Helen Askey Equine Sports Therapist

22/12/2025

Interesting and so common!

What is the difference between laterality and asymmetry?

How Laterality and Asymmetry Interact

Laterality and asymmetry often influence one another, but they do not originate from the same place.

Laterality begins in the nervous system. A horse (or human) may have a preferred side for organizing movement, balance, and coordination even when the body appears physically symmetrical. This preference affects timing, muscle recruitment, and how forces are distributed through the body.

Asymmetry develops in the physical tissues. Over time, repeated use patterns, compensation, injury, or training demands can lead to measurable differences in muscle tone, fascial density, joint range of motion, or posture between the left and right sides.

When laterality persists, the nervous system repeatedly loads one side more efficiently than the other. Over time, this can create structural asymmetries in muscle and fascia. Conversely, an existing asymmetry — such as an old injury or restriction — can alter sensory input and drive the nervous system to favor one side, reinforcing lateralized movement patterns.

This feedback loop explains why some asymmetries return quickly after bodywork if the underlying neurological organization has not changed, and why some lateral preferences soften once tissue tone and sensory input are improved.

Why This Matters in Practice

If laterality is the primary driver, purely structural approaches (stretching, massage, strengthening one side) often produce limited or temporary results. The nervous system continues to organize movement according to its established preference.

If asymmetry is the primary issue, addressing tissue quality, mobility, and load tolerance can significantly improve function and comfort — and may allow the nervous system to rebapance naturally.

Most real-world cases involve both, which is why effective work often combines:
• manual therapy to address tissue asymmetry
• movement and training strategies to address neurological organization

Takeaway

Laterality is how the brain prefers to organize movement from left to right.
Asymmetry is what the body has become over time because of how it moves.

https://koperequine.com/the-relationship-between-massage-to-the-equine-caudal-hindlimb-muscles-and-hindlimb-protraction/

17/12/2025

Is your horse tricky or uncomfortable during shoeing/trimming?

Our next question on the Equine Cervical Neck -
How does arthritis in the neck affect hoof handling of both front and hind feet? Thank You, Monique L

If your horse struggles with their farrier work or afterward, there could be a reason unrelated to the trim/shoeing.
• Pain with sustained positioning.
Farrier work requires the horse to hold a limb up and often slightly flexed for several minutes at a time. For a horse with lower cervical (neck) arthritis, this prolonged positioning acts like a long flexion test, stressing painful joints and surrounding soft tissues.

• Nerve involvement (especially in the front limbs).
The nerves that supply the front legs originate in the lower neck and brachial plexus. Arthritis can irritate or compress these nerves. Vibrations from rasping and hammering travel up the limb and can amplify nerve pain, making hoof work very uncomfortable.

• Shoulder girdle strain.
Lifting and holding a front leg requires stabilization through the neck and shoulder girdle. If the neck is arthritic, this effort can trigger pain that persists for days after farrier work, sometimes mimicking lameness caused by the trim or shoeing.

• Hind feet are affected too.
Although the hind limbs are not directly innervated by the brachial plexus, holding a hind leg up requires the horse to brace through the neck and back to maintain balance. Neck pain makes this difficult, so the horse may resist, fidget, or become sore afterward.

• Delayed soreness after farrier work.
Horses with cervical arthritis may appear fine during trimming but become lame or stiff for 2–4 days afterward, leading to farriers being blamed for issues like “taking too much off” or nail pain, when the real source is cervical discomfort.

Bottom line:
If a horse consistently struggles with farrier work—front or hind—especially with signs of soreness afterward, resistance to holding legs up, or sensitivity to vibration, the neck is an important place to investigate, particularly for arthritis or nerve-related pain.

14/11/2025

You worry about knocking a pole, we worry about the body 🧐

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗷𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀: 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗮 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 — 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗕𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺

𝘞𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘴.
𝘞𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘴.

A horse bred for jumping doesn’t want to hit poles; it’s uncomfortable, inefficient and instinctively avoided.
So when a jumper keeps tapping rails, it’s often because the body can’t organise the movement, not because the horse “isn’t trying.”

