the vibration or pressure as intolerable, not because they are “difficult,” but because it exacerbates an underlying issue. You're literally on his nerves!!

Fascia: The Body’s Connective Web

Fascia is a dense, fibrous connective tissue like a web that envelops muscles, nerves, and organs. It plays a vital role in overall mobility and comfort. When fascia becomes restricted—due to trauma, repetitive strain, or poor posture—it can create widespread discomfort and reduced flexibility.

In horses, fascial restrictions often present as tightness or sensitivity, especially in high-stress areas like the neck and shoulders. Clipping can irritate these restrictions, causing the horse to flinch or resist. Addressing these fascial imbalances through bodywork or therapy can significantly improve comfort and behaviour..

Pain and Tension: The Core of the Problem

The “difficult-to-clip” horse is not necessarily trying to be challenging—it is often their way of communicating discomfort. Pain or tension in the neck and shoulders, whether originating from nerve irritation, muscle strain, or fascial restriction, can make the simple act of clipping unbearable. Recognizing this as a physical issue, rather than purely behavioural, is key.

What Can Be Done?

1. Bodywork and Therapy: Regular osteopath sessions involve myofascial release, adjustments of the parietal system, and cranial sacral and can address tension in the neck, shoulders, and back.

2. Assessment by a Professional: If your horse consistently resists clipping, have them evaluated by a suitable equine therapist to rule out nerve compression or fascial restrictions.

3. Desensitization with Care: Once physical discomfort has been addressed, you can work on gently reintroducing clippers in a calm, patient manner.

4. Check Equipment and Techniques: Ensure your clippers are sharp, quiet, and create minimal vibration. Use light, confident strokes to avoid aggravating sensitive areas.

Understanding the physiological connections in your horse’s body is crucial to addressing what may seem like behavioural issues. The next time your horse resists clipping, consider their neck, shoulders, and fascia—you might uncover a hidden source of pain or discomfort, making life easier for both of you.

❗️Remember: Horses communicate through their reactions. Listening to them and addressing their needs at the root cause will always lead to better results and a happier horse.

✂️

Image: Horse and hound.

11/12/2024

Great guidelines for colic.

*** COLIC MYTH - IT’S ESSENTIAL TO WALK ANY HORSE SHOWING SIGNS OF COLIC ***

I’ve unfortunately seen 5 colics in the past two weeks, so I thought I’d start some colic posts again.

I think one of the main myths surrounding colic, is that you must walk them, even if they don’t want to walk. There are definitely some types of colic when movement is good/essential for the horse, but there are equally many occasions when it’s actually detrimental to keep the horse moving.

Before knowing whether or not you need to keep your horse moving, you need your vet to diagnose what is causing your horse to colic. If your horse has a classic “twisted gut” then no amount of movement will help. In fact, forcing horses to walk if they’ve got intestinal torsion will result in extreme pain. If surgery is an option, then continuing to walk a horse with intestinal torsion (twisted gut) will also wear him out, and potentially cause even more damage to the gut itself, reducing the odds of surgery being a success.

My general rule of thumb for any colicking horse is to allow them to do what they want to do whilst waiting for the vet. If they are standing quietly, then that’s perfect. If they are down in the field then I do normally advise getting them up and to somewhere easily accessible for the vet. If they are thrashing about in a stable and could hurt themselves, then getting them out and into the safety of a lunge pen or arena is a good idea, as long as you don’t risk injuring yourself. If they want to march around, then let them walk. It’s a complete myth that a horse rolling around will result in him twisting his intestine; we’d obviously be seeing hundreds of colic cases daily if this were true.

To conclude, walking a horse with colic MAY be advisable, but you need your vet to diagnose the cause of the colic first. If your horse is reluctant to walk, then definitely don’t force them to move.

10/12/2024

Really helpful 🌟

03/12/2024

Yes 🤣

All about owning a horse 😅
credits: Pinterest

30/11/2024

"I have followed your page for some time and now I am worried my horses trim is hurting them - help!"

Horses cost a tremendous amount of resources to care for them. It costs an awful lot more to fix them when theyre hurt, lame and sick. I am talking about the emotional, physical, mental and financial cost - affecting not only the owners, but sometimes entire families and care support teams.

That is why I created a comprehensive online programme designed to teach anyone how to document and map horses hooves and bodies - help owners and professionals objectively assess and track changes in horses over time.

Why? Because early recognition of poor hoof morphology, balance, posture and development can prevent costly rehab, injury, lameness and even premature death in domestic horses.

To answer the question posed - after completion of our course, anyone can tell if a trim, management or intervention is helping a horse by accurately documenting and mapping your horses hooves (and posture), and repeating the photos at a later period in time - this can be weeks, or minutes. Changes can be observed immediately pre and post trim for example, allowing anyone without any prior experience to learn of a trim is promoting health, or not! I often share mark ups on social media demonstrating changes in very short periods of time, and in several weeks.

We have made this course accessible to as many people as possible and have reduced the price to £199 - this is payable over 3 months for around £66/month: https://www.holisticequine.co.uk/pro-active-hoof-mapping-for-lameness-prevention-in-horses

I just added Bonus material #1 comprising a recent webinar recording 2 hours 40 minutes long featuring a case study, plus PDF of resources which accompany the webinar to help you rehab the horses in your care! This alone is worth £30!

This never-seen-before programme includes 28 high quality lessons with 30 videos, around 10 hours in total, including bonus material (with more to come!), all in an easy to understand format designed to super-boost your understanding of the equine hoof like never before.

WHEN WE KNOW BETTER, WE ALL CAN DO BETTER 🥰

https://www.holisticequine.co.uk/pro-active-hoof-mapping-for-lameness-prevention-in-horses

Explore our online academy here: https://www.holisticequine.co.uk/academy and events here: https://www.holisticequine.co.uk/events

If you would like to contribute, pay it forward and support the continued provision of free and subsidised consults and educational resources, and to help us deliver our aims, please donate to our cause. More info and PayPal donate link here: https://www.holisticequine.co.uk/support-us

www.holisticequine.co.uk - supporting and promoting compassionate equestrianism and optimum alignment for structural and functional health in equines, for the benefit of all 💚🙏🐴