Equine Posturelate - Sophie Vandenberg

13/04/2026

Rebuilding Well: Bringing a Horse Back Into Work

Strap yourself in - this is an episode where you are going to want to take notes!

Today we are talking through how to bring a horse back into work without rushing the process and risking injury. Within 3 months of no work a horse's body looses their fitness. Fitness and strength is represented by physiological changes in the muscles and cells that increase energy storage, oxygen delivery and energy use efficiency. This lack of fitness means a loss of endurance, loss of strength, and reduced capacity to handle work safely. Today we aim to give you a specific roadmap including session length, intensity, frequency to bring your horse back into work safely!

This conversation is especially relevant for broodmares after a foal, or any horse coming back into work without an injury but with a body that still needs thoughtful reconditioning. It will be useful resource for every single person who rides a horse.

In this episode, we unpack:

🐴 Why 6 to 8 weeks is a realistic minimum timeline for rebuilding baseline fitness and why it is integral for injury prevention and your horse's wellbeing
🧐What to assess before you begin, including posture, core strength, laterality, and old compensations
💪How to structure the first few weeks with stability, balance, neuromuscular control, and short, effective sessions
🏃‍♀️When and how to introduce more trot, canter, and higher intensity work without overdoing it (including how long your increases in intensity should be)

Rebuilding Well: Bringing a Horse Back Into Work Strap yourself in - this is an episode where you are going to want to take notes! Today we are talking through how to bring a horse back into work without rushing the process and risking injury. Within 3 months of no work a horse's body looses...

08/04/2026

Episode 80: Guest Animal Communicator Trisha McCagh - What Horses Really Think

Trisha McCagh is a world renowned Animal Communicator - she has communicated with almost all animals you can think of and has so many amazing stories as well as being recommended by Veterinarians!

Today we discuss the profound communication between humans and horses. Discover how animals reflect our purpose, teach us about authenticity, and share their wisdom through subtle behaviors and telepathic connection.

In this episode, we cover:

🥰How animals may communicate about purpose, relationship, and what they are here to teach us including simplicity, fun, authenticity, and presence
🤐How labelling horses can interfere with understanding their behaviour
✅Why communication, trust, and cooperative care matter in handling and treatment
☯️If you have ever wondered whether animals are trying to tell us more than we realise, or how to build a quieter, more honest relationship with your horse, Trisha's knowledge will help you achieve just that.

You can find out more about Trisha McCagh at:
~ https://animaltalk.com.au/
~ Animal Talk Podcast with Trisha McCagh

https://www.integratedvettherapeutics.com/podcasts/the-equine-functional-posture-podcast/episodes/2149176386

Episode 80: Guest Animal Communicator Trisha McCagh - What Horses Really Think Trisha McCagh is a world renowned Animal Communicator - she has communicated with almost all animals you can think of and has so many amazing stories as well as being recommended by Veterinarians! Today we discuss the...

29/03/2026

Episode 79: Rehabilitating Tendon Injuries- Rest Alone is not Enough

Tendon injuries can be one of the more frustrating and drawn-out issues to navigate. Many horse owners are given a basic plan of confinement and gradual turnout, but true rehabilitation needs far more. Today we unpack tendon rehabilitation from a whole-body perspective, including why these injuries happen, how posture and loading patterns influence healing, and why the quality of the rehab plan matters just as much as the diagnosis itself. Our most important takeaway - the tendon is usually not the primary issue!

In this episode, we discuss:

🧐Why a proper disagnosis and injury grading from the beginning is important and how this information influences your rehabilitation plan depending on the type: tendon, ligament, sheath, and strain injuries
🌪️Why tendon injuries are often not just a local problem, but part of a bigger picture involving posture, hoof balance, thoracic sling function, pelvic mechanics, and overall limb loading
🚶‍♀️How controlled movement, targeted exercises, appropriate tools, and structured progression can support better healing, reduce scar tissue, and lower the risk of re-injury

Rehabilitating Tendon Injuries Tendon injuries can be one of the more frustrating and drawn-out issues to navigate. Many horse owners are given a basic plan of confinement and gradual turnout, but true rehabilitation needs far more. Today we unpack tendon rehabilitation from a whole-body...

22/03/2026

Episode 78: Reading Sacro-pelvic Alignment (Before you blame conformation…)

The lumbosacropelvic area is one of the key regions involved in propulsion, swing, and hind end function, but it is also an area that is often mis-interpreted In this episode, we unpack how to begin reading sacro-pelvic alignment, what a more neutral and functional pelvis looks like, and why posture is so often mistaken for conformation.

In this episode, we discuss:

🐴Why posture and conformation are not the same thing
🦄What a more neutral and functional pelvic alignment looks like
🐴How to observe sacro-pelvic inclination from the side when the horse is standing square
🦄What a more flexed or “tucked” pelvis may mean for stride length and propulsion
🐴What a flatter or more extended lumbosacral posture may tell you about engagement and swing
🦄Practical ways to support healthier pelvic function through movement variety, hoof care, posture, and bodywork

19/03/2026

18/03/2026

Episode 77: The Pendulous Belly: Why Your Gelding Gets Mistaken For A Broodmare!

