Equissance Equine Therapy

29/05/2026

The current Equine Influenza outbreak remains a very real concern across the industry, and at Bramham we are committed to doing everything possible to protect the health and wellbeing of all horses attending the event.

Our terms and conditions of entry already state that all vaccinations must be up to date on a 6-monthly basis, something all competitors have agreed to upon entering. Therefore, all horses entering Bramham during the event period must have an Equine Influenza vaccination administered within 6 months of the first day of their class.

We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and understanding. These measures are being implemented in the best interests of horse welfare and to help protect the wider equestrian community. We also ask all competitors, connections and attendees to continue practising sensible biosecurity measures throughout the event week. All competitors have been emailed, any queries please don't hesitate to reply to that email.

28/05/2026

I see this so much..

Checking the diagonal by looking down is one of those habits that starts as a reasonable beginner strategy and becomes a deeply ingrained problem that follows riders for years if nobody addresses it properly. The head drops, the balance shifts, the horse falls out of rhythm while the rider hunts for visual confirmation of something their body should eventually be able to feel without any visual input at all. The ultimate goal is not a rider who checks their diagonal correctly but a rider who does not need to check at all. Here is how to get there...

1. First make sure they understand what they are actually feeling for

A lot of riders check their diagonal without fully understanding what the diagonal is or why it matters. Before you work on feel, make sure the concept is solid. At the rising trot, the rider should be rising with the outside shoulder of the horse coming forward which means their seat is in the saddle when the outside hind and inside fore hit the ground together. That is the correct diagonal and it matters because posting with the correct diagonal helps the horse balance through corners and turns and distributes the rider's weight more effectively. A student who understands why it matters has more reason to develop the feel for it than one who is just following a rule.

2. Teach them what correct feels like before you ask them to identify it

Put your student on the correct diagonal and tell them that is what correct feels like right now. Ask them to close their eyes and feel it for thirty seconds, on a lunge if need be. You can do this both at the posting and sitting trot. Do it several times in both directions. The feel becomes more recognizable every time they practice distinguishing it.

3. Use the rising rhythm to develop feel.

Ask your student to slow their posting down slightly and feel the moment their seat contacts the saddle. Which shoulder is coming forward when they sit? Is it the inside or the outside? Start with the question before you start with the answer. A rider who is actively asking themselves that question every few strides is developing feel while a rider who is looking down every few strides is developing nothing except a habit that will limit their balance and their horse's way of going indefinitely.

4. Verbal shoulder exercise

Stand at the rail and call out outside as the horse moves past, matching your call to the outside shoulder coming forward at that moment. After a few laps, ask your student to call it back to you from the saddle before looking down. It forces them to feel and identify rather than look and confirm. When they get it right consistently without looking the feel is developing. When they consistently get it wrong in one direction you have found their weaker side.

5. Teach them to correct without looking

Once a student can feel the diagonal, the next step is teaching them to correct it without breaking rhythm or looking down. Sitting for two beats instead of one changes the diagonal cleanly without disrupting the trot. A rider who can feel the wrong diagonal and correct it smoothly with a bounce while keeping their eyes up and their rhythm consistent has genuinely mastered the skill. That is the standard worth working toward.

6. Make it a non event

One of the reasons diagonal checking persists is that instructors make a big deal of it, calling it out every time it is wrong and drilling it repeatedly in a way that makes the student anxious about it. A rider who is anxious about their diagonal looks down more not less. Correct it matter of factly, give them the feel exercise, and move on. The less drama attached to it the faster it resolves.

7. Rider still not getting it? Try the knee tap

Tap the student's outside knee with a dressage whip every time the horse's outside shoulder comes forward. This will require you to jog alongside the horse and rider but the external physical cue bypasses the visual hunting and gives the body something concrete to feel for. After several laps remove the tap and ask the student to remember the feeling it was marking. Works particularly well for tactile learners who struggle with purely verbal or visual instruction.

The correct diagonal is not something your student will feel on their first try or their tenth. It is a feel that develops gradually through repeated attention to sensation rather than visual confirmation. Build that attention deliberately and the looking down takes care of itself because they no longer need the visual when the feel is reliable.

How do you teach your students to feel their diagonal rather than check it visually?

25/05/2026

Warning Some viewers may be squeamish

19/05/2026

Laminitis - Be Aware

The wet weather we have had today, followed by the forecasted warm weather to come, will see the grass flush! This increases the risk for those prone to laminitis. Being vigilant and looking out for the signs will help you catch it early, making the prognosis for recovery much better.

Laminitis in horses is a serious condition characterized by the inflammation of the laminae - the tissues that connect the hoof wall to the pedal bone in a horse's foot. This inflammation can disrupt blood flow, leading to swelling and damage to the laminae, which causes severe pain and lameness. The condition can affect any number of feet but is most commonly seen in the front feet.

Symptoms can include:
• A strong or bounding digital pulse in the hooves.
• Heat in the hooves and increased sensitivity, especially over the toe area.
• Reluctance to move, walk on hard surfaces, or turn in tight circles.
• Visible lameness, which may be more pronounced on hard ground.
• A "rocking back" stance or shifting weight off the forehand to relieve pressure on the hooves.
• Laying down more frequently than usual.
• Sweating, elevated temperature, and signs of pain.
• In severe cases, the pedal bone may rotate downward, potentially puncturing the sole.

Click here to watch a short video highlighting these symptoms.
https://www.northwestequinevets.co.uk/resources/educational-films/how-to-spot-laminitis/

You should consult a vet immediately if you suspect your horse is showing signs of laminitis, as early intervention can be key to managing the condition successfully.
0808 168 5580

14/05/2026

01/05/2026

One of the explanations I’ve heard for this is that the horse was cut late 🙄🤣

12/04/2026

Urgent please share

03/04/2026

It works

06/03/2026

fYI

Owners / Riders our area has Low Level Flying activity scheduled so be prepared - we have been caught out before and they come at you QUICK!

It’s not always easy to work around military activities so preparing yourself can be the only way.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/military-low-flying-mod-sponsored-air-exercises/mod-sponsored-current-or-planned-exercise-list-27-to-31-october-2025?fbclid=IwVERDUAQXsSpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeswsY3gnKkQVNi8-R29VvhFPYWvgUoKskVQbOkR4ZDPOzl2ysP5ys0122qDg_aem_Y-MwKRoAUrOr177oxic7vw

21/02/2026

It’s been a tough winter.

The mud.
The dark mornings.
The frozen taps.
The vet bills.
The endless hay.
The 5am alarms that feel personal.

The emotional stuff.
The holding it together stuff.
The “I’m fine” when you’re actually just tired to your bones stuff.

And if you’ve made it this far .... still showing up for your horses, your people, your work, your dreams ... that’s not small.

That’s resilience.

Winter isn’t just a season.
It’s a nervous system state.
It’s contraction.
It’s conserving energy.
It’s surviving.

We were never meant to bloom all year round.

Historically, winter was for slower rhythms. Firelight. Community. Rest. Repair.
Not productivity culture. Not constant output. Not proving.

So if you’re feeling a bit fragile, a bit fed up, a bit done…

Cut yourself some slack.

You’re not behind.
You’re not weak.
You’re not failing.

You’re wintering.

And spring doesn’t need you perfect.
It just needs you still here.