Laminitis is one of the most serious and painful conditions that horses and ponies can suffer, and just recently it seems like I’m seeing more and more cases. But why? The answer lies in a mix of modern horse-keeping practices, climate change, and better awareness of the condition. Creating a perfect storm. However, with awareness, prevention, and careful management, many cases of laminitis can be avoided or caught early before they become life-threatening, hence me writing this blog to try to raise awareness and help owners struggling with management.

The key reasons for seeing more cases:

1. Rising Rates of Obesity and EMS

• Equine obesity has become one of the biggest welfare concerns in the UK and worldwide. Surveys suggest that up to 50% of leisure horses are overweight.
• Obesity is the single biggest risk factor for Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), which is strongly linked to endocrinopathic laminitis.
• Overfeeding, lack of workload, and calorie-dense feeds all contribute.

2. Climate Change and Grass Growth

• Warmer winters and wetter springs mean grass grows nearly year-round.
• Grasses have become richer in non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) due to selective breeding for cattle grazing.
• “Danger periods” used to be spring/autumn flushes — now high-sugar grass can appear almost any month of the year.

3. More Horses Living as Leisure Horses, Companions & “Pets” Rather Than Workers

• Historically, horses worked hard and needed higher-calorie diets.
• Today, many leisure horses do relatively little exercise, but are fed as though they are in full work.
• Lack of consistent movement increases the risk of both insulin resistance and hoof circulatory compromise.

4. Better Awareness and Diagnosis

• Vets and owners are now more aware of subtle or “low-grade” laminitis and “not quite right” horses.
• Advanced diagnostics (endocrine testing, insulin tests, ACTH for PPID) mean more cases are being identified rather than overlooked.
• So part of the “increase” is actually improved recognition.

5. Aging Horse Population

• Horses are living longer due to improved veterinary care.
• This means more cases of PPID (Cushing’s disease), which carries a high laminitis risk.

6. Lingering Outdated Management Misconceptions

I will get into some of these a little deeper shortly but in summary:

• Many (including some vets) are still seeing laminitis as a stand alone disease and treating it as such, however, this is not the case, laminitis is rarely a stand-alone disease—it is increasingly understood as a clinical manifestation (a symptom) of underlying systemic problems, particularly metabolic dysfunction. I will discuss this in more detail soon.
• Box rest is still sometimes used long-term, which delays recovery.
• Shoeing is still often prioritised over barefoot rehab, even though barefoot trimming can be more effective for laminitic horses.
• Painkillers (bute) are sometimes relied on instead of tackling the metabolic root cause.
• Owners often underestimate the risk of grass, believing short or sparse pasture is “safe” when in fact stressed short grass can actually be very sugar-rich.

7. Seasonal Hormonal Effects

• Spring and autumn laminitis “spikes” are still seen because insulin dysregulation and PPID can worsen seasonally.
• Research shows ACTH and insulin levels rise naturally in autumn, increasing laminitis risk (Durham et al., 2019).

• Milder winters and wetter springs mean grass grows for much longer each year. With the weather we have been experiencing over the last 2/3 weeks; warm & wet after a very dry summer the grass has grown at an exponential rate hence the rise in laminitis cases over these weeks.

Laminitis isn’t becoming more common because the disease itself has changed — but because of the way modern life, climate, and horse care practices interact. Obesity, metabolic disease, sugar-rich grass, and longer lifespans all contribute to the surge in cases we’re seeing today.

---

Subtle Signs & Symptoms

Picking up on the signs and symptoms of laminitis and metabolic dysfunction is extremely important to be able to react, manage and catch early before it becomes a life threatening situation. One of the biggest challenges with laminitis and metabolic dysfunction (like EMS or PPID) is that the early signs are often subtle, and by the time classic symptoms appear (like the “laminitic stance” or obvious lameness), the disease is already well advanced.

Here are some of the more subtle symptoms to watch for:

Subtle Signs of Laminitis

• Shortened stride / reluctance to move forward – may look like the horse is just “lazy,” stiff, or footsore on hard ground.
• Shifting weight when standing – alternating front feet, resting one foot more than usual, or standing with front feet stretched slightly forward.
• Reluctance to turn – especially on a tight circle; horse may look “stiff” rather than overtly lame.
• Increased digital pulse – can be felt at the fetlock or pastern, sometimes more noticeable after exercise or sugar intake.
• Warm hooves – especially when persistent or uneven between hooves.
• Flat or stretched sole – before obvious separation occurs.
• Rings in the hoof wall – wider at the heel than at the toe, suggesting changes in growth rate.
• Change in behaviour – irritability, grumpiness when ridden, or reluctance to have feet picked up.

Subtle Signs of Metabolic Dysfunction (EMS, PPID, insulin dysregulation)

• Laminitis – discussed below
• Cresty neck or abnormal fat deposits – behind shoulders, around tail head, or above eyes (fat pads above the eye can be an early warning).
• Difficulty losing weight despite restricted diet – or unexplained weight gain.
• Muscle wastage – especially topline loss (more common with PPID).
• Mild lethargy – horse just seems “flat” or not performing as usual.
• Increased thirst or urination – more often with PPID, but can appear with metabolic stress.
• Delayed coat change – shedding late in spring, or developing a slightly longer, wavier coat (an early PPID sign).
• Filled sheath or udders – Horses with insulin resistance often develop abnormal fat pads and sometimes mild, fluctuating oedema (fluid swelling). The sheath and mammary region are common places where this shows up because the tissue there is loose and more prone to fluid accumulation.
• Recurrent foot soreness – mild, inconsistent lameness episodes that come and go.
• Slow wound healing or frequent skin infections – due to impaired immune function in PPID horses.

The tricky part is that many of these early signs can easily be mistaken for other issues (like arthritis, saddle fit, or laziness). But taken together, especially in easy-keeper breeds (native ponies, cobs, Morgans, Andalusians, etc.), they should raise suspicion.

Laminitis: Not a Stand-Alone Disease but a Symptom of Metabolic Dysfunction

Laminitis is often thought of as a hoof disease. In reality, research has shown that it is rarely a stand-alone condition. Instead, laminitis is best understood as a clinical symptom of underlying metabolic and endocrine dysfunction. For horse owners and veterinarians, this distinction is crucial, because it changes laminitis management from a short-term hoof problem into a lifelong systemic issue requiring lifelong management.

Laminitis is a Symptom, Not a Disease

Historically, laminitis was attributed to grain overload, pasture fructans, or mechanical stress. While these can contribute, the majority of modern cases are endocrinopathic laminitis—laminitis linked to hormonal and metabolic dysfunction.

• Pollitt (2008) described laminitis as a “syndrome with multiple causes,” with endocrinopathic forms dominating in today’s domesticated horse population.
• Patterson-Kane et al. (2018) confirmed that the most common type of laminitis in the field is associated with insulin dysregulation.

In other words, laminitis is a downstream effect of systemic disease rather than a primary condition.

Laminitis is the clinical manifestation of an internal metabolic problem

Metabolic Dysfunction as the Root Cause

Two major conditions are repeatedly linked to laminitis: Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) and Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID).

• Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS):
  Horses with EMS typically show obesity, abnormal fat distribution, and insulin dysregulation.
  • Asplin et al. (2007) demonstrated experimentally that prolonged high insulin levels can directly induce laminitis in otherwise healthy horses.
  • This provides strong evidence that hyperinsulinemia is not just associated with, but causative of, laminitis.
• Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID):
  In PPID, abnormal pituitary function disrupts hormone regulation, which in turn worsens insulin dysregulation.
  • McFarlane (2014) notes that horses with PPID are predisposed to laminitis, particularly when insulin resistance is also present.

