The Horse Physio

04/02/2026

03/02/2026

Keep an eye on your horse’s weight with a weigh tape if you can. Grass is often richer than it looks.

“Great value for the price.”

These words come from Drawn to Horses — a mother-and-daughter book illustrated by my mum, Sarah Brown.

Available here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Drawn-Horses-Mothers-Daughters-Reflections/dp/1919214712

03/02/2026

The Ridden Horse Performance Checklist
10: Head in front of vertical (more than 30 degrees) 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

Is your horse resisting, or reacting?
When a horse holds their head significantly in front of the vertical for 10 seconds or more during ridden work, it might look like a training problem—but it may be a sign of pain.
This specific behaviour is one of the 24 signs listed in the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE), a scientifically validated tool for identifying musculoskeletal discomfort. Horses often alter their posture in an attempt to protect themselves from pain—something we can easily misinterpret unless we know what to look for.
In Harmonious Horsemanship, the book I co-authored with Dr Sue Dyson, we break down each of these signs to help you make confident, compassionate choices for your horse.

🌿 Sign up to my newsletter for evidence-informed insights, helpful resources, 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

03/02/2026

A safe space to heal
Physiotherapy isn’t just about easing pain. It’s about helping you feel at home in your own body again — finding balance, confidence, and freedom of movement.
At my clinic in Stafford, I offer a safe, welcoming space where you can pause for a while. It’s warm, calm, and friendly — somewhere to breathe, rest, and reconnect.
I’m passionate about the benefits of manual therapy. Through skilled, hands-on treatment, I help ease stiffness, release tension, and restore movement — so you can get back to doing the things you love with comfort and confidence.
Physiotherapy, at its heart, is about partnership. Together, we work to support your health, your goals, and your well-being.
💚 Read more on the blog: A Safe Space to Heal: The Heart Behind My Human Physiotherapy Work
👉 https://www.thehorsephysio.co.uk/a-safe-space-to-heal-the-heart-behind-my-human-physiotherapy-work/

03/02/2026

Horses can’t talk, but they do communicate.
You just need to know how to listen. Harmonious Horsemanship teaches you to recognise pain-related behaviours. 🐴💙
🔗 Order now! Sign up for The Horse Physio newsletter for the link and a 20% discount - link in bio!

02/02/2026

Good trimming and farriery are vital. The old saying “no foot, no horse” is still true today.

“Written from the heart, highly recommended.”

From Drawn to Horses, a gentle book of reflections and drawings about life with horses.

Available here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Drawn-Horses-Mothers-Daughters-Reflections/dp/1919214712

02/02/2026

The Ridden Horse Performance Checklist
9: Head tilted, repeated

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

Is your horse trying to level with you?
Repeated head tilting during ridden work might seem like a schooling issue—or even a quirk of conformation—but it can also be a red flag.
This behaviour is listed in the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE), a tool developed from peer-reviewed research to help identify musculoskeletal discomfort under saddle. When a horse consistently tilts their head, it could be a sign of pain that needs investigating—not correcting.
In Harmonious Horsemanship, co-authored with Dr Sue Dyson, we walk you through these subtle behaviours so you can support your horse’s well-being with empathy and informed action.

🌿 Sign up to my newsletter for evidence-based insights, resources you can trust, and 20% off the book.
👉 www.thehorsephysio.co.uk/newsletter



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

02/02/2026

Still Learning, Every Single Day

I was chatting with Mum the other day, and I said something that really made me smile: “I feel like I learn something new every single day.”

Sometimes it’s something I’d rather not learn – a hard truth, a tough experience. But more often, it’s something I can tuck away for the future – to help a client, a friend, my family, or myself.

Take this little gem, for example: did you know an unwashed egg can last for weeks, but once you wash it, you remove the natural membrane that protects it from decay, and it’ll only last around two weeks? Nothing to do with horses… but still a learning moment!

And then there are the really exciting learning days – the kind that spark new ways to support our horses. A recent example for me has been experimenting with kinesiology tape as an adjunct to hands-on treatment. It’s a lovely way to extend the effects of the session after I’ve left, and I’m incredibly grateful to Denise Cheese of Equine K Taping UK for sharing her expertise and insights during her course. If you’re curious about taping for horses, I highly recommend checking her out.

Of course, massage and baited stretches are still my number one go-to home exercises – simple, effective, and backed by both science and experience. But it’s always wonderful to have one more tool in the box.

Every day’s a school day – and I wouldn’t have it any other way. 🧠💛🐴

If you’re passionate about learning too – for yourself and your horse – you might love my private learning hub Healthy Humans, Happy Horses. Join us on this journey of wellness and wisdom:
👉 https://www.thehorsephysio.co.uk/newsletter/

02/02/2026

Prevention is better than cure.
Recognising pain early means fewer injuries, better performance, and a happier horse. Harmonious Horsemanship shows you how. 🐎💡
📚 Buy today! Sign up for The Horse Physio newsletter for the link and a 20% discount - link in bio!