Equine Holistic Acupuncture & Bodywork

27/09/2025

SKELETAL DEVELOPMENT should be considered more when we are developing young horses.

I’m not a trainer, and I can appreciate the idea of introducing tack and weight to young horses…slowly and mindfully while keeping the work light enough that the skeletal maturity is allowed for.

What I do wish I saw more of-is developing biomechanical balance in young horses from the ground before introducing tack and rider weight.

From the bodyworker perspective-the most common areas of soreness I see in ridden horses are the areas of the skeletal system that mature last…

While it’s not a clinical study by any means-but with well over 1000’s of massages under my hands I see enough of a correlation to be convinced we are doing too much too soon. More common than not-I see biomechanical imbalances in horses (of all ages) attempting to be corrected under saddle instead of in hand, which creates various compensation patterns elsewhere in the body.

I had these images created for my online classes to help owners and professionals better understand how the maturity timeline can impact performance development.

I share these thoughts in an effort to bring mindful awareness-never to criticize. I hope to see more ridden horses making it to their teens before they’re needing pharmaceutical intervention instead of the 5-10 year olds I see now.
The best time to learn new things and do better for the horse is now.

https://www.schaefferbodyworks.com/

26/09/2025

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🌈 Next Equine Acupuncture & Bodywork Rotation – October

🔴 Northern Rivers – Friday 10th (TBC)
Seqld -limited spots left
🔵 Peak Crossing – Boonah – Saturday 18th
♦️ Toowoomba – Sunday 19th
🔹 Toowoomba – Warwick – Monday 20th

📍 Brisbane early Nov – TBC (1st/2nd)

💢 Treatments support for:
• Soreness, stiffness, pain issues in horses
• Musculoskeletal problems
• Tight or cold-backed horses
• Back soreness & tightness
• Digestive issues / weight gain problems
• Metabolic stress & recovery
• Injuries, illness & poor paddock recovery
• Attitude/behaviour changes, irritability in paddock
• Poor healing wounds (rain scald, mud fever, itchy/runny eyes)
• Lead change issues & heavy in front
• Holding on to bit
• Hindquarter issues (lack of drive, tightness, lower spine dips)
• Not tracking up, balance/canter problems
• Neck & poll restrictions (head shy, resistance, shaking)
• Senior horses – joint, digestion, weight issues
• Itchy skin, skin conditions, fluid build-ups

📩 To book: Comment below or PM us directly.



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22/09/2025

🧩 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝘆𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 & 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀🐎
An anatomical structure far more clinically relevant than many realise‼️

🔍 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁?
Myo = muscle
Dural = dura mater (protective membrane around the spinal cord)
👉 The myodural bridge = a direct link between the re**us capitis posterior minor muscle and the dura mater.

📍 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻:
Atlas (C1) & Axis (C2)
Atlas & Occiput
⚠️ This region is one of the few places where the spinal cord is not fully protected by bone.
Also — the greater occipital nerve runs through here → vulnerable to irritation & strain.

⚡ 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁?
Because of its proximity to the brainstem, dysfunction here can affect:
Hearing 👂
Swallowing 😮‍💨
Eye control 👀
Muscle tone 💪
Chronic irritation = hypersensitivity to sound/light, swallowing issues, abnormal muscle responses.
This explains why horses with poll trauma or pull-back injuries can show long-term behavioural and physical problems that seem disproportionate to the original event.

⛔️ 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲!
If your horse (especially a young one 🐴):
Pulls back while tied ❌
Shakes its head immediately after ❌
👉 Call a qualified equine osteopath within 1–2 weeks!
And never teach young horses to tie to something solid. 🚫

💥 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗜 𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲:
𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘺: spooky, noise-intolerant horses after poll injury
𝘖𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦𝘴: tracking problems, blink changes, head-shy behaviour
𝘚𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨/𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘴: sudden bit resistance, choking, tongue thrusting
𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘭/𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯: guarding even at rest
𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴: anxiety, head tossing, hypersensitivity at the poll

⚠️ 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴:
Halters & bridles lie directly over this region
A single pull-back = potential trauma to spinal cord + brainstem
Some dressage “techniques” (like the nuchal ligament flip) can strain this area → long-term dysfunction, pain & instability

🚫 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆:
Disturbance of the CO junction & myodural bridge isn’t “just muscular.”
It creates a cycle of neurological stress, pain, and sensory overload.
👉 Prevention > cure.
Avoid hard tying & training aids that compromise this region.
✨ For horse health, behaviour, and performance → protect the poll.

𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: https://helenthornton.com/contact

17/09/2025

🌈 🐴 Next Equine Acupuncture Rotation September

Saturday 20th Peak crossing - kalbar -Boonah- 1
Spot left bonah area or Warwick side Saturday

Sunday 21st Toowoomba & surrounding Area full

15/09/2025

15/09/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BNWbVDwLZ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

12/09/2025

Oh so many of us feel this !

NEED
Photo credit 📸 Maddie Kolb

05/09/2025

🌈 🐴 Next Equine Acupuncture Rotation September

Saturday 20th Peak crossing - kalbar -Boonah
Sunday 21st Toowoomba & surrounding Area

05/09/2025

🔷TOMORROWS PATTERN🔷 Half hour small pattern classes running tomorrow 5th September at my property in Macclesfield. $45 a rider, 10am or 10:30am.. learn how to introduce your horse to a curved line of trot and/or canter poles. These classes are designed to provide a low intensity pole training exercise where the riders learn how to increase the intensity of the pattern at home in their own time. This particular pattern is very effective at training softness through your horses core, rhythm and feel for the riders! Bookings are via the classes page on my website.