Why Laminitis Is a Lifelong Problem

Because the underlying metabolic disorders (EMS, PPID) are chronic, affected horses remain at risk for laminitis throughout life—even after apparent recovery.

• Durham et al. (2019) emphasise that laminitis management requires ongoing attention to diet, weight, and endocrine health to prevent recurrence.
• The principle “once laminitic, always at risk” is supported both by clinical experience and by endocrinological studies.

This makes laminitis a lifelong management issue, not an isolated hoof event.

Implications for Management

Effective laminitis management must therefore extend beyond the feet:

• Diet: Low non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) forage, avoidance of high sugar/starch feeds.
• Weight control: Obesity is strongly linked with insulin resistance (Geor & Harris, 2009).
• Exercise: Improves insulin sensitivity if the horse is sound.
• Medical support:
  • PPID: Pergolide (Prascend®) to control pituitary function.
  • EMS: Metformin has limited efficacy but may help some cases.
  • NOT giving NAID’s (Bute)
• Hoof care: Corrective trimming/shoeing provides comfort and stability but does not treat the underlying disease.
• Movement – box rest is now not recommended as movement and circulation is essential
• Bodywork – compensation, circulation, tissue health, pain management, nervous system regulation, foot and posture alignment support

A multidisciplinary approach combining veterinary care, farriery, bodywork, diet, and lifestyle change offers the best chance of long-term success.

---

NSAIDs and Pain Management in Laminitis

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as phenylbutazone (bute) were traditionally prescribed for laminitis to reduce pain and inflammation. However, modern research highlights significant limitations to their role in management.

• Masking protective pain: Pain discourages overloading of damaged laminae. Excessive use of NSAIDs can allow the horse to move more than is safe, potentially worsening laminar separation.
• Inflammation is not the primary driver: In endocrinopathic laminitis (EMS/PPID), the initiating factor is insulin dysregulation, not inflammation (Asplin et al., 2007). NSAIDs therefore do not target the root cause of disease.
• Systemic risks: Long-term NSAID use carries risks of gastric ulceration, colitis, and renal compromise, particularly in overweight or metabolically compromised horses.

Current best practice:

• NSAIDs may still be used short-term for welfare reasons in acute, painful cases.
• They should not be relied upon as a primary treatment or as a long-term management strategy.
• The focus of therapy should instead be on dietary control, insulin regulation, controlled movement, and appropriate hoof support.

Supporting evidence:

• Pollitt & Karikos (1993) showed NSAIDs failed to prevent laminitis progression in experimental carbohydrate overload models.
• Asplin et al. (2007) demonstrated that laminitis induced by hyperinsulinaemia was not associated with an inflammatory response, explaining why NSAIDs offer limited benefit.
• Durham et al. (2019) emphasised the primacy of endocrine control in managing laminitis, with NSAIDs considered only an adjunct for short-term comfort.

NSAIDs are no longer considered a cornerstone of laminitis therapy. Their use should be cautious, limited, and always secondary to addressing the underlying metabolic dysfunction and providing mechanical hoof support.

---

Laminitis, Metabolic Dysfunction, and the Role of Barefoot Management

Correct hoof care is central to successful management. One strategy increasingly discussed is keeping horses barefoot / using barefoot trimming principles. Below is what current scientific literature shows about benefits, limitations, and how barefoot care may fit into a laminitis‐management program.

What “Barefoot Management” Means in This Context

For laminitic/metabolic horses, “barefoot management” generally includes:

• Removing traditional steel shoes, often moving to barefoot or using boots when needed.
• Trimming the hoof frequently according to principles that reduce stress on the laminae
• Maintaining correct hoof morphology: promoting solid sole depth, correct angles, hoof wall alignment.
• Ensuring the ground and turnout conditions are appropriate (avoiding overly sharp rocky surfaces until foot has hardened, providing supportive substrate).

Evidence From the Scientific Literature for Barefoot / Barefoot Trimming Benefits

1. Hoof Morphology Improvements

• Clayton, Gray, Kaiser, Bowker (2011), Effects of Barefoot Trimming on Hoof Morphology:
  This study followed seven horses trimmed every 6 weeks under barefoot trimming principles over 16 months. Major findings included: shortening of the toe, heel, medial and lateral walls; increases in heel angle and solar angle of the distal phalanx (P3); increases in support length of the hoof. PubMed+1
  These changes can help in horses with under‐run heels or negative solar angle of P3—conditions that put abnormal stress on the laminae and can exacerbate laminitis.
• Changes in Hoof Shape During a Seven-Week Period When Horses Were Shod Versus Barefoot (Roepstorff et al., “crossover” study):
  Over seven weeks, horses kept barefoot versus shod showed significant differences: barefoot horses maintained or increased hoof angle slightly, had greater solar circumference (i.e. spread of hoof sole/hoof base), and less proximal hoof circumference loss than shod horses. PubMed+1
  Implications: barefoot hooves may better maintain their natural shape, expand under loading, possibly improving load distribution and reducing excessive stress on any one structure (such as the hoof wall or laminae).

2. Heel / Sole Support / Heel Expansion

• “Can the hoof be shod without limiting heel movement?”: This experimental study compared heel expansion (mediolateral movement) in three situations: barefoot, conventional shoe, split‐toe shoe. It showed conventional shoes significantly reduced heel movement vs barefoot. PubMed
  Why this matters: Heel expansion is thought to help distribute load, absorb concussion, improve blood flow, and reduce mechanical stress on the laminae. Reduced heel movement (as happens with many shoes) may contribute to higher stresses. Allowing more natural movement may thus be protective or supportive in laminitic/metabolic horses.

3. Practical Considerations in Laminitis Rehabilitation

• From The Laminitis Site (TLS), which compiles both veterinary and farriery practice and reports:
  TLS recommends against shoes initially for laminitis rehab because: a) The hoof walls are often not fully connected to the bone (i.e. rotations or separation can exist), so weightbearing on the walls should be minimized. b) For repositioning / realigning the hoof (e.g. lowering heels, adjusting palmar or plantar angles), frequent trimming is necessary; shoes complicate or prevent some of these adjustments. c) Support beneath the distal phalanx (via sole / frog / bars / padding / boots) is more feasible barefoot (or with boots), especially when parts of the wall are compromised. The Laminitis Site
• Although not specific to laminitic horses, the “Hoof Capability of Barefoot‐Kept Horses and Ponies Walking over Artificial Environments” (preprint) aims to measure how soles adapt in barefoot horses under artificial (hard or variable) terrain. Findings suggest that barefoot horses can maintain sole thickness and adapt morphologically when kept in good conditions (forage diet, turnout). This suggests that barefoot management can be viable in many environments, though care is needed. Preprints

How These Benefits Tie Into Managing Laminitis as a Lifelong Metabolic Issue

Putting the above together with what we know about laminitis being a symptom of systemic dysfunction:

• Reduced mechanical stress on compromised laminae: In metabolic laminitis, the laminae are already weakened or inflamed. Hoof shapes that reduce lever arms (long toes), increase heel support, allow the frog/bars/sole to bear weight, and allow heel expansion will help reduce subjective/absolute strain on the laminar attachments. Barefoot trimming that corrects long toes / under‐run heels helps in this regard.
• Improved circulation and load distribution: Allowing natural deformation (expansion/contraction) and contact of frog/bars/sole with ground may improve blood flow, reduce regions of stress, and improve comfort.
• Flexibility for adjustment: Since metabolic issues and laminitis episodes can change the hoof’s internal geometry (rotation, sinking, palmar/plantar angle changes), barefoot care (with frequent trims) gives more ability to adjust, re‐align, correct angles—because there is no rigid shoe or nails to work around.
• Prevention of recurrence: By ensuring hoof conformation supports structural alignment and minimizing recurring stressors, barefoot management adds to preventive strategies (diet, weight control, endocrine control) to reduce the risk of further laminitic episodes.

