Ruby Hill Equine Centre

08/11/2025

For the month of November we are trialling trial rides again …it’s been 20 years since we’ve done them

So this introductory special is $100 per person per hour

Text me 041 242 1949 is best option or message here

18/10/2025

🧩 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝘆𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 & 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀🐎
An anatomical structure far more clinically relevant than many realise‼️

🔍 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁?
Myo = muscle
Dural = dura mater (protective membrane around the spinal cord)
👉 The myodural bridge = a direct link between the re**us capitis posterior minor muscle and the dura mater.

📍 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻:
Atlas (C1) & Axis (C2)
Atlas & Occiput
⚠️ This region is one of the few places where the spinal cord is not fully protected by bone.
Also — the greater occipital nerve runs through here → vulnerable to irritation & strain.

⚡ 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁?
Because of its proximity to the brainstem, dysfunction here can affect:
Hearing 👂
Swallowing 😮‍💨
Eye control 👀
Muscle tone 💪
Chronic irritation = hypersensitivity to sound/light, swallowing issues, abnormal muscle responses.
This explains why horses with poll trauma or pull-back injuries can show long-term behavioural and physical problems that seem disproportionate to the original event.

⛔️ 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲!
If your horse (especially a young one 🐴):
Pulls back while tied ❌
Shakes its head immediately after ❌
👉 Call a qualified equine osteopath within 1–2 weeks!
And never teach young horses to tie to something solid. 🚫

💥 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗜 𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲:
𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘺: spooky, noise-intolerant horses after poll injury
𝘖𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦𝘴: tracking problems, blink changes, head-shy behaviour
𝘚𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨/𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘴: sudden bit resistance, choking, tongue thrusting
𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘭/𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯: guarding even at rest
𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴: anxiety, head tossing, hypersensitivity at the poll

⚠️ 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴:
Halters & bridles lie directly over this region
A single pull-back = potential trauma to spinal cord + brainstem
Some dressage “techniques” (like the nuchal ligament flip) can strain this area → long-term dysfunction, pain & instability

🚫 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆:
Disturbance of the CO junction & myodural bridge isn’t “just muscular.”
It creates a cycle of neurological stress, pain, and sensory overload.
👉 Prevention > cure.
Avoid hard tying & training aids that compromise this region.
✨ For horse health, behaviour, and performance → protect the poll.

𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: https://helenthornton.com/contact

08/10/2025

Today’s riders!!!

07/10/2025

Group of beginners today for horsemanship

06/10/2025

Riding available every day this week

04/10/2025

Spots available 1pm Sunday

28/09/2025

18/09/2025

There are 2 of these blacks $3000each , (3 and 4yo)
1 coloured gelding , (4yo $4000)
TB mare who has evented (9yo $500 16.2hh)
14hh black gelding ($5000 7yo gelded late but has settled beautifully )!
A clydie cross mare (15hh 15yo $1500 ono) very sensitive and forward

17/09/2025

For sale
Frankie 2 yr old small horse - can be registered
I’d say 9h or under
Very cute little dude, leads, ties up, no nastys
Can be a bit hard to catch but just needs time and he is fine
Unfortunately does have stifle lock, vets said it’s nothing major and could potentially grow out of it. He will still be fine to be ridden in the future
Would make a good pet for the little kids or a companion pony
$400
Located Orange

03/09/2025

This Saturday 6th September specials are
1 hour $60
2 hours $100