Zephyn Equine Therapy

18/12/2025

Excellent post from Integrated Veterinary Therapeutics
If you've got a horse recovering from illness or injury, or one that's just been off work for whatever reason have a read of this. Great points and advice.
Check out their podcasts too.

This morning I had a question posted in my Equine Functional Posture Course and I thought it would be good to post here as it is an important question

“My horse has been cleared by the vet to be ridden… but when is the right time to actually start riding?”

This is such an important question!!

Being cleared by the Vet means tissues have healed enough to tolerate load.
But healing and readiness are not the same thing.

Before we climb back into the saddle, it’s worth asking a deeper question:
👉 Is my horse’s body prepared and able to carry me well - physically, posturally, and emotionally?

True readiness is about function, not just timeframes.

I look for signs like:
• Can they maintain balanced posture at rest?
- Limb alignment and positions
- Head and neck position - braced or relaxed?

• Do they have mobility and strength through the thoracic sling to enable lift at the base of the wither and maintain balance and weight off the forehand

• Is the core able to support the spine, or does movement collapse under load?
- Is there mobility of the spine in a belly lift?
- When they trot is the back well supported or is it dropping downwards with a disconnect to the pelvis

• Are they moving with ease, confidence, and symmetry or guarding and compensating?

• How do they respond to light requests - calmly and softly, or with tension and resistance?

🐴Riding too early doesn’t always look dramatic.
Often it shows up quietly:
– Loss of balance
– Subtle resistance
– Changes in behaviour
– Tension, stiffness, or reluctance
– Patterns that become “training problems” later on

💡 The ideal time to start riding is when your horse can carry themselves before they carry you.

This is where groundwork, posture work, controlled loading, and progressive reintroduction to movement become acts of welfare, not delays.

Because of the horse…
we owe them the time to rebuild balance, strength and confidence in their body not just return to work.

If you’re unsure, listen to what the body is telling you.
Posture and behaviour are always communicating - we just need to learn how to hear them.

💜🐴

17/12/2025

Well not a lot went on today apart from more rain 🙄
Little Zeph seemed a bit subdued and didn't even want a walk, but Finn was keen for a stroll and a paddle!

14/12/2025

I put some of my new knowledge to the test yesterday when I popped by to see Monkey who has been a bit poorly recently.

He responded really nicely to the Bladder meridian and the diaphragm work (which was a mixture of favourite techniques and new ones). I don't tend to use the BM with clients horses that much, as it can be a long process, but I think that maybe I should use it more.

11/12/2025

It was lovely to actually see the sunrise on my drive over to Lincolnshire this morning- we definitely haven't had enough sun up north recently!
Had a great first day with Helen Thornton Equine Osteopathy & PEMF revisiting some techniques I've learnt elsewhere or developed a feel for myself, with lots of new information and body relationships to think about. I certainly know a few horses who will benefit from what I'm learning and I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

11/12/2025

I'll miss seeing these two for a couple of days, but I'm very much looking forward to spending time learning more assessment tips and manual techniques with Helen Thornton - Equine Sports & PEMF Musculoskeletal Therapy It's a course I was supposed to do in July but my boys put a stop to that with the pair of them being in prison 😅
No prison now though and they'll be well looked after - I'm sure Finn will enjoy being my guinea pig on the weekend too!

10/12/2025

I love my sessions with Casey, she lets me know exactly where she needs some help and today was no exception.

I started with red light therapy around her poll and upper neck before some cranial work. Only for her owner to say it was interesting I'd started there as she'd had the dentist last week!

I normally check all that info beforehand, but hadn't today. Good old Casey letting me know ❤️

09/12/2025

Now I've mentioned before that I don't show many before and after photos, as you're just capturing a moment in time..
However, I'm just completing notes from Saturday's sessions and was really pleased to note the differences in Bella as shown here.

Yes, lighting is difficult, yes her owner is holding her quite closely, but she's doing that in both photos, yet you can clearly see Bella choosing a much better posture afterwards, showing lengthening through her body and relaxation ❤️

08/12/2025

It looks like being yet another dull start to the week, so here's a young Zeph doing his public service of cheering folk up with his agility Christmas bells 😁
Also how cute was he, 2022 18mths old 🖤

07/12/2025

Despite the heavy downpours I had a good day down in Lancashire yesterday meeting regular and new clients with a range of ages and breeds.

All had different needs, requiring tailored approaches, highlighting the importance of listening to both the owner and the horse.

06/12/2025

I've had a busy day down in Lancashire with other people's horses so I didn't see my boys today. So I love seeing these posts letting me know all is fine. My boys are very happy here ❤️