Balanced Body and Hoof, LLC

Balanced Body and Hoof, LLC Equine Hoofcare and bodywork

12/07/2024
This one gave me some major AHA moments today!
10/23/2024

This one gave me some major AHA moments today!

As an avid learner of correct biomechanics of the horse I subscribed a while back to Becks Nairn’s Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/Becks_nairn/posts) I cannot recommend it highly enough. It has been such an eye opener and until I can get to an actual dissection, her Patreon has given me so much food for thought.

Becks recently posted a video of a horse’s cervical spine with the nuchal liagament still attached. Seeing the movement aberrations of the neck created by riding horses behind the vertical, is something every rider needs to see for themselves IMHO.

There are numerous studies demonstrating that excessive flexion puts tension on the nuchal ligament, leading to a variety of injuries throughout the horses body. As riders, it’s critical to remember that the nuchal ligament inserts at the withers (its origin is at the external occipital protuberance at the occipital crest and posterior tubercle of the atlas). From its insertion at the withers, it attaches to the supraspinous ligament, which acts much like a suspension bridge and runs the entire length of the horses spine to the tail.

Armed with this important information it makes perfect sense that when the nuchal ligament is over tightened, as it is when riding behind vertical, it results in a host of physiological issues. Riding horses behind vertical does not take into consideration the anatomy of the horses spine and its subsequent supporting structures. This incorrect posture, such as when the horse’s neck shows this unnatural bend around C2/C3, can only lead to stress on these structures. Bones will adapt at attachment and insertion sites to the excessive loading and remodel, creating boney formations which, more often than not, cause our horses further pain and discomfort. (Photos of some of these remodeled bones in comments thanks to Becks!)

Keeping our horses sound and working can be a challenge on a good day. Having this information can help us in ensuring our horses stay sound for many years to come.

A huge thank you to Becks for entertaining my curiosity and being so generous with her knowledge and experience. ❤️

Iris says ahhhh so relaxing. 🥱 my poll soooo much better. If only those hip flexors would follow suit
09/25/2024

Iris says ahhhh so relaxing. 🥱 my poll soooo much better. If only those hip flexors would follow suit

Super great visual!
09/23/2024

Super great visual!

09/09/2024
Mine has had far more massages in the past 2 years tea. I gave in my life. She deserves it 🤣😍
07/23/2024

Mine has had far more massages in the past 2 years tea. I gave in my life. She deserves it 🤣😍

Cheers to the equestrians that put their horse’s welfare first 🥂

We all love our horses. That’s why we are here spending hours at the barn, going broke, taking falls, and crying in stalls. Hey, that rhymed! 😅

But sometimes amidst the joy and struggle we forget that our horses don’t owe us a thing.

Bad ride? Bad show? Horse misbehaving? Or going lame?
These things and more can cause animosity to build and for some of us to sit back and blame our horses. But horses aren’t here to serve our needs. When we take them into our care, we are here to serve theirs.

Our favorite equestrians will always be the ones who are kind to others and kind to their horses 🐴🖤

07/19/2024
🥰  Teeniest of Toes on this one
07/14/2024

🥰 Teeniest of Toes on this one

Messages like these make all of the effort worth it 🥰 especially from the sweetest of horses
07/13/2024

Messages like these make all of the effort worth it 🥰 especially from the sweetest of horses

Fun and blistering hot day full of learning 😁🦄
07/07/2024

Fun and blistering hot day full of learning 😁🦄

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Estacada, OR

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