Jo Johnson Equine Physiotherapy

03/06/2026

Have you heard of trigger stacking in horses?

A horse might “suddenly” spook, buck, bolt, or refuse to jump. Or they may be more reactive to a situation than is warranted.

Often, that final reaction isn’t about the last thing that happened at all. It’s the result of multiple stressors gradually building up — until the horse simply can’t cope anymore.

This is known as trigger stacking.

Triggers can include:
• Pain or physical discomfort
• Fatigue or soreness
• Travel or competition stress
• Changes in routine or environment
• Training pressure or confusion
• Lack of turnout or social stress
• Anxiety or previous negative experiences

Each one adds a little more load to the nervous system. The horse may appear to cope perfectly well… until one small extra stressor tips them over threshold.

The important thing to remember is:
The final trigger is rarely the true problem.

A horse reacting explosively is often communicating that their system has already been overloaded for some time.

As physios, trainers, owners and riders, recognising the early signs of stress accumulation can help us support both performance and welfare far more effectively.

📞 07791480337
📧 [email protected]
💻 www.equinephysiotherapy.co.uk
📍 Wiltshire, South Glos & BANES

29/05/2026

Last week I had a brilliant day of learning and CPD, attending a fantastic Kinesiology Taping workshop led by Equine K Taping UK

Kinesiology tape (“K Tape”) can be applied in many different ways depending on the desired outcome, making it a versatile adjunct within equine therapy and rehabilitation.

Some of the potential benefits may include:
🐴 Supporting circulation and lymphatic drainage
🐴 Reducing muscle fatigue and soreness
🐴 Assisting proprioception and neuromuscular re-education
🐴 Supporting joints, tendons and ligaments without restricting movement
🐴 Helping improve range of motion and movement quality
🐴 Assisting with tissue mobility and fascial restriction
🐴 Providing sensory input that may help relax or facilitate muscle activity
🐴 Supporting comfort during rehabilitation and performance

Kinesiology tape works by gently lifting the skin, creating a subtle decompression effect within the superficial tissues. This may help support blood and lymphatic flow, reduce local pressure and provide sensory feedback to the nervous system.

Whilst kinesiology taping is not a “magic fix”, it can be a really useful supportive tool alongside appropriate veterinary care, rehabilitation and manual therapy — helping to support comfort, movement and function in the horse. ✨

27/05/2026

What lies beneath, we often never quite know…

What can happen as horses age

What we are looking at in the below photo is the femoral head ligament(accessory) this very important structure connects the hind leg into the hip socket. I observe it forms a sling that innervates onto the pelvis to the p***s symphysis which also forms the pre p***c tendon. This incredibly strong structure that supports the pelvis is prone to wear and tear particularly in sport horses, race horses and through geriatric degeneration.

The photo on the right was from a 28 year old horse that looked a picture of health from the outside but his movement had become stiff and guarded. Showing struggles to have his feet done and not wanting to give the hinds. The fermoral head ligament had been fully replaced by scar tissue and only a few tiny shreds remained attached to the head of the femur. The labrum(capsule) of the joint was thickened and full of synovitis. Unfortunately for this guy he had problems over many of his legs due to old age and so showed no notable lameness that would conclude the seriousness of what was going on inside. The comparison ligament is from a 4 year old standardbred.

Please be considerate with your oldies, better a week too early than a moment too late.

25/05/2026

Signs of a tick-borne disease in horses can
include lethargy, fever, stiffness, swollen limbs or lymph nodes, reduced performance, loss of appetite, and unusual sensitivity or behaviour changes—as Charlie from Cadence Equine Vets Ltd explains.

So, if your horse seems suddenly unwell after finding a tick, it’s worth contacting your vet promptly!

25/05/2026

Biomechanics of the Walk

🐎 The Biomechanics of the Walk & How to Improve it …

The walk is the most complex gait when it comes to spinal motion.

✨ Head & Forelimb Mechanics
• At each forelimb impact, the head naturally moves up to the right / up to the left, following the limb loading pattern.
• Exaggerated or uneven movement can indicate discomfort or asymmetry.

✨ Spinal Motion in Walk
• The walk shows the most lateral flexion and rotation of all the gaits.
• Rotation is greatest between T12–T18, with very little rotation in the lumbar spine.
• Watch the tuber coxae rise and fall — it reflects thoracolumbar rotation, especially around T12–T18.
• Lateral flexion is most pronounced around T9–T10 and T14–T15, just behind the withers, where flexion can reach up to 10°.

✨ How Movement Is Created
• As the tuber coxae move alternately up and down, the spine laterally flexes, creating natural body bend.
• This makes the walk perfect for developing mobility, symmetry, and postural strength.

✨ Exercises That Improve Rotation
• Raised poles
• Backing up
• Walking through water
• Walking downhill
• Half pass & other lateral work

✨ Exercises That Improve Lateral Flexion
• Slalom patterns
• In-hand shoulder-in & travers
• Lateral weight transfer (hindlimb sway & wither rock)
• Carrot stretches (high to the side)
• Pole work
• Small circles
• Thoracic sling strengthening — especially walking downhill

The walk is a goldmine for improving posture, core strength, and spinal mobility.
When used well, it builds the foundation for every other gait.

📞 07791480337
📧 [email protected]
💻 www.equinephysiotherapy.co.uk
📍 Wiltshire, South Glos & BANES

23/05/2026

Remember:

💦 Ice-cold water will not cause colic, laminitis, muscle/kidney damage, or heart attacks.
💦 Leaving water on helps horses stay cooler for longer (scraping water off is unnecessary and wastes time and water).
💦 A horse can still overheat even if not sweating.

And

☀️ A horse with heatstroke may be difficult or dangerous to handle, so take precautions.

22/05/2026

If choosing only a few exercises, this paper would support prioritising:

Daily or near-daily:

1. Chin-to-hip baited stretches both sides
2. Pelvic tucks/rounding “bottom tuck”

Secondary/additional:

3. Tail pulls (lateral tail pulls)
4. Chin-to-chest baited stretches

22/05/2026

Fascial tissues, like all connective tissues, can be affected by inflammation, altered circulation, chronic loading, and oxidative stress. These processes may contribute to fibrosis, reduced tissue elasticity, and pain sensitisation. Appropriate movement, conditioning, rehabilitation and manual therapy may help support tissue health and mobility.

20/05/2026

A useful reminder that well-selected exercise may have a greater influence on functional movement than adjunctive therapies alone…

🐴 Can pole work improve core engagement in horses? What about kinesiotaping?

🔎New research from Anglia Ruskin University’s Writtle campus, by Anna Srutova, Hope Jameson and Animalweb expert Professor Roberta Blake, explored how pole work and abdominal kinesiotaping may affect muscle activity and movement in horses.

💪The findings offer fresh insight into equine core engagement, movement patterns and rehabilitation.

To learn more about the effects of kinesiotape and pole work follow the link below👇
🔗https://askanimalweb.com/new-writtle-research-explores-how-pole-work-and-kinesiotaping-affect-equine-core-engagement/

18/05/2026

Common Equine Neck Issues Seen in Physiotherapy

The equine neck is highly mobile, load-bearing, and neurologically significant. It’s no surprise cervical issues are common.

Some of the most common neck-related conditions seen in practice include:

🐴 Cervical Arthropathy (most commonly affecting the facet joints)
A broad term describing disease of the cervical facet joints — most commonly degenerative change (osteoarthritis), particularly in the mid to lower neck.

Common signs:
• Stiffness or reduced bend one way
• Difficulty with lateral flexion or poll positioning
• Compensatory thoracic/back tension
• Behavioural changes under saddle

🐴 Cervical Osteoarthritis (OA)
A specific type of arthropathy involving degenerative joint change (cartilage wear, bone remodelling, osteophyte formation).

Contributing factors include age, workload, conformation, and previous trauma.

Importantly, imaging changes don’t always correlate with pain — but when clinically relevant, OA can affect posture, movement symmetry, and performance.

🐴 Cervical Myofascial Pain & Muscle Spasm
A very common finding in performance horses.

Muscle tension and guarding may develop secondary to:
• Poor posture
• Compensation from limb/back pain
• Cervical joint restriction
• Training asymmetry
• Saddle or rider influences

Commonly affected muscles include the splenius, brachiocephalicus, trapezius, and deeper stabilising musculature.

Clinical signs may include:
• Reduced suppleness
• Resistance in the contact
• Difficulty bending evenly
• Muscle asymmetry or palpable tension
• Reduced ability to lift through the thoracic sling

🐴 Cervical Muscle Atrophy & Asymmetry
Loss of muscle bulk through the neck may occur secondary to pain inhibition, chronic compensation, reduced correct usage, or neurological dysfunction.

This can contribute to:
• Poor postural stability
• Reduced cervical support
• Altered movement patterns
• Difficulty maintaining self-carriage

🐴 CVSM (Cervical Vertebral Stenotic Myelopathy)
Often referred to as “wobblers,” this condition involves narrowing of the spinal canal and potential spinal cord compression.

• Type 1 – Dynamic compression (typically younger horses)
• Type 2 – Static compression (more common in mature horses)

Signs may include:
• Subtle incoordination
• Toe dragging
• Inconsistent contact
• Weakness or reduced proprioception

Notably, signs can be present without obvious neck pain.

In some horses, congenital or developmental vertebral changes may contribute to cervical instability, particularly in younger cases.

🐴 Intervertebral Disc Pathology
Less commonly discussed, but increasingly recognised. Degeneration or protrusion of the disc can contribute to pain, nerve irritation, and altered movement — often alongside other degenerative changes.

❣️Why assessment matters

Horses compensate — through the thoracic sling, back, pelvis, and limbs — often masking the primary issue.

Imaging findings should be interpreted alongside:
• Clinical signs
• Neurological status
• Functional movement assessment
• Response to work and handling

Physio doesn’t “fix” pathology — but it plays a key role in:
• Managing pain and muscle guarding
• Improving movement quality and range
• Supporting postural stability and proprioception
•Prescription of appropriate exercise
• Working alongside vets as part of a multidisciplinary approach

Early recognition and informed management can make a significant difference — not just to performance, but to long-term comfort and welfare.

📞 07791480337
📧 [email protected]
💻 Equine Physiotherapy UK
📍 Wiltshire, South Glos & BANES