Helen Thornton Equine Osteopathy & PEMF

14/04/2026

Most therapists and owners have seen this…

You treat the horse.
It softens.
It moves better.
Then a few weeks later…

👉 the same tension is back
👉 in the same place
👉 presenting in the same way

At some point you have to ask:
Is this really just a “tight muscle”…?

Because here’s the reality:

You can’t change a pattern that the nervous system is still choosing to hold.

We’re very good at:
• stretching
• mobilising
• massaging
• strengthening

But none of those directly change the system that is maintaining the tone.
That’s why carrot stretches often don’t hold.

They change position…
not the nervous system setting behind it.

And this is where things get interesting.

Because when the nervous system is:

• maintaining a protective pattern
• stabilising breathing or load
• or simply repeating a learned motor strategy

👉 the body will keep returning to it
no matter how well you treat the tissue
If the system hasn’t changed… the pattern won’t change.

This is exactly why I started exploring somatic movement approaches.

Not instead of manual therapy…
…but as an extra way of working with the nervous system that controls the tone from a movement therapy perspective that anyone can do.

I’ll pop details of my next Somatic Movement CPD workshop in the comments for anyone interested. Or follow the qr code in the image.

10/04/2026

“𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗮𝗯 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀… 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁”

“I’ve done the poles.”
“I’ve done the hills.”
“I’ve followed the plan.”

…and yet…

👉 the same issue keeps coming back
“Or it improves… but never fully resolves”

This is one of the most common situations I see.

Not because the rehab plan is wrong.

But because something important is missing.

Most rehabilitation focuses on:

• strength
• repetition
• progression

But the body doesn’t just need strength.

👉 it needs accurate input

If the pelvis,and specifically the sacral system, is not:

• moving clearly
• receiving clean proprioceptive input
• able to shift between stability and mobility

Then the nervous system does something very predictable:

👉 it protects

And when it protects:

• motor patterns change
• stabilisers reduce their activity
• larger muscles begin to compensate
• movement becomes efficient for safety, not performance

So you can:

✔ do the right exercises
✔ follow the right plan
✔ build strength

…and still reinforce the same pattern.

Because the system is organising around protection, not function.

From an osteopathic perspective, before progression…

👉 the system must be able to organise load

That means:

• the sacrum must adapt between the ilia
• the pelvic ring must transfer force evenly
• the nervous system must accept the input as “safe”

If that step is missed…

👉 rehabilitation becomes repetition of dysfunction

This is why some horses:

• improve briefly
• then regress
• or plateau despite consistent work

It’s not lack of effort.

👉 it’s lack of clarity within the system

And this is also why I don’t start with poles, hills, or strengthening in many cases.

Not because they don’t work…

👉 but because they are often introduced before the system is ready to use them

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜’𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿:

• why rehab sometimes fails despite doing everything “right”
• how the nervous system influences pelvic function
• what needs to happen before progression actually works
• and how common exercises fit into this >when the system is ready

If you’ve been in that position…

👉 this will likely make a lot of things make sense

𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁

02/04/2026

𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲…
“It’s the suspensory…”
“It’s the stifle…”

Sometimes it is.

But often…
👉 that’s where the problem shows up, not where it starts.

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹…
The sacrum cannot alternate properly between:
• stability (nutation)
• mobility (counternutation)

That means:
👉 load is no longer transferred cleanly
👉 the system loses its ability to deal with asymmetry

So the body adapts.

Instead of loading one hind limb at a time…
👉 the horse starts to bring both limbs through together.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗲
• bunny hopping in canter
• disuniting / cross canter
• loss of suspension
• difficulty maintaining rhythm

Because the system is avoiding:
👉 unilateral load

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁
When load is not managed through the pelvis…
👉 it has to go somewhere.

So we often see:
• hock overload
• proximal suspensory strain
• uneven push-off behind
• quarters in

And above this…
👉 the lumbar spine starts to compensate.

The lumbar facet joints are designed to:
• allow controlled movement
• share load across the spine
• adapt between flexion and extension

But when the sacrum is not functioning correctly…
👉 the lumbar spine loses its normal relationship with the pelvis.

So instead of balanced movement:
• certain segments become overloaded
• others become restricted
• the system stiffens rather than adapts

This can show up as:
• reduced ability to engage
• difficulty with transitions
• resistance to canter work
• “tightness” that keeps returning

𝗦𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵…
👉 a limb problem
👉 a spinal problem
👉 a performance problem

…but all coming from the same starting place:
👉 a system that is no longer managing load correctly.

These are not separate issues.
They are different expressions of the same system under strain.

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
It happens with every breath.

