Prime Equine

11/16/2025

I saw a post a few weeks ago that was giving out tips & tricks for a horse who has a “difficult lead”– of which none of the solutions resonated with me.

While it’s true a lot of horses naturally have a preferred “side”– it’s not to the same degree we experience as humans.

Biggest reason - We move on two legs, horses move on four.

This creates a completely different baseline of balance and preference. Horses may still show preferences from one side to the other, but they are not naturally (or should not be) as uneven as we tend to be. With that being said- sometimes the rider’s own patterns can amplify that preference, or create the issue entirely.

But when a horse struggles immensely on one lead under a very balanced rider or out in the pasture, that tells a different story. They can lope off smooth and balanced to the right, but the left - the head pops up, the body braces, the back inverts. Maybe they rush into the lope or launch into it instead of stepping through.

If nothing changes at the hands of the rider, maybe the message gets louder. A head shake, kicking out, & if they need to yell– maybe a buck.

That is not attitude. It is the body saying something is stuck.

Having recently attended a dissection it has become even more clear that restriction can start or show up from anywhere.

Fascial pull. Hyoid tension. Rigid ribcage. Stuck sternum. Braced diaphragm. Medical diagnostics can’t pick this up on imaging but trust me, it’s there.

When one piece of the horse’s body is restricted, they are magicians at reorganizing their body around the limitation.

So when a rider “collects them up,” disengages, side passes, reverse arc’s, takes their head to the outside, changes bits, drags them into a stop or adds any other gimmick– they are creating even more dysfunction for the horse to work around.

Inability or “attitude” is simply the horse trying to speak to us. And: the answer to a difficult lead is rarely more loping.

When I have a problem at the lope, I usually find the issue in the walk. Most of the time they need to open and lengthen at the poll, find lateral flexion at the AO that makes the spine fall in line. Maybe sprinkle in some gentle abduction & ensure they have access to all the important points in their body to do a lead departure. My list goes on, & will never include punishment for not picking up a lead

If you want to know how to use the walk more effectively in your workouts, comment “walk” to be the first to know when my new course “Work the Walk” launches early next year!

11/16/2025

This all day on repeat, for reasons mentioned plus a million more.
Stop disengaging the hindquarters if you want more sound horses

Take care of the horse's stifles! Even though "disengaging the hindquarters" is a popular technique when training young or unschooled horses, it taxes the stifles and often leads to soreness and dysfunction. Stifles are not designed well for sideways movement of the limbs.They must first be made stable and strong with forward, balanced work. Otherwise, not only is the stifle joint compromised, but the supporting musculature which originates from higher up the pelvis and lower back is also strained. The result is often inflamed joints, diminished range of motion, and poor use of the hind limbs. So, at the risk of being controversial, I would encourage all of us to avoid disengaging the hindquarters in an unfit horse.

11/06/2025

There is such a thing as “too low” when it comes to head carriage. It is seen more commonly in horses who are bred for a lower neck carriage (ie: reining) but when we don’t develop their full range of motion (higher isn’t bad, it’s full access to ability!) the horse can end up too heavy on the forehand, which can contribute to hoof issues and front limb lameness.
Development is all about balance ⚖️

10/30/2025

10/29/2025

As we finished our run, I could feel Bear start to worry about heading into the right corner of the arena. He’s ran here for 2 years, but it’s always a spot he’s gotten worried about.

This run though, not only was that right corner still there, but there was also a big blue tent, a tractor, and some humans.☠️

Running full speed into that corner I was prepared for a reaction. When he spooked, he got big for a moment. Head shake, a few leaping strides, that for a horse as powerful as him, can feel terrifying.

But instead of grabbing his face or trying to make him stop the reaction, I just went with him. 👯‍♂️

Because the goal isn’t to erase their response.

It’s to show them that it’s safe to come back down.

This is nervous system regulation in real time (backed by countless hours of in-hand and under saddle work at home) but it is equally important to be able to execute not only when the conditions are controlled, but also in motion, when it (and safety) really counts.

Being a grounded place your horse can return to when their world gets loud.

This how confidence is built, how gate issues don’t start.

Not by preventing the spook, but by handling the moment after it.

Goodest boy. Always.

If you want to learn how, I can help you virtually with 1-1 lessons. Just leave a 🏇in the comments

10/22/2025

The symptom is rarely the cause when it comes to the horse’s body and how they hold tension. It’s a key element of bodywork to be able to read the symptom but address the real cause in order to provide more lasting relief.

10/21/2025

Working up to, but not past, the horse’s point of fatigue will ensure they do not start compensating to accomplish “a movement.”

Horses are excellent at getting things done at all cost- and they cost is their body developing in dysfunction.

Twister couldn’t really do the thing I wanted him to do today, and that’s ok. We got a baby step in the right direction and got off with his body just a little bit stronger in the right direction versus in compensation for the sake of my ego.

10/20/2025

"The thoracic sling and the corset system are mutually dependent:
• The sling suspends the thorax, reducing downward load on the forelimbs and axial skeleton.
• This suspension allows the deep abdominal and thoracolumbar corset muscles to maintain tension without being overloaded by unsupported weight.
• If the sling is tight or weak, the corset must compensate, creating overactivation or stiffness in the obliques, transverse abdominis, and spinal stabilizers."

10/19/2025

I have had Twister for 5 months and have never trotted him until today due to weakness in his thoracic sling. He had no ability to stop his big body so we spent the summer using the Balance Through Movement Method which develops core stabilizer systems in the body so they can move in integrity. Today was our first trot and I couldn’t be more pleased. 🤩

10/18/2025

Because horses lack a collarbone, the only bony attachment they have to the ground is the hind end. 🦴

The front limbs act like pillars, while the ribcage hangs suspended between them by soft tissue known as the thoracic sling.

When the sling isn’t properly developed, the ribcage begins to drop. 🩻

Now: add a poorly fitting saddle.

If the gullet is too narrow or the bars are at the wrong angle, the horse may respond by sinking their ribcage even further to relieve the pressure and pain. Over time, this becomes their default posture.

It’s one of the most common things I see in horses labeled “no withers,” “mutton-withered,” or “bum high.”

This posture is common – but not normal. The horse has lost the ability to lift through the sling and ribcage.

The first step to helping them isn’t a new pad or more shims. It’s a wider gullet, a broader bar angle, and exercises that build sling strength from the ground up.

When the ribcage lifts, everything else - posture, comfort, and performance, starts to follow.

10/16/2025

Every ride should be a bodywork session for your horse. Teaching them how to move their body properly both in hand and under saddle make for a horse who can choose to move better out in the pasture, and do short bursts of dysfunctional things without breaking their body (for us it’s mounted shooting 🎈🔫)

Don’t know how? I can teach you. Work with me virtually, or sign up to be the first to know when Work the Walk launches.
Comment: “Me🙋🏼‍♀️” and I’ll give you more info