Helen Thornton - Equine Sports & PEMF Musculoskeletal Therapy

26/04/2025

Why I Don’t Recommend Water Treadmills in Early Rehab

This might ruffle a few feathers, but it’s something I see far too often in my work as an equine therapist.

Water treadmills are being used too early in the rehab process. And in many cases, they do more harm than good.

Let me explain why.

1. Movement without release isn’t healing.
If a horse’s body is locked up or compensating for pain, asking them to push through water doesn’t fix anything—it just reinforces that dysfunction.

2. Compensation patterns get stronger.
When a horse is protecting an area, it moves differently to avoid pain. If you strengthen that altered movement on a treadmill, you’re just building fitness on top of imbalance.

3. Every horse is different—most programs aren’t.
Water treadmill use often follows a one-size-fits-all approach. But every horse has unique needs, restrictions, and postural patterns that should guide their rehab.

4. The nervous system needs to feel safe.
A guarded, tense horse won’t move freely, no matter how therapeutic the setup seems. True healing comes when the body AND mind are ready to release and rebalance.

Let’s talk about the science.
A 2013 study by Mendez-Angulo et al. (Am. J. Vet. Res., 74, 557–566) showed that water depth on a treadmill affects joint range of motion in healthy horses—particularly increasing distal joint flexion, with the degree depending on the water level.

But here’s the thing: these were healthy horses.

Yet I frequently see horses with joint inflammation and underlying dysfunction being immediately sent into water treadmill programs. Asking inflamed joints to flex more under resistance before the body is even remotely ready?

Many people question the effectiveness of this approach, especially when the evidence supporting it is so unclear or lacking. It's really important to consider whether there's sufficient research.

And here’s another angle to consider.
Yes, I’ve seen studies suggesting water treadmill use may help develop hindquarter muscle mass. And I’ve had my hands on horses who did bulk up behind. But what else did I find?

A shut-down thoracic sling, tension through the shoulder girdle and viscera pulls.
A braced front end struggling to absorb that push from behind.

So even if the hind end looks “better,” the horse as a whole is still dysfunctional.

There may not be much research yet on how the water treadmill affects horses already moving in a compromised way, but here’s what I do know:

Building muscle at the expense of functional movement is not rehab. It’s just a different layer of dysfunction.

While there is research available on this modality, and we have some idea of its effects on healthy horses, we still need far more data on its impact in horses with soundness issues and deeper pathologies before it can be confidently used in true rehab settings. Particularly for me postural deficits.

And here’s the kicker…

Blanket 30-minute sessions on the water treadmill- While I suspect these are done in the shallowest water depths, I can’t help but ask:

At what point did we decide that 30 minutes of repetitive movement—against resistance—is appropriate for a horse, seeming many suffer with unresolved dysfunction?

Especially if they haven’t even been seen by a competent physio or osteopath who understands not just muscles and joints, but the viscera, parietal system, and deeper connections like thoracic sling development.

It’s not rehab. It’s just exercise with a hope attached.

So what’s the alternative?

1) Bodywork first – to release restrictions and reset the body, the WHOLE horse.

2) Turnout or liberty movement – to let the horse rediscover natural motion

3) In-hand work – to guide the body back to functional patterns

4) Gradual strengthening – once the foundation is right

While there is research available on this modality, and we have some idea of its effects on healthy horses, we still need far more data on its impact in horses with soundness issues and deeper pathologies before it can be confidently used in true rehab settings. In my experience, underlying body and postural dysfunction are often not thoroughly evaluated before horses are placed onto machines such as the water treadmill for rehabilitation, which risks compounding existing issues rather than resolving them.

Rehabilitation should create better movement, not just more of it. Let’s stop rushing the process, and start respecting the horse’s body and mind.