Barefoot Management as a Strategy in Laminitis Rehabilitation & Metabolic Horses

Emerging evidence supports that barefoot hoof care, when applied properly, can offer significant benefits in laminitic/metabolic horses. While more targeted trials are needed, current studies show changes in hoof morphology, load-bearing function, and heel/sole support that can reduce stress to the laminar structures.

Key beneficial effects documented:

• Correction of long toe under‐run heel conformation; increases in heel angle and solar angle of the distal phalanx (P3), which reduce lever effects on the laminar connection. PubMed+2Mad Barn USA+2
• Greater sole width / solar circumference; better hoof base expansion, which aids load distribution. PubMed+1
• Enhanced heel expansion and movement (when barefoot) which may improve circulation and shock absorption. PubMed
• More rapid and flexible ability to realign angles and control hoof geometry via frequent trimming—important during laminitis when the hoof’s internal alignment is often compromised. Barefoot trimming is more adaptable for these adjustments. The Laminitis Site+1

How this integrates with metabolic laminitis management:

• When a horse with EMS or PPID is at risk, or recovering from a laminitis flare, combining metabolic control (diet, weight, endocrine therapy) with barefoot hoof care can reduce both systemic and local risk factors.
• For example, lowering insulin reduces the biochemical injury to laminar tissue, while barefoot alignment reduces mechanical strain. Together, these can reduce pain, improve healing, and reduce recurrence.
• During recovery phases, use of protective boots, soft footing, and frequent trimming will help transition to barefoot without undue pain or risk.

Limitations, Risks, and Gaps in the Evidence

To have a balanced view, it’s important to understand the limitations and what is not yet shown scientifically:

• Lack of direct trials in laminitic + metabolic horses: Few studies have directly tested barefoot vs shoeing in horses currently in laminitis with metabolic dysfunction. Most are in “normal” horses or those with hoof shape concerns.
• Sensitivity / discomfort during transition: Removing shoes and altering hoof shape can initially cause soreness, especially if the ground is hard / sole thin, or hoof has been “protected” for a long time. Booting or padding may be needed during the transition.
• Ground/terrain concerns: Barefoot management requires suitable terrain or supplemental protection (boots, soft ground) especially early or during bouts of sole tenderness.
• Quality of barefoot trimming matters: Poor trimming (too much off, leaving sharp edges, not maintaining frog/bars, ignoring alignment) can worsen problems. Not all farriers or trimmers have equal skill or understanding of anatomy, especially in compromised feet.
• Individual variation: Breed, hoof wall quality, metabolic severity, conformation, previous damage—these all influence how well a horse will respond to barefoot care. Some may always need some form of shoeing or protection.

---

Movement and Circulation: Why Box Rest is Not Recommended

Historically, horses with laminitis were often confined to box rest, but increasing evidence suggests this is counterproductive in endocrinopathic laminitis. While acute cases may require a short period of stabilisation, prolonged immobility reduces circulation to the feet, slows recovery, increases stiffness, and worsens metabolic dysfunction.

Movement is vital for several reasons:

• Circulation and hoof health: Locomotion improves blood flow to the laminae and supports hoof capsule healing (Bowker, 2003).
• Insulin regulation: Even low-intensity movement improves insulin sensitivity (de Laat et al., 2016), directly addressing the root cause of laminitis.
• Musculoskeletal wellbeing: Gentle movement prevents secondary stiffness, joint restriction, and muscle loss.

Practical management of movement:

• Bald paddock or track system: Horses should be turned out in a grass-free environment to allow self-exercise without further sugar intake.
• Soaked hay fed in multiple stations: Placing hay in several feeding points encourages natural movement and mimics foraging behaviour.
• Protective hoof boots or pads: These can be used to improve comfort on firm ground while still allowing beneficial movement.

Thus, while the horse cannot be ridden during acute laminitis, encouraging free movement in a controlled, low-sugar environment is essential for rehabilitation. Box rest should be avoided except in the most extreme cases, and only as a very short-term measure.

---

Bodywork in Laminitis Rehabilitation

1. Managing Compensation Patterns

Laminitis causes severe pain in the feet, and horses instinctively adopt compensatory postures:

• Leaning back onto the heels (“sawhorse stance”) to unload the toes.
• Shifting weight excessively to the hindlimbs.
• Developing tension in shoulders, neck, thoracic sling, and lumbar region due to altered gait.

Over time, these compensations can cause secondary musculoskeletal issues — tight muscles, fascial restrictions, and joint strain.

Bodywork (massage, myofascial release, stretching, chiropractic/osteopathic techniques) helps:

• Release muscle tension in overloaded areas (triceps, shoulders, hamstrings).
• Improve circulation and lymphatic flow in tight tissues.
• Support more balanced posture once the feet become more stable.

2. Improving Circulation and Tissue Health

One of the goals in laminitis rehab is to improve blood flow to the feet and distal limbs, since perfusion of the laminae is often compromised.

• Massage and myofascial techniques increase peripheral circulation.
• Gentle mobilisations of the limbs (when comfortable) can enhance vascular and lymphatic return.
• Craniosacral and fascial work may reduce systemic tension that inhibits blood flow.

While research directly linking massage/bodywork to laminitis outcomes is scarce, human studies show soft tissue therapy increases circulation and reduces pain perception — and equine studies have shown similar benefits in muscle relaxation and stride length.

3. Pain Management and Nervous System Regulation

Laminitic horses are often in chronic pain and stress, which activates the sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight).

• Gentle bodywork encourages parasympathetic activity (“rest and digest”), helping reduce cortisol and systemic stress.
• Lower stress hormones can support metabolic stability and improve healing (important for horses with EMS/PPID).

4. Supporting Hoof and Postural Realignment

As trimming and hoof rehabilitation progress, the horse’s posture shifts. Bodywork:

• Helps the horse adapt to new limb angles and loading patterns.
• Prevents “old” muscular compensations from persisting once the feet are corrected.
• Restores range of motion in joints restricted during the painful phase.

5. Research and Evidence

While equine-specific research on bodywork in laminitis is limited, several studies provide supportive evidence:

• Haussler (1999, Equine Veterinary Journal) – chiropractic techniques improved spinal mobility and reduced pain in horses.
• Tabor & Williams (2004, Equine Veterinary Education) – physiotherapy and manual therapies support recovery from lameness by addressing compensatory strain.
• McGowan et al. (2010, Equine Veterinary Journal) – rehabilitation of chronic laminitic horses must consider the whole horse, not just the foot.

This suggests bodywork is most effective when integrated with veterinary, farriery, and management approaches.

How I Approach the Practical Applications in Laminitis Rehab

• Early stage (acute laminitis): focus on comfort — gentle massage of shoulders, neck, hindquarters, avoiding direct manipulation of painful feet.
• Subacute stage: fascial release, gentle stretching, lymphatic massage to improve circulation.
• Chronic/recovery stage: more active techniques — mobilisations, core stability exercises, dynamic mobilisations, pole work (when horse is sound enough), strengthen conditioning, postural improvement.

