E Dixon Equine Performance

E Dixon Equine Performance I'm Erin Dixon, ESMT,IAAT. Supporting performance horses across County Durham and North Yorkshire with tailored Equine Sports Massage and Rehabilitation.

Focused on improving movement, recovery and long-term soundness to support athletic performance.

The progress speaks for itself really šŸ’ŖThis is a horse that Iā€™ve been involved with for a few years now. Unfortunately, ...
02/06/2026

The progress speaks for itself really šŸ’Ŗ

This is a horse that Iā€™ve been involved with for a few years now.

Unfortunately, he has had some right moments! From leg fractures to underperformance, we have dealt with the lot.

I started seeing him back in 2024 before he ventured off to his racing stables where he had an unlucky first trip out and fractured his leg on his first run! He came away to complete 12 weeks of rehab with mixed box rest and 6 weeks of strengthening with me before he was given the all clear to return.

Unfortunately, although he showed moments of improvement, he gradually started to decline again, underperforming and eventually completely stopping on the track.

He got himself in that much of a state that he dropped all of his weight and muscle. Nothing that showed up on blood work, nothing structural, but the weight loss went hand in hand with his underperformance so it was deemed necessary to pull him and give him time away.

I continued to provide support through as much manual therapy I could - with what we had left, to ensure there wasnā€™t any stress through the original fracture, or compensation cropping up anywhere else.

Anyway, a few months later and Iā€™m happy to report weā€™ve managed to get his weight back up and some promising progress. This dude is due to start groundwork exercise with me to finish strengthening and building muscle šŸ’Ŗ

Disclaimer: this is in no way meant to be taken as harmful or distasteful to anyone who has been involved with this horseā€™s training journey, itā€™s just been a very unfortunate experience for him - but weā€™re happily moving in the right direction now.

31/05/2026

I will forever choose this life in every lifetime šŸ¤šŸŒø life

Sometimesā€¦ you just need to slow down.This man is having a few days of lunging only while we wait for his new bridle to ...
31/05/2026

Sometimesā€¦ you just need to slow down.

This man is having a few days of lunging only while we wait for his new bridle to arrive.

This weekend, I let the herd into the rested field - look how bloody long the grass is!!! My grass prayers clearly worked all winter.

I laid against him for a bit and he regulated his breathing to match mine before popping his head on my lap.

When I get messages like these, my brain does a little happy dance!This is a client of mine who I have been working clos...
29/05/2026

When I get messages like these, my brain does a little happy dance!

This is a client of mine who I have been working closely with for a kissing spine case.

Iā€™m given updates regularly and we chat about progress frequently.

Wonderful to know that she is back in the saddle and happy!

I have another client with spinal narrowing who is switching onto a rehab plan from a maintenance package and Iā€™m confident we can get them to this stage too!

Have you ever wondered if your bridle is right for your horse?This is Blaze and he is ridden bitless, in a side pull bri...
28/05/2026

Have you ever wondered if your bridle is right for your horse?

This is Blaze and he is ridden bitless, in a side pull bridle. We typically use the FRA bridle and I attach my own rope clip on reins.

Last night though, I made a stupid error of just letting him graze whilst I went to shut a gate and his reins slipped forward and he stood on the attachment, pulled back and the side pull ring snapped off. Now Iā€™m not mad because Iā€™m glad it snapped and he didnā€™t pull his face off but it left me a little stuck!

I wandered off and found my older thoroughbred Makā€™s old bridle. It was a rope bridle with a padded nose and which she really loved. The only difference? The reins attach under the chin not on the sides of the face.

I hopped on him, we had a little walk around to test the waters and I quickly learnt, he had absolutely no idea what I was asking him to do. He was wiggling around all over the place, throwing his bum out, head high in the air and had 0 bendā€¦ interesting. For some reason this wasnā€™t enough for me and I asked for a little trot - immediate NO! Broncing.

I got off and fetched his Lemieux head collar. Now I knew we were going to have the issue of brakes as he is quite strong in a fabric head collar (itā€™s something we are working on), but I thought itā€™s the closest thing to his side pull.