And here’s something worth thinking about:
𝘼𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 80–90% 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙇6 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙨𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙘 𝙞𝙢𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚.
𝘽𝙪𝙩, 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙨, 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙖.
This is why a whole-horse assessment is essential, not just focusing on the feet hitting the poles.

𝟭. 𝗣𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗰 𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗱𝗹𝗲 – 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝗺

𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗷𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱.
If the pelvis can’t tilt or the SI and lumbosacral joints lack mobility, the horse can’t sit, coil, or push.

That means:
🐎𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘰𝘧𝘧
🐎𝘍𝘭𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘦
🐎𝘏𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘵

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀:
SI joint, lumbosacral junction, gluteals, hamstrings, iliopsoas.

𝟮. 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 – 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿

A supple midline allows the horse to round over the fence.
Restrictions here create:
🐎𝘈 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘧, 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘮𝘱
🐎𝘗𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘵
🐎𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘴

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀:
Longissimus dorsi, multifidus, abdominal sling, T12–L2, L5–S1.

𝟯. 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗱𝗹𝗲 & 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 – 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁 𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿

• The forelimb isn’t attached by bone — only soft tissue.
• If the thoracic sling is tight or weak, the shoulders simply can’t lift high enough.
• But lift doesn’t start at the leg — it starts at the scapulothoracic junction.
• For clean jumping, the scapula must glide freely in all necessary directions:

🐎𝘜𝘱𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 & 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯
🐎𝘌𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯
🐎𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯
🐎𝘊𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘢𝘭 𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘦

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀, 𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝘂𝗺𝗽.
When the scapulothoracic area is restricted, it frequently accompanies a 1st rib held in either inspiration or expiration, locking the entire front end.

And again, around 80% of horses show dysfunction here that improves dramatically with skilled manual therapy.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:
▪️𝘓𝘰𝘸 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘣 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘵
▪️𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘣𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨
▪️𝘗𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘶𝘱 𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀:
Serratus ventralis, pectorals, subclavius, trapezius, rhomboideus, brachiocephalicus,
plus the scapulothoracic fascia, 1st rib, and associated intercostals.

𝟰. 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 – 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆

Neck mobility directly affects the front-end mechanics.
If the neck is stiff, especially mid–lower cervical:
▪️𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺
▪️𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘣 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴
▪️𝘊𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀:
C3–C7, poll/AO joint, nuchal ligament.

𝟱. 𝗥𝗶𝗯𝗰𝗮𝗴𝗲 & 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘂𝗺 – 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀
The ribcage must expand and the sternum must elevate for the horse to truly lift the front.
Restrictions cause:
▪️𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘺𝘴𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯
▪️𝘈 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥
▪️𝘓𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯
▪️𝘙𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘰𝘮

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀:
Costovertebral joints, intercostals, sternum.

𝟲. 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 & 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝 — 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨.

𝗜𝗳 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸:
The horse may not fully register limb placement
Takeoff timing becomes inconsistent
Poles get tapped simply from lack of spatial awareness
Key structures:
Brachial plexus, fascial lines, cervical spinal nerves.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲
𝗬𝗲𝘀 — 𝗟𝟲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗦𝗜 𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟭𝘀𝘁-𝗿𝗶𝗯 𝗳𝗶𝘅𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲, 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿.

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

A horse can only lift the limbs once the pelvis, spine, ribs, neck, scapula, and thoracic sling are all working harmoniously.
Endless jump practice won’t fix body restrictions.

Before worrying about technique…
𝗙𝗶𝘅 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲. As always this is just a snippet of information to create a post. This could have been written in many different ways, with differing angles of thought. Its no way the complete picture. Book your horse for a complete assessment is always Key.

𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
My next post will go into more detail about that very common L6 in extension pattern — why it happens, how it affects movement, and what it means for performance.
If you have any thoughts or questions you’d like included, comment or message —
I’ll try to add them in the L6-specific post.

20/09/2025

⭐️ CORNWALL CLIENTS ⭐️

Spaces available Wednesday afternoon this week

Chiro * Indiba * Laser * Soft tissue work

New customers welcome around the area

10/09/2025

Give it a go…!

Unsure where to start with stretching, mobilisation and Pilates?! I have almost 50 videos on my YouTube channel for you to try. Accessed also via my website if you want to search for certain muscle group specific exercises 🙌❤️

10/09/2025

So simple and so effective 🙌

Backwards walking isn’t just reverse action 👇

The ‘back-up’ is a key exercise used in rehabilitation and now we have new evidence to support its effectiveness!

Eldridge et al. (2025) found unique hip extensor muscle activation and increased stifle and hock flexion with backwards walking.

This results of this study support the clinical use of this exercise to improve hind limb strength, stability, coordination and range of movement 👏👏

28/07/2025

25/06/2025

It’s a yes from me! 🙌

How to feel about lunging?

A common statement I often hear or see is “my horse won’t lunge” and the truth of the matter is no horse naturally lunges themselves - it’s very much an unnatural thing for a horse. That’s not to say it’s of no use. Quite the opposite in fact! That said, everyone’s idea of how and why they lunge can vary greatly.

Lunging is a dance of subtle communication between horse and handler. How aggressive your posture is, the angle of your body to the horse, your aids, your eye contact, your voice, your intentions and your understanding all play a vital role in how your horse will react to you. It can either be a wonderful diagnostic tool to improve or it can become a hot mess of horse running around in small circles, dangerously out of control that can cause injury and a lack of confidence in striding.

The beauty of lunging is in working out why you are doing it. To the novice, it’s more about exercise and they don’t see any more than that. To the knowledgeable person, it’s a chance to see how even the stride is and how balanced the horse is. Do the hinds step into or beyond the front hoof print? Does the tail swing with the stride, does the horse bend softly through the entire body? Does the inside hoof track slightly to the inside of the front hoof print in a small circle, does the horse pay attention for the next command, can my horse spiral in/out while maintaining balance? Is my horse relaxed or finding lunging stressful? Do the shoulders fall in with the horse counter balancing to the outside?

Lunging is the chance to unburden the horse from our clumsy meat sacks and really observe how they use themselves on a circle. If our riding is good enough the horse will have learned to carry itself in a soft relaxed way lunging first. If the rider influences/interferes with the horse too much then you have not trained the horse to carry itself in lightness and lunging is a fruitless exercise.

Lunging should be trained. Start with a soft yielding circle in close connection at walk, following the horse’s movement and being mindful of where you are. Every part of your body can be used to communicate the message to the horse. Learn to raise and lower your energy to communicate speed/tempo this is the communication a horse responds to kindly. I often see horses completely checked out while lunging and their humans frustrated at having to nag with a lunge whip. True connection to the horse keeps it seeking communication and guidance, so this response is to preserve themselves mentally. Their mind has wandered elsewhere, away from the drudgery of lunging. The opposite is true for sensitive horses who get extremely tense, as a tense horse will counter bend, slip and the lack of footing sends them into a panic running frantically. This response from a sensitive horse is to protect their body, they are in flight mode. Neither scenario is beneficial.

Lunging is an honest guide to how your horse is feeling mentally and physically. I highly recommend Manolo Mendez's work if you are looking for a practical guide. Both lunging and in hand work can open new channels of connection and communication with your horse. I also find it’s one of the most useful tools for rehab work and can build a string topline quickly if it’s done thoughtfully. Some people won’t have read this far and dismissed it as voo doo ......I can remember thinking this way but the skill of horses is in the minute details, that’s where the magic happens.

Training aides and why they are unnecessary is a whole other post.

Happy lunging 🙂

Photo of my gorgeous ex PRE stallion Alegria Asombroso.

20/05/2025

🦷𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲, 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭!⭐️ Routine dental care is essential to your horse’s overall well-being. Sharp points, uneven wear, or dental issues can cause discomfort, behavioral problems, and poor performance.

🗓️I’m now taking 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 and would love to help keep your horse feeling their best. 💫 Calm, professional, and experienced handling.✅

𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰!—send a message for availability📥