Conclusion

Scientific evidence clearly demonstrates that laminitis is not a stand-alone disease but a symptom of deeper metabolic dysfunction. Viewing it in this light reframes both treatment and prevention: addressing the whole horse’s metabolic health rather than only the feet. For owners, this means committing to lifelong holistic management programme to safeguard horses from repeated, painful episodes of laminitis, gaining a deeper understanding of the causes to help prevent flare ups and awareness of evidence based treatments rather than the outdated treatment protocols that hinder the long term prognosis of the horse.

If you would like any further information or help with your horse please do not hesitate to contact me. Below are a list of references I used to help me write this article if you would like some further reading or clarification or there are also lots of sources online which I can pass on if you are interested.

---

References

• Asplin, K. E., Sillence, M. N., Pollitt, C. C., & McGowan, C. M. (2007). Induction of laminitis by prolonged hyperinsulinaemia in clinically normal ponies. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 68(7), 755–761.
• Clayton, H. M., Gray, S., Kaiser, L. J., & Bowker, R. M. (2011). Effects of barefoot trimming on hoof morphology. Australian Veterinary Journal, 89(8), 305–311. PubMed+1
• Durham, A. E., Fey, K., McGowan, C. M., et al. (2019). Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction: Diagnosis and management. Equine Veterinary Journal, 51(2), 185–195.
• Geor, R. J., & Harris, P. A. (2009). Dietary management of obesity and insulin resistance: Countering risk for laminitis. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice, 25(1), 51–65.
• Hagen, J., et al. (2019). Heel movement in barefoot vs. shod horses. The Veterinary Journal, 246, 1–6.
• Haussler, K.K. (1999). Chiropractic evaluation and management of musculoskeletal disorders. Equine Veterinary Journal, 31(4), 291–295.
• “Laminitis rehab — barefoot vs shod,” The Laminitis Site (non-peer-reviewed compendium but summarising practice and published data). The Laminitis Site
• McFarlane, D. (2014). Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice, 30(1), 73–93.
• McGowan, C.M., Frost, R., Pfeiffer, D.U., & Neiger, R. (2010). Long-term management of chronic laminitis: a whole horse approach. Equine Veterinary Journal, 42(5), 471–478.
• Patterson-Kane, J. C., Karikoski, N. P., & McGowan, C. M. (2018). Paradigm shifts in understanding equine laminitis. Equine Veterinary Journal, 50(6), 564–575.
• Pollitt, C. C. (2008). The anatomy and physiology of the suspensory apparatus of the distal phalanx. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice, 24(1), 29–50.
• Roepstorff, L., et al. (2020). Hoof expansion and balance in barefoot vs. shod horses. Equine Veterinary Journal, 52(5), 703–710.
• Roepstorff, L., et al. (2020) “Changes in hoof shape during a seven-week period when horses were shod versus barefoot” (crossover study). PubMed+1
• Study comparing heel movement with barefoot vs different shoe types: Can the hoof be shod without limiting heel movement? PubMed
• Tabor, G., & Williams, J. (2004). Physiotherapy and manual therapy in equine rehabilitation. Equine Veterinary Education, 16(3), 151–156.

Worried hearing about prevalence of sand colic at the moment, want to understand why so you can help to prevent it? Have a read . . .

After chatting with a few vet friends and colleagues this week, they were all commenting about the increased number of cases of sand colic they have seen recently and I’ve had a few clients reporting their horses have had problems with it since the frost and snow has gone, so I thought it would be a good idea to do a post about. It is one of the lesser known types of colic & is so prevalent at this time of year but do you understand why? As when people think of sand they think of dry conditions in summer but that is not necessarily the case so if you can understand why, you can take better steps to prevent it in your horse. At this time of the year as grazing conditions and feeding practices increase the likelihood of sand ingestion. Colic, a general term for abdominal pain in horses, can stem from various causes, including impaction, gas, or intestinal displacement. Sand colic specifically occurs when horses ingest significant amounts of sand or dirt, which settle in the gut, typically the large colon. Over time, this buildup can lead to blockages, irritation of the intestinal lining, or in severe cases, gut motility issues.

How and Why Does It Occur?

Horses are at risk of ingesting sand when they graze on sandy pastures, eat hay or feed placed directly on the ground, or drink from sandy water sources. When they consume forage or grain contaminated with sand, small particles can accumulate in the intestines. While the horse’s digestive system is designed to move material through efficiently, large amounts of sand can settle in the colon, leading to discomfort, inflammation, or even obstruction.The abrasive nature of sand particles can also irritate the intestinal walls, causing inflammation, diarrhea, or discomfort. Left untreated, sand colic can progress to serious complications, such as impaction, requiring surgical intervention.

So, Why Is Sand Colic Common at This Time of Year?

Sand colic tends to spike during the autumn and winter months, especially in areas with sandy soils. Several factors contribute to this seasonal trend:

1. Sparse Pasture Growth: In autumn and winter, grass growth is very little or dormant, forcing horses to graze closer to the ground, where they inadvertently ingest sand or dirt.

2. Increased Hay Feeding: With limited grass availability, we feed more hay or on the field, hay becomes the primary forage source. When fed on sandy ground, hay can mix with soil, leading to unintentional sand consumption.

3. Dry, Windy Weather: During dry periods, dust and sand can easily contaminate feed or water.

4. Changes in Turnout Patterns: Horses may spend more time in confined areas, such as dry lots or sandy paddocks, increasing their exposure to sandy surfaces.

Preventing Sand Colic

Fortunately, there are several effective strategies to reduce the risk of sand colic in horses:

1. Feed Management:- Provide hay in areas of the field where there is a little more grass coverage rather than in poached areas or provide hay in feeders or on rubber mats to minimise contact with the sandy ground. Avoid feeding hard feed or supplements directly on the ground. Ensure pastures are well-maintained and not overgrazed, particularly in sandy areas. (See pictures)

2. Psyllium Supplements: Psyllium husk is a natural fiber supplement that can help move sand through the digestive tract. Feeding psyllium in cycles (e.g., one week per month) can aid in clearing accumulated sand from the gut.

3. Adequate Forage: Ensure your horse has constant access to high-quality forage, which promotes healthy gut motility and reduces the likelihood of ingesting sand during grazing.

4. Encourage Hydration: Proper hydration supports the movement of material through the digestive tract. Make sure your horse has access to clean, fresh water at all times.

5. Regular Turnout: Allow your horse ample time for turnout in areas with minimal sand exposure. Avoid keeping horses in sandy paddocks for prolonged periods. I know some that just turn out in the sand arena over winter with hay nets as the fields are too clay and deep with mud, but this can pose a significant risk as the hay falls out of the net on to the sand surface of the school which they then ingest. Putting rubber mats under the areas they are eating that can be easily moved when you want to ride on the arena can be of massive benefit.

6. Sand Testing: Perform periodic manure tests to check for sand presence. Mix a manure sample with water in a clear container, let it settle, and check for sand at the bottom. This can indicate if your horse is ingesting significant amounts of sand.

Signs of Sand Colic to Watch For As Early detection is critical in managing sand colic.

Common signs include:

✴️Loss of appetite

✴️Depression or lethargy

✴️Diarrhea or loose stools

✴️Abdominal discomfort, such as pawing, rolling, or lying down excessively

✴️Decreased gut sounds

✴️Weight loss in chronic cases

If you suspect sand colic, contact your veterinarian immediately. Early intervention can prevent severe complications and improve your horse’s chances of recovery.

Does your horse have Urethral Beans: What they are, why they matter to me as a physical therapist, chiro, body worker etc.

