A Plus Equine Bodywork

05/29/2026

Here's a spicy one for you this evening - because i havent made a career limiting post in a hot minute(!)

How complicit are you in your own (or your horse's) suffering?

I appreciate we all have horses for a reason, and I appreciate their care and management is a complicated thing.

When I work with people, sometimes I have to say things they dont want to hear:

"Your horse shouldnt be ridden right now" - because theyre in pain, their posture is too compromised, they barely have enough muscle to support themselves yet alone a rider, their saddle doesnt fit.

"You shouldnt be jumping your horse" see above reasons why.

"You shouldnt be cantering right now" because it will definitely strengthen the compensatory pattern.

Compromise can be made when making the argument between streamlining the process - not riding will get quicker postural changes, but if you want to ride and ultimately the horse isnt in overt pain/discomfort, then that should be fine.

But I really dont compromise when your horse is in pain. Nor should you.

There are SO many people who are wonderful when they hear this -

"I just want my horse to be happy" - literal music to my ears

But there are many people who want their horse to be happy - stating as much - but when it comes to taking the above guidance, they push back.

It's not the answer that they want to hear.

Yet they've been chasing an issue with their horse for months or years and you've given them a solution... its just not a solution where they get to do what they've always done...

And I wonder about the graveyard of professionals behind me, who have given them appropriate advice that again was not heard because it wasnt the answer that they wanted to hear.

I understand that professionals dont always get it right. I also understand that there are many professionals that get it really really quite wrong -

I just find it to be very profound that when you point out the behavioural indicators of pain, the lameness and the biomechanical dysfunction, you can still be totally ignored -

Especially when your friend in the stable next door (with no formal training in anything equine related) says their horse does the same thing, so therefore your horse must be fine!

-

For the entirety of May, you can get 50% off lifetime access for The Modern Centaurian Academy using the code MAY50 at checkout:

https://www.yasminstuartequinephysio.com/modern-centaurian-academy

📸 Olivia Rose Photography

05/29/2026

Can you see the difference?

Look at the heel bulbs on these two horses. The first photo shows soft, rounded, well-developed heel bulbs; a visible sign of a healthy digital cushion underneath. The second shows collapsed, narrow heels, where that crucial structure has been compromised.

So what exactly is the digital cushion, and why does it matter so much?

The digital cushion is a cartilaginous wedge of tissue sitting deep within the back of the hoof, nestled between the frog and the lateral cartilages. Its job is seemingly simple on the surface: to absorb shock. But its ripple effect through the entire horse is profound.

Every time a hoof contacts the ground, the digital cushion compresses and expands. This does three critical things:

1️⃣ Pumps blood back up the leg (the hoof is literally a secondary circulatory "heart")

2️⃣ Dissipates concussive force before it travels up through the joints, tendons, and ligaments

3️⃣ Stabilizes the back of the hoof capsule, keeping the lateral cartilages supple and the heels from collapsing inward

When the digital cushion is underdeveloped or atrophied, that shock has to go somewhere. Into the navicular region. Into the coffin joint. Into the deep digital flexor tendon. Into the fetlock, the knee, the hock, the back.

What develops a healthy digital cushion? Movement on varied terrain. Consistent, appropriate trimming. Ground contact through the back of the foot. This is where traditional metal shoes with an open heel design can work against the very structure they're meant to protect. When a metal shoe is nailed to the hoof wall, the horse bears weight almost entirely through the hoof wall at the periphery. This is called peripheral loading. The frog and heels are left suspended above the ground, unable to make contact with the surface beneath them.

Without that ground contact, the back of the foot has no stimulus to push against, so the heels gradually contract inward and the digital cushion begins to atrophy. You can actually watch it happen over time: the heel bulbs collapse inward, the frog shrivels and narrows, and the back of the hoof capsule loses its width and depth. The horse is essentially walking on a rim, loading the most rigid part of the foot while the most important shock-absorbing structures go dormant.

A well-fit shoe can support hoof health when frog and heel contact are part of the plan, but peripheral loading alone, without that critical stimulation to the back of the foot, is a setup for a digital cushion that never reaches its potential.

05/29/2026

Super excited to be offering fittings for another brand of hoof boot: Equine Fusion!

They have options for trail, performance, rehab, and a glue on!

https://www.eqfusion.com

05/25/2026

The Clover Leaf is one of my favourite pole exercises for improving balance, coordination, and body awareness.

This exercise is simple, but incredibly effective. The frequent turns encourage horses to engage their core, improve symmetry, and develop better bend through the whole body. It’s also great for activating the shoulders, pelvis, and topline while helping horses become more organized and balanced in their movement.

This exercise can be especially helpful for horses that are:
• stiff through the body
• falling in or out through the shoulders
• struggling with balance or coordination
• crooked on straight lines or circles
• needing core and hind end strengthening

I love adding this into conditioning and rehab programs because it challenges the horse physically while still keeping them relaxed and thinking.

Let me know in the comments below if you try this exercise out!

05/22/2026

05/21/2026

Want to host an Equibow horse owners clinic in your area? Send me a message and let’s get something organized!

05/19/2026

Full day of trimming, bodywork, boot fittings, and saddle assessments!

Limited availability for June, July, and August. Message me to get on the list for appointments or to chat and see how we can help support your horse to help them feel and perform their best!