The Horse Physio

07/05/2026

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!

07/05/2026

If you’re the sort of owner who likes to understand why, not just what to do, this may resonate with you.

Because often, the most important step isn’t doing more.

It’s noticing.

What feels normal for your horse.
And what might be beginning to change.

That’s where understanding starts.

If you’d like to explore that, you can start here:

https://mailchi.mp/thehorsephysio/listening-through-your-hands

07/05/2026

I’m grateful to be able to take photos and videos on my phone, for memories, and for laughter.

What are you grateful for today?

07/05/2026

One of the greatest gifts horse massage can offer is not simply what it does for the muscles.
It is what it teaches you to notice.
A horse who flinches slightly when groomed.A bend that feels easier one way than the other.A turn that suddenly feels a little less even.
These things are easy to miss when life feels busy. But often, they are where understanding begins.
I’ve written a new blog about why horse massage for horse owners is really about awareness, communication, and learning to listen before problems become bigger.
Read it here: https://thehorsephysio.thinkific.com/pages/blog?p=horse-massage-for-horse-owners-listening-with-your-hands

07/05/2026

07/05/2026

There’s something about creating space that feels good for the mind as well as the body.

I’ve been decluttering my treatment room over the past few days, and I’m already loving the difference it’s making. Calmer. Lighter. More peaceful. Just repainting and new pictures to hang now.

If you’re based in Stafford and looking for someone to listen to you and your body, and to support you in proactively caring for yourself, feel free to drop me a message.

06/05/2026

Avoid using show sheen in your horse’s mane if you’re going to ride soon after — it can make reins and saddles slippery.

“Useful reminders presented in a warm, accessible way.”

From Drawn to Horses, a small, thoughtful book pairing my mum’s drawings with gentle reflections from a life shared with horses.

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

06/05/2026

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.

🌿 Sign up to my newsletter for expert support, free 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

06/05/2026

Is your horse comfortable behind?

It’s a question that doesn’t always have an obvious answer.

Often, what we notice first isn’t lameness…
It’s something more subtle.

A slight unevenness.
A hesitation.
A feeling that something isn’t quite as easy as it once was.

And this is where observation becomes so valuable.

Not to diagnose —
but to begin to understand what your horse may be communicating.

If you’re curious, here are three simple things you might notice:

1️⃣ From behind — does one side of the hindquarters rise or drop differently to the other?

2️⃣ When turning — does each hind leg step under with the same ease and confidence?

3️⃣ When picking up the feet — does one feel different? Heavier, or more reactive?

On their own, these don’t give you an answer.

But they can be the beginning of a pattern.

And patterns are often where understanding starts.

In this photo, I’ve used kinesiology tape after treatment to support comfort and movement — but the most important step always comes before that:

Noticing.

If you’re not quite sure what you’re seeing, this may be a helpful place to start:

https://mailchi.mp/thehorsephysio/is-your-horse-in-pain

06/05/2026

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!

06/05/2026

You don’t need experience.
You don’t need confidence.

Curiosity is enough.

Because the first step isn’t knowing what to do.

It’s noticing.

What feels normal for your horse.
How they respond.
What might be beginning to change.

There’s no pressure to get it right.

You just need to begin.

If that resonates, you can start here:

https://mailchi.mp/thehorsephysio/listening-through-your-hands