27/07/2026
What are Equine Myotherapists observing during a treatment to determine how the horse is responding?
During a treatment I am continuously observing how the horse is responding to the treatment as this information is crucial to understanding the progression.
There are many observational practices we use as therapists. A very well known one is the 'signs of release' (SOR)
When a horse releases any physical or mental tension it can signal a nervous system response and the horse can enter into the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) state which can give us those signs such as yawning, blinking, weight shifting etc.
Observing this during a session is a positive indication that the treatment is progressive as the PSNS state is the physiological prerequisite for cellular repair as it overrides the sympathetic "fight or flight" response which then, as a result brings more blood flow to areas of the soft tissue structures that are in need for repair, think homeostasis.
The 'sign of release' (SOR) gets a lot of attention on social media which is awesome but I also want to bring awareness that there are other observational systems that some therapists use to determine the effectiveness of the session that isn't as observational.
Let me welcome you to the 4Ts!!!!!!!!
THE 4Ts:
🩶 Tone
🩶 Texture
🩶 Temperature
🩶 Tenderness
The 4Ts is a system that is used to evaluate the muscle with our hands, as our hands are our greatest information resourcer.
The 4Ts give us the continuing feedback to how the muscle itself is responding to treatment, as we will notice changes in any or all of the 4Ts within the muscle fibres.
Throughout a session re-evaluation of the 4Ts is happening as it's providing us with continuous feedback such as how long we might have to work on a muscle as for example, the tone of the tissue is still presenting with resistance or how the texture of the muscle fibres have changed from the initial to the final evaluation.
In summary, the 'signs of release' is an nervous system response which gives a direct physical indication that physical or mental tension is being released in the body.
In saying this, not every horse will enter the PSNS state during a session due to many factors. Just because you don't get a SOR during a session doesn't mean the treatment was less effective, which is why there are other observational practices to determine the progress of a treatment like the 4Ts.
For me personally I love to see a horse go into the PSNS state as that gives me the indication the horse is relaxed and feels safe with me, but I also love the more clinical myotherapy aspect of the 4Ts and feeling that change physically in the muscle.
I just wanted to bring more awareness to the other observational practices therapists use, as social media has focused on advertising the SOR as the only sign that the treatment is progressing but it goes way deeper 🩶