🐴 Let the horse tell us when it’s ready—not the rehab schedule.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23531063/

https://brill.com/view/journals/cep/18/5/article-p413_413.xml?

https://pure.hartpury.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/8585596/Current_knowledge_of_equine_water_treadmill_exercise_what_can_we_learn_from_human_and_canine_studies.pdf

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0737080622001630

25/04/2025

The overuse of joint injections for competitive gain is concerning, especially when many underlying issues originate elsewhere in the body. Regular, comprehensive physical therapy—particularly evidence-based osteopathic treatments—offers a more sustainable approach. Addressing dysfunction in the visceral system, spinal alignment, and craniosacral rhythm can significantly improve a horse's comfort and performance without relying on repeated pharmacological intervention.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BJ5EzBmHK/

A 2017 study found that racehorses receiving corticosteroid injections were FOUR TIMES more likely to suffer musculoskeletal injuries. These weren’t minor lamenesses, they led to long layups, early retirements, and in some cases, catastrophic breakdowns. That stopped me in my tracks. When we inject a horse to keep them “sound,” are we treating the injury, or are we simply hiding the pain?

Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatories. They offer quick relief, especially for sore joints, but repeated use has a risky side. Over time, corticosteroids can accelerate cartilage breakdown and damage the very structures we’re trying to protect. That’s not just theory, it’s been proven in multiple studies. One 2022 review published in Equine Veterinary Education warned that long-term use of corticosteroids, even in low doses, can lead to irreversible joint degeneration.

And it’s not just steroids. Treatments like IRAP (interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein) and PRP (platelet-rich plasma) are widely used, but the science behind them is still emerging. A recent meta-analysis found highly inconsistent outcomes with some horses showing improvement, and others none at all. These therapies show promise, but they are not miracle fixes. Their long-term benefits and risks remain unclear, especially when used repeatedly without a comprehensive rehab plan.

Even alternatives like Adequan and Polyglycan come with caveats. Adequan (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan) can help reduce inflammation and protect cartilage in the short term, but does not show lasting curative effects without rest or additional therapy. Polyglycan, often marketed as a joint lubricant, has been linked to increased bone proliferation and osteophyte formation. That means while it might make your horse feel better in the short term, it could be quietly encouraging abnormal bone growth that worsens arthritis and limits joint mobility over time.

It seems that most injections don’t fix the problem, they just silence the alarm bell. And when we quiet that bell without solving what caused it, we set the horse up for further breakdown. They keep working through masked pain, compensating, and eventually injuring something else. What seems like a solution quickly becomes a cycle of damage.

So, what does responsible use look like? It starts with intent. Injections should never be used as routine “maintenance” or as a preventative measure in otherwise healthy joints. There is no such thing as a preventative joint injection. Every time you inject a joint, you’re altering its natural chemistry and potentially weakening its future integrity. Instead, injections should be used after thorough diagnostics: imaging, flexions, lameness exams, and only as part of a comprehensive plan. That means rest. That means thoughtful rehab. That means time to retrain healthier movement patterns so the horse can come back stronger and more balanced, not just numbed. Injections can open a door to recovery, but they are not the recovery itself.

Responsible use also means reevaluating the workload. If a horse needs regular injections to keep doing the job, then maybe it’s the job that needs adjusting. I’m not saying injections are evil. They’ve done wonderful things for horses I’ve known and I’m not saying we should all stop injections forever. But if Beauty’s hocks need to be injected three times a year just to keep her jumping the 1.20s, maybe the 1.20s are no longer where she belongs. Maybe it's time to listen to what her body is telling us.

I’m not a vet. I don’t have a medical degree. I’m just someone who enjoys research and writing, and I would still argue that we need more research to ultimately determine what is "safe" for our horses. However, I do think it's important to be aware of what the science currently says, and having hard conversations about if the potential risk is worth the reward.

Your vet is your best friend in this process. Don’t change your horse’s care plan because someone on Facebook shared a study about joint injections being questionable…or because someone else said they’re harmless. Talk to your vet. Ask hard questions. Understand exactly what these drugs do, how long they last, and what they mean for your horse’s future soundness. Your vet knows your horse better than I ever could, and they want to help you make the best choices, not just the most convenient ones.

Studies used:

Johnson, B. J., et al. (2017). "Association between corticosteroid administration and musculoskeletal injury in Thoroughbred racehorses." Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 250(3), 296–302.

Textor, J. A., & Tablin, F. (2012). "Platelet-rich plasma in equine musculoskeletal therapy." Canadian Veterinary Journal, 53(8), 841–849.

Frisbie, D. D., & McIlwraith, C. W. (2014). "Evaluation of autologous conditioned serum and platelet-rich plasma for treatment of musculoskeletal injuries in horses." Equine Veterinary Education, 26(12), 572–578.