The diaphragm is directly linked into this system.
As it moves, it influences pressure through the thorax, abdomen and pelvis and the sacrum responds to that.

So if the sacrum is already restricted or biased…
👉 that pattern is being reinforced
👉 thousands of times a day
Not just when the horse is being worked.

𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲
• a horse that struggles with the farrier
(snatching, slamming the limb down, or unable to hold it up)
• resistance or discomfort when the hind limbs are handled
• difficulty controlling or loading the hindquarters effectively

Or, from a clinical perspective:
A horse that cannot comfortably lift or control the hind limb, shows poor tolerance to handling, or demonstrates inconsistent loading through the pelvis, often more obvious on one side.

These are often treated as separate issues.
But they are frequently part of the same picture…
👉 a system that is no longer managing load effectively.

𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼𝗼𝗻
I’ll be breaking this down in more detail in an upcoming webinar.

Next, I’ll be moving into something that sits above all of this…
👉 how the diaphragm, and the structures passing through it, influence pressure, movement, and the entire system.

𝘞𝘦𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯.
If you would like to see the announcement in your newsfeed, comment “𝗪𝗘𝗕𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗥”.

💐💐 UPDATE: WEBINAR NOW OPEN.
THE LINK IS IN THE COMMENTS. 🎊💐💐

Images: Equine anatomy in layers
American farriers journal

31/03/2026

21/03/2026

🐴 𝐒𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞

Why the SI region is often misunderstood

The sacroiliac region is talked about a great deal in horses.

But it is often treated as though it were one joint with one problem.

In reality, it is a system made up of:
• two ilia
• and a sacrum that must adapt between them

Each part can behave very differently.

In many cases, the sacrum is not assessed with the same level of detail as the ilia. Yet it is the structure that actually manages load through the pelvis.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐦 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞

It sits between the two ilia and receives force from both hind limbs simultaneously.

Its role is not large movement.
Its role is load adaptation.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐦 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐱𝐞𝐬

To manage load, the sacrum adjusts through subtle motion expressed across multiple axes:

• Oblique axes
Adapt to alternating hindlimb loading and coordinate rotational patterns within the pelvis

• Medial transverse axis
Governs flexion and extension of the sacral wedge, including nutation and counternutation

• Dorsal transverse axis
Contributes to how load is received and distributed through the sacrum in relation to the ilia

These movements are extremely small.
But they are essential for balanced force transfer.

𝐍𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

The sacrum is constantly moving between two key states:

𝐍𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
• sacral base tips ventro-cranially
• increases compression between sacrum and ilia
• improves force closure
• helps stabilise the pelvis during propulsion

𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
• sacral base tips dorso-caudally
• reduces compression
• allows pelvic adaptation between strides

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐦 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞

Because of its wedge shape, even very small changes in position alter how tightly the pelvic ring locks together.

• Nutation = wedge tightens = stability
• Counternutation = wedge releases = mobility

The pelvis is constantly shifting between these two states.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐜 𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬

The pelvis does not function only through the sacroiliac region.

The two ilia are also joined ventrally at the p***c symphysis, forming a complete ring. This means forces are transferred not only through the sacrum, but also across the ventral aspect of the pelvis.

When the sacrum loses its ability to adapt effectively:
• load distribution through the ring changes
• tension through ventral pelvic structures increases
• the p***c symphysis and surrounding soft tissues may become overloaded

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐦 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲

The issue is not simply that the sacrum moves too much or too little.

It is that it loses the ability to move between states.

When that happens:
• ligament tension becomes asymmetrical
• load distribution changes
• the lumbar spine often compensates, commonly around L6

𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

The sacrum also forms the roof of the pelvic cavity.

Through the sacral foramina, including S2, it contributes to parasympathetic innervation affecting:
• pelvic floor
• bladder
• re**al tone
• elements of the reproductive system

So changes here are not purely mechanical.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞

Because the pelvis functions as a ring, these changes rarely stay isolated.

You may notice:
• soreness through the gluteal region
• difficulty cantering or maintaining canter
• cross-firing or disuniting
• difficulty with counter-canter
• resistance when backing
• reduced ability to bend
• difficulty picking up the hind feet
• sacroiliac pain or sensitivity
• hock and stifle overload patterns
• uneven hind hoof growth
• breath-holding when being ridden

These signs are not always caused by a single structure.

They often reflect how the entire pelvic system is managing load.

𝐀 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞

One of the first visible signs can appear in the tail.

Because the tail is a continuation of the sacrum, its position often reflects tension patterns within the pelvic ring.

