Stone Brook Academy

04/21/2026

This is the same horse from the last two posts.

8 months into rehab… and, crucially, the toe is still there.

Everyone says: 👉 “remove the toe”

And we understand why.

Because you’ve been taught that:

> the toe is a lever
> it pulls on the laminae
> it must be taken back to reduce strain on the soft tissues

So logically…
removing it should make the horse more comfortable?

But here’s the problem with that idea:

👉 We didn’t remove it.

Not at the start.
Not during rehab.
Not now.

And this horse didn’t:

get worse
stay in pain
need ongoing support from shoes or boots

👉 He improved.

So what actually changed?

While people obsess over the toe…
they miss:

👉 The balance. The depth.

This foot was realigned onto his balanced plane in trim one (previous post).

The load was redistributed.
The strain was reduced through alignment, not by removing structure at the toe.

Because when you remove the toe too early:

• you remove the toe support
• you force load under P3
• you reduce comfort
• you risk losing the very sole depth the horse needs to protect himself

👉 which is exactly what had already happened before he arrived for rehab.

Remember…

He was going to be PTS.

Vets and farriers said they had “tried everything”.

But they hadn’t tried this.

So instead of continuing down the same path -
shoes, restriction, and the belief that P3 moves independently of the capsule - we allowed:

• depth to return under P3
• support to rebuild
• the foot to stabilise

👉 even before the laminae had fully repaired.

And now?

👉 He’s moving comfortably
👉 Barefoot
👉 On challenging surfaces
👉 Without the drugs or shoes he was told he needed

So think on this…

If the toe was the problem…

👉 the laminae shouldn’t be repairing.
👉 and he certainly shouldn’t be sound.

So the real question is:

Why are you trying to force a damaged foot to look “normal”…
at the expense of comfort?

You see a long, horizontal “ugly toe”.

We see:

👉 vertical depth returning
👉 comfort increasing
👉 a horse recovering

And alive.



HM.

If you want to know about how to save your horse from P3 'rotation', join our free hoof rehab group >> The Phoenix Way: Path 2 Hoof Health

04/15/2026

Moral of the story is that healing from laminitis takes time. Things will not be healed in a month or even 6 months…

12/13/2025

Another PSA regarding EHV-1: There were approximately 2000 horses at the Waco, TX rodeo event in November. Of those horses, 60 have been affected and distributed acorss several states. Additionally, there have been EHV-1 neuorlogic events in several states, including PA that have resulted in quarantine and/or euthanasia. There is now an order that alll horses coming into PA will require special comments on the interstate CVI. If the conditions for entrance to PA have not been met, such horses may be turned away or quarantined until testing can be completed, at the owner's expense. Please consult your veterinarian if you are traveling.

The Waco outbreak saw 3% of horses affected, primarily due to precautions put into place as soon as the outbreak was identified. I have run several articles recently regarding biosecurity- if you have not read them, please do so. If you have, thank you, but read them again. This is how we stop disease from spreading. it does not mean run and hide, avoiding normal activity, it just means use means at your disposal to limit transfer of disease.

Fox Run Equine Center

(724) 727-3481

www.foxrunequine.com

11/11/2025

10/16/2025

10/14/2025

Ever noticed a hollow spot in front of your horse’s withers — that little dip that makes the withers look extra sharp? 👀
That’s not just how your horse is built — it’s often a sign of muscle atrophy caused by restricted movement, and one common culprit is… the tiedown.
Here’s how it happens ⬇️
1️⃣ The trapezius muscle, which lifts the shoulder and supports the withers, needs free neck and shoulder movement to stay strong and active.
2️⃣ When a tiedown limits how far your horse can raise or stretch its head, that muscle is held in a shortened, static position.
3️⃣ Over time, the trapezius loses strength and tone from lack of movement and blood flow — the muscle literally shrinks.
4️⃣ The result? That familiar dip in front of the withers, a tight neck, and restricted shoulder motion.
💔 It’s not just cosmetic — it affects balance, stride length, and comfort under saddle.
✨ Instead of a tiedown, help your horse build true balance and topline with:
Stretching into a long, low frame 🧘‍♀️
Hill work and poles for natural lift 🏔️
Proper conditioning and bodywork
Give your horse back the freedom to lift, stretch, and shine. 🌟
Learn how to massage your own horse and fix muscle issues at Stone Brook Academy 💕 Links in bio