Horse owners know that keeping their animals healthy involves regular grooming, hoof care, and dental checks. But there’s a lesser-known yet essential part of equine care: monitoring and removing urethral beans. These seemingly minor buildups can significantly impact your horse’s comfort and even movement if left unaddressed.

What Are Urethral Beans?

Urethral beans are small accumulations of smegma that form in the horse’s urethral fossa, the small pocket just above the urethral opening. Over time, smegma—a mixture of dead skin cells, oils, and other debris—can harden into small, rounded masses or “beans.”

Smegma is a natural secretion produced in the sheath to keep the area lubricated and protect sensitive skin. In geldings and stallions, this material can harden within the urethral fossa, creating what’s known as a ‘bean.’ Left unchecked, these accumulations can grow large enough to interfere with urination & even movement which is what concerns me as a physical therapist.

Why Removing Urethral Beans Is Important

Beans can restrict the urethral opening, causing discomfort or even leading to infections if bacteria builds up around the blockage. In severe cases, large beans may lead to urine spraying or pain when urinating, which can cause the horse to alter its posture or gait.

Discomfort from urethral beans or other infections of the sheath or penis may lead to behavioral changes, such as tail swishing, frequent attempts to urinate, or reluctance to move freely. A urethral bean, or infection if left unattended, can cause significant discomfort. Many horses may show their discomfort through even more subtle behavioral changes, such as irritation when urinating or issues that affect what I’m feeling through the rest of the body such as shifting weight or resisting certain movements. 

How Urethral Beans Affect Movement and Overall Comfort

The discomfort from a urethral bean can lead to changes in a horse’s stance or reluctance to engage in certain activities, affecting training and performance.

A horse in discomfort may develop coping mechanisms to manage the pain, such as altering their gait or moving with a “stiff” stance, which could lead to further musculoskeletal issues if untreated. Because horses are stoic animals, subtle signs like a slight hitch in their stride or unusual stiffness can be easy to overlook. However, these signs may indicate that a bean has reached a size that’s causing significant discomfort.

How to Safely Remove Urethral Beans

If you are unfamiliar with the process of removal or cleaning please contact your vet, as improper removal can cause injury or stress so veterinary guidance is essential, especially for first-timers. The process involves gently examining the urethral fossa for any signs of hardened smegma and carefully removing it if needed. I recommend a regular check and clean schedule, such as once every few months or as advised by a veterinarian, depending on the horse’s needs.

Some signs do suggest it’s time for removal, such as an increased amount of smegma around the sheath, weeing to one side, an obvious lump from the end of the penis.

When I visit for treatment, a lot of the time because the horse is often very relaxed they drop their penis so if I can safely, I will have a check for beans but there are also equine willy wash professionals. However, if your horse is particularly uncomfortable about being handled in this area a vet visit is definitely advised as sedation will probably be necessary. 

Conclusion

Adding urethral bean checks to your routine equine care to ensure your horse’s comfort, health, and performance is essential. Regular checks mean early detection, less discomfort, reduced risk of incorrect movement patterns developing and a happier, healthier horse.

🌟🌟Unpopular opinion🌟🌟  So . . . What’s my beef 🍖 🐄 with pole work clinics?

I love pole work, I’m a massive fan of it, but as I know I have mentioned to many of my clients before, I am just not a fan of this whole pole clinic craze that every man and his 🐕‍🦺 seems to be running at the moment without, it seems, little knowledge of the biomechanics involved.

Ground poles & raised poles are great as part of a training, conditioning or rehabilitation programme to:

• Train proprioception, coordination, skill, balance and dynamic stability 

• Improve/restore joint range of motion

• Develop core strength & activate or strengthen back muscles

• Strengthen propulsive muscles

• Provide variety within training

Stepping over a pole is a complex motor skill requiring neuromotor control and proprioceptive stimuli. Visual perception of the position and size of the obstacle is relayed to the neuromotor control centre to make decisions which command the peripheral nervous system to make an appropriate muscular response.

However, not every pole work exercise is suitable for every horse’s individual needs and if performed incorrectly can set them back in their training or rehab. There aren’t really any generic one size fits all pole work exercises. If you set any array of poles out and put a horse in front of it they will virtually always find a way to get to the other side. Do we conclude it was an appropriate exercise just because the horse managed to make it to the other side without falling in a heap? NO!

When I watch horses navigate pole exercises I set, I am constantly evaluating and re-evaluating on each pass the strategies they use to get to the other side, as for the pole exercise to be of benefit they must be using functionally correct movement patterns otherwise we may as well not bother.

What am I looking for: 

> Maintaining a soft top line

> Suppleness 

> Engaged core

> Lift in the thoracic sling

> Limb flexion in the correct part of the swing phase

> Straightness

Horses that find the exercise too difficult will use other strategies to navigate the pole set:

> Raising their head and neck, putting the spine into extension, losing good dynamic posture

> Unable to maintain balance so looses straightness

> Rushing

> Flexing the hindlimb further in retraction

> Performing a passage like motion

> Circumducting the hind limb

In both ground work and ridden work (when appropriate), I watch my clients horses over various pole exercises to evaluate what strategies the horse uses. I can then change the difficulty level up or down or change the whole exercise if needed.  Doing pole work badly is worse than not doing it at all because you will be further ingraining a poor movement pattern, you can be doing more harm than good. 

I also like to coach ground work so then I can teach owners what to look for in a quality movement & poor movement so they know when a pole exercise, lateral exercise, rehabilitation exercise, etc. is good/bad for their horse or when their horse is becoming fatigued with the exercise. One horses weakness is another horses strength area, the way one horse passed over the poles is different to the next one so in a clinic type situation (where there are usually about 4 horses but I have seen up to 6 in some!) the exercise, distances, arrangements would need to be altered every 2 minutes for each individuals movement pattern. This just isn’t feasible so most coaches will just leave them all to do the same exercise, for some it might be perfect but for others in the group far from it, which can be of real detriment😔 A pole clinic can seem like a cheaper way to get tuition, to get your horse out and about, to experience work in a group situation and to have social time with your friends, but not if you are doing them all the time and taking some of the exercises home to repeat when you have no idea if they are the right exercises for your individual horse. There is no way all 6 horses in one group have the exact same needs when it comes to any exercise but especially pole work, so at least a few horses within the group are not doing the right exercises their horse needs. If you then take some of these inappropriate exercises home with you and repeat them on a regular basis this further enhances their weaknesses, poor posture, poor movement which ultimately leads to injury.

Unfortunately, I’ve seen some really bad examples of inappropriate pole exercises recently, ultimately to the detriment of the horse. One example was being called a passage pole clinic where the coach was setting the poles on purpose to make the horse struggle so they would have to get this passage like movement. This is fine if you have a horse that is at the correct training level to be doing passage, but not one of the participants (horse or rider) was at this level. If this exercise was repeated too often in a horse that has not been progressively conditioned to this level of work (& I mean over years not weeks), it will cause injury very quickly 😭

If you want any more information or to discuss further, feel free to contact me.

Camps are becoming more and more popular among riders of every discipline, pony clubs and riding clubs.  They are a great way to get a variety of lessons, with a variety of instructors at some great venues, also to have lots of fun with your friends and make lasting memories with your four legged friend.  However, as an instructor and physical therapist I have worked at many camps over the years so have seen the good the bad and the ugly!! As camp season is in full flow I feel it is important for your horses’ welfare for you take on board my top 6 points to ensure your horse is as happy with their experience of camp as you are.

