Wild Card Sport Pony at EquiSports Llc.

01/13/2025

01/12/2025

01/12/2025

Here's an effect of saddles that are too narrow and incorrectly angled.

When I've come across this, the physical and emotional trauma I've felt in the horse has been sickening. The physical damage is done - you can't put back what's gone.

The emotional distress can be enormous and I sincerely believe it's emotional trauma that has built up over many months and/or years, as an unprotesting horse continues to do as asked, despite the problem being exacerbated whenever the rider's weight hits the saddle.

Perhaps they become numb to it over time, and it's only with deep and gentle work that the problem is revealed. I hope that enough of the distress is released for the horse to continue its ridden career with renewed heart.

I've usually been with a new owner when we've come across this, thankfully not that many times, and we've taken heart that the horse knows its needs (and pain) are seen and heard. Sometimes we can't change what's there and what's been done, but we can certainly help with the horse's response to it.

This isn't a new observation - there's a reason Balance Saddles call this region of the body the 'junction' - but it's always worth building awareness and *empathy.

(Please excuse the limitations of images - it can be hard to find what I need! I need one of those amazing South American veterinary artists to do one for me!)

- Jane

01/12/2025

Tongue and hyoid
https://www.patreon.com/equineanatomyinlayers

01/12/2025

People often wonder why their horses aren’t building muscle- they’ve tried all the feeds and supplements, they blame it on the breed, genetics or discipline of the horse.

The reality is.. the relationship between tension and muscle wastage is interrelated.

Damage or trauma to tissue has an effect on nerves. The neuromuscular system requires healthy functioning nerves and motor neurons to help grow muscle. So there is a neurological component that prevents muscle from building in the body.

So how does damage to the nerves occur?

Some common reasons:
👉TENSION- tension in the body can cause fascia to compress down onto these nerves- which can prevent muscle growth.
👉TRAUMA- blunt force, harsh movements, lacerations etc. damaging the nerves themselves.
👉STRESS- studies have shown that stress affects neuron health.

——

Additionally, muscle wastage and atrophy is not the same as an unfit horse. An unfit horse is from lack of conditioning or exercise.

Muscle wastage and atrophy is from neuromuscular dysfunction that prevents the horse from building muscle.

To sum up- if the horse is experiencing or has experienced neuromuscular trauma from:
👉Saddle fit
👉Training techniques
👉Chronic tension throughout the body
Etc.

They will continue to struggle in developing muscle. You need to get rid of the catalyst (whatever is causing the stress, tension or trauma) and then address/release the tension throughout the tissue BEFORE you can expect the horse to build muscle.

Abequinetherapy.com

01/12/2025

A little Wednesday Wisdom…

01/12/2025

Do you own a horse with Kissing Spines?

You need to watch our on-demand recorded webinar which covers the anatomy of the back, posture and kissing spines.
Plus it gives you a comprehensive guide to prevention and rehabilitation including a number of suggested exercises and techniques that are all clearly demonstrated.

You can buy lifetime access to this informative webinar from the Horses Inside Out Academy - the product is also linked in the image.

01/11/2025

Soooo I have been saying this for decades ….. it’s a concept that’s finally coming in style !

01/11/2025

01/11/2025

01/08/2025

Well that’s interesting guess the 5 Yr old demand is no longer cool !
Guess the slow steady method is the right way since they are only done growing at about 8 yrs in the larger joints and growth plates of body neck spine pelvis then . Just because some on can force it dose not mean you should 😉

Denmark raises minimum age for Grand Prix to 9 years

December 26, 2024, 3:23 PM Updated on December 26

From 1 January 2025, the Dansk Ride Forbund (Danish Equestrian Federation) will increase the minimum age for a horse to compete in Grand Prix to 9 years. Previously, this age was set at 8 years, the age also used by the FEI.

By Savannah Pieters

Horses aged 8 years are still allowed to compete in the Intermédiaire A and B in Denmark.

The DWB-bred Wendy de Fontaine (by Sezuan) is an example of a horse that was already active at Grand Prix level at the age of eight. This also applies to Jovian (by Apache), Maxima Bella (by Millennium), Fendi (by Franklin), Zonik Plus (by Zonik) and Hexagons Luxuriouzz (by Johnson).

Source: Dressprod / DRF

https://www-horses-nl.translate.goog/dressuur/dressuur-nationaal/denemarken-verhoogt-minimumleeftijd-grand-prix-naar-9-jaar/?tid=TIDP8944399X8E1C42978F0447419CE4A0E9C7BC3B50YI3&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Horses&utm_campaign=Nieuwsbrief+Horses+27-12-2024&utm_content=NB_Horses.nl&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2zUVo1P_l0tiiYouc3b4cSbPEBTRSODoxE3N06INninlQjq13GGiJaFJM_aem_fGVMbOLXE9Q2_lQd3pWuvg&_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=nl&_x_tr_pto=wapp

01/07/2025