NatashaJones

03/06/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17Vz5qTiNp/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🐴"Asking your horse to lower his neck is a good conclusion to any important exercise (especially one that required prolonged effort and commitment from him), because it allows him to free his back and relax the muscles that contributed the most work. His willingness to do this is also a sign that his posture during the exercise was correct."🐴
~ Guillaume Henry, on why it's important to work your horse with a "long and low" neck

In this excerpt from his book "Relaxation Exercises for Horses," French dressage instructor Guillaume Henry explains the difference between a long and low and extended neck, how to avoid common mistakes and the benefits of riding your dressage horse in both of these positions.

Click on the link in the Comments below to learn more about working your horse in these two neck positions!

🎨 Courtesy Marine Oussedik

18/05/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1FeV9v5MZe/?mibextid=wwXIfr

One day soon Sal

10/05/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14aqpqERaxn/?mibextid=wwXIfr

PIROUETTES - KEY POINTS

👉 A pirouette is ridden on two tracks, and the radius should be equal to the length of your horse.

👉 During the turn, your horse should be bent in the direction of travel.

👉 Your horse's forefeet and outside hind leg move around your horse's inside hind leg, while his inside hind leg should lift and return to the same spot, or slightly in front of it (but never behind it).

👉 The hind legs should describe a small circle – around the size of a dinner plate in a high-scoring pirouette – with the hind feet lifting clear of the ground in every step, i.e. not losing activity or becoming ‘stuck’ to the ground.

👉 Your horse's hindquarters should lower and take more weight to free his shoulders.

👉 If in collected walk, the 4-beat rhythm must be maintained. If in collected canter, you should be able to recognize a canter stride, although the diagonal pair in the canter sequence does not land together.

👉 Your horse should be light in the contact, with his poll at the highest point and his nose coming just onto the vertical.

👉 Pirouettes should be ridden mainly from the rider's seat and leg aids, with the reins being used only as a directional cue.

👉 The whole movement should be smooth and fluid.

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Illustrations created and copyrighted by How To Dressage, and may not be reproduced in any form without prior permission.

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10/05/2026

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🐴🫁 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 “𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘆” 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝘅𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 - 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗲?

This is not always a training problem.

Sometimes, it is a body that cannot regulate itself.

Some horses never truly seem able to switch off.

They spook at shadows. Brace through the whole body. Rush every transition. Struggle to take a deep breath. Hold tension through the jaw, the sternum, the belly. React sharply to the leg. Fight softness in the contact.

And we label them:

Difficult. Anxious. Reactive. Naughty.

But what if the nervous system is responding to something physical - not behavioural?

🫁 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗲.

In the horse, the diaphragm is one of the primary pressure regulators of the entire body.

It attaches to:
▪️ the sternum ▪️ the caudal ribs ▪️ the thoracolumbar region via the crura ▪️ major fascial and visceral structures throughout the trunk

Every single breath ripples outward, influencing: ✔️ pressure through the thorax ✔️ venous and lymphatic return ✔️ rib mechanics and mobility ✔️ sternum rotation ✔️ thoracolumbar tension ✔️ pelvic stability

This means a horse that cannot breathe freely cannot move freely.

It is not just a training gap.

It may be a mechanical one.

𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗱𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿: 𝗴𝗮𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲.

Breathing is not only about bringing oxygen in.

It is equally about getting carbon dioxide out - efficiently, continuously, with every breath.

If a horse is stuck in a shallow breathing pattern, whether braced in inspiration or expiration, it may not be clearing CO₂ as efficiently as it should.

The body then has to work harder to maintain acid-base balance - its internal chemical stability.

One of the systems involved in this buffering process?

➡️ The kidneys.

The kidneys help regulate pH by adjusting bicarbonate and hydrogen ion balance, helping the body maintain the narrow blood pH range required for normal function.

This is not dramatic.

It happens quietly.

But over time, in a horse that is chronically restricted and chronically stressed?

The body starts compensating everywhere.

