In Stride Veterinary Services

20/05/2026

PSA: Fully booked until mid-June 🗓️

For those wanting to book in, I am away from 30th May - 12th June in Thailand for my Certificate in Veterinary Acupuncture (Equine) 🌿🐴

Next Perth trip is between 12-14th June, bookings are up via the booking link https://instridevet.as.me/

Look forward to seeing new and familiar faces in June! 💙

12/05/2026

I'm putting the final touches on my presentation for Transitions Inc. this Saturday at 11am 😊 Free for both members and non-members of the club to attend. Looking forward to welcoming both familiar and new faces! 🐴❤️

Reminder of what’s happening this weekend!

We’re very excited to welcome Dr Alex Rees from In Stride Veterinary Services, who will be presenting on equine gait analysis. The lecture will explore what normal gait looks like, how gait changes with lameness, and how altered biomechanics can often be the first sign of performance-limiting issues.

This is a fantastic opportunity to learn from an expert in the field. The lecture is open to the public and completely free, so come along and join us!
We can’t wait to see you there.

06/04/2026

Symmetry is often considered the gold standard when assessing horses - for both soundness and performance (especially in disciplines like dressage).

But how realistic is it to expect perfect symmetry… particularly on a circle?

A study by Rhodin et al. (2015) looked at sound horses that were symmetrical in a straight line and assessed them on the lunge in both directions. The findings were surprising.

Most horses despite showing minimal symmetry on the straight, showed consistent movement patterns known as “circle-induced asymmetries.”

For example:
- Push-off asymmetry of the outside hind limb
- Impact asymmetry of the outside forelimb

Even more interestingly, these patterns didn’t always match between reins. In fact, less than 15% of horses showed the same asymmetry on both directions.

So what does this mean?
👉 Perfect symmetry is not biomechanically normal - especially on a curve
👉 Circles can create asymmetries in otherwise sound horses
👉 Not all asymmetry = lameness

However…
If a horse is consistently struggling in one direction, resisting certain movements, or showing changes under saddle, asymmetry may still indicate pain or dysfunction and shouldn’t be dismissed.

Regular assessment (particularly by veterinarians trained in biomechanics and subtle movement changes) can help identify issues early and support long-term performance and comfort.

If you’d like your horse assessed, feel free to get in touch with us via the contact details in our bio 🐴

02/04/2026

Excited to have some new tools in the kit!

I’ve recently started incorporating RockBlades into my treatments as part of my osteopathy and chiropractic work 🐴

These are used for instrument-assisted soft tissue therapy (IASTM) - a technique that uses specialised tools to assess and treat muscles and fascia.

In simple terms, they allow me to:
* Address areas of restriction or tension within the tissues
* Work more effectively through deeper fascial layers to restore normal glide
* Stimulate circulation and improve tissue mobility

This can be particularly useful in larger muscle groups like the gluteals and hamstrings, where hands alone can fatigue over time.

Like all tools, they’re used as part of a broader, tailored treatment approach alongside manual therapies - there’s no “one-size-fits-all” in biomechanics.

🤘 Rock on, RockBlades!

25/03/2026

Who can name what this therapy is called and what it’s commonly used for? Bonus points if you can name the mechanism it works by! 🐴

22/03/2026

Horse or banana? 🐴🍌😂
But seriously - here is sponsored rider team ‘s gorgeous Scooby demonstrating a strain/counterstrain technique as part of his biomechanical medicine treatment ✨

This technique is used to help release areas of muscle tension and improve overall movement quality, allowing the body to reset and function more efficiently.

Even high-performing horses benefit from regular biomechanical work to support comfort, symmetry, and performance 💙

16/03/2026

Did you know even young horses can have dental problems that require veterinary treatment?

This gorgeous cob yearling presented for his first dental examination and treatment today 🦷✨

He was diagnosed with the following:
- Sharp enamel points with some ulceration of the gums
- Upper 06 hooks greater than 3 mm in height
- Mild juvenile wavemouth
- Grade 1.1–1.2 peripheral caries
- Bilateral wolf teeth present

His dental treatment today involved reducing the sharp enamel points, correcting the wavemouth and hooks, and removing both wolf teeth under local anaesthetic - procedures that can only be performed by a veterinary surgeon!

He is now back in the paddock grazing and eating hay happily, with pain relief on board and medication to continue at home 🐴

Findings and treatments like these highlight the importance of a thorough veterinary dental examination - as even this young horse needed intervention that only a vet could provide!

Knowing who is looking after your horse’s teeth (and what care they are qualified and legally able to provide) is an important part of responsible horse ownership.

14/03/2026

Resistant… or restricted? Do you know the signs?

Horse owners are often told their horse is being “resistant” under saddle. Common reasons given include:

• Difficulty bending in one direction
• Struggling to maintain canter or picking up the incorrect lead/disuniting
• Asymmetry during lateral movements
• Uneven contact – head twisted/neck bent in one direction
• Rushing transitions

When lameness isn’t present, these issues are often attributed to resistance or training problems. However, many musculoskeletal issues don’t present as obvious lameness.

Instead, they may reflect restrictions somewhere in the horse’s body, such as myofascial tension or reduced joint mobility. Horses often develop these behaviours as a way of compensating for discomfort or limitations in their movement.

Identifying and addressing restrictions early can help restore normal movement and reduce the risk of compensation patterns developing elsewhere in the body.

Do you recognise any of these signs in your horse?
If so, feel free to get in touch if you are interested in a biomechanical medicine consultation and treatment for your horse.

13/03/2026

Bookings are open for March for Veterinary Osteopathy 🐴✨ Limited spaces available, book online at https://instridevet.as.me/