Kirsty Rawden Veterinary Physiotherapy

05/11/2025

Should we be allowing Bitless in competition❓

Although I personally choose to ride bitless, I'm not anti- bit.

I think any equipment in strong hands can be damaging and coercive whether that puts pressure on the nose, poll or in the mouth.

The reason I am bringing awareness to the possibilities of bitless in competition is I think we should have more options for what our horse prefers.

Elmo is a funny character, i always joke that he just doesn't like anything that doesn't belong on him. Put shoes on him, he removed them. Put rugs on, he removes them, put a bit in his mouth and he spends the whole session working out how to spit it out. He speaks loud and clear about what he likes and dislikes.

This meant schooling sessions were never that successful. If the tongue is moving, the pelvis cannot truely engage.

I tried a whole range of bits, it blows my mind how many options are out there now. All claiming to act on different areas of the mouth, but what if my horse doesnt like mouth pressure? Why is there not another 101 options outside of the mouth we can use in competition?

At this point I was doing a lot of bridless riding. It became more enjoyable as we weren't having this constant distraction of a bit. He was soft, he was relaxed, his body moved better.

So I started exploring options of bitless. It soon became apparent he didn't like poll pressure. He's ok with nose pressure but most responsive to chin pressure. So that's what we stuck with.

I currently ride in a Transcend Bitless double which has both a side pull (nose pressure) and a second rein (chin pressure). The combination of the two work nicely on him, but may not work for another horse.

In 2024 British working equitation made it legal to ride in competition in a bitless bridle. Working equitation consists of a dressage phase, Ease of handling (obstacles marked on finesse) and speed (obstacles completed at speed). We have completed the whole season bitless against people in bits.

Does that give anyone an advantage?

I wouldn't say so, if that is what your horse prefers then so be it. I think by everybody being made to compete in the same thing is where the disadvantage lies.

If the reins are being used only as a line of communication and not a force of control then it shouldn't matter whether they are attached to the nose or mouth. It should be wherever the horse wants to carry that connection.

This weekend we came 3rd in a very tricky Inter B class at the nationals. It not only confirmed that bitless and bitted horses can compete equally against each other but it confirmed what I am doing is right for my horse.

I came out of the ring to numerous comments of how soft, relaxed and happy he looked. The judge's who have judged me in both a bit and bitless have also passed similar comments.

Connection over control.

Surely that's what we should all be striving for whether it be bitted, bitless or even bridless?




Photo courtesy of Happy Hoof Pics

04/11/2025

Did you know?
Digestion Starts With the Nervous System: How Massage Supports the Gut–Brain Connection in Horses

Most people think digestion begins in the mouth — when a horse takes the first bite of hay or grass.
But true digestion begins before a single chew.

It begins in the nervous system.

For the gut to function, the body must shift into the parasympathetic state — the “rest-and-digest” mode where physiology turns toward nourishment, repair, and balance.

The Gut–Brain Connection

Horses have one of the most sensitive nervous systems in the animal world. As prey animals, they constantly scan for safety — even when life appears calm.

If they sense tension, pain, insecurity, or discomfort, the nervous system transitions into sympathetic (“fight-or-flight”) mode, where survival takes priority over digestion.

In this state:
• Digestive motility slows
• Blood moves to muscles, not the GI tract
• Nutrient absorption decreases
• Microbiome balance may shift
• The body prepares to react, not digest

This is why horses who are:
• Tight through the poll and jaw
• Braced through the sternum and ribs
• Holding abdominal tension
• Managing chronic soreness or ulcers
• Anxious, watchful, or reactive

often show digestive challenges, fluctuating stool, gas, mild colic tendencies, or difficulty maintaining weight and topline.

Their systems are not failing — they are protecting.
But protection mode and digestion mode cannot run together.

When Calm Arrives, Digestion Activates

When a horse feels safe, supported, and able to soften into their body, the nervous system shifts.
Relaxation is the signal that unlocks the digestive system.

From there, the brain communicates through the vagus nerve and enteric nervous system to:
• Activate digestive enzymes
• Initiate peristalsis (gut movement)
• Increase blood flow to digestive organs
• Support hydration and nutrient exchange
• Prepare the body to heal and replenish

Digestion is not a mechanical event — it is a neurological permission state.

How Massage Supports Digestive Health

Massage and myofascial bodywork don’t “treat” digestion directly.
They create the internal environment digestion requires to function well.

Skilled touch influences:
• 🧠 Autonomic nervous system balance
• 🌬️ Breathing and rib mobility
• 🩸 Circulation and lymph flow
• 🪢 Fascial mobility and abdominal motion
• 🌱 Vagal tone and parasympathetic activation

When the nervous system feels safe, the body says:

“You can rest. You can digest. You can heal.”

Signs of Neuro-Digestive Release During Bodywork

Owners often notice:
• Gut gurgling
• Soft chewing and licking
• Yawning and stretching
• Deeper, slower breathing
• Passing gas
• Softening of topline and ribs
• A calmer, more connected demeanor afterward

These responses are the body shifting back into a physiologic state where digestion and repair can resume.

Why This Matters

Digestive health isn’t just about what goes into the bucket.
It is deeply tied to:
• Nervous system safety
• Comfort and movement
• Fascial freedom
• Breath and diaphragm function
• Emotional regulation

Massage is one of the few modalities that can influence all of these at once.

When a horse regularly accesses parasympathetic balance, we often see:
• Better nutrient absorption
• Improved weight and topline
• More consistent stool and gut comfort
• Softer behavior and focus
• Better immune function and recovery capacity

A relaxed horse digests better, learns better, and lives better.

The Takeaway

Digestion doesn’t start in the stomach — it starts in the brain and nervous system.

Through mindful touch and nervous-system-aware bodywork, we help horses:
• Release tension
• Breathe fully
• Settle their mind and body
• Enter the “rest-and-digest” mode
• Support natural digestive function

When a horse can digest life with ease,
they move better, feel better, behave better, and heal better.

04/11/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17HAkkMFCd/

A little bit Woo · Episode

31/10/2025

A little bit of pre EoH treatment.

I just love how he communicates what he wants and doesn't want 🥰

30/10/2025

💜 Out of office 💜

I am away at the The Association for British Working Equitation national and team championships this weekend.

I will be representing the North East for the second year running 😁.

I will not be responding to any enquiries or messages whilst I'm here unless it is urgent, i will respond to all messages on Monday.

Have a lovely weekend 🥰

28/10/2025

I absolutely loved this conversation with Leigh from Meadow View Track Livery
I am so blessed to be able to work alongside special people like Leigh who truly navigate life 'for the good of the horse'. So much so, she built her horse his own track, invited his friends and opened up to help others struggling 💜

There will be more episodes on track life in the future!

If you or anybody you know would like to come on the podcast, drop me a message!

https://spotify.link/TASm9TUpPXb

A little bit Woo · Episode

26/10/2025

I will be travelling this route on Friday 7th November if anybody would like an appointment in the afternoon.

26/10/2025

⚠️IMPORTANT - STRANGLES ⚠️
There has been a huge increase in strangles cases in the area. (West Yorkshire)

In order to keep all the horses I come in to contact with safe please can I ask that if your horse has come in contact with or there is a horse on your yard or neighbouring yards with suspected strangles that you rearrange your appointment to a later date.

If I find anybody who hasn't declared this then I will not treat your horse moving forward.

We must all work together to try manage this disease. You are not dirty if your horse has contracted it, it is a highly infectious disease which is why it spreads so easily. Any information declared to me will be kept confidential but PLEASE for the safety of all the horses can we be open and honest.

If you are unsure, please talk to me.

Of course I will be on top of my infection control procedure with cleaning and disinfecting my equipment and myself.

24/10/2025

Availability over the next few months. Please plan ahead if you would like an appointment before Christmas.

Please note: I will also be extending my cancellation policy from 24 hours to 48 hours (full payment required) throughout December. This is because last minute cancellations seem to increase throughout December each year.

I understand Christmas can be tight on the purse strings but if this is the case please plan your appointments accordingly so not to have to make last minute cancellations.

23/10/2025

No stable, no problem... This witch doesn't melt in the rain 😝🧙🏼‍♀️

22/10/2025

🤔 Not one professional is the same 🤔

Here's what I mean by this. Lets take my lovely bunch of vet physio girls. We met 12 years ago. Some of us had background in working with top class competition horses, some just owned horses and some very little horse experience at all.

We then all went through the same lectures, but some of us took more information in in the classroom, others took more information in in the practicals.

We then went off and did placements with different physios and learnt different skills.

So even on the day we all passed our exams and got the same title of Veterinary physiotherapist presented to us- our experiences through life would mean we would all treat a horse differently and see things from slightly different perspectives from day one. We were not carbon copies of each other.

10 years on, this divergence has continued. We have followed our own paths, gathered experience through our work and learnt off different people. We continue to learn off each other.

Does that make me better than my fellow professionals? No.

Does that mean that sometimes I can't quite figure something out but somebody else can straight away? Often.

I know how I treat now is VERY different to what I was taught 10 years ago, but thats it, we all bring a unique gift to the table.

So when somebody says to me 'the last therapist didn't tell me that or pick up on that'. That is ok! We all see life through a different lens.

That therapist is no less than me, there's probably things they picked up on that I haven't. I've read reports off other physios before and thought 'bloody hell I don't know anything! ' but I can guarantee they'd read my report and think the same!

So I'm not saying you must frantically use every professional in the area, but it's ok to get a second opinion.

As professionals we should be able to allow that to happen, for the good of the horse and not try bring that other professional down. (I know it's awful for the old imposter syndrome when people go elsewhere!).

We don't have all the answers and by working together, listening and learning, we can collectively improve the lives of horses. Instead of creating a world of ego and divide.

This doesn't just apply to therapists. This applies to vets, hoof care professionals, saddle fitters, behaviourists, trainers, dentists (everyone!).

I also feel it crosses in to different professions. This is holistic. I cannot treat a horse without understanding feet, saddle fit, dentistry, behaviour, nutrition etc. Just because that isn't my area of expertise doesn't mean I don't have valuable knowledge in those areas, so why are we shot down for suggesting there may be an issue in one of these areas? Who is that helping?

The owners who we work for also bring ideas and knowledge to the table through their experiences which is also invaluable. I often feel owners are quickly silenced when faced by professionals. They are often the experts on their own horses. I love nothing more than listening and learning off my clients.

So lets stop trying to bring each other down with ego or getting on the defensive when somebody suggests a different view point. Instead lets open our minds, bring forward our own unique gift and work together to help horses. After all, thats why we entered this profession in the first place, is it not?