France Wild Voice Equine

10/07/2025

Brakes issue with my car which means all appointments are cancelled tomorrow. Keep an eye on WhatsApp and emails for rescheduling options.

03/07/2025

I’ve been reflecting on the rising number of suspensory ligament injuries in horses, including young ones who have done relatively little work. It raises important questions about potential contributing factors: breeding choices that prioritise performance traits over structural robustness, nutritional imbalances that affect soft tissue resilience, training methods that might overload immature bodies, or even the type and quality of surfaces horses work on, which can influence strain on their limbs. Perhaps too, with advances in veterinary diagnostics and greater awareness among owners and professionals, we’re simply identifying issues earlier and more accurately than we once did. I don’t have all the answers, but I believe this is a vital conversation. Have you noticed similar patterns? What are your thoughts or experiences on why these injuries seem increasingly common, and what might help us prevent them in the future?

21/06/2025

While carrot stretches are commonly used in rehab routines to encourage flexibility, they can easily become rushed or forced—especially when food is involved—leading to compensatory patterns or even reinforcing unhealthy postures. In contrast, static mobilisations (such as gentle guided flexions or passive range-of-motion techniques) allow for controlled, mindful engagement of the muscles and fascia. These techniques respect the horse’s current limits, support proprioceptive feedback, and promote quality of movement rather than quantity.
Check out my mobility course 👉🏼 link in biog


..

Photo credits from Pinterest

19/06/2025

How are horses different from sheep and cows? 🐎🐄🐑

Sheep and cows are multi gastric ruminants (more than one stomach) and require higher amounts of simple carbohydrates (more sugar) as they must take more time per mouthful to process forage in their rumens. Think of them lying about for hours methodically chewing their cuds. Horses are a hind gut fermenter with one stomach and a giant cecum and thereby occupy a different niche. They rely on higher volumes of feed throughput as they spend much longer proportions of their days grazing higher fiber forages, and less time on every mouthful than ruminants do. Why are we feeding our horses like cows and sheep then?

19/06/2025

Due to cancellations I have 2 morning spots available for Friday 27th in Oxted/East Grinstead/Crowborough, Sevenoaks area

13/05/2025

It's my birthday 🎂🎉!
Got this through the post from a close friend, I've been wanting to buy this book since the horsemanship showcase back in November!
My hubby spoiled me with a Spa day voucher and I feel like a princess in my pretty dress ☀️ AND, it's the first time the weather is soooo gorgeous on the 13th of May ☀️☀️☀️🎉🎂
Welcome to my happy 42 year old self 💗

11/05/2025

11/04/2025

⚠️ Watch Out – The Grass is About to Explode!

We’ve had a dry spring so far… but rain is coming. And with it, an outburst of lush, sugary grass that could be lethal for some horses.

Here’s what happens:
When grass grows rapidly, it becomes rich in sugars. The sudden sugar rush overwhelms the horse’s gut microbes. Some flourish, others die off. The die-off releases toxins, disrupts digestion, and irritates the gut lining. These toxins leak into the bloodstream, causing inflammation throughout the body.

That inflammation?
It’s what causes those sudden fat pads to appear—normal fat cells reacting to the stress inside. And worse… when the toxins reach the hooves, they can inflame the laminae, shut off circulation, and trigger the dreaded condition we know as Laminitis.

What can you do right now to prep for that outburst?
✅ Get a grazing muzzle to reduce intake without restricting movement
✅ Limit turnout during the most dangerous hours (typically early morning) even 2 hrs less will make a difference.
✅ Introduce hay before turnout to reduce hunger-fuelled gorging, make sure your hay is meadow hay/low sugar.
✅ Supplement to support the gut and neutralise toxins

Some great support options include:

Ron Fields UKC30X + Neutra 20 (a fantastic gut and toxin binder combo)

Forage Plus Lami Low Sugar Balancer

Thunderbrook Gut Restore + Activated Charcoal or BioAktive EQ

EquiBiome gut testing if you're not sure what’s going on

Even if your horse seems fine, prevention is far kinder (and cheaper) than recovery. Laminitis doesn’t give warnings – until it’s too late. Stay vigilant, and support your horse’s internal balance as nature ramps up.

Let’s help them stay healthy from the inside out.

13/03/2025

Regumate vs. Osteopathy: Managing Hormonal Behaviour in Mares

If you have a mare who becomes difficult, irritable, or even uncomfortable when in season, you’ve probably heard of Regumate. This hormonal medication is commonly used to suppress oestrus, helping to reduce mood swings, aggression, or performance issues.

But is it the only solution? And more importantly, does it address the root cause of your mare’s discomfort?

How Regumate Works

Regumate contains altrenogest, a synthetic progestogen that mimics progesterone, preventing your mare from coming into season. It’s often used to:
✔️ Suppress hormonal behaviours in sensitive mares.
✔️ Synchronise oestrus for breeding programs.
✔️ Support pregnancy in mares prone to early embryonic loss.

