The Horse Physio

14/12/2025

Your horse’s behaviour is trying to tell you something… Are you listening?
Spooking, tension, reluctance—these might not be training issues, but signs of pain. Harmonious Horsemanship helps you recognise discomfort before it affects performance. 🐎📖
🔗 Order your copy today! Sign up for The Horse Physio newsletter for the link and a 20% discount - link in bio!

14/12/2025

Today I’m grateful for home, comfort, and flexibility.

What are you grateful for today?

14/12/2025

🎗️ Why Physio Works
Physiotherapy for horses is often thought of as something to call on when there’s already a problem. But in truth, physio is as much about prevention as it is about cure.
When I place my hands on a horse, I can feel where muscles are tight, where movement is restricted, or where there’s a reaction to touch that suggests soreness. By addressing these issues early, we can often prevent them from escalating into something more serious.
The benefits go beyond the body. A horse who feels more comfortable often shows it in his behaviour. Owners describe them as more willing, softer in the contact, or simply happier in themselves. Those are the moments I value most, because they show the deeper impact of comfort and ease.
Physio isn’t about forcing the body into shape. It’s about listening — through feel, through behaviour, through subtle responses — and working gently with what we find. Over time, these small adjustments add up, helping horses move and live more comfortably.
🌿 For more horse health insights, join my newsletter here: https://www.thehorsephysio.co.uk/newsletter/
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14/12/2025

13/12/2025

The Ridden Horse Performance Checklist
6: The tongue exposed, protruding or hanging out, and / or moving in and out

Research shows that if 8 or more of this list of 24 ridden behaviours are shown, it’s highly likely that the horse is in musculoskeletal pain.
Find out more on the Harmonious Horsemanship website.
The Ridden Horse Performance Checklist is adapted from:
Dyson, Sue & Berger, Jeannine & Ellis, Andrea & Mullard, Jessica. (2017). Development of an ethogram for a pain scoring system in ridden horses and its application to determine the presence of musculoskeletal pain. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2017.10.008

The tongue tells a story.
You might think it’s quirky or even endearing—but when a horse’s tongue is repeatedly exposed, protruding, hanging out, or moving in and out during ridden work, it could be a sign of something more serious.
This behaviour is one of the 24 indicators of potential musculoskeletal pain included in the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE). It’s not about bad habits or bit issues—it may be your horse’s way of coping with discomfort.
In Harmonious Horsemanship, co-authored with Dr Sue Dyson, we share how you can recognise and interpret these subtle signs, so you can advocate for your horse with confidence and compassion.

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👉 www.thehorsephysio.co.uk/newsletter



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13/12/2025

Together, we can make the world better for horses
Every horse deserves to be understood. Harmonious Horsemanship gives you the knowledge to recognise pain and improve your horse’s well-being. 🐎💙
📚 Available now! Sign up for The Horse Physio newsletter for the link and a 20% discount - link in bio!

12/12/2025

The Ridden Horse Performance Checklist
5: The mouth opening and shutting repeatedly with separation of teeth, for ten or more seconds

Research shows that if 8 or more of this list of 24 ridden behaviours are shown, it’s highly likely that the horse is in musculoskeletal pain.
Find out more on the Harmonious Horsemanship website.
The Ridden Horse Performance Checklist is adapted from:
Dyson, Sue & Berger, Jeannine & Ellis, Andrea & Mullard, Jessica. (2017). Development of an ethogram for a pain scoring system in ridden horses and its application to determine the presence of musculoskeletal pain. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2017.10.008

More than just a fuss about the bit.
Horses might open their mouths for a number of reasons—but when you see the mouth opening and shutting repeatedly, with the teeth parting, for ten seconds or more during ridden work, it may be a red flag.
This is one of the 24 behaviours identified in the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE), and it’s strongly associated with musculoskeletal discomfort. The repetition and duration matter—this isn’t momentary resistance, it’s a message worth hearing.
That’s why I co-wrote Harmonious Horsemanship with Dr Sue Dyson: to help horse owners notice the signs that matter, and respond with kindness, clarity, and care.

🌿 Sign up to my newsletter for practical insights, evidence-based tools, and a 20% discount on the book.
👉 www.thehorsephysio.co.uk/newsletter



Image shared with thanks to Train with Trust
https://www.facebook.com/trainwithtrust
https://trainwithtrust.com

12/12/2025

Why Your Horse Deserves Regular Physio (Even If They're Doing Fine)
�Just like us, horses can carry niggles that don’t cause obvious problems—until they do.
�A new study tracked 70 dressage horses over several years. The ones treated regularly and checked even when they seemed fine? They performed better, stayed in work longer, and were more likely to reach higher levels.
�This is exactly why I recommend seeing high-level horses every 3–4 weeks and amateurs every 4–6 weeks.
�🧘‍♀️ They don’t have to be lame. They just have to be loved.
�Let’s shift the focus from cure to care 💕
�💡 Get started with my free horse health check course – sign up through the newsletter (link in bio)

12/12/2025

Do you know the 24 signs of pain in a ridden horse?
Learn how to use the Ridden Horse Ethogram to spot discomfort before it affects performance. Harmonious Horsemanship is a game-changer for every horse owner. 📖🐴
🔗 Sign up for The Horse Physio newsletter for the link and a 20% discount - link in bio!