10/14/2025

X-ray Update on Odessa

Odessa arrived with us at the end of May 2025 as an extremely complex rehabilitation case. Multiple vets and hoof care professionals had tried to help her, from Singapore to Amsterdam but unfortunately, all efforts had failed, and she was due to be put to sleep.

Her owner heard about us through Hoofing Marvellous and decided to give Odessa one final chance.

She is, without question, the most challenging case we’ve ever worked on. However, she is now showing steady, positive progress, her sole depth is improving, and her P3 (coffin bone) remains in a neutral position.

We’ve blacked out the toe area on the lower X-ray because many people tend to focus on that section rather than the key aspect: P3, which is now correctly aligned. The blacked-out angle also represents the direction of the new hoof growth coming down.

It’s still early days in her rehab journey, and Odessa remains very much in the “intensive care” phase, something we expected from the outset. Until the old, damaged growth has fully grown out, we won’t be able to accurately judge how successful her rehabilitation has been. This process will likely take two to three full capsule cycles before we get optimal, strong, healthy, well-connected new growth, but new growth is happening.

It’s also worth noting that the apparent sole thickness visible beneath the tip of P3 in the first X-ray is actually the remnant of a glue-on shoe, not real sole. At that stage, her true sole depth was only around 1–2 mm.

10/13/2025

You’ve done the massage, the stretching, maybe even added a topline supplement…
But those back and topline muscles just won’t come back. Let’s talk about why 👇

There are several reasons your horses topline may be lacking:
🐴 Saddle Fit Issues
🐴 Lack of amino acids
🐴 PPID
🐴 Posture
✨Let’s dive into the issues with poor posture ✨

If your horse travels hollow (head high, back dropped), the topline and abdominal muscles never activate — and without strong abdominal muscles, the back can’t lift properly.
➡️ Result: The horse “looks” weak across the back no matter how much massage or feed you give.
✅ Fix: Focus on posture work — long-and-low stretches, poles, hill work, and groundwork to encourage lift and engagement.
✨Massage’s Role
Massage supports recovery by restoring circulation, releasing restrictions, and encouraging balance — but it can’t rebuild what’s not being properly fueled, engaged, or fitted for. Think of massage as a tool to help get the muscles to get ready and boost performance once proper exercises and posture are implemented.

Something to remember: Topline atrophy is never just one thing. It’s usually a combination of saddle fit, nutrition, hormones, and posture — and fixing it means addressing all four together

Have you noticed your horse losing back muscle?
Drop a 💛 below — I’m creating a series on how to rebuild the topline step-by-step and you won’t want to miss it!

🌿 Follow for more horse tips
🌿 Learn how to massage your own horse today at Stone Brook Academy!
www.stonebrookequine.com
🌿 shop digital downloads like the one below at www.stonebrookequine.etsy.com

10/10/2025

✨ The freedom to massage your horse whenever they need it most. ✨
No waiting for an appointment. No guessing what’s wrong. Just you — confident, connected, and able to help your horse feel better right away. 🐴
At Stone Brook Academy, you’ll learn how to:
🌿 Release tension and stiffness safely and effectively
🌀 Use acupressure points to ease pain and restore balance
🏋️‍♀️ Support healthy movement with simple rehab exercises
💫 Build a deeper connection through mindful touch and movement
Because when you understand your horse’s body, you gain the freedom to help them anytime, anywhere.
Your hands can truly make a difference. 🫶

🌿 To get this wall art, check out my Etsy page for digital downloads. Links in bio 💕