1. Don’t throw you horse into it – make sure they are fit enough to do the level of work that you want them to.  Far too often I have seen people at camp that are just getting their horse back into work and thought that camp would be a good start.  At the majority of camps horses are having 2 lessons per day of approximately 1 hour per lesson for 2 -3 days on the trot, flat work, jumping, cross-country.  This is a level of work that they are not fit enough for, and pushing them to do this can be detrimental to their health and can cause injury, as the muscles and cardiovascular system are not accustomed to the level of work required.  Make sure a correct fitness regime is followed in the lead up to camp and you are getting towards the end of it before subjecting your horses to this level of activity.
2. Don’t do too much & if your horse is showing signs of fatigue stop.  Don’t feel you need to get your money’s worth by carrying on, completing every lesson to the end, jump every jump, do all the farm rides etc. as your horse WILL be fatiguing.  If they start flagging cool the off and let them rest if they are not able to do their next lesson that’s fine.  When horses fatigue they are a lot more likely to have an accident or suffer from an injury, it is not worth the long term welfare of your horse.  Signs of fatigue include:

Slowing of pace, stride and lack of motivation

Decreased responsiveness to the aids, unwillingness or inability to increase speed or change gait

Reduced coordination; such as stumbling, loss of balance, wandering, increased occurrence of over-reaching, brushing and hitting obstacles which will all increase the chance of injury

Frequent changes of canter lead or becoming disunited, increased head and neck movement and inability to perform specific movements they could previously do eg. Jump height, piaffe

Increased breathing effort

You may miss out on some of your lessons, or not jump the big jump at the end, but at least your horse won’t suffer a catastrophic injury or be so fatigued they can’t carry on to do a lesson the next day.

3. Take your own hay/haylage – even if the venue provide it for the duration still make sure you take enough of your own to last for the time.  2 reasons, number 1; if your horse doesn’t like the forage that they provide they will have nothing to eat, 2; changing forage can be extremely upsetting for your horses digestive system.  Take your own so you can mix it with what the venue provide to ensure a slow change to not shock the digestive system, the 2-3 days you will be there isn’t long enough to change over completely, so again for the return home take a few nets of their forage with you to again mix with your usual stuff when you get home to ensure a gradual change back to your usual hay or haylage.

4. Use a good digestive balancer – I have seen many horses suffer with digestive issues while at camp such as colic and diarrhoea.  The usual causes are increased stress, travelling, the change in forage, change in routine, lack of turn out, increased work load to name a few so always give your horse a good digestive balancer even just for the short term.  Start a few days before you travel to camp, continue while at camp and carry on for a few days after you return home. 

5. Another issue seen regularly at camp or shortly after returning home is exertional rhabdomyolysis also known as azoturia or Monday morning syndrome.  There are many causes but the ones that usual relate to the camp situation are overfeeding non-structural carbohydrates (grain/pellets) as most realise the horse will be working more so increase their feed, poor conditioning or fitness, sudden increase of workload which we have already discussed, working too hard after a period of rest, especially if the feed ration was not reduced.  Another common reason at camp is electrolyte or mineral imbalances, especially potassium.  Therefore, along with a high quality digestive balancer it is important to feed a decent electrolyte. 

6. Choose camps where its not all about the riding and work, work , work. I’m seeing more and more camps coming up that are not just all about the work and the riding and getting that picture of you going over the biggest jump possible to get a good insta pic which your horse probably isn’t ready for! It should be more about you learning and your horse learning, ground work, behavioural work, horse pilates sessions, rider pilates sessions, as well as some ridden work but again ridden work of a different variety; rider biomechanics, horse biomechanics, and fetching all of this work to your flat work/jump lessons. I love these types of camps, these are the most beneficial short term and long term for your horses health and wellbeing. I would love to see more and more of theses sorts of camps going on than the traditional ones that have developed.

For more information and advice feel free to contact me for a chat

How do I build muscle on my horse?

This is a question that I get asked a lot especially regarding a certain area. For example, lack of back muscle, hind end, gluteal region, top line, neck etc. Where ever your horse might be lacking, there is one simple answer, exercise & correct nutrition.

There is no magical topline gaining feed or supplement that is going to make your horse gain muscle in the specific area it needs to, however saying that he horse cannot build correct muscle without good general nutrition.  The horse needs to get more energy from the food than it is using per day putting them into a positive energy balance and specifically it needs good quality protein.  What denotes protein quality is the essential amino acid lysine but you cannot simply increase the amount or protein or lysine in the diet to increase the amount of muscle, it doesn’t work like that.  They cannot absorb or use more than their recommended daily amount, feeding too much can cause other problems putting the kidneys under pressure to filter it out into urine.  You will find creatine in lots of horse muscle building supplements which although they have been shown to work for human muscle building, have absolutely no effect on horses as they cannot absorb it. Overall for muscle & general health it is recommended to replace energy from starches & sugars with energy from oils, a balanced vitamin & mineral supplement especially vitamin E, lysine and sufficient salt & electrolytes if in heavy work.

When it comes to the exercise, a variety of correct and appropriate exercise gradually increasing in intensity, duration & frequency over an appropriate amount of time (that varies depending on the individual horse their signalment; age, fitness level, ailments, etc.) is the one thing that in conjunction with correct nutrition can build muscle. We do not increase intensity, duration & frequency at the same time we only ever do one at a time and take a great amount of care not to over train as eventually this will have a negative effect on both muscle building and overall fitness. Once they are at a good general level of health and fitness we start to use more targeted exercises to help with the areas of concern in particular.

What increases the intensity for them? Some things such as terrain, speed, duration, environment, type of exercise, surface all have an effect on the intensity so we can control & use that to help our training. However, other things naturally increase the intensity for the horse that we don’t have as much control over but we need to take into account when thinking about building muscle such as their overall health, weight and condition score, their conformation, the riders weight, weather etc.

Muscle training & training horses in general is a very fine line between loading the muscles hard enough to not only increase the number of muscle fibres (hyperplasia) but also to increase the size of the muscle fibres too (hypertrophy), while at the same time avoiding damage to bone, joints, tendons and ligaments. This why it is important to have regular assessments with someone like me that is a strength and conditioning coach, rider coach and equine physical therapist to ensure that the training programs’ intensity is correct for this horse at the present time.  If there is failure to gain muscle despite targeted training we must consider that this could be due to musculoskeletal disorders or pain, again why regular reassessments with your equine physical therapist are required to monitor this. Just because your horse is not “lame” this does not mean that there cannot be an underlying musculoskeletal condition such as back, neck or SIJ pathology, pain from issues like saddle fit, bridle fit, bitting problems or pain from other disorders within the body such as gastric ulcers. For more information or to discuss your horses training plan, please feel free to contact me.

With so many horses I recommend ground work and so many owners seem to get a look of dread in their 👀 but why, what are they so afraid of? Sometimes it’s because owners don’t understand how to do it or think they are going to do it wrong, they underestimated or don’t understand the benefits of ground work, they don’t know what they are looking for to assess their horse or choose which exercises are required for their issues. Sometimes it’s seen as a step back, but it’s not, far from it, it’s a big step in the right direction for your horse. They sometimes feel disheartened like they have done something wrong and have got to start again, and sometimes this is the case, their horses’ overall posture, dynamic balance, stability, proprioception, global body mechanics needs some work before these break downs cause a problem or injury. Ground work is not just reserved for youngsters, retired, classical horses, those undergoing injury rehab, it’s beneficial to all.

As well as major physical benefits I’m going to discuss shortly, horses enjoy groundwork, it provides variety to their workload, it builds an amazing bond between you and a better connection which is so important to build a harmonious relationship.

