Kate Stringer Equine Physiotherapist

27/07/2025

13 years ago today was my first day as a qualified Vet Physio. It had been my dream job since forever and it was a long hard road to get there! I am so grateful to each and every horse and owner who have supported me for the last 13years. I have learnt so much along the way and really do wake up every morning and can’t believe this life is mine to live.

23/07/2025

I really like this diagram, it is simple but really shows how important a balanced hoof is.

An important concept.
Support, suspension and direction of motion.

The DDFT trumps everything.
Too tight or too loose and problems start. Just right and all is good.

Think about the DDFT being too tight where will problems start?

Or too loose? Think caudal foot collapse.

Dr Redden has a lot to share about the DDFT.

Credit R Redden.

23/07/2025

The Brachiocephalic muscle get referred to regularly in my reports so let’s delve a bit deeper into it

The brachiocephlicus is a large, superficial muscle that plays a key role in head, neck and forelimbs movement. It divides into two parts the Cleidocephalicus and the Cleidobrachialis,

Origin - 1st origin mastoid process and the nuchal crest of the skull. 2nd origin Omotransversarius, the wing of the atlas and the transverse processes of C2-C4/5

Insertion - Deltoid tuberosity and crest of humerus

In simple terms it runs from the back of the skull to the upper forelimb! It is has multiple functions,

▪️It helps to flex the neck to either side.
▪️When the forelimb is fixed it extends the head and neck.
▪️When the head and neck are stable it helps to draw the limb forward.

This muscle can become hypertrophied through overuse caused by -

▪️Poor posture and forelimb lameness resulting in using the neck to balance instead of pushing up through the thoracic sling muscles
▪️Poor training practices - similarly to the previous point if the horse is not encouraged to work in self carriage with a free and functional back the front limbs do not provide a vertical support against the pull of gravity and the brachiocephlic comes under strain.
▪️ Anatomical variations - bony abnormalities in the spinal column can cause overuse and strain of the brachiocephlic as the body tries to compensate.
▪️ External injuries - I do see quite a few horses with scarring in this muscle due to old kick and bite injuries as well as damage from pulling back on a headcollar.

When the muscle is hypertrophied it can bulge and be sensitive to touch, it goes hand in hand with atrophy of the trapezius muscles and a weak topline.

To address this postural imbalance we need to to facilitate the relaxation of the brachiocephlic muscle along with activating the thoracic sling muscles to improve posture and function.

21/06/2025

Yes!!!

Research shows the very strong interdependence between in-hand training, and under-saddle training.

If things go wrong under-saddle for any reason whatsoever, and you feel you cannot train a safe or adequate response it is sensible to dismount and revisit in-hand training.

Time spent on this necessary part of horse training will also be rewarded in a very real sense, for example, when needing to transport a horse under the stress of an evacuation or veterinary emergency.

This text is from 'Modern Horse Training: Equitation Science Principles & Practice, Volume 2', a practical blueprint for horse training grounded in the latest equitation science.

To grab a copy visit our webshop.

07/06/2025

CPD day! This was open to vets and vet physios and the takeaway message was definitely that a collaborative approach with Vets, Physios, Farriers, Saddle Fitters and Trainers working together had the best outcome when managing equine back pain


physiotherapy

04/06/2025

It has been the day of the Connemara for me!

First thing a ride on my own Connie, Buster, then 3 x full Connemara’s and one cross on my books today!! All a pleasure to treat of course 🦄

02/06/2025

Did you know an incline of 10% increases work in the horses hip flexors, increases hindlimb range of motion and increases hindlimb propulsion as well as a substantial increase in the metabolic rate!

29/05/2025

⚠️ Laminitis Alert ⚠️

🌦️ Warm, wet weather is the perfect recipe for rapid grass growth 🌱 so it’s time to stay extra vigilant.

Laminitis can cause serious pain, lameness, and long-term hoof damage. Spotting the early, subtle signs makes all the difference when it comes to diagnosis and treatment.

📝 Keep a close eye on horses and ponies with metabolic conditions or those carrying extra weight as they’re more at risk. And remember, laminitis can strike even if a horse hasn’t had it before.

For advice and information, visit 👉 https://bit.ly/4kDRe7I

26/05/2025

Post lunge browsing, I love watching to see which plants they choose.

13/05/2025

There is lots of talk online about when to back a young horse and how much should be expected of them. Maude is 3 this time so I have been taking a keen interest in other experiences and opinions!

I have a background (albeit in the rather distant past) of backing and riding away young horses. How I go about this incredibly important period in a horses life has definitely changed since those days and I have thought long and hard about the best approach to my individual horse with the expertise and facilities I have available to me. There is a balance to be had between doing enough to utilise high neuroplasticity in the brain and not over stressing young, undeveloped bodies.

I liken it to a child - those who spend too much time in their bedrooms find it harder to become strong, fit, physically able adults but very young, elite gymnasts often develop injuries . We are aiming for a middle ground, the type of child who can withstand rough and tumble but without overuse injuries of elite sport!!

So what are my plans for Maude. She is 3 in a couple of weeks and is still looking a little croup high and needs to develop more strength and lift in her thoracic region and stability through her hind limbs. I am in no rush for her to be worked under saddle but would like her to understand the concept of having a rider on her back and realise her future also involves having to put up with me doing all sorts of experimental groundwork!

With the help of horsemanship trainer Damien McNickle she has started to do some groundwork a couple of times per week which I hope to be able to develop into exercises to target her weaker areas as she starts to learn about how to use her body and become able to understand more cues from me.

We do some short in hand “hacking” to see more of life, become confident walking out on her own and to get feedback from different surfaces including rough ground, narrow gaps in hedges and slopes all the time developing her confidence and my handling skills…we will see what the summer brings!

28/04/2025

Exactly!!

The reason for the slow, step by step conditioning of the green horse is so that when you want to put the weight to the haunches, there is something there to support the front end.

Many people mistakenly try to collect up the horse to strengthen them before the horse has any stability behind. This is like going to the heaviest weights at the gym to squat to get strong - you’re likely going to hurt yourself, or at the least strengthen whatever patterns are already there.

A horse needs to learn to become body aware, then to get into position, then to slowly develop increasing stability and mobility. You don’t get to the end result by starting at the end. You start incrementally, with a clear plan to develop toward the end goal.

But- slow conditioning doesn’t mean you avoid or do nothing with the green horse, or never introduce them to anything new. It means you have a PLAN and work at that