The Hidden Relationship Between Longissimus Function, Spinal Mobility, and Back Engagement If your horse feels stiff through the back, braces under saddle, struggles to lift through the topline, or feels harder to sit in transitions, the problem may not actually be weakness. It may be guarding. A lot of horses that brace through the back […]
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It May Not Be the Shoulder The Hidden Relationship Between Scapular Glide, Wither Lift, and Front-End Support If your horse feels restricted in the shoulder, short in front, heavy on the forehand, or unable to lift through the withers, the problem may not actually be the shoulder. A lot of riders immediately focus on the
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Improper girthing practices can affect breathing mechanics, rib movement, thoracic sling function, shoulder freedom, and front end biomechanics in horses. Over-tightening, poor girth fit, and excessive pressure may contribute to girth sensitivity, shortened stride length, chest tightness, and altered front limb loading. Proper girth selection and pressure distribution help support comfort, movement quality, and performance.
What Is Intra-Abdominal Pressure and Why It Matters in Horses If your horse feels hollow through the back, struggles to lift in transitions, or loses posture under saddle, the issue is often not topline strength. It is how the spine is being stabilized from within. Intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) is a key component of spinal stability.
Patellar tracking in horses depends on coordinated activation of the quadriceps muscle group, not just strength. When muscles such as the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis are imbalanced or poorly coordinated, the patella does not track efficiently through the femoral trochlea. This can lead to toe dragging, inconsistent transitions, shortened stride, and reduced hindlimb stability.
Introduction: Why Topline Work Is Not Enough Topline work is one of the most overprescribed solutions in performance horses. But here is the problem: Your horse can build topline and still be unstable. If your horse still struggles with transitions, straightness, or back sensitivity despite “getting stronger,” the issue is not strength. It is control.
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Introduction: Why Horses Become Heavy on the Forehand Most horses that feel heavy on the forehand are not lacking training. They are lacking the ability to support load through the thoracic sling. Your horse being heavy on the forehand is not just a balance issue.It is a load distribution problem. Many riders are told to
Introduction Your horse not crossing under is not a training issue.It is a load control problem. Many riders assume that drifting, lack of straightness, or difficulty in lateral work is a flexibility issue. In reality, these problems are often rooted in how the hindlimb stabilizes and controls load during movement. Research in equine biomechanics helps
Protective boots and bandages are widely used in equine sport to support the limb, prevent trauma, and improve confidence during work. However, one critical factor is often overlooked: How boots and bandages affect heat during exercise and what that means for tendon health and recovery. Figure 1 — Thermographic Comparison of Equine Forelimbs These images
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Why Horses Resist Contact When a horse begins resisting contact, many riders assume the issue is related to training. However, resistance to the bit often reflects underlying physical discomfort or biomechanical dysfunction somewhere within the horse’s body. Introduction When a horse begins resisting contact, many riders assume the issue is related to training or attitude.
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