McIlwraith, C. W., et al. (2012). "Effects of intra-articular administration of sodium hyaluronate and polysulfated glycosaminoglycan on osteoarthritis in horses." EquiManagement Clinical Research Reports.

Burba, D. J., et al. (2011). "Evaluation of pentosan polysulfate sodium in equine osteoarthritis." Equine Veterinary Journal, 43(5), 549–555.

Garbin, L. C., Lopez, C., & Carmona, J. U. (2021). A Critical Overview of the Use of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Equine Medicine Over the Last Decade. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8, 641818.

Boorman, S., McMaster, M. A., Groover, E., & Caldwell, F. (2022). Review of glucocorticoid therapy in horses: Intra-articular corticosteroids. Equine Veterinary Education, 35(6), 327–336.

Nedergaard, M. W., et al. (2024). Evidence of the clinical effect of commonly used intra-articular treatments of equine osteoarthritis. Equine Veterinary Education.

24/04/2025

Why Your Horse Needs to Lay Down—And What Happens If They Don’t

Horses are incredibly adaptive animals, designed to survive in the wild. One of their most fascinating traits is their ability to sleep standing up, thanks to a specialized anatomical system known as the stay apparatus. This system allows horses to lock joints in their limbs—especially the stifle, hock, and fetlock—using a system of ligaments, tendons, and passive support, so they can doze without falling over. This is crucial for a prey species that must always be ready to flee.

But here’s the truth: REM sleep—the deep, restorative sleep—can only happen when the horse lies down. They typically get around 30–60 minutes of REM a day, often in short, scattered bouts.

When they don’t lie down, it’s often not because they don’t want to—but because they can’t. From an osteopathic perspective, body pain and stiffness are often the culprits. A horse may feel confident it can roll and get up again, but if staying down is uncomfortable or mechanically restricted, they’ll avoid it altogether.

This is something I’ve seen time and time again in my practice. I’ve had clients call me—sometimes in tears—saying “My horse laid down and slept for the first time in years after their session.” That moment says everything. Releasing restrictions, restoring normal movement, and allowing the nervous system to settle often gives them back the confidence—and comfort—to finally rest.

Without REM, horses become chronically sleep-deprived. You might see:

🐴 Buckling at rest or dozing on their feet

🐴 Sudden collapse episodes from microsleeps

🐴 Moodiness, fatigue, or a drop in performance

Sleep deprivation is not just a behaviour problem—it’s a neuromechanical and wellness issue. Equine Osteopathic treatment focuses on resolving those subtle restrictions in the fascia, spine, and soft tissue that prevent the horse from truly relaxing.

Recumbent sleep deprivation:

If horses are physically unable to lie down or choose not to for any reason then recumbent sleep deprivation occurs, causing a substantial impact on the health and quality of life of the individual. Recumbent sleep deprivation can cause serious injuries as often the individuals will fall into paradoxical sleep while standing and subsequently the complete muscle relaxation causes them to collapse

A study found injury occurrence in more than 90 percent of the observed horses suffering from recumbent sleep deprivation, with the most common injuries found on the knees and fetlocks where they had dropped quickly to the floor as their legs buckled (Fuchs et al., 2019; Figure 2). Head injuries and hock injuries are also often seen in association with this condition (Fuchs et al., 2019).

So next time you wonder why your horse doesn’t lie down—know that it might be a question of can’t, not won’t. And it might just be treatable.

Give your horse the rest they deserve.

Image: My Shetland having got up from a sleep in their shelter. Google image of horse buckling.

Posts coming up : Anatomy behind the stay apparatus and the body links that can affect its use. Comment or react to keep me the posts in your feed.

20/04/2025

The Spine and the Kidneys: An Intricate Relationship

The mechanical and fascial relationship of the kidneys within the horse’s body is vast and intricately layered, influencing not just organ function but also musculoskeletal dynamics. The kidneys maintain a close anatomical relationship with key structures such as the diaphragm, the spleen, the psoas muscles, and the adrenal glands—but their interaction with the spine is particularly significant.

In the image, the yellow circle highlights the immediate spinal correlation at T16 -T17–T18, right beneath the edge of the saddle. This area is not just structurally close to the kidneys, but also neurologically intertwined via the sympathetic chain. These thoracic vertebrae are often the first place tension appears when the kidneys are under stress—whether from fascial pull, congestion, or organ dysfunction.