A lot of cases I work with, I often recommend to riders/owners that they get off their horses back for at least a month or longer depending on their issues to complete a course of ground work to build on strength, condition, and training or to be able to release and realign the body. Do not see this as a step back but as a massive step forward, as you doing the right thing for your horse, getting them to a position of having better global body mechanics, better symmetry, posture, proprioception, balance and straightness to be able to carry themselves better and to be in a stronger position to carry a rider.

I see this the biggest step forward you will take for your horse, to try to ensure career longevity, injury and pathology prevention, (as much as we can with horses), creating a strong, supple, conditioned and coordinated body. Instead of having to rehabilitate your horse due to injury and playing catch up which depending on the injury sometimes this isn’t ever fully successful. Once the body has been injured it sometimes never fully recovers it is always slightly weaker, with more scar tissue and less range of motion, so why not take the time to give your horse this little time to develop correctly without the added weight of a rider not matter what their age, level, discipline.

From the ground you can see their progress, their areas of weakness their evasions. We can take this visual feedback from what we can see and feel on the ground and extrapolate this when we get back on board. So actually, working your horse from the between 1-2 months is an average as over this sort of time frame we can see muscle development and biodynamic adaptations and changes.

Groundwork most definitely does not mean lunging on a circle for 30 minutes as this will do your horse no favours. A mix of some lunging, long reining, therapeutic groundwork patterns, lateral work, longitudinal stretch, core engagement work, straightness training, corrective pole work exercises specific to your horses’ individual needs, a range of active and passive stretches, functional training of the thoracic sling and recoil systems, and much more.

Once you start back to reintroducing ridden work, ground work is still advised at least once/twice per week for all horses no matter what discipline, to continue this education, for the horse to exercise without the weight of saddle and rider putting the spine into extension, to provide you with the visual feedback as to what you are feeling when you ride, and to continue to form the all important connection between you.

If you are not sure you know what you are doing or what specific exercises your horse needs, where or how their posture or movement is lacking, how to assess it, how to lunge or long rein effectively why not book a lesson. I offer ground work lessons and integrated ground/ ridden tuition to work on your horses individual biomechanical needs. Don’t be afraid any more 😱😈👻🎃👹💀🧟🧛🦹🕷️🦇

No matter what discipline, if any, a horses’ training programme needs to be fully balanced and progressive to include all aspects of fitness (cardiovascular, speed, stamina, endurance, strength, suppleness, flexibility, coordination, agility, balance), plus working through the scales of training; rhythm, suppleness, contact, impulsion, straightness, collection, and improvement of skill level. A training programme needs to progressively overload the systems of the body for optimal and functional adaptation. Training and conditioning for all disciplines is a very fine balance between optimal adaptation and an overuse injury. Trying to work on all of these factors within one discipline can only be done through repetitive movements which is the major cause of overuse injuries such as ligament issues, mainly suspensory, tendon issues, muscle strain, wear and tear on the joints.

What is cross training?

Cross training involves adding different types of exercise, movement, disciplines or modalities into a training routine to achieve an overall more rounded fitness level and set of skills that the body can then call on when needed. If a horse is constantly trained dressage on a perfectly harrowed surface, one day for some reason there is a rut on the surface or a slightly hard patch due to frost or drought, causes the horse to roll on its step that it is not used to doing which takes the limb rotation into a different plane it is not used to, this can cause a strain on the DDFT or other soft tissues for example. If this horse was regularly ridden on varied or uneven terrain, grass, roads, hardcore, its tissues of the limbs in particular would be better conditioned to the variety in movement and would have no issue in coping with this minor anomaly in the surface.

Why cross train?

In human research athletes who specialise in a single sport had an 85% higher chance of injury than those who that do multiple activities (McGuine et al. 2017), this is expected to be higher in horses.

For a horse specialised in an individual discipline (ie exclusively a show jumper, exclusively a dressage horse), the repeated loading and strain from the one particular movement in one plane, doing the same thing day in day out will have the same effect. But also repeated riding in a poor movement pattern or with compensatory mechanisms in play being repetitively overloaded will also cause training overload associated injury, e.g. lack of flexibility, suppleness, fitness, subtle lameness/ unsoundness or asymmetry, pain, unbalanced rider as a one off may not cause much of a problem to the horse but if this is a repeated pattern will lead to injury. Hence, this is also another major reason for:

a.) Having your horse regularly checked and treated by an advanced qualified and experienced equine physical therapist to pick up on these minor anomalies in symmetry, posture etc. and correct these before they are repetitively loaded, affect performance, and cause lameness.

b.) having a coach that is dedicated to your horses’ correct way of going, global body mechanics and correct rider biomechanics rather than getting you to jump that big jump, perform movements that neither rider or the horse are ready for.

Cross training also allows for muscle recovery time, allowing the horses body time to repair and replace any damaged tissues.  DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) caused by build up of lactic acid that the body needs to remove and repair of muscle and free radical damage takes around 48 – 96 hours, replacement of muscle glycogen takes around 48 – 72 hours. Other types of exercise can be done within this time just not the same type of repetitive loading and alternative exercise and movement can actually help with these times.

Therefore, we cross train so we can continue to work them just in a different way, to work on different aspects of the scales of training or fitness to prevent excessive overload, to give them a better rounded education and to protect them against injury:

For horses cross training is adding a variety of exercises and training:

• Non-training related exercise – e.g. turn out, which has proven to be protective against lameness
• Varying surfaces – helps with tissue adaptation and also educates the horse in matters of proprioception and coordination which, again, helps to protect against lameness
• Stable exercises – good as a baseline before introducing other types of exercise and training, without the weight of the rider or challenge of movement. They increase flexibility, improve strength and endurance of the muscles and most importantly they switch on correct neuromuscular pathways. These include exercises such as active baited stretches, isometric contractions; ask your equine physical therapist for more and appropriate prescriptive specific exercises that are appropriate at the present time for your individual horse
• Proprioceptive training – poles, bending, inclines, declines, circles, surfaces, again ask your physical therapist about specific proprioceptive training for your horse and their individual stage of development
• Ground work and other work off the horses back – including lunging (video on correct use of lunging coming soon, keep a eye on social media for more info), long reining, straightness training, classical training
• Cross discipline – a dressage horse going on a farm ride, hacking, a happy hacker having a little jump, a show jumper learning piaffe, half pass etc. puts the body into a different range of motion that can be extremely beneficial to aspects of fitness and help the body to avoid injury. The engagement to work on these movements can also help to increase overall suppleness and flexibility and it can always help to be able to make a jump off turn by a stride of leg yield that the horse is used to doing instead of having to perform a sharp turn which can be very damaging to limbs so it can help avoid injury in this way too.
• Psychological benefits of cross training is also surmountable – it helps to prevent sourness and staleness of a particular discipline.

Overall, to prevent injury, for your horses health, fitness, sanity, and increasing their performance in your chosen discipline, cross training is essential for long term benefits.

Rider biomechanics is such a massive subject area and one that I am very passionate about, but I don’t want to get in too deep in a simple blog but it is important to me not only as a coach, trainer and rider, but also as an equine physical therapist, it is such an essential aspect of riding that for some reason is so often over looked by coaches. Everyone knows that poor riding can have a negative effect on the horse, their health and way of going. No one likes to think of themselves as a “poor rider” but to me this includes poor rider biomechanics too, as this can massively have a negative influence on the horse. Its not just about having a pretty position it is so much more than that.

