31/05/2026
It’s tough being the bearer of bad news…. But the long term ( and the medium term and the short term) outcomes are soooo much better if you listen to the pony!!
Here's a spicy one for you this evening - because i havent made a career limiting post in a hot minute(!)
How complicit are you in your own (or your horse's) suffering?
I appreciate we all have horses for a reason, and I appreciate their care and management is a complicated thing.
When I work with people, sometimes I have to say things they dont want to hear:
"Your horse shouldnt be ridden right now" - because theyre in pain, their posture is too compromised, they barely have enough muscle to support themselves yet alone a rider, their saddle doesnt fit.
"You shouldnt be jumping your horse" see above reasons why.
"You shouldnt be cantering right now" because it will definitely strengthen the compensatory pattern.
Compromise can be made when making the argument between streamlining the process - not riding will get quicker postural changes, but if you want to ride and ultimately the horse isnt in overt pain/discomfort, then that should be fine.
But I really dont compromise when your horse is in pain. Nor should you.
There are SO many people who are wonderful when they hear this -
"I just want my horse to be happy" - literal music to my ears
But there are many people who want their horse to be happy - stating as much - but when it comes to taking the above guidance, they push back.
It's not the answer that they want to hear.
Yet they've been chasing an issue with their horse for months or years and you've given them a solution... its just not a solution where they get to do what they've always done...
And I wonder about the graveyard of professionals behind me, who have given them appropriate advice that again was not heard because it wasnt the answer that they wanted to hear.
I understand that professionals dont always get it right. I also understand that there are many professionals that get it really really quite wrong -
I just find it to be very profound that when you point out the behavioural indicators of pain, the lameness and the biomechanical dysfunction, you can still be totally ignored -
Especially when your friend in the stable next door (with no formal training in anything equine related) says their horse does the same thing, so therefore your horse must be fine!
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For the entirety of May, you can get 50% off lifetime access for The Modern Centaurian Academy using the code MAY50 at checkout:
https://www.yasminstuartequinephysio.com/modern-centaurian-academy
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