You may notice:
• a tail carried to one side
• a clamped or resistant tail
• a tail that sits slightly elevated
• deviation when lifting or during defecation

The tail is not just cosmetic.
It can reflect the mechanical and neurological state of the sacrum.

The sacroiliac region is rarely failing in isolation.
It is adapting to how the body is managing load.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭

The sacroiliac region is not designed for large movement.
It is designed for precise load management.

When that coordination is lost, the horse adapts.
Often long before pathology appears.

Over the past few posts I have been exploring pelvic compensation patterns. If that felt like a lot, here it is simply:

The pelvis works as one system, with the sacrum sitting in the middle and managing how forces move through the horse.

When it cannot adapt properly, the body starts to compensate. That may show up as uneven movement, difficulty in canter, or tension through the hindquarters.

So rather than asking,
“what joint is the problem?”
it can be more useful to ask,
“how is the pelvis managing load?”

𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭

Would you like me to break this down further, including how pelvic and sacral mechanics may influence movement patterns such as bunny hopping in canter?

And how rehabilitation exercises change when you understand what is actually happening within the pelvis and sacrum?

Because often the issue is not that the horse is not doing the exercise. It is that the exercise is not addressing the right problem.

👉 If you would like that webinar-style breakdown, comment 𝗪𝗘𝗕𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗥 below.

💐💐 UPDATE: WEBINAR NOW AVAILABLE
LINK IN COMMENTS 💐💐

©️ 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗢𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆 & 𝗣𝗘𝗠𝗙

13/03/2026

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺

Most pelvic dysfunctions in horses do not occur on one side alone.

The pelvis functions as a closed ring, and when one side loses normal mobility, the other side often adapts in order to keep the system functioning.

This is why practitioners frequently find a pattern such as:

• dorsal inflare on one side
• ventral outflare on the opposite side

This is not coincidence.
It is the pelvis attempting to maintain mechanical balance.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗧𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺

When the ilium rotates medially and dorsally (dorsal inflare), the opposite side often rotates ventrally and laterally (ventral outflare).

This opposing rotation allows the pelvic ring to continue transmitting force between the hind limbs and the spine.

Without this adaptation, the pelvis would simply lock.

Instead, the body creates a torsional compensation pattern that allows the horse to continue moving.

𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗯𝘀 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁

Each pelvic orientation influences the limb beneath it.

The dorsal inflare side tends toward:

• greater extension bias
• compression through the sacroiliac joint interfaces
• reduced pelvic expansion
• a more closed and stabilised pelvic side

The ventral outflare side tends toward:

• greater flexion bias
• tensile strain through the dorsal sacroiliac ligament and sacrosciatic ligament
• increased pelvic opening
• greater load transmission down the limb

This is why practitioners often find that the ventral outflare limb becomes the overload limb.

Structures such as the following may begin absorbing increased mechanical strain:

• proximal suspensory ligament
• hock joints
• deep digital flexor chain

The limb is not always the origin of the problem.

It is often the structure absorbing the load once pelvic mechanics become asymmetrical.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘃𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

The key point is that this torsional pattern is already a compensation.

One side compresses.
The other side opens.

The pelvis is no longer transferring load optimally, but this opposing pattern allows the horse to continue functioning despite restriction. 𝘐𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘺.

In other words, the body has found a way to work around the problem. We correct that, and normal non-compensatory biomechanics can resume.

But occasionally the system loses its ability to maintain this compensation.

Instead of one side inflaring and the other outflaring, both sides may move into the same pattern.

For example:
• bilateral dorsal inflare
or
• bilateral ventral outflare

Now the pelvis loses its ability to balance forces across the ring.

Both hind limbs begin adopting the same mechanical bias.

Extension on both sides.
Or flexion on both sides.

At this stage the pelvis has moved from compensation into decompensation.

And this is when the horse often becomes clinically painful.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝘀 𝗮 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲-𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺

From an osteopathic perspective, the pelvis is not simply two joints and a sacrum.

It is a 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲-𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺.

Every stride generates significant forces through the hind limbs that must be absorbed, redistributed and transmitted into the spine.

When the pelvic ring loses symmetry, those forces no longer travel evenly through the sacroiliac system.

Instead, the body creates torsional adaptations to maintain forward motion.
(Here whole horse assessment is again so important.)

These patterns may allow the horse to continue performing for a long time.

But they change how load travels through the pelvis, the lumbar spine and ultimately the distal limb.

𝗔 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗢𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗢𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲........

One of the first visible signs of pelvic torsion can actually appear in the tail.

Because the tail is a continuation of the sacrum, its position often reflects tension patterns within the pelvic ring.

