Sune Roux Equestrian Training

18/05/2025

Be a scientist

02/05/2025

Quarter horses can jump, too (kind of)??? 🫣😅
Recently backed, Oukie, learning how to use his legs.

02/05/2025

Don’t forget the neck!!

In our endless pursuit for horses to be forward, off the leg, into the contact but not BTV etc etc I think many riders forget or are afraid to ride the neck!

What do I mean by this?

Well you can have all the activity in the world, the sharpest horse and they could be naturally supple and easy to manoeuvre….BUT! If you neglect to condition muscles in the neck you will create a chain of problems.

How? Well for example if you ride the horse too ‘up’ too early….or too much….or always too low - or if you have a horse that naturally seems to use the underside of its neck (flexors) rather than the top of its neck (extensors) and has a bit of a ewe neck. This causes the musculature to be out of balance and has a knock on effect for the entire body and balance of the horse.

Why? Well if you’re over developing the underside of the neck then you aren’t developing the top and you’re essentially shortening and weakening the very muscles they need to carry you - you must develop the back and you can’t do that without training the neck

Look at Avalons neck here….you can see her extensor muscles are fat and round and the flexors underneath look soft - this is a round neck - when a coach talks about a horse being round one of the things this means is the shape of the neck - it’s not a horse bringing its head in, or down or on its chest - with reference to the neck it’s the balance between top and bottom. From this position I can drop the base of the neck and stretch the back, I can flex her left and right, I can sit her back a bit and lift the shoulder but maintaining this balance in musculature is important.

Yes we can ask the horse to sit more behind and round more in the back too but none of that is beneficial without the front end also being soft and in balance.

02/05/2025

The Subtle Art of Shutting a Horse Down 😎
(Because looking calm and being okay are not the same thing)

There’s an idea floating around the horse world that needs a little caution tape. 🚧
It’s the belief that when a horse lies down during a clinic—snoring gently into the sand—it’s a sure sign of success. That they’re relaxed, trusting, and deeply at peace.

But here’s the thing: not all stillness is created equal.

It’s easy to spot an anxious horse. They’re reactive, unsettled, practically bouncing off the environment. But what about the ones that go very still? The ones who seem calm—too calm—and begin to check out completely… even to the point of lying down?

I’m not talking about a horse standing quietly. I mean that eerie kind of stillness that makes you wonder if anyone’s home. The lights are on, but the horse is mentally halfway to Narnia. 🦌

Because overwhelm doesn’t always look like movement. Sometimes, it looks like sleep. When a horse can’t run or fight, the brain takes the third option: freeze. Nervous system in low-power mode.

And yet, people often celebrate it.
“Look!” they say. “He’s lying down—he must feel safe!”
Which is a little like saying, “My child just fell asleep under the table during a shouting match. She must feel really loved and secure.”

Let’s flip it.
Imagine your child is anxious about school. She walks in, curls up on the floor, and nods off.
Do you think:
A) Wow, what a chilled-out kid.
B) That’s… not quite right. 😬

Because when horses—or humans—get overwhelmed, they sometimes switch off. Not because they’re calm, but because they resign into helplessness. It’s not healing. It’s coping.

So before you frame your horse’s nap or stillness as a breakthrough, there is a test:
👉 What happens when you ask them to do something?

Do they respond with interest and softness?
Or do they blink, brace, or go right back into tension?
Does movement bring willingness—or resistance?

Because if your horse is still struggling to engage, they might not be letting go of stress… they might just be disconnected from it.

Shutdown looks peaceful from the outside—but it isn’t the same as peace on the inside.

Let’s not confuse dissociation with progress.
Let’s not reward collapse just because it’s quieter than conflict.
Let’s aim for a horse that’s present, curious, and confident—not one that’s curled up in the sand because that’s the only option left. 🐴

We owe it to them to know the difference.

🌟 Enjoyed this post? Feel free to hit the share button—it’s free, legal, and won’t trigger any awkward conversations about intellectual kleptomania. Please don’t copy and paste the whole thing—respect the work, respect the words. ✍🏼🐴

01/05/2025

Understanding the Frequency of Pandiculation in Horses: A deep deep in understanding their stretching habits.

This is an interesting topic! The reasons why horses tend to pandiculate less frequently than cats and dogs are multifaceted. One major factor is the overall physical condition of horses. Many horses involved in training or competition may experience varying degrees of unsoundness due to injuries or stress, which can reduce their natural tendency to pandiculate.

Studies have shown that foals can pandiculate up to 80 times a day, but this frequency typically decreases as they mature. Interestingly, some horses may exhibit increased pandiculation following bodywork treatments or when they adopt healthier training practices.

Additionally, horses are prey animals that usually spend more time standing and moving, especially when they have adequate space to roam. This continuous activity helps keep their muscles elongated, which can lessen the need for frequent pandiculation. Conversely, horses that are primarily kept in stalls and only worked occasionally may not engage in this behavior as often, leading to stiffness and reduced flexibility due to a lack of natural movement.

Pandiculation serves to return shortened muscles to a neutral resting length, preparing them for efficient movement. Thus, animals that rest or remain still for longer periods are likely to need to pandiculate more frequently when waking or rising.

In my observations, I have not noticed horses pandiculate in response to discomfort. Instead, I have seen them perform stretches that may appear similar. However, true pandiculation involves specific neural signals from the brain’s voluntary motor cortex, resulting in a gradual return to a neutral position. Movements lacking this slow, internally regulated return, or those that are externally prompted, may not provide the same benefits for resetting muscle tone.

www.myequinesolutions.com

*Credit for this information goes to Alissa Mayer, whose insights have informed my understanding of this subject.*

**Edit: Important Update**

I want to formally acknowledge the original post by Alissa Mayer on the Hanna Somatic Education page regarding the frequency of pandiculation in horses. You can view the original post here: [EHS Facebook Post](https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EhbVvZyan/). I sincerely apologize for not properly citing Alissa’s work in my previous post.

As the owner of Equine Solutions, it was an honest mistake. I had hired someone to assist with our social media, and they reworded Alissa’s post—likely using AI—without proper attribution. This serves as a valuable lesson for all of us about the importance of accurately crediting original sources and being cautious when hiring help. Thank you for your understanding!

01/05/2025

Conrad nails it once again 👏

29/04/2025

28/04/2025

Sunday geriatric classes 🤭🤣 spot sommer net, julle klomp is awesome!
Jo'Anni DeKlerk-Deacon
Marina Krause
Liani Doubell

26/04/2025

One of our wild to willing participants 🥰 such a good boy handling his 3rd rehab ride under saddle. Long road behind us and long road ahead, but this beautiful boy is finally gaining confidence, trust in his human and getting his soft, sheepish personality back. Well done Charne.

24/04/2025

New/old baby in the training yard.
Sheniqua was backed by me in 2019 and then became a "wilde perd" 🤣, now back in training for dressage and show jumping 🤩 Diane Steyn

24/04/2025

Thursday shenanigans 😄😆 Marina Krause