HP Equine Performance Therapy

05/10/2026

What a great clinic we had yesterday! A huge thank you to the CEF - Club Équestre les Forestiers for giving me the privilege to host another clinic. Thank you to everyone who attended! What a fun group we had! 🐴

04/21/2026

So excited for this clinic! What a great way to kick start May!! Don’t forget to sign up!

https://lecef.ca/activites/massage/

04/17/2026

Understanding the Brachiocephalicus Muscle!

The brachiocephalicus is one of the largest muscles in your horse’s neck. It begins near the poll area, attaching to the skull, and runs down the length of the neck to attach to the humerus.

What does it do?
- Pulls the forelimb forward (protraction)
- Assists with flexion and lateral movement of the neck
- Helps turn the head and neck to one side when working independently
- Helps lower the head and neck when the limb is fixed

Because this muscle is responsible for bringing the forelimb forward and helping with neck movement, it can often become overworked and compensate for weakness through the back and hind end. When the hind legs are not engaging correctly, the brachiocephalicus can begin to "pull" the horse forward through the front end rather than allowing the horse to properly "propel" from behind.

Horses that often work in a “hollow” frame, where the back is not engaged, may be seen carrying their neck out and forward. Over time, this can contribute to overdevelopment of the underside of the neck, commonly referred to as an “ewe neck.”

Signs of tension or discomfort:
- Visible overdevelopment along the underside of the neck (“ewe neck”)
- Difficulty flexing or bending the neck side to side
- High head carriage
- Sensitivity, ear pinning, or flinching when the lower neck or shoulder area is palpated
- Shortened stride in the forelimbs
- Difficulty picking up or maintaining a lead
- Unevenness in the trot or reduced shoulder freedom

Tension here can affect shoulder freedom, stride length, bend, and overall front-end movement.

The brachiocephalicus is always considered during my sessions, especially when working with younger horses or school horses, as they tend to hold more tension in this muscle.

The blue in the image below roughly indicates where the brachiocephalicus muscle is found.

01/15/2026

Understanding the Longissimus Dorsi:
Why Your Horse's Back Depends On It!

If your horse struggles with topline development, saddle comfort, or back soreness, this muscle matters more than you think.

The longissimus dorsi is one of the most important muscles in your horse's body. While it has multiple points of origin and insertion, it essentially runs from the horse's pelvis, along either side of the spine, and extends forward toward the neck. It plays a major role in stabilizing the back and supporting the rider's weight during movement.

What does it do?
- Supports and stabilizes the spine while carrying a rider.
- Transfers power from the hind end forward (impulsion).
- Supports collection, balance, and overall posture.
- Allows controlled lateral movement through the back.
- Helps prevent hollowing and compensatory tension.
The list goes on...

Because of its location and workload, this muscle is commonly tight or sore. Contributing factors can include ill-fitting saddles, insufficient topline development, changes in training, and rider imbalance.

Signs of tension or discomfort can include:
- Sensitivity to grooming or palpation along the back.
- Hollowing when mounted.
- Resistance to the saddle or rider.
- Hesitation or resistance to moving forward, sometimes expressed through behaviors like head tossing, bucking, or rearing when forward movement is requested
- Difficulty bending or engaging evenly.

This is one of the first muscles I assess during every session, because understanding the back is the foundation of keeping your horse comfortable, willing, and performing their best.

Have you ever noticed any of these signs in your horse?
This is the first post in a series exploring key muscles that impact your horse’s comfort and performance.

04/17/2025

So excited to have this privilege! Spots are limited, sign up now! ✨

08/29/2024

⭐️ Sadly the 2024 show season is coming to an end! Your horse deserve some extra attention after the months of hard work they’ve given you.
Pm for info and availability!

01/23/2024

❗️With February just around the corner, we are one month closer to starting the 2024 show season❗️
As you may start buckling down on your training, have you thought about how your horse’s body is keeping up with their workload?
A therapeutic session could greatly benefit your horse’s performance and overall comfort! 🐴💞

08/21/2023

A successful day at the VKH English horse show! Thank you to everyone who came out and it was a pleasure meeting so many new faces!

03/13/2023

Some goofy faces from this guy enjoying his session yesterday!! So happy to have him feeling more comfortable 💖

02/27/2023

I had the cutest client today!! Even tiniest bodies deserve some TLC! 🥰