Synergy with Horses - Equine Podiatry - Liberty Dressage and Horsemanship

16/03/2025

I did this post before and want to add in extras

Its only grass glands

Were you brought up to believe that the swelling of the parotid (grass) gland is normal, its why it adopted the name of grass glands because years ago we would only come across this as we turned our horses out full time in the springtime if I had a penny for every time I heard oh its only grass glands I would not be writing this post I would be sat on a beach and be mega rich lol

And again, we often hear the word metabolic and go straight to Cushing's or some other extreme but metabolic simply refers to metabolism and how the body utilizes the content we put into the energy it gives us and how the intake of nutrition may affect us. Basically, is the horse taking in a substance which may help or hinder it

So if we start omitting the word grass and replace it with the correct word parotid and add itis we may get an inkling as to why a gland is swollen, I mean we all know why ours swell it usually means we have eaten something which we may not have an allergy to but we may be a little intolerant to and remember it's not just what is eaten, environment can have a huge effect on how our bodies are coping

Glands swell for a reason and it's usually the bodies response to something which it is trying to combat, it often can coincide with shedding season and we know that is a hormonal response so is there a link there somewhere? Remember just because it's common does not means it's normal

And at least as humans we only have to cope with environment or food, horses sometimes have to cope with the riders' hands placing the horse in such a position that the swelling will occur because of how they have to hold their heads the saliva glands are innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve (cranial nerve nine) which is a mixed nerve so aids with swallowing and tongue movement (again rider influence can have a major affect so freedom of the mouth is so important we often only focus on a relaxed jaw but we need a jaw to be able to move) so we must strive to give as much chewing time for horses that we can and often when anyone hears the word metabolic the horse is placed in an area where less chewing time can occur and less chewing time can change the saliva composition to could lead to more dental issues

Saliva production is an autonomic response to chewing the longer a horse chews the more saliva will be produced

We often not only see horses with swelling in their jawline but also underneath the jaw and the nasal area and you can see by the picture that there are more than one salivary gland and if one is affected then all are affected, I have also included cutaneous areas as these areas go hand in hand and can become over sensitive (most people will be either familiar with the horse being irritated and twitchy either at the girth area, or the horse shaking its head when you touch the base of the shoulder) so this tells you it’s a more global problem rather than a singular gland

So, if we visually see it, we must also look at how internally is the horse being affected (omitting the rider part for now) if your horse is also super sensitive with the fly twitch muscle (cutaneous) if your horse is bloated, if your horse is lethargic, if your horse is showing out of the norm behavioural signs then often I try to explain it to owners like having a food intolerance we may be able to keep eating it but we are going to not just have swollen glands we are going to feel pretty crap also but if your horse just has a swollen parotid gland with no other issues then you may have to look at your hands, your bit or the riding style and we can't forget environment you could be the best rider, feed the best quality feed and fibre but look at the surrounding fields as the content of them could be the culprit in your horses intolerance's and allergies

So no its not just a grass gland swelling there as always is much more than just one part

Does stress play a factor, if your horse is uncomfortable then is their nervous system under fire we all know how stress can have an adverse affect on the body as it tries to regulate itself and combat the internal struggle

Whatever the factor swollen glands are in the most basic terms uncomfortable, sensitive and will restrict movement and remember just because something is common does not mean it is normal

09/03/2025

A track within a track!

Track systems or Paddock Paradise were originally invented by Jaime Jackson who studied horses in the wild and witnessed them making these tracks.

I love seeing them make their own at this time of year when everything is drying out 🥰

15/02/2025

Oof. This one REALLY ticked some people off.

With posts that have ended up being controversial, I’ve been accused of rage-baiting as a deliberate social media strategy.

I wish I was that mentally organized! 😅

I saw this video, and was truly struck by the tact of this rider’s seat and legs, and how the horse was positively responding to that mentally and physically, in a moment of high anticipation.

The point I was trying to make, as I was beginning to experience it in my own riding at the time, is that we don’t get collection by compressing the horse between the leg and hand, like is commonly seen in modern riding.

Maybe I was trying to rattle some of us, yes.

What are we doing wrong that we spend years and years chasing the horse around in circles getting them ‘round’ and ‘on the bit,’ but we still can’t get weight on the hindquarters, we can’t access elevation, and we can’t keep the poll the highest point?

Now that I’ve advanced several horses to a higher collection, including piaffe, I understand this moment even more.

The impulsion needed for collection is in the mind, not the leg; it’s in the ANTICIPATION of forward movement.

Then, what it comes down to, is the trust and communication we have to shape that, particularly from the hand.

This rider is about to release all that energy horizontally, and in dressage, we’re often releasing it vertically, but the energy and containment needed are there, without having to be driven and pushed.