🫘 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘆𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝘀.

They are physical ones too.

This is where it gets extraordinary and where most people never look.

The kidneys are retroperitoneal, meaning they sit behind the abdominal lining, tucked high under the last ribs.

With every deep, functional breath, the diaphragm moves caudally towards the tail.

That motion does not just move air.

It changes pressure. It moves fascia. It influences organ glide.

The diaphragm is not just breathing.

It is moving the internal body.

If the diaphragm is braced, this physical pumping action becomes reduced.

And in my osteopathic assessment, this can show up as: ▪️ lumbar sensitivity ▪️ abdominal guarding ▪️ reduced rib mobility ▪️ pelvic asymmetry ▪️ a horse that feels shorter in one stirrup ▪️ or a horse that struggles to soften through one side

⚡️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

There is another layer deeper still and this is where behaviour, biomechanics and the nervous system converge.

The vagus nerve passes through the diaphragm via the oesophageal hiatus.

The vagus nerve is part of the “rest, digest and regulate” system.

So when the diaphragm is chronically tight, restricted or braced, the horse’s ability to access relaxation may be affected too.

This is not “just anxiety.”

This is anatomy.

And it is one reason I am always careful about labelling horses as simply difficult, sharp, stressy or naughty.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.

The left kidney has fascial and ligamentous relationships with the spleen.

The right kidney sits in close relationship with the liver.

So when the diaphragm is restricted, it does not only affect the lungs.

It can alter the glide, pressure and fascial relationships of the organs beneath it too.

And this is why one-sidedness is not always a schooling problem.

A horse that struggles on one rein, skips a lead, travels crookedly or feels blocked through one side may not simply need more repetition.

They may need the body to be able to organise itself internally first.

Because when you ask for softness, bend, lift, collection or a lead change…

you may be asking that horse to move through a physical blockage it cannot simply “try harder” through.

You are not fighting their mind.

You may be meeting their internal topography.

This is why some horses transform when we shift the conversation to: ✔️ rib mechanics and mobility ✔️ sternum rotation ✔️ diaphragm function and coordination ✔️ thoracic inlet restrictions ✔️ visceral tension - kidneys, spleen, liver ✔️ vagal tone and autonomic regulation ✔️ how pressure moves through the whole system ✔️ how the horse is actually organising itself internally

Not just:

Can this horse do the movement?

But:

Can this horse regulate itself well enough to even access relaxation?

The horse that looks naughty…

is sometimes the horse that is working incredibly hard just to stay functional inside a body that is struggling to regulate.

That is not a discipline problem.

That is not a respect problem.

That is not even primarily a training problem.

That is a body asking for help in the only language it has.

And the moment we start listening differently - the whole conversation changes. 🐴

💬 Have you ever had a horse that felt stuck in the ribs, struggled with one lead, or felt shorter in one stirrup no matter how much you worked on softness?

Drop your experience in the comments - I read every single one.

🛑 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗣 𝗚𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚. 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚.

I have put together a Diaphragm & Rib Mobility Checklist - a step-by-step PDF guide to help you start recognising these physical patterns before they are dismissed as “behavioural” problems.

Want the checklist?

Join my email community and I’ll send the guide straight to your inbox. 📧🐴

Register your email here:

https://www.helenthornton.com/email-updates

It’s free - because horses deserve better than being labelled difficult.





Image: https://pferde-gesund-bewegen.de/das-zwerchfell-oder-auch-diaphragma-des-pferdes/

09/05/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/16oL5uqsam/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Once you can ride a square you can ride a circle. #

THE POWER OF GUERINIERE’S SQUARE…

The trick here is to let the maneuver and geometry do the work for us, rather than overthinking our hands or legs or what the horse is doing.

To get the geometry correct we have to just flow and let ourselves develop the feel. No need to micromanage.

I like that all these horses, whether they started out braced or overbent in the poll, started to come into the ‘ramener,’ the vertical poll release of collection, on their own, through the maneuver, rather than the riders having to manufacture it.

