Horse and Dog Therapist

23/04/2025

Arthritis affects over 80% of older animals, leading to lameness, discomfort and altered gait patterns due to compensation. In this webinar, we will explore how arthritis develops, the most commonly affected areas, and a range of therapeutic approaches. We will also examine how McTimoney chiropracti...

28/06/2024

⭐More SMART Saddles added!⭐

If you are looking for a discounted SMART Saddle, check out our SMART Sale: https://www.smartsaddles.com/shop/SMART%E2%84%A2-Sale-Saddles-c23624087

Save £100's on new and ex-demo SMART saddles.

Included with all sale saddles:

✅Standard 12-month manufacturer's warranty
✅Customer support from the SMART Saddles team
✅Try-before-you-buy - Test Ride and Rental service
✅Spread the cost - 0% payment plans available

01/06/2024

Whats the purpose of a flash? To keep a horses mouth shut. Why is the horse opening its mouth? Most commonly, evasion of pressure.

Address the cause of the behaviour, not the behaviour itself because it really is counter productive and just causes even more discomfort that there is no escape from.

Why should you say no to a flash and a tight noseband? 👇 do you see that soft bone with no support? That's why. Now imagine a dropped noseband on that. 🫣

Pic screenshot from Henlea Equine Wellness

21/05/2024

Event horses that had a lower total number of misalignments were more likely to be placed higher in a FEI 1* eventing competition. Further research of effects of correcting misalignments on performance parameters is recommended.

17/05/2024

You can use a pole running under your horse from side to side for lots of movements.

Because the pole extends laterally away from your horse it will be in their eyesight. As the gap between the front and the back legs is bigger than left and right pairs of legs there is less chance the horse will step on the pole. To me, these are benefits of this pole use over your horse straddling a single pole lined up nose to tail.

You can approach it 'normally' and halt over it or step sideways along it. This is often called sidepass but the angle your horse takes can vary from a diagonal position in more of a steep leg yield to being perpendicular to it and your horse moving fully sideways.

I like this exercise for the horse having to organise their legs - balance and proprioception and when going sideways there is adduction and abduction - opening and closing the legs. And going both directions of course!

This movement is also carried out under saddle in Working Equitation competitions.

What do you think of it as an exercise in comparison to straddling the pole most to tail?

16/05/2024

Pole straddle is often recommended for awareness of foot placement and to open up the leg position.

However for my horse this is a tricky exercise as he places his legs fairly close to the midline and the worries when he steps on the pole. Maybe that means I should do it more but it does create a lot of tension in him.

So for some horses I have concerns about using this exercise and how much they can see where their hind feet are. The walk pattern can be disturbed, changed into a 'waddle' as they negotiate walking forwards.

It's not a no from me but I don't routinely suggest it, it is a choose with caution exercise!

Have you used this and how did it go with your horse?

31/03/2024

27/03/2024

19/03/2024

Dynamic warm up, range of motion, stability and strength - DME (aka carrot exercises) have lots of benefits.

This slide is from a recent webinar I recorded and it made me chuckle that my horse, Lider, has been my model for many years 😍🐴

14/03/2024

Pole work. When to stop ✋ 🛑

Pole work can be a great way to improve your horses joint movement, limb awareness and strength but….

If you do too much it can be detrimental 😢

One simple way you can tell that your horse is tiring is if they start knocking the poles.

If they are knocking them a lot right away then it is likely that the poles are too high or the exercise too difficult for them at this stage.

If they are managing them fine for a while and THEN you notice the knocking becomes more frequent, they are becoming fatigued and it’s time to stop for a rest ✋

Walk your horse for a few minutes and try again. If the knocking has become much less then carry on with the exercise until it starts again. Then stop ✋

If after a few minutes of walking you return to the exercise and your horse is knocking the poles right away then that’s enough. Stop the session for today 🛑

Poles are a great tool but it is essential that you watch your horse very closely for signs of fatigue 🥱

04/02/2024

SMART Advisor Focus: Sheri Pinkney

Sheri, regularly sees behavioural and physical issues with horses caused by badly fitting tack; knowing that unbalanced saddles can significantly affect the horse’s ability to move correctly.

Sailsbury based qualified McTimoney Animal Chiropractor, Master Saddle Fitting Consultant and Bit and Bridle Fitting Consultant, Sheri works throughout Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset.

You can book a SMART Test Ride or Refit with Sheri by contacting [email protected]

Or find out more about Sheri by visiting her website: www.horseanddogtherapist.co.uk