While it can be helpful in the short term, there are considerations and risks:
⚠️ It requires careful handling as it can be absorbed through the skin, posing risks to humans, especially women.
⚠️ Long-term use may impact fertility, and some mares experience weight gain or coat changes.
⚠️ It doesn’t resolve the underlying reason why your mare struggles with her cycle—it only suppresses symptoms.

A Holistic, Long-Term Approach: Visceral Osteopathy

Instead of blocking hormonal cycles, visceral osteopathy works with the body to restore natural balance and comfort. The uterus, ovaries, and surrounding structures should move freely within the abdomen, but restrictions, adhesions, or tension can cause pain, irregular cycles, and heightened behavioural responses.

Through gentle, hands-on techniques, an equine osteopath can:
✨ Improve circulation and mobility in the reproductive organs.
✨ Release restrictions or adhesions that could be causing discomfort.
✨ Support hormonal regulation by optimising nervous system function.
✨ Address secondary compensations, such as tension in the lumbar spine or pelvis, which often contribute to discomfort during cycles.

By restoring natural movement and balance in the body, osteopathy offers a gentle yet effective alternative to managing hormonal discomfort—without shutting down the mare’s natural cycles.

Have you noticed changes in your mare’s behaviour during her cycle? I’d love to hear from you ⬇️

03/03/2025

The changing of a horse’s coat in spring (and autumn) can place additional demand on the emunctories, particularly the liver and kidneys. This is because shedding and coat renewal are metabolic processes that involve detoxification, cellular turnover, and increased circulation of waste products.
How Shedding Affects the Emunctories:

1. Liver:
The liver plays a key role in detoxification, breaking down old cells, processing hormones, and filtering out metabolic waste.

Spring coat change is often accompanied by an increase in energy metabolism and sometimes a shift in diet (e.g., from hay to fresh grass), which can further tax the liver.

Some horses may show signs of mild liver overload, such as itchy skin, dull coat, or sluggishness.

2. Kidneys:
The kidneys help remove toxins through urine, and during coat change, there may be an increased need for elimination of metabolic waste.

Ensuring proper hydration is key to supporting kidney function during this period.

3. Skin (as an Emunctory):
The skin itself is a major route of elimination, and as old hair is shed, the body may also release stored toxins.

Horses with a sluggish system might show skin issues like dandruff, itchiness, or even minor breakouts.

🌿How to Support the Horse’s Emunctories in Spring:

🔺Liver Support:
Herbs like milk thistle, dandelion root, and burdock can help the liver process waste efficiently.
Avoid overloading with rich feeds or unnecessary supplements that could burden liver function.

🔺Kidney Support:
Ensure plenty of clean water and encourage movement to stimulate circulation.
Nettle or cleavers can gently support kidney function.

🔺Skin & Coat Support:
Regular grooming aids circulation and lymphatic drainage.
Essential fatty acids (linseed, h**p) can promote healthy skin renewal.
Avoid excessive rugging, which may interfere with the body’s natural detoxification through sweating.

The liver and kidneys are not only essential for detoxification but also play a significant role in the horse’s overall mobility through viscerosomatic reflexes. When these organs become overburdened, they can create muscular tension, postural imbalances, and even restrictions in movement.

🐎Viscerosomatic Reflex & Its Impact on Mobility

Viscerosomatic reflexes occur when dysfunction in an internal organ (viscera) creates tension or discomfort in the musculoskeletal system. This happens because the autonomic nervous system and spinal cord share pathways between internal organs and certain muscle groups.

➡️Liver Dysfunction & Its Effects on Mobility

The liver is innervated by the phrenic nerve (C3-C5) and the vagus nerve, and its viscerosomatic reflex is often associated with right-sided stiffness due to its anatomical position. When the liver is struggling:

Horses may exhibit restricted movement in the right shoulder or difficulty bending to the right.

The thoracic sling muscles (pectorals, serratus ventralis) may tighten, affecting forelimb freedom.

There may be tension in the diaphragm, impacting overall posture and leading to compensatory patterns in the back and hindquarters.

Horses might develop a preference for resting one front leg over the other, indicating discomfort in weight distribution.

➡️Kidney Dysfunction & Its Effects on Mobility

The kidneys are located in the lumbar region (T12-L3) and are closely related to the psoas muscles, iliopsoas, and quadratus lumborum. If the kidneys are overloaded:

Horses may experience lower back stiffness or reluctance to engage the hindquarters.

There can be difficulty with collection, transitions, or lateral movements due to a lack of mobility in the lumbar region.

Some horses may develop girthiness or sensitivity around the flanks, as the fascia surrounding the kidneys connects to the diaphragm and thoracolumbar spine.

⚠️Signs Your Horse Might Benefit from Visceral Osteopathy in Spring

🐎Stiffness or discomfort in shoulder mobility (right side for liver, lumbar for kidneys)

🐎Unexplained girthiness or flank sensitivity

🐎Reluctance to engage the hindquarters or bend laterally

🐎Skin issues, itchiness, or a dull coat despite good nutrition

🐎Lethargy or behavioural changes, especially when shedding or transitioning to spring grass

By addressing these organ-related tensions, visceral osteopathy not only helps improve movement and posture but also supports overall health, comfort, and performance.