We have all mistaken a very not-pregnant horse for one who looks ready to pop out a foal! A low, wide and swinging belly is something many horse owners notice, but often brush off as a 'hay belly', excess fat, or lack of fitness. Today we unpack what it can reflect about your horse’s core function, posture, movement, and internal health. We also explain actionable ways to support better abdominal function through movement, feeding, training - so your horse can look like a beach babe!

In this episode, we discuss:

✅Common contributing factors including age, weakness, nutrition, parasites, metabolic issues, abdominal strain, tack fit, and post-partum changes
✅How your horse's living environment is the best way to keep their internal and external belly feeling good
✅How the movement and eating habits of wild horses have informed some of our best pathways to maintaining core function and strength

A quick note about a breakthrough educational session: FREE Posture & Behaviour Masterclass - Is Your Horse Misbehaving OR Communicating? Discover the hidden physcial issues behind 5 common "behavioural" problems - and how to solve them. Register now - Choose your time below; Wednesday 18th...

09/03/2026

Sign up for the Posture and Behaviour Masterclass - gain the understanding of when your horse is having a hard time- as well as how you can be their advocate, their support system and improve their posture!

Jelly and Henry were wondering if you had registered for the FREE Posture and Behaviour Masterclass yet??

Do you want to advocate for your horse more?

Do you know something is not right but your not sure what's next?

Wednesday March 18th

https://www.integratedvettherapeutics.com

09/03/2026

Episode 76: Lunging - Yes or No?

Not all lunging is equal - and we believe that it can be very powerful in the right context. Today we unpack how to move beyond “sending them 'round” and start using long lead work as a more supportive, thoughtful way to improve balance, posture and connection.

We discuss how why rushing, falling out/in, bracing, or being completely automatic is useful feedback about how the horse is coping in their body. We also reiterate how lunging aids that shape the head and neck may create a picture in the moment, but do not create lasting postural change.

In this episode, we unpack:

⚡️Why lunging should be more than just “getting the fizz out”
🤖The difference between automated movement and connected movement
😵‍💫Why small, uncontrolled circles can be a problem

Plus: Join Raquels breakthrough educational session: FREE Posture & Behaviour Masterclass: https://www.integratedvettherapeutics.com/pbmc-fb-am

https://www.integratedvettherapeutics.com/podcasts/the-equine-functional-posture-podcast/episodes/2149175375

A quick note about a breakthrough educational session: FREE Posture & Behaviour Masterclass - Is Your Horse Misbehaving OR Communicating? Discover the hidden physcial issues behind 5 common "behavioural" problems - and how to solve them. Register now - Choose your time below; Wednesday 18th...

07/03/2026

A late update but this weeks episode was a banger!
We had Dr Jane Clothier (creator of The Horse's Back blog and founder of Equine Healthworks) join us to speak about the BEMER (Bio-Electro-Magnetic-Energy-Regulation). BEMER is a low-frequency PEMF (Pulsed Electro Magnetic Field) device designed to support microcirculation and tissue function.

Dr Jane has a deep appreciation for functional posture. Her work aims to improve how the body self organises, to improve comfort and develop more sustainable movement patterns by helping to create the conditions in the body for the horse's own health to express freely.

This episode really explores how subtle healing can be. As Jane tells us: 'you don’t need a sledgehammer to crack a nut'.

We discuss:

🎻The body as an orchesta of finely tuned, sycnhronised systems
💓BEMER mechanisms: improving vasomotion to support microcirculation
🔄What Vasomotion is compared with Vasodilation (a common benefit in bodywork)
👀Jane’s observations + case examples.

This week we are joined by Dr Jane Clothier (creator of The Horse’s Back blog and founder of Equine Healthworks) to unpack BEMER; (Bio-Electro-Energy-Regulation) - a low-frequency PEMF (Pulsed Electro Magnetic Field) device designed to support microcirculation and tissue function. Dr Jane has a...

06/03/2026

Post-foaling mare session on this lovely mare. When I assessed her, I found her to be lacking core function post partum, so we kept it simple with a few exercises for balance and strength, then rechecked her movement. The toe-dragging stopped, her trot transitions were smoother, and her walk-to-halt was slower and steadier with less stumbling.
Post-foaling changes are real!
If your broodmare looks a bit uneven, toe-drags, or struggles with transitions, flick me a message. Early support can make the rebuild much easier!!

05/03/2026

I offer osteopathic equine bodywork for balanced, comfortable movement, led by a thorough biomechanical assessment - with practical guidance for between sessions.

Visiting:
Wagga 19th of March
Canberra 21st of March

Places left on both days, msg me to book your horse in.

17/02/2026

Dr Jane's work 'Managing the Miracle Foal' is now available! Highly recommend, there is no doubt of Jane's committment to equine health and wellness, as well as scientific rigour! 🔍📑

🎉 Managing the Miracle Foal is now available for pre-order!
This research-based handbook explores the potential long-term consequences of premature or dysmature birth in horses. Early supporters can pre-order at a special introductory launch price, until 22 February.
-> Just go to Amazon -> search Miracle Foal