Volta Equestrian

11/03/2025

Splint update.
After just a few Tecar therapy sessions, this girl is doing amazing — the area is healing beautifully.
She finds the sessions so relaxing that she nearly falls asleep every time 😴💆‍♀️🙃.

10/29/2025

Being able to see this in person in dissection with Trinity Equine Services was incredible.
Photos in comments.

A horse's full intestines can weigh over 100 pounds (45 kg), with the large intestine alone potentially accounting for that entire weight when full of feed.

The total weight depends on the horse's size and what it has recently consumed.
Key components of the equine digestive tract include:
Total capacity: The entire gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a fed, mature horse can hold nearly 50 gallons (190 liters) of fluid and feed.
Hindgut weight: The hindgut (cecum and colon) accounts for approximately 64% of the empty weight of the GI tract. This is the area where fiber fermentation occurs.
Large intestine capacity: The large intestine is a significant contributor to the total weight of the full intestines.
It can hold 80 liters (21 gallons) or more of food and water.
When filled with feed, it can weigh up to 100 pounds (45 kg).
Cecum capacity: The cecum, a comma-shaped organ on the right side of the abdomen, can hold up to 30 liters (about 8 gallons) of food and water.

Another thing to consider in our horses is that the small intestines is suspended via the mesentry to the vertebral column of the lumbar. The lumbar is one of the last places to mature in horses and is susceptible to problems. Lumbar pain is a common site of dysfunction in horses I see for several reasons…..that is another post!

Below is just the intestinal tract from a 15hh horse, in a dissection it takes 4 people to comfortably carry this all out on a tarpaulin.

Below is a link to whole collection of videos on the intestinal tract.

https://www.patreon.com/collection/1804697t

10/27/2025

10/22/2025

10/18/2025

A short explanation of the science behind TECAR THERAPY by Indiba, one of the leading Tecar therapy providers.
So happy to be able use this technology on horses! 🐴

10/16/2025

Resharing from December xx
Its important to know that ESPA is now the newer more updated term

Despite some wild claims this is a whole body issue, connective tissue is everywhere it can even affect the eyes of some horses

Nervous system regulation is not a cure
Jaw flexions is not a cure
Would you want to ride a horse that has a whole body connective tissue disorder,.would your horse feel safe ?? Would you feel safe and is it fair to an already compromised body to add more load

More up to date imaging including the nuchal ligament can often help owners find a correct diagnosis

From mild to severe the ranges can vary yet degenerative is the most important word,

Be wary of those claiming success on one horse for often managed is a better claim, and most owners of DSLD horses have already made the correct changes to help their horse the owners are the experts

Heartache for owners is often the only thing that is left when those who claim cures offer hope in times of desperation,

It is not just a fetlock issue yet often many people only focus their eyes on the lower limb

DSLD

Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis

We have all encountered watching a horse move or stand and our glance moves down to the fetlocks which just don't look right, the upright position often replaced by an hyperextension of the fetlock or a dropped look.

Often if we only focus on the lower limb, we might think by simply fixing an angle that everything will rectify itself but as in the word degenerative the sad truth is is that for a lot of cases the issue will only become worse and if we use another name which is

Equine Systemic Proteoglycan Accumulation we might have a better understanding that it may not just be a Suspensory issue but a connective tissue issue, and as the horse's body is built by the binding of connective tissue then we may just have a whole horse issue.

What is Proteoglycan??

This is a basic overview as it gets way to complicated

They are made up of a core protein and attaching to the core is a chain of Glycosaminoglycans (GAGS) which are basically sugar chains. The Proteoglycan can be found in the ECM, the ECM is the Extracellular Matrix which is the glue that holds cells together and allows movement of the cells as a group, it also filters, blocks or delays signals and helps protect the cells from damage.

The Proteoglycans or PGs for short anchor to the surface of the cells or traverse around the cell membrane, sending signals and aiding in wound healing and even in embryonic development. Think of them of fillers of space between every cell in the ECM and even beyond,

The shape of them makes them able to swell and make them resist compression so in tendon areas that have such a force put on them so the tendons of the lower limb are abundant with Proteoglycans and its these which get unevenly distributed accumulating hence the other name of Equine Systemic Proteoglycan Accumulation

If we think this occurs between collagen and elastin fibres then we need to think where these fibres are in the whole horse, we also have to think of the abnormal loading of the limb and the connections of the suspensory to other structures, where it merges, how the rest of the body is dealing with an abnormal load, how the foot shape is being defined, the other tendonous areas in the limb and the connection to the muscles as we go up the limb

It is still widely unknown about the repercussions and new research is being found and to keep updated is to keep informed.

Riding is not advised for horses suffering from this and often the degenerative angle of the ailment means that often positive outcomes are rare, but it is hereditary so again we have to look to breeders to fly the flag for a better breed standard to help the future horses.

There are many wild claims out there of cures and it saddens me that owners are not only put through the heartache of not knowing where to turn with their horse but will be accosted by these claims and made to feel a failure if they don't follow the crowd. Remember success is always your horse being pain free and comfortable in its own body just to be a horse

10/14/2025

This past weekend I attended an incredible equine dissection clinic — an experience that was both emotional and deeply educational.
Seeing and understanding the horse from within gives such powerful insight into how every structure connects, supports, and compensates. It’s one thing to study anatomy on paper, but witnessing it firsthand changes your understanding forever.

10/06/2025

Tecar Therapy in Action

Today’s sessions showed again how versatile and effective Tecar therapy can be!
We worked on a few very different cases — a splint, a muscle tear, and a horse showing some weekend in the stiffle.

Each session focused on increasing circulation, reducing inflammation, and helping the tissues recover faster.

Splint: Used the capacitive mode to calm inflammation and reduce heat in the area, followed by resistive mode to stimulate bone and ligament healing.
Muscle Tear: Focused on deep resistive work to reach the damaged fibers and support regeneