24/05/2026
Spring seems to have stuttered this year. A warm spell in late February started an early moult. However, a cold snap quickly followed and seemed to halt the process.
As the weather has improved the moult has tried to finish.
With this staggered spring, a lot of horses have struggled to complete their moult easily.
Osteopathically, a lot of horses have been showing signs of liver and kidney issues.
This is very common at this time of year as the moulting process is a DETOX process. The liver and kidneys are the detox organs so are needed to help the moulting process.
During a prolonged or strong moult, the liver and kidneys get put under strain. This is even more prevalent in horses who have underlying issues.
SIGNS OF LIVER/KIDNEY INVOLVEMENT:
Beyond the retained winter coat, you can often find your horse is lethargic and almost like they are moving with the handbrake on.
Due to the location of the liver and kidneys you can get a number of tension patterns that can affect performance....
Kidneys often create lumbar and hind limb tension. Left kindney affects the left hind and can affect right canter. Right kidney can affect canter.
The liver sits predominantly on the right so often right fore issues ensue, especially involving the shoulder joint.
A good starting point is to complete a liver and kidney detox. Spring and Autumn are key times for this.
However, should issues persist it could well be that areas need releasing to help them get back on track.