They are truly riding back to front, and as a result, getting releases of asymmetry not accessible from flexions and front end work alone.

The poll is rising to the highest point not from any action of the hand, but because it has a hind leg to pillar back to.

The thoracic slings are engaging back to front, through the gluteo-pelvic fulcrum and longissimus bridge. We aren’t asking the thoracic sling to work alone. Neither are we asking the hind legs to take weight they can’t receive.

The square is really nice to prevent mental and physical fatigue, because on a circle, they constantly have to work, whereas on the square they get a little break in between, and they also get some time to mentally prepare themselves for each corner.

For the rider, this is really helpful, as well, as we have time to mentally prepare ourselves to set up for the next corner.

It develops a lot of mindfulness, rather than just mashing them around a circle.

This is such meditative, powerful work.

This first rider has done so much dedicated work, but I saw everything come together in some timeless moments during a virtual lesson on the square this morning.

Add in some of the awesome moments of transformation on the square during my mini clinic earlier this week, and I’ve been inspired to organize a challenge for anyone who’s interested.

Stay tuned!

08/05/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1WvKgkUzAF/?mibextid=wwXIfr

07/05/2026

Saved to read later

https://www.facebook.com/share/18azmGNiiU/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The Bow, the String, and the Corset: How Equine Ligaments and Myofascial Systems Support Movement

Introduction

The horse’s ability to move with power, grace, and elasticity is not just a matter of strong muscles or efficient limbs—it begins with an integrated support system that balances the spine, lifts the trunk, and distributes force throughout the body. At the center of this system are the nuchal and supraspinous ligaments, which act as an elastic “bow” to suspend and stabilize the topline, and the abdominal muscles and thoracolumbar fascia, which form the “string” that lifts and supports the spine from below. Layered over this is the corset-like core system, a 360° network of muscles and fascia that maintains trunk stability, breathing efficiency, and posture.

When these systems work in harmony, the horse becomes a true “back mover”—elastic, efficient, and sound. When they don’t, the result is a “leg mover,” where the limbs overcompensate for a weak or hollow core, leading to stiffness, inefficiency, and strain. Understanding how the bow, string, and corset interact—along with the myofascial lines that tie them together—offers powerful insight into equine biomechanics, performance, and long-term soundness.

1. The Nuchal Ligament (Ligamentum nuchae)

Location: Runs along the top of the neck from the back of the skull (occiput) down to the withers, where it blends into the supraspinous ligament.

Structure: Made of two main parts in the horse:
Funicular part – a thick cord-like band from the skull to the withers.

Laminae – thin sheet-like extensions that run from the cervical vertebrae (C2–C7) up to the funicular part.

Function: Acts like a built-in elastic “sling” to help support the heavy head and neck without constant muscular effort.

Stores elastic energy during lowering of the head and releases it when the horse raises the head. Provides passive support to help stabilize the neck during movement.

2. The Supraspinous Ligament

Location: Continuation of the nuchal ligament — runs from the withers down along the tops (dorsal spinous processes) of the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral vertebrae, nearly to the sacrum.

Function: Connects and stabilizes the tops of the vertebrae. Works with the nuchal ligament to store and release elastic energy during movement.

Provides a tensioning system that helps resist excessive spinal flexion (sagging of the topline).

3. The “Bow and String” Theory (or Bow Theory)

This is a classic model used to describe how the equine topline works.

The Bow: Represents the horse’s topline — the supraspinous ligament, nuchal ligament, and vertebral column together form the “arched bow.”

Provides passive elastic support.

The String: Represents the abdominal muscles, thoracolumbar fascia, and related ventral structures that run beneath the spine. Just like the string of a bow, they create tension that lifts and stabilizes the spine when engaged.

How It Works Together:

If the “string” (abdominals, fascia) is engaged → the “bow” (dorsal ligaments and spine) is lifted and stabilized, creating a rounded topline.
If the string is slack → the bow collapses, and the topline sags (“hollow back”).

Movement efficiency comes from the dynamic interplay between these two systems.

In Practice

A horse with strong abdominal engagement and free, healthy fascia → carries the back lifted, topline supported, and movement elastic. A horse with weak core or fascial restriction → bow collapses, supraspinous ligament overstretched, and the back hollows, leading to stiffness or pain.

✅ So, the nuchal ligament + supraspinous ligament form the dorsal elastic support system (the bow), and the abdominals/fascia form the ventral tension system (the string). Together they explain why posture, core stability, and fascial health are essential for soundness and performance.

4. Bow-String Model (Topline vs. Core)

Bow = dorsal support Nuchal + supraspinous ligaments + vertebral column. Provides passive elastic suspension of the spine and head/neck.

String = ventral support Abdominal muscles + thoracolumbar fascia. Provides active lifting of the back and stabilization of the spine.

This explains the horse’s longitudinal support — head to tail, topline to underline.

5. Corset Theory (Circumferential Core)

Describes the horse’s cylindrical, 360° core stability system:

Front & sides: re**us abdominis, obliques, intercostals, sternum and ribs, pectorals.

Back: thoracolumbar fascia, paraspinal muscles spine and ribs.

Support: diaphragm.

Floor: pelvic floor and abdominal wall. When these work together, they form a corset-like pressure system that stabilizes the trunk and supports breathing, posture, and locomotion.

This explains the horse’s circumferential support — stabilizing the trunk in all directions.

6. How They Work Together

The corset theory gives us the why behind the string of the bow-string model:

Strong, coordinated abdominal and fascial tension (corset engaged) = the string is tight → lifts and supports the spine → bow is effective.
Weak or inhibited corset = the string is slack → spine collapses → bow overstretches.

The bow theory explains the mechanics of how the spine is supported front-to-back. The corset theory explains the systemic stabilization around the entire trunk.

👉 In other words: the corset makes the string strong, and the string makes the bow effective.

7. The Thoracic Sling

The Unlike humans, horses lack a bony clavicle. Instead, the ribcage is suspended between the shoulders by a fascial and muscular “sling,” primarily the serratus ventralis and pectorals. This sling integrates with the ventral lines, corset system, and front limb fascial connections.

Provides shock absorption for the forehand. Suspends and stabilizes the ribcage between the shoulders. Links the forelimbs into the spine and core system. This makes the thoracic sling a key junction where the bow, string, and corset systems meet.

8. Hindquarter Connection

The horse’s true engine lies in the hindquarters, but for that power to translate into effective forward motion, it must pass through a lifted, stable back.

If the bow-string-corset system is active → energy flows forward smoothly, lifting the withers and freeing the shoulders. If the system is collapsed → power from behind “leaks,” forcing the limbs to overwork, leading to shortened stride and uneven loading.

9. Elastic Energy Recycling

Fascia, tendons, and ligaments don’t just stabilize—they act like https://koperequine.com/the-bow-the-string-and-the-corset-how-equine-ligaments-and-myofascial-systems-support-movement/

05/05/2026

https://youtu.be/QnAIo-gQS74?si=KF78AeeM_1W2e8k5

Rupert is a wealth of knowledge. Yet to look at this, tell me what you think

358 likes, 33 comments. "Dressage Is Only 2 Easy Patterns!"

04/05/2026

https://www.onyacoaching.com/post/why-sucking-in-is-dysfunctional-and-what-real-core-bracing-looks-like?fbclid=IwZnRzaARlJ6NleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe18HgkpoSZZahCEZ-dcZS4Y3a_nc1VHjFsQuHreMzoEqpxNPYHpdaT9Nu9yw_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw

that the suck-in habit is not just aesthetic theatre. It compromises the way you breathe, the way you brace, and the way you transfer force through your trunk. The very thing people are doing to look strong is the thing that is stopping them training, riding, and performing well.

16/04/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1GPo3B2TJB/?mibextid=wwXIfr