Each kidney is different not only in shape but also in positional stability. The right kidney, more cranial and shaped like a playing card heart, is nestled securely against the liver and other supportive organs. The left kidney, however, is a classic bean shape and sits further caudally. It is more mobile, and is suspended in part by a ligamentous connection to the spleen, making it more susceptible to restriction, especially when the spleen is involved in systemic immune or circulatory stress.

Why does this matter for performance horses?

Because of these anatomical nuances, the left kidney is more prone to becoming restricted, creating a pull on the thoraco-lumbar fascia. This tension often manifests subtly at first—a rider noticing the saddle consistently slips to the right, or that the left stirrup feels shorter. Over time, this fascial imbalance affects the psoas muscle group, contributing to restriction in the left hind limb—something riders may experience as resistance in transitions, stiffness, or asymmetry in lateral work.

Moreover, during respiration, the diaphragm moves caudally with each inhalation. This movement demands a degree of mobility from the kidneys, which are nestled just beneath the diaphragm. If the kidneys cannot move freely, the resulting restriction can impair not just organ health but the rhythm and balance of the horse's entire trunk.

So if you find yourself riding multiple horses that "feel the same", particularly with these saddle or limb asymmetries—it may not be your riding. You could be feeling the downstream effect of a very common visceral restriction!

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Take-home message:
The WHOLE horse approach is essential when addressing performance and comfort in ridden horses. Recognizing how deeply interconnected systems like the spine, viscera, and fascia are can reveal hidden causes of dysfunction and open new pathways to healing.

More to come soon!

Free webinar coming in MAY, please comment or share to make sure you see the event announced in your news feed. 😉

18/04/2025

Just some things my recent course takers noted whilst learning and practising the Somatic Integration work i teach.

Have a read ✌️👇👇👇👇👇

13/04/2025

There was 3 in a bed and one said............

11/04/2025

A Fabulous day today with a group of people learning 👇👇👇👇👇👇

Somatic Integration Movement Therapy WORKSHOP 11th APRIL for horse owners & therapists

Thanks to all who attended, you were all great!

The next Somatic workshop is 21st June.

05/04/2025

"𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿, 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗲"

🐴 Horses are so clever! This week, I went to a lovely horse whose owner described how her horse would straddle her hay feeder in what looked like an attempt to lift her belly. Which, as you can imagine, seems obvious this was to relieve back pain.
So I thought I'd share all my findings to show you how assessing the WHOLE horse is of great importance and really does give the whole picture.

This is what I found:
Key Findings & Their Implications:

1. Thoracic Misalignments (Th9–12)

These vertebrae are crucial for the mobility of the ribcage and mid-back stability.
We sit on this area after all, but it's also the global connections that have to be understood.

Misalignments in this area can affect the autonomic nervous system and impact the function of nearby organs, including the stomach and intestines.

The thoracic region (Th6–16) shares neural connections with the gastrointestinal tract, so dysfunctions here may contribute to digestive discomfort, leading to compensatory postures.
In horses, the stomach receives sympathetic innervation primarily from thoracic spinal segments T5/T6 to T12/T13 via the greater splanchnic nerves, which synapse in the celiac ganglia before innervating the stomach.
The greater splanchnic nerves descend through the thorax and pierce the diaphragm, terminating in the celiac ganglia, which are located in the abdominal cavity.

Thoracic Misalignments & Sympathetic Activity:

The thoracic spine, Th6–Th16, houses the sympathetic splanchnic nerves, which innervate the stomach and intestines. When there are misalignments, restrictions, or irritation in these segments , it can lead to heightened facilitation of the spinal segments—essentially, the nerves become hypersensitive or overly active.
This causes an increase in baseline sympathetic output, meaning the horse’s "fight or flight" system is more active than it should be, even at rest.

2. Right-Bending Spine & Rib Dysfunction (Expiration Restriction)

A right-sided bend means the spine is stuck in a lateral curvature, often indicating fascial tension patterns or imbalance in muscle tone, which was the case.

The "stuck" ribs 9-14 in expiration, give limited movement in the thoracic cage, reducing breathing efficiency and influencing diaphragm function. This involves the phrenic nerve and therefore C3/C4/C5 too.