Hopped back on, we had immediate relaxation and he knew what I was asking, but the head collar kept riding up his face- which he did not like! We had our normal walk back, but trot was very VERY forward. Just trying to canter at any point he could and no brakes. But this was weird to me - because Iā€™ve been trying to get this horse to canter for the past 9 months? And he is just offering it straight away. What is the difference? Is it restriction? Or is it lack of knowledge and heā€™s doing what he thinks best? Either way I wasnā€™t sticking around to find out.

We then stood for 20 minutes on a graze as I was out of ideas and didnā€™t feel like being thrown off šŸ¤·ā€ā™€ļøšŸ™ˆ

But itā€™s an interesting thing to consider. The reason he isnā€™t bitted is because 1. He hates the bit, 2. His mouth is tiny (nearly parrot mouthed) and 3. I donā€™t need him to be bitted, he is much more relaxed in his side pull.

I also had a client ride her usually bitted horse bitless (with consent) to see if mechanically it made any difference. Her immediate response was that he felt better, and from my perspective he looked relaxed but he looked like a fish out of water and had no idea of how to deal with that responsibility.

Iā€™m not saying horses should be tried bitless , Iā€™m not. But it might be worth considering playing around with different bridle styles to make sure you have the most freeing and correct style you can! Sometimes off the shelf just isnā€™t right.

You can ask a bridle fitter to come and see your horse to make sure you have the right sizes for them, as sometimes (and like mine) you can get a cob nose size with a full head and pony cheek pieces. And that would mean buying 3 off the shelf bridles and dissecting them which isnā€™t viable. Or you can buy the parts separately but you have to know what youā€™re doing. Iā€™d find it easier to just ask a professional ā˜ŗļø

What are some client wins this week? Well first up , one of my regular thoroughbreds needed to put a little condition on...
26/05/2026

What are some client wins this week?

Well first up , one of my regular thoroughbreds needed to put a little condition on after returning home on holiday for a few months. He was extremely tight and reactive through his body. After working closely with him and his owner, he is looking nice and chunky and is completely supple.

Next we move onto a rehab case that I have been involved in quite a lot. A beautiful mare diagnosed with kissing spine. Her owner has worked tirelessly through her rehab and has kept me updated every step of the way, asking me super questions to aid her recovery, and although (like all rehab) there have been ups and downs, I was surprised with a video of the pair riding away in the arena again! How wonderful - looking so chilled and strong šŸ’Ŗ

Another very small win for a client is a pony who was struggling with hindlimb engagement. We worked hard on ensuring that the horse was first of all comfortable (vet checks passed) and worked closely with the trimmer to ensure from a mechanical standpoint everything was correct. After a little change in exercises, we opted to do lots of core engagement exercises (poles, backing up, tummy tucks , pelvic tucks, and lots of stretches) and again, Iā€™m sent videos of the pony riding away with great limb flexion and engagement.

The last win for the week may not seem like a win to most people (and may not even feel like a win to the owners) but i referred a horse for further investigation at rainbows equine hospital after we just felt that something wasnā€™t quite right. No outward reactions or tell tale signs but from a mechanical standpoint, it just didnā€™t look right in certain movements under saddle. After a long stay and lots of investigations, we are finally at the bottom of the issue. Hock pain and narrowing in the spine. Now this isnā€™t exactly what you want to hear but we have answers! These answers provide the details as to what is appropriate for a rehabilitation plan. This means we can structure his workload to suit his strengthening and hopefully reverse the effects of the spacial narrowing in the spine.

For each individual, these wins are completely different. But they all share the same goals . To have a horse thatā€™s fit, healthy and happy.

And thatā€™s what I want to do! I want to help you figure out how to get there!

I have a few spaces remaining for the start of July. Let me know if you want booking in šŸ™‚

Understanding your horse's personality can completely change the way you approach rehabilitation and recovery. Some hors...
25/05/2026

Understanding your horse's personality can completely change the way you approach rehabilitation and recovery.

Some horses shut down.
Some horses become reactive.
Some need reassurance.
Some need variety and stimulation.

Not every horse responds to rehab the same way, because not every horse processes the world the same way.

Right Brain Horses

These horses tend to react from emotion and instinct first.

RIGHT BRAIN EXTROVERT:
Reactive, busy minded, explosive, easily overstimulated.
These horses often struggle to relax physically because their nervous system is constantly "on".