Owners may notice:

• the tail carried slightly to one side
• resistance when lifting the tail
• a tail that feels clamped at the dock
• the tail lifting or deviating during defecation

These signs do not diagnose a specific problem on their own, but they can provide useful clues about pelvic tension and sacral mechanics.

The tail is not just cosmetic, it is mechanically connected to the sacrum and pelvic floor. 𝘐𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺.

𝗔 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀

When horses repeatedly develop problems such as proximal suspensory desmitis or hock overload, the ligament or joint is often blamed as the primary issue or investigated in isolation.

But in many horses these structures are simply the ones left absorbing the load once the pelvis stops distributing force efficiently.

If your horse has had repeated suspensory or hock issues, it may be worth asking whether the pelvis itself is part of the picture, but then more questions follow: 𝘸𝘩𝘺, and 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘐 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰?

𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗢𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

When assessing pelvic torsion patterns, an important question arises.

𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯,
𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵?

Because in many horses the limb carrying the greatest mechanical load is not always the side that initially lost mobility.

The body adapts to keep the horse moving.

Which means the structure that eventually becomes painful is not always the structure where the dysfunction began.

Understanding how the pelvis redistributes load can therefore be critical when interpreting hind limb problems.

𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁

The sacrum sits at the centre of this torsional system.

It acts as a dynamic wedge between the two ilia, constantly adjusting between stability and mobility to manage the enormous forces generated by the hind limbs.

In the next post we will look at sacral mechanics, and why movements such as 𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 and 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 are essential for maintaining balanced force transfer through the pelvis.

The pelvis rarely fails in isolation — it adapts.

Subscribers will receive a simple tail assessment guide you can use at the stable to observe possible pelvic tension patterns.

09/03/2026

All prepped and ready to roll

Enjoy your time competing in Belgium Harriette Rushton

09/03/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗰 𝗜𝗻𝗹𝗲𝘁 - 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗲.

𝘈 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘥.

✨ Look closely at these images.

✨ These two photos were taken minutes apart.

✨ And yet the whole front end looks different.

Before looking at the image, it helps to understand an important anatomical region called the 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗰 𝗜𝗻𝗹𝗲𝘁.

In the horse, the 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗰 𝗜𝗻𝗹𝗲𝘁 (also called the 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦) is the opening that connects the neck with the chest cavity.

It forms a narrow passage through which 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀, 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 travel between the neck and the thorax.

🖐️ My osteopathy training is what taught me how important this area is. Let's break it down.

It is formed by 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀:

• 𝗗𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 (top) > the body of the first thoracic vertebra (T1)
• 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 (sides) > the first pair of ribs and their costal cartilages
• 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 (bottom) > the cranial edge of the manubrium of the sternum

Because of this arrangement, the thoracic inlet sits at an important junction where the 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘂𝗺, 𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 all interact.

This is why changes within this region can influence how the thorax is supported between the forelimbs, something we will look at in the images below.

𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀:

• the 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗯𝘀
• the 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻

In the first image (left) the trunk is sitting heavier between the shoulders and the forelimbs are loading unevenly.

In the second image the chest appears lifted and the forelimbs stand more evenly beneath the body.

⚠️ The horse has not suddenly grown muscle in a few minutes.

What you are seeing is a change in how the thorax is being supported.

One structure that plays a significant role here is the sternum.

The sternum forms the 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 of the 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴, the muscular and fascial system that suspends the horse’s trunk between the forelimbs.

The Thoracic Sling:
The front limbs are attached to the body only by muscles and fascia (the pectoral/serratus muscles).

Compensation:
If a horse has pain or restrictions in the sternum/girth area, they will change how they load the front legs

Myofascial Links:
Tension in the chest often causes a "shortened stride" or "uneven movement"

Remember, horses do not have a clavicle, so the body is effectively hanging between the shoulders.

But there is another structure worth mentioning here.

Behind the sternum sits the 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗺, a fascial and ligamentous structure that connects the sternum, ribs, thoracic spine and diaphragm.

In the horse the mediastinum also carries ligamentous and fascial continuity that links the sternum and diaphragm to the ventral aspect of the thoracic spine, meaning tension within this system can influence 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗰 𝗺𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Through these connections the mediastinum helps transmit tension between:

• the sternum
• the thoracic vertebrae
• the diaphragm
• the surrounding visceral structures

If tension exists within this system, the thorax can lose its ability to organise and suspend itself efficiently.

(𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗼 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗺, 𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝘁!)

The result can be:

• 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗰 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘁
• 𝘂𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗯 𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴
• 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹𝘀
• 𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰𝘀

From an osteopathic perspective, sometimes addressing the ventral structures of the horse allows the thoracic sling to reorganise.