So many riders have been taught incorrectly or using out of date research over many years and this has become their body’s default riding position. There is now so much more data that shows how we need to sit, our weight aids, posture, harmony, neutrality, and now it is not been corrected by many coaches and because you can now “ride” you go to coaches that are going to get you jumping higher, wider, bolder, braver, doing higher level dressage moves etc., rather than concentrating on these foundations and the basics of your own biomechanics which if they are not correct, your centre of balance is in the wrong place, your weight aids are incorrect, the horse can’t carry you properly in balance, or you cause him to brace through his back, blocking him, which affects his dynamic posture, he doesn’t move right which over time leads to a long term compensatory lameness issues, but not because of his own compensations (he has those to deal with as well any way!), but because of compensating for you. So in a nutshell; YOU CAN MAKE YOUR HORSE LAME! I see it so often, more often than I would like. Even in some riders at quite a high level, they don’t understand why their horse is blocked through the back when they ride, struggles with certain movements and I can feel it when I come to treat them. Then when I strip everything back and watch them ride, look at their biomechanics on the horse it all becomes obvious. Sometimes all it takes is a few tweaks to their dynamics here and there and it can make a massive difference to the horses comfort and way of going.

A lot of the time when I first start coaching people I take lots of photographs and video’s and use an app called the coaches eye so I can slow everything down, draw on it and show riders exactly where the issues lie, and we can compare the beginning of the session to the end, or in a few sessions time to see the differences that such small alterations make to the horses performance. So often when riders look at videos people take of them they are looking at the horse; is his head in the right position, how much is he clearing the fence by, etc. not at themselves, or they can pick out their flaws but are not sure how to correct them, and some are completely oblivious that their posture is causing the horse to shorten his stride, tighten on the left side etc.

Studies have shown correct seat and position are the basis for a good performance. One study in particular aimed to measure deviations from the correct seat, test a seat improvement program (dismounted exercises), and investigate whether horse behaviour was affected by the rider’s seat and found that in particular improvement of backward tilted pelvis, which I see very often, showed a reduction in horse behaviour classed as “evasive,” and the horses’ heart rate decreased (elevated heart rates are associated with stress and pain). Heart rates of riders decreased therefore it was a either a lot less effort for them to ride in a biomechanically more efficient posture or it was less stressful for them too when the horse is less evasive. 78% of riders felt the exercises improved their riding performance.

It also applies if you have any physical medical issues, tightness, old injuries in your body that affect what you can do, your posture, movement etc. This is when you need to go see a good human body worker yourself, get yourself sorted, as again you will be affecting your horse. Most people put their horse first but there is no point in getting the horse treated if their problem is being caused by you. I work in conjunction with some really fantastic human bodyworkers so that together, both specialists in our own field can get you and your horse to be happier, healthier, sounder, in better harmony and balance so that you can achieve your goals.

Rehabilitation plans can often seem difficult and daunting.  You have spent a lot of money on expensive veterinary treatments or operations and now your horses success or failure lies in your hands.  You know it is important that you get it right but often the support isn’t there or you don’t know where it is  going wrong until it is too late.

Rehabilitation plans are normally formulated by your vet & /or your physical therapist to provide prescriptive exercise to help your horse recover from injury or illness so that they can hopefully return to the same level of performance as they previously were, or as close to it as is now physically possible. The most common injuries that I formulate rehab plans for include back pain and spinal dysfunction including kissing spine, spondylosis, arthritis, soft tissue injuries such as tendon, ligament and muscular strains and tears, arthritic conditions, and fractures. Most of these conditions require veterinary intervention followed by a course of physical therapy and a prescriptive exercise plan.  These rehab plans use movement and specific exercises to strengthen and support the horse to initiate gait retraining to recover the injury, prevent further injury to the same area or another area in compensation and to optimise function.  These exercises need to be correct, appropriate, progressive and within the correct time frame.  Sometimes rehab plans fail in that the horse does not return to full expected performance level or soundness, or develops another lameness in another area due to compensation.  In my experience the main reasons for this include:

–          Not understanding what it is that is required at each stage – if you don’t understand the exercise or what it is exactly that you should be doing, no matter how stupid you think the question might be, ask anyway, as even doing something slightly incorrectly when repeated over and over can make a massive difference to the success or failure of a rehab plan.

–          Not executing the exercises correctly – the amount of time I see owners not doing exercises correctly, one that I see so often is in-hand walking, how hard can it be, you would think?! In-hand walking shouldn’t be just dawdling along.  It should be an active walk so the horse is doing more of a medium walk, you should be power walking along side the horse, if you are not out of puff from in-hand walking for 15 mins you are probably not doing actively enough for your horse.  You will get back in shape too!  For other exercises too, ask your horses physical therapist to watch you completing the exercise to ensure you are doing it correctly.

–          Not wanting to do a specific exercise because the horse/owner doesn’t like it, doesn’t enjoy doing it, finds it difficult. Rather than working with the horse to calmly encourage them to complete the exercise they try to get the horse to do it by force causing it to be rushed and fearful, anything the horse does out of fear will never be productive or successful in its aims. Time and patience are paramount when it comes to rehabilitation and exercises.

–          Being in too much of a rush – lots of owners are in a hurry to move on to the next stage, in a rush to get back on board, a rush to get trotting, a rush to go from box rest, to get the horse turned out again, etc.

–          Doing exercises too fast – most exercises are best done at a walk; poles, hills etc. So that there is control over limbs and movement, stability, the horse cannot use the momentum and ground reaction force to get itself over the poles that it does in higher gaits.

–          Using inappropriate training aids.  For the majority of rehab plans training aids are not required.  Sometimes a veterinary guided rehab plan they recommends using pessoa or similar. For the majority of cases this is most defiantly not required and can hinder regaining correct posture and movement.  Also the vets don’t check that it is being used correctly which again for most cases it is not!

–          Not doing enough – some times owners seem to think that lengthening the rehab plan is beneficial for the horse and sometimes it can be, but this should be done in conjunction with your physical therapist and or vet as for certain injuries this is not always appropriate as it is the progressive loading exercise that actually aids healing and recovery so if you are lengthening this you may be hindering them.  But also lengthening the treatment plan you need to ensure that you are doing the same exercise for longer.  I have seen some rehab plans fail where the owner has discussed with the vet about lengthening the rehab plan but they take that as do a few weeks of rehab then nothing for a week or 2, then pick it back up again when they have time for a week, then rest for a few weeks again.  It needs to be consistently carried out.

–          Not keeping up to date with regular physical therapy treatments.  Quite often when a horse becomes lame, and is under veterinary treatment the owner will cancel their regularly planned treatment session, with a reasoning of well if the horse isn’t being ridden I won’t feel the benefit.  However, it is important that we do even more as if the horse is lame it will compensate its movement patterns or if it is on box rest will not be doing much movement at all. So it is important that we try to keep the joints as mobile as possible, we keep the rest of the horses body as free and as supple as possible, reduce as much of the secondary and compensation issues as possible.  This is all done under veterinary guidance, it is important that your physical therapist and vet work together for the long term benefit of the horse.

–          Not being fully open and honest with your vet and / or physical therapist.  When we come for a review and reassessment it is important that you are completely honest with what you have been doing with the horse.  If you haven’t been able to complete certain aspects of the plan, you hate hacking, or you decided to up it a level before it was recommended, you need to be honest as this will affect what we are seeing, feeling and the plan we make moving forwards, which can severely affect the success or failure of the plan. Don’t just be a people pleaser and nod yes I have been doing everything as per the plan when you know full well that is not the case