In rehab, they may need;
- calm environments
- shorter sessions
- reassurance and consistency
- slower progression to avoid overwhelm

RIGHT BRAIN INTROVERT:
Quiet worriers.
These horses often internalise stress and may appear withdrawn, shut down, tense or reluctant.

In rehab, they may:
- hold chronic tension patterns
- appear compliant while uncomfortable
- need confidence building and patience
- benefit from gentle, low-pressure handling

Left Brain Horses

These horses tend to process more through thought, curiosity and self preservation.

LEFT BRAIN EXTROVERT:
Confident, playful, easily bored, sometimes pushy or distracted.
These horses often need engagement and variation during rehab work.

They may benefit from:
- variety in exercises
- mental stimulation
- clear boundaries
- sessions that keep them interested

LEFT BRAIN INTROVERT:
Calm, food oriented, slower thinking, conserving energy.
These horses can appear lazy, stubborn or resistant when they are actually unmotivated or uncomfortable.

In rehab, they respond best to:
- steady progression
- positive reinforcement
- time to process
- avoiding excessive drilling or repetition

Understanding personality doesn't replace proper assessment or treatment, but it CAN help us tailor rehabilitation in a way the horse understands both physically and mentally.

We need to support each horse as an individual and not a one size fits all.

There are a few things I will absolutely ALWAYS do with my horse. Can you think of any additional points to add to the l...
24/05/2026

There are a few things I will absolutely ALWAYS do with my horse.

Can you think of any additional points to add to the list?

One of the most challenging issues in equine care is that gradual changes become normalised. A horse that has always bee...
23/05/2026

One of the most challenging issues in equine care is that gradual changes become normalised.

A horse that has always been stiff to one side.
A horse that has always struggled with transitions.
A horse that has always been short in front.
A horse that just doesn't like certain movements.

When it is seen everyday, you stop questioning it.

But horses are masters of compensation. Many continue working while quietly adapting around discomfort, restriction, weakness, or imbalance long before obvious lameness appears.

That doesn't automatically mean something serious is wrong, but it DOES mean it is worth paying attention to.

Resistance, tension, uneven muscle development, shortened stride, difficulty bending, soreness after work, or inconsistent performance are all forms of communication.

Sometimes the smallest signs tell us the most.

Massage and rehabilitation therapy isn't only for injured horses. It is about supporting comfort, movement, recovery and long-term wellbeing before problems escalate.

DM to book or ask questions.

The best horsemen in the world don't wait until performance drops off to start paying attention to the body. They unders...
22/05/2026

The best horsemen in the world don't wait until performance drops off to start paying attention to the body.

They understand that bodywork is part of maintaining a horse, not "pampering" one.

"Human athletes would not go through their competitive career without regular physio/chiro sessions. Horses are no different."

We ask horses to carry us, balance us, compensate for us, train consistently, compete, travel, recover, and perform athletically, often while hiding discomfort incredibly well.

That's why experienced riders pay attention to the subtle signs:

* Changes in posture
* Muscle asymmetry
* Shortened stride
* Tension through the back
* Behavioural changes
* Difficulty on one rein
* Reduced performance
* Resistance that "comes out of nowhere"

Gillian Higgins, remedial equine therapist and biomechanics educator, explains it perfectly:

"Prevention is better than cure, and you don't need to wait until your horse has a problem."

This is exactly why bodywork matters.

Not because it's trendy.
Not because it's a "spa treatment."
But because maintaining soft tissue health, mobility, comfort and recovery directly affects how a horse feels and performs.

Many top competition yards now incorporate regular bodywork as part of routine management, the same way elite human athletes rely on physios, massage therapists and recovery protocols to stay functioning at their best.

Equine massage therapists often identify compensatory patterns, restrictions and tension before they become a larger performance or injury issue. And perhaps, the bigger shift happening in the horse world right now is this:

People are beginning to recognise that "behavoiural" issues are often physical conversations first. A horse becoming tense, resistant, unwilling or inconsistent isn't always being difficult.

Sometimes they're coping.

Bodywork should never replace veterinary care. But in a proactive management plan, it is becoming less of an extra and more of a necessity.

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