What it comes down to on a technical level, is ‘hand without leg and leg without hand.’

What it comes down to on a biomechanics level, is letting go of the theory of lifting the back or the thoracic sling from the front, letting go of the faux lift we get from neck traction, and actually utilizing the horse’s power back to front, from the gluteal/ longissimus bridge, which is what we see with this horse and rider.

But there’s a deeper side to this that disturbed people, and that’s us being uncomfortable seeing the horse as an athlete, or a being who can thrive off intensity and having a purpose.

Horses don’t understand purpose in human terms, of course, but their natural life is full of intensity and purpose, the full spectrum of mental and emotional and physical intensity and ups and downs.

I think we’ve always been intimated by that.

At first, we tried to control it through brute force.

Now, we’ve just traded that for a different kind of suppression…

Keeping the horse within a narrow window of what emotions and activation are ‘acceptable.’

ONLY calm. ONLY relaxed.

When will we accept the horse for who they are?

11/02/2025

Are you interested in enhancing your horse’s pasture without wide-scale effort or investment? You can do so by boosting pollinator habitats on your farm! “Helping the Birds and the Bees: Tips to Boost Pollinators on Your Equestrian Property” (https://elcr.org/helping-the-birds-and-the-bees-tips-to-boost-pollinators-on-your-equestrian-property/) can teach you how to attract and keep local pollinators on your property. 🐝

“Boosting pollinator habitat on your horse farm is not only beneficial to these special species themselves—it also can lead to enhanced soil health, cleaner water, and more robust pastures for equine residents. And the good news is that creating or enhancing existing pollinator habitat on your farm doesn’t necessarily require wide-scale effort or investment. Often, you can make life easier for pollinators by simply shifting your maintenance routine and mindset to consider their needs for shelter, food, and water.”

Photo: Steve Armstead, Xerces Society

13/01/2025

23/10/2024

10/09/2024

"Why is the horses hoof not completely flat like my other shod/barefoot horse?"

A question I have been asked many times. The hoof has been trimmed flat or level to receive a flat shoe for many, many years. So why change what we do now?

Change occurs because it is forced upon us, or when we choose to change. I have come to realise that most humans change when not doing so becomes extremely uncomfortable. Fewer humans change because they choose to. I resonate with seeking a healthier, more abundant life, and this requires a more PRO-Active approach to embracing the need to change... and a 'growth mindset'....

The natural healthy hoof develops an internal arch which is mirrored in the healthy outer capsule. When unloaded, the domestic horses hoof, if allowed to restore and repair, might appear more arched than fully loaded, depending on the morphology and therefore hoof health score, size of the animal, moisture content, and metabolic health of the horse. This has been my observation and understanding to date.

I was originally taught to trim the hoof capsule completely flat to the detriment to the horse, in my opinion. I questioned the method I was invested in, and I evolved my knowledge and understanding, using my perspective as both body worker and podiatrist.

I combined this with a life long dedicated practice of integrating all my senses and connectivity to all that is, seeking to know, embrace and transform my own core wounds, and receiving higher wisdom, and this helped me integrate new information, and practice it safely within my vocation. As a result, I am able to achieve far more in terms of equine rehab, mentorship and the creation of educational material. When trimming and working therapeutically with horses (which I naturally do while trimming) I now leave what is needed for the horse to feel as safe and comfortable as possible and assist in the removal or transformation of whatever is hindering optimum balance and posture, with optimum nervous and circulatory system function in mind.

If one is in a healthy 'growth mindset', one naturally seeks information and facilitate embodiment by allowing the questions and answers to flow without resistance. This leads to wisdom, connectiveness and an abundant life...

The naturally, well developed curved hoof can absorb abrasive and bumpy surfaces, absorb shock better, leading to a smoother ride with less resistance. It utilises the energy stored for greater and more efficient functionality, fostering balance, longevity and well-being...

Can you say the same about you? 💚

Ask yourself, are you flexible or unyielding, can you bend or will you break under pressure? Do you leak energy? Are you balanced and centred? Are you 'well' and can you recognise this in your own body? What might we all learn from horses and what might they be mirroring in us?

If you do not already follow us on Facebook, please consider this, and share the odd post or two, if you feel drawn to. We're a 100% non-profit organisation promoting compassionate equestrianism for the benefit of all and are funded by the services we provide as well as the educational resources and memberships we offer. More info available at our website below.

www.holisticequine.co.uk - sharing to inform, inspire, educate and empower for the benefit of mutual growth, synergy, collaboration and abundance 💚🙏🤓🐴🌍

14/08/2024

21/03/2024

Teaching young horses to be cooperative for their routine pedicures - an approach based on trust, consent and understanding builds a great relationships tone for all further handling - it's so important the youngsters have a positive experience learning about balance and control of their own body by standing on three feet!