20/05/2026
Habitual postural Habits
Incorrect use of self carriage is part of the process of improving the equine mindset to rebalance its whole body function..... if the horse is body lame it then uses its compensatory function to move, correctness is key to function.
Myofascial Body work is the primary factor in releasing the contracted tissue, muscles, ligaments and tendons setting the body up for change.....
Mobilisation and stretching not only encouraging the horses extension , it also is teaching the horse to realise changes have occurred.
Inhand Polework is a great way to not only open the tissue up further change by monitoring their own movement good or poor. Its also a great way of stretching without force. Also your looking for postural progress
Forcing physical changes will reduce the tissue response to let go of the restriction. Less pressure on the equine body as it will respond more positively. As this will happen every time you keep each exercise simple, when reducing the workload this also equals less stress on the skeletal structures, when a horse is in a tensioned state it will be uncomfortable, spooky, bargy, ridgid incapable of offering extension through to contraction....
Reprogramming those habitual patterns once the fascia has responded to the release should be offered to encourage change to soften, lengthen, engage thefore them to connect the proprioception response. Therefore connecting the dots to work together, working with the horse slowly then developing the trust with the equine, as then they will work with you and not against you, thats what supports these changes....
Listening to every horses capabilities to find their baseline..... not what you think it should do (throw that book out the window) but slowing down your expectations to match their abilities.... transitioning from dysfunction to function, will always take time....
All horses are fascia through and through it doesn't matter what breed, age, size, every horse is on a different level of resistance, working out which level takes time.....
Habitual dysfunctional patterns are a horses safe place, simply because it knows nothing else. when the horse is not in symetry with itself it will be disunited until you bring correctness to whole body with a systemically applying slow changes remember to offer these small changes to the horse potentially setting up to change this is why teacing correctness after fascial restrictions is the way in to adjusting to improve self carriage..... less will always receive a more positive outcome.... time and patience..... Ax
There's way more to the equine body than you think by so many systems that can be addressed but slowing progression has a long lasting positive impact on longevity of the body. William stretching out the body after 15 mins of engaging body movement exercises.. i will update with pic shortly 🖤