This can also affect the horse’s core stability and ability to properly engage her back!
Clever horse trying to help herself.

3. OAA (Occipito-Atlanto-Axial) Dysfunction & Vagal Nerve Involvement with altered vascularity.

⚠️ The OAA region is critical for neural control, especially the Vagus nerve, which regulates the parasympathetic nervous system. The vascularity work around the ears and jugular here is also very important.

The left Vagus nerve runs down towards the digestive organs, and dysfunction at the OAA junction can contribute to visceral tension and autonomic imbalances.

🚩A history of head and ear sensitivity also suggested tension in the cranial nerves. I found CNX to be in dysfunction (vagus nerve)

Cranial Restrictions & Their Visceral Links:

🐴 Asymmetry at the vertex

🐴 Frontonasal restriction

These cranial patterns are often found in horses that are quite “heady”—those who head-butt, resist haltering, or are hypersensitive around the face. These signs often point to dysfunctions in the cranial base and facial bones, particularly affecting the ethmoid, frontal, and nasal bones, which can also have downstream effects on visceral tone and autonomic regulation.

Cranial–Visceral Relationship:

The vertex (involving the parietals and the occiput) is linked to the Dural tension system. Asymmetry here can reflect imbalance in the central autonomic system, which directly influences visceral organs.

The frontonasal region is part of the visceral cranium and often ties to gut-brain axis patterns. Restrictions here may correlate with stomach tension or altered vagal tone, especially on the left side where the vagus nerve descends to the front part of the stomach, pylorus & omentum minor.

Cranial strain patterns can influence the tentorium cerebelli, affecting the vagus nerve and potentially disrupting parasympathetic output to the stomach and intestines—matching my finding of a stomach visceral pull through the left and CNX Involvement.

So, the head sensitivity and cranial restrictions weren’t just local findings; they’re part of a larger compensatory system linking the cranial base, cervical spine, thoracics, and the gut. These horses often present as emotionally reactive or hard to “ground” because their neurovisceral tension keeps them in a subtle sympathetic state. i.e., napping, herd bound, etc.

Cranial Restrictions & Their Visceral Links (Expanded):

There are classic signs in horses that are “heady,” sensitive to touch, or display behaviours like head-butting. As I said, these restrictions often reflect dysfunctions in the cranial vault and face and can influence the dural membranes and craniosacral rhythm, which tie directly into autonomic regulation.

But there's more—the cranial portion of the stomach is strongly connected to the diaphragm via the gastrophrenic (gastrophrenicum) ligament. This ligament is part of the fascial and visceral web that anchors the stomach. And connects the greater curvature of the stomach from the cardia to the left extremity. It also connects the crura of the diaphragm. That’s significant for two reasons:

1. Diaphragm as a Central Link

Any tension in the diaphragm (affected by rib fixations, thoracic misalignments, or restricted breathing) can directly impact stomach motility and position via the gastrophrenic ligament.

Conversely, visceral tension or restriction in the stomach—like chronic stress, poor gut motility, or vagal dysfunction—can all pull on the diaphragm and restrict its motion.

2. Cranial Influence via the Vagus Nerve & Fascial Lines

The left vagus nerve, which passes through the OAA and is vulnerable to cranial base strain, heavily innervates the stomach.

Cranial asymmetries and dural tension (from the vertex and frontonasal strain) may, therefore, compromise vagal tone, influencing stomach function, motility, and contributing to a visceral pull through the left side.

Complete Pattern Recap:

This horse presents a highly integrated visceral-cranial-thoracic chain:

Cranial: Vertex and frontonasal restriction → dural tension + vagal dysfunction

Cervical: OAA lesion → compromised vagal nerve output

Thoracic: Th9–12 misalignments, ribs stuck in expiration → diaphragm restriction, sympathetic irritation.

Viscera: Left-sided visceral pull involving the stomach → tension through the gastrophrenic ligament → secondary postural and behavioural adaptations.

Her use of the hay feeder to rest the belly wasn't just behavioural—it was a self-adapted response to relieve fascial and visceral tension, especially around the stomach-diaphragm-thoracic interface. (Mid section relief)

Overall Picture:

The combination of these dysfunctions suggests a visceral pull through the left side as the root issue. The left vagus nerve, innervating the stomach and intestines, was irritated, leading to tension patterns that affected the horse’s posture and biomechanics. The horse’s compensatory strategies—such as belly resting—were likely her way of alleviating some of this internal and structural strain.

