LK Equine Sports Therapy

18/01/2026

FEBRUARY AVAILABILITY

Below are my available slots for February, as mentioned in my earlier post, these will be during the evenings and on weekends. I appreciate your patience as I may attempt to organise group/area visits, which will be beneficial for me and allow me to care for all your horses.❕To book your horse in and avoid disappointment please contact me.❕

Current availability:
🗓️Thursday 5th February - PM ONLY

🗓️Saturday 7th February - 10am onwards

🗓️Thursday 12th February - PM ONLY

🗓️Sunday 15th February - 9am onwards

🗓️Thursday 19th February - PM ONLY

🗓️Saturday 28th February - 8am onwards

For more information or if you wish to book an appointment please contact me via:
Mobile: 07972676494
Email: laylakeane@lkequinesportstherapy.co.uk
Facebook: LK Equine Sports Therapy
Instagram: lk_equine_sports_therapy
Website: www.lkequinesportstherapy.co.uk

16/01/2026

🚶🏼‍♀️Long Reining🚶🏼‍♀️

Another type of groundwork technique where the handler works from two lunge lines positioned behind the horse. It can resemble riding, but the handler remains on the ground.

Typically, a horse will wear either a bridle or a lunge cavesson, with one lunge line attached to each side. The lines can be threaded through a stirrup, roller ring, or not at all. The handler stands at a safe distance behind the horse, working them from this position. A whip may also be carried.

For horses that are just beginning, having a second person at the horse's head with an attached lead rope can assist in guiding them.

When to long rein-
Like lunging, long reining serves as an educational tool for young horses, aids during rehabilitation stages, or as a general exercise method without the added weight of a rider.

Benefits-
- Builds confidence
- Enhances balance
- Boosts fitness
- Improves proprioception
- Increases strength and muscle
- Builds a bond between horse and handler
- Improves communication
- Is a crucial stage in the breaking-in process, allowing the horse to learn steering, braking, and voice commands
- Suitable for horses of all ages
- Is a valuable tool for the handler to evaluate the horse
- Provides mental stimulation for horses that cannot be ridden
- Provides versatility, including straight lines, circles, basic shapes, lateral work, transitions, poles, and raised poles
- Allows for environmental changes, starting in an enclosed area (the arena) before transitioning to hacking

When not to long rein-
- If the handler lacks skill and competency
- It requires physical exercise on the handlers behalf as they must engage, so if this would be an issue

For more information or to book contact us on:
Email: laylakeane@lkequinesportstherapy.co.uk
Facebook: LK Equine Sports Therapy
Instagram: lk_equine_sports_therapy
Website: www.lkequinesportstherapy.co.uk

11/01/2026

First few clients of the year treated this week. This is your reminder in 2026 to prioritise your horses musculoskeletal system!

It was lovely having a well needed break and now to get back out doing what I love. I wonder what 2026 will hold… 🐴🤍✨

For more information or to book contact us on:
Email: laylakeane@lkequinesportstherapy.co.uk
Facebook: LK Equine Sports Therapy
Instagram: lk_equine_sports_therapy
Website: www.lkequinesportstherapy.co.uk

08/01/2026

🐎Lunging🐎

This is a type of groundwork exercise that can be used to exercise your horse(s). This technique allows your horse to move in a large circle or oval around the handler, typically for 15-20 minutes. Small, tight circles for a prolonged period is not advisable, as it will cause harm to horse.

The horse is usually equipped with either a cavesson or bridle, with a lunge line attached and held in one hand (you can use two lines for double lunging), and you would also hold a lunge whip in the opposite hand. Training aids such as a Pessoa or German Rope can be used to focus on specific areas or goals.

When to lunge-
Lunging serves as a valuable tool for educating young horses, aiding in rehabilitation, or simply maintaining fitness and suppleness while adding variety to a horse's workload without the added weight of a rider.

Benefits-
- Enhances gait consistency
- Improves balance
- Increases strength and muscle
- Improves overall fitness
- Enhances responsiveness without a rider
- Strengthens the connection between horse and handler
- Builds horse confidence and independence
- Improves topline and posture
- Aids a horse in becoming familiar with voice commands
- Helps a horse learn to accept tack early in their training
- Is a great tool for those in rehab
- Ideal for when riding time is limited
- Can be useful for young or fresh horses, and for vets to identify any issues.
- The list goes on…

When not to lunge-
- Very young horses due to lack of education and their growth plates
- If you lack skill and competency as the handler
- On inappropriate surfaces
- If pain or discomfort is present
- In cases of excessive freshness

For more information or to book contact us on:
Email: laylakeane@lkequinesportstherapy.co.uk
Facebook: LK Equine Sports Therapy
Instagram: lk_equine_sports_therapy
Website: www.lkequinesportstherapy.co.uk

29/12/2025

❄️Rugging your horses❄️

As temperatures drop, more horses will be wearing rugs. Horses feel temperature differently than we do, as they have a wider thermoneutral zone. A clipped stabled horse will feel the cold more than those accustomed to living outdoors.

When rugging there are many factors to consider before just chucking a rug on your horse(s).
These include:
- Stable management
- Breed of horse (some will have naturally thicker winter coats)
- Level of workload
- Age
- Access to forage
- Feeding routine and type
- Horses condition (rugging either less for an overweight horse or more for an underweight horse - can help with weight management).

The different types of rugs include:
- Turnout
- Stable
- Fly
- Summer sheet
- Cooler or fleece
- Exercise sheet
- Travel
- Walker rug
- Sweet itch

📸Image from The Pony Club providing a guide into rugging your horse(s).

26/12/2025

JANUARY AVAILABILITY

Below are my available slots for January, as mentioned in my earlier post, these will be during the evenings and on weekends. I appreciate your patience as I may attempt to organise group/area visits, which will be beneficial for me and allow me to care for all your horses.❕To book your horse in and avoid disappointment please contact me.❕

Current availability:
🗓️Saturday 10th January - 8am onwards

🗓️Sunday 11th January - 8am onwards

🗓️Thursday 15th January - PM ONLY

🗓️Saturday 17th January - 8am onwards

🗓️Thursday 22nd January - PM ONLY

🗓️Saturday 24th January - 8am onwards

For more information or if you wish to book an appointment please contact me via:
Mobile: 07972676494
Email: laylakeane@lkequinesportstherapy.co.uk
Facebook: LK Equine Sports Therapy
Instagram: lk_equine_sports_therapy
Website: www.lkequinesportstherapy.co.uk

23/12/2025

Quick fixes, do they actually work or hit harder further down the line…

Examples-
⭕️Has a lameness? -> INJECT
⭕️Not responsive to the leg? -> PUTS ON SPURS OR GETS A WHIP
⭕️Sore feet? -> SLAPS SOME SHOES ON THEM
⭕️Too strong in the hand? -> PUTS IN A STRONGER BIT
⭕️Needs an outline? -> TIE THEM DOWN WITH EQUIPMENT
⭕️Saddle doesn’t fit? -> USES MORE SADDLE PADS
⭕️Problems loading? -> FORCE THEM ONTO THE LORRY OR TRAILER
⭕️Problems taking up? -> TIES THEM UP OR GETS SOMEONE TO HOLD THEM
⭕️Is showing signs of pain? -> GIVES THEM BUTE
⭕️Behaviour issues? -> GIVES THEM SEDILIN

These are not fundamental solutions rather, temporary fixes that can lead to significant long-term consequences. This has become the standard in our industry, which most see as normal… Let’s begin 2026 right by listening to your horse(s) and investigating/providing the best care, regardless of others opinions. By investing the necessary time and not rushing in a world of quick fixes might help to prolong your horse(s) performance.

‼️What’s the rush to quick fixes for a bigger consequence down the line‼️
“Promote Welfare, Prolong Performance, Proactive Recovery” 🐴

20/12/2025

❄️🎄Out of Office🎄❄️

This weekend wraps up my final clients of 2025🐴 I will be taking two weeks off to spend time with family and friends and will return to booking clients in on Monday 5th January 2026🗓️

During the Christmas holidays, I will remain available to respond to messages and emails, although my replies may be somewhat slower. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my brand ambassador and my clients for their continuing support throughout the year. I am truly appreciative of each and every one of you ❤️

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I cannot wait to treat all your wonderful horses🐴 and to see what becomes of LK Equine Sports Therapy in 2026!

Layla 🖤🤍

17/12/2025

💪🏼Muscle atrophy💪🏼

You might often hear me refer to this term, but what does it actually mean? Atrophy refers to the wasting or loss of muscle tissue, leading to weakness and decreased mobility.

The images shown are the same horse, with the left side representing the before and the right side representing the after. Have a guess to how far apart you believe these were taken?

The types-
🟡 Generalised
🟡 Localised
🟡 Neurogenic

1. Generalised muscle atrophy typically results from inadequate nutrition or illness. This form of atrophy is generally observed symmetrically.
2. Localised muscle atrophy often arises from paralysis, immobilisation, or rhabdomyolysis.
3. Neurogenic muscle atrophy is usually caused by damage or an infection to the nervous system, or a localised issue within the peripheral nervous system.

A study conducted by Herbst et al. (2022) on a muscle atrophy scoring system helps to assess a horse using a scale of 1-4.
The scoring system for atrophy:
1. No atrophy - a healthy, well-covered horse with no sharp points.
2. Mild atrophy - slight hollowing while maintaining most of their topline.
3. Moderate atrophy - noticeable muscle mass loss, with a change in the natural curvature of the topline and some sharp points.
4. Severe atrophy - prominent bony structures, deep hollowing, and minimal muscle mass.

Understanding your horse's topline and muscle development helps to provide a valuable insights into their health, comfort, and movement potential. As previously mentioned, while atrophy can occur for various reasons, poor welfare, pain, injury, and improper saddle fit should not be accepted as a justifications‼️

For more information or to book contact us on:
Email: laylakeane@lkequinesportstherapy.co.uk
Facebook: LK Equine Sports Therapy
Instagram: lk_equine_sports_therapy
Website: www.lkequinesportstherapy.co.uk

14/12/2025

12/12/2025

On the second Thursday of every month, the Training team are sharing their top tips and tricks - helpful for both Members and Non-Members. 🎉 This month, we're talking about something that most horse owners find themselves thinking about at this time of year - rugging!

Reasons a horse may need a rug:
❄️A clipped horse will need appropriate rugging to make up for the loss of their natural coat.
❄️Breeds such as Thoroughbreds or Arabs that may have a thinner winter coat.
❄️Older horses who may struggle to regulate their body temperature.
❄️An underweight horse, to avoid them using more energy to stay warm.

Remember to remove and check a horse’s rug daily. Horses living outside in turnout rugs must be checked at least twice daily, and the rugs readjusted as necessary.

Horses can stay naturally warm through use of field shelters, self-protection (huddling in a herd and turning backs to the wind), heat-production through forage intake and their very own built-in insulation - a winter coat!

There are some risks to over-rugging:
❄️Sweating and stress - an over-rugged horse will become hot, causing them to sweat, feel uncomfortable and could lead to skin conditions due to bacteria growth.
❄️Weight management - horses may become too warm, therefore entering spring and summer at an increased risk of laminitis due to further weight gain.

Remember, this is a general guide without factoring in breeds/ages/fitness levels etc - nobody knows your horse better than you! 💜

10/12/2025

🔥Laminitis🔥
⚠️‼️Beware dissection images are included. Can you identify the healthy hoof and the unhealthy hoof.‼️⚠️

What is it?
An inflammatory condition affecting the laminae in a horse's hoof, this sensitive tissue connects the hoof wall to the pedal bone. Damage to this structure can result in pain, separation of the bone from the hoof wall, and lameness.

Additionally, there is chronic laminitis, referred to as founder, which occurs when the condition has advanced to the extent that the coffin bone begins to rotate or sink within the hoof capsule. This leads to structural collapse and deterioration, resulting in lifelong lameness.

Causes?
- Endocrine disorders
- Dietary issues
- Inflammation
- Physical stress
- Poor hoof care
- Toxins

Symptoms?
- Heat in the hooves
- Strong digital pulse
- Reluctant to move
- Retracted sole
- Poor sole quality
- Short stepping
- Shifting in their weight
- Reluctant to turn
- Rocking back and forth
- Being careful on hard or stony terrain
- Behaviour changes
- Reluctant to pick up their feet

It is important to note that laminitis is extremely painful and needs immediate veterinary attention. If left laminitis can progress rapidly, making it difficult for your horse to stand or move…

📸 Images from World Horse Welfare and Horses Inside Out