28/06/2025
You might be paying me, but my contract is with your horse.
He starts talking to me as soon as I lay my eyes on him. It's not that I hear his voice or see pictures projected to me. His body speaks to me. I notice the placement of his feet beneath his body, the angles and symmetry of his hooves. I take in the rhythm of his breath, the motion of his ears, the wrinkle over his eye.
As you begin to tell me his story, my eyes continue scanning over the contours of his body. The hollows and creases explain a history of imbalance in his muscles. I make a mental note to look at your saddle.
I know he travels on the forehand well before you mention that he leans on the bit. The thickened throat-latch and hypertrophied under-neck muscles have been shouting at me since I arrived. That he spooks randomly at nothing comes as no surprise to me either.
Tensegrity will absorb many physical problems as they arise, allowing bodies to do an amazing job of compensating for physical trauma, but like us, as horses get older, trauma accumulates and creates dysfunctional posture and movement patterns.
And it's not just physical damage suffered through knocks, falls and micro-tears that takes a toll. There's emotional trauma from being weaned, trapped in yards, deprived of sufficient forage, transported, “broken-in”, separated from herdmates and so on…
Chronic emotional trauma can manifest as fascial restrictions. Dehydrated fascia becomes rigid, creating a strangle hold around muscles, nerves, tendons and even organs, limiting range of motion and sending pain signals to the brain. A vicious circle is created. The body braces as if to form a protective armour against unseen threats and the nervous system remains ever ready to flee, fight or freeze.
So once you have told me his story, it is my duty that I tell you what his body said to me. Be assured - these are my observations, not accusations. He’s always been like that, you say? Well how about today we start to do something about it? Not after the show next weekend, not after the trail ride, or after the $150 jumping lesson with the coach from out of town. For the sake of your horse, it needs to be now.
I've made a promise to your horse that I will
See him
Hear him
Honor and respect him.
I promised to do all in my power to help him feel safe so he is free to become the magnificent creature I know he can be.
So before I take your money - are you with me?