Addressing the spinal misalignments, rib restrictions, and OAA dysfunction is to restore better nervous system regulation, visceral mobility and motility, and postural balance.

To finish
Please don't ignore these habits horses develop. Here are some more common scenarios:

🐎 Banking up shavings to lift heels
🐎 Resting butt on hay feeder/nets
🐎 Head / ear sensitivity

I am forever grateful for my training at The Vluggen Institute. The WHOLE horse!

Image kindly shared by her owner.

31/03/2025

🌟 Exciting News! 🌟

After years of working hands-on with horses, we're thrilled to announce we're expanding our services... to cater for Unicorns! 🦄

Our new Mythical Equine Osteopathy Package is specially designed to realign horn imbalances, ease rainbow strain, and improve wing mobility. Whether your unicorn is struggling with glitter build-up or has been overdoing those magical gallops, we've got them covered!

Bookings are filling up fast – don't miss out! 😉

30/03/2025

When I have a rare spell of time to take horses in for rehabilitation or multiple treatment sessions, I like to do everything myself with that horse for specific reasons.

The way they move around, the way the horse rests in the stable, their patterns of eating, how they move through gateways—all of it is valuable information. But more importantly, it gives me countless opportunities to re-establish better movement.
I will focus on the smoothness of how they load their limbs as they turn through a gate for e.g, creating multiple chances to rewire neuromuscular connections in their everyday life. This helps establish improved movement patterns that become second nature.

For me, this is good old-fashioned horsemanship—something that seems to be getting lost. We are so desperate to feel like we are DOING, that the smaller steps are over looked for much bigger inputs.

So many people rely on gadgets or systems that remove the human-horse connection, and to me, that makes no sense. How do we interact with horses?

We ride them, but there's always a process of interactions.

A series of small, daily interactions take place in their care. Leading them is one such massive opportunity—not just to ensure they are light on the end of the rope, but also to establish that they are relaxed in our leadership and prepared for what’s next.

On my courses, I teach: “What’s in the mind is in the body, and what’s in the body is in the mind.” More on that another time, but I’m sure you get the gist.

Horses feeling soft, willing, and able is always our aim when we ride, right? So, taking advantage of the everyday handling opportunities to promote this will do far more than many people imagine rehabilitation to be.

When I have horses in for a series of treatments, I often balance this with prescription exercises. There are two main types of horses in these scenarios:

1. The shut-down types—seemingly calm, but only until they explode.

2. The busy, busy types—those who want to do everything right but are a little rushed, maybe bargy, and unable to slow things down.

Both cases stem from the same core issue: disconnection. This disconnect always involves both brain and body. How silly it would be to separate them, right?

Removing the brace corrects the poor loading through each limb. This improves any dysfunction in the body, simply put.

This is something humans understand deeply in our own movement practices.

As Joseph Pilates said: “Breathing is the first act of life and the last. Our very life depends on it.”

Or as B.K.S. Iyengar, a master of yoga, put it: “The mind is the king of the senses, but the breath is the king of the mind.”

When we engage in Pilates, yoga, or breathwork, we realign our bodies and minds. The same principle applies to horses.

Horses in brace will always have dysfunction in their diaphragm and ribs—the very area we sit on and enclose with equipment. The diaphragm is of major importance when it comes to my treatments. My training at the Vluggen Institute of Equine Osteopathy has given me an in-depth understanding of the global anatomical, mechanical, neuro and vascular connections throughout the body. Addressing the diaphragm is a crucial component of ensuring a horse moves, breathes, and functions optimally.

If we want a horse to be soft, able, willing, and a joy to ride, we must consider the daily handling moments that provide the chance to create input for this.

So, here are two things you can do better starting tomorrow:

1. When leading your horse, think about encouraging lightness. How can you help your horse to not be pulling you or bracing at the end of the rope?

2. When you turn your horse through a gate or stable door, take note of their landing limb. Which limb do they plant to the floor and spin around? Observing this will give you insight into their movement patterns and potential areas of tension. Want to learn more?, join a course.

💬 Let me know your thoughts—what’s your idea of horse rehabilitation, or what are some things you could improve in your everyday handling?