And when that happens, the change is often visible immediately in how the horse stands.

✨ 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲.

This is why, in osteopathic assessment, the ventral thorax is rarely ignored when a horse presents with forelimb loading patterns.

And we haven’t even discussed the first rib or other major thoracic inlet structures yet…

It is also the region where the first rib, major nerves and blood vessels enter the thorax - structures we will explore in more detail in later posts.

📩 Subscribers will get several breakdowns of what you are seeing.

𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻
𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗢𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵

08/03/2026

𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀!...
𝘙𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨.

Biomechanical research over the past two decades has clarified something important about how horses organise balance.

Work led by Hilary Clayton has shown that during true collection the horse does not simply “push more from behind.” Instead, the trunk elevates between the forelimbs and the centre of mass rises as forces are redistributed throughout the body.

This elevation occurs through the thoracic sling, the muscular suspension system that supports the trunk between the forelimbs.

Unlike humans, the horse has no clavicle. The forelimb is not attached to the trunk through a bony joint but through a muscular and fascial suspension system involving structures such as the serratus ventralis and the pectoral musculature.

Considering the horse carries roughly 60% of its body weight in the forehand, this system plays a fundamental role in how load is managed through the body.

When the sling can regulate load effectively, the thorax can elevate between the scapulae and the horse can organise balance in a much lighter way.

The hind limbs then contribute propulsion without simply increasing compression into the forehand.
In other words, elevation of the trunk is not just posture, it is mechanics.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗪𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀

One of the most interesting clinical observations is how often the forehand reflects patterns that originate elsewhere in the body.

In a previous post I discussed pelvic mechanics, particularly ilial inflare and outflare patterns associated with SI joint dysfunction. When the pelvis changes how it distributes load, that load must travel through the spine and ribcage before it reaches the forehand.

Very commonly the compensation appears at the scapulothoracic junction, where the forelimb interfaces with the thorax.

This is one of the key regions that needs to be assessed when mapping compensation patterns in the horse.

But it never stops at a single structure.
A pelvic disorder may influence:

• the scapulothoracic glide pattern
• lateral bending patterns through the lumbar spine
• ribcage positioning
• even tension patterns through the jaw and cranial base

🐎 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱.

Which is why looking at one area in isolation rarely explains the full picture.‼️

𝘔𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘗𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘴 ➡️

Understanding the relationship between pelvis, trunk and forehand is central to understanding many postural problems seen in performance horses.

An ilial restriction may change trunk loading.
That altered loading may influence the thoracic sling.

The sling may then adapt by changing how the scapula translates across the ribcage.

Over time these patterns become the horse’s strategy for managing load.

Without recognising the whole system, it is easy to treat the symptom rather than the source.

The horse is not built as separate ends working independently. It functions as a suspended system where pelvis, trunk and forehand continuously influence one another.

Not all postural patterns originate in the musculoskeletal system. Posture reflects how the entire body manages tension - including the tensions carried by the organs themselves.

Patterns like this become very clear when you begin assessing how the pelvis, trunk and forehand organise load together rather than evaluating each region in isolation.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲

Collection is often described as a hindquarter activity.

But the biomechanics tell us something more nuanced.

The horse must be able to suspend the trunk through the thoracic sling while the pelvis provides propulsion and stability behind.

Balance emerges from the coordination between these regions.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿

There is another factor that can influence these patterns in many cases, and it is often overlooked outside osteopathic circles.

The organs themselves can influence posture through their fascial and neurological connections.

For example, visceral tension associated with the stomach can influence the thoracic spine through sympathetic innervation in the mid-thoracic region.

When this is combined with tension through the diaphragm, it can alter how forces travel through the trunk.

𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽:

• an ilium sitting in dorsal inflare
• increased ventral tension through the mid-thoracic region where sympathetic supply to the stomach emerges
• restriction through the diaphragm and stomach attachments
• a scapulothoracic junction that becomes fixed in a dorsal–caudal (upslip) pattern

At that point the horse is no longer dealing with a single joint issue.

It is managing a whole-body compensation pattern.

And when the middle section of the body is organising around tension like this, asking the horse to “lift through the back” becomes mechanically very difficult.

⛔️The result is often what riders recognise as persistent training issues rather than a simple mechanical limitation.

Which is why effective assessment is rarely about a single joint or structure - it is about understanding how the entire body is organising load.

⚠️ This is why targeting a single structure in isolation, such as treating suspensory inflammation - can become a labour of love if the wider mechanical pattern driving the load is not addressed.

🔄 The structure we see struggling is not always the structure that started the problem.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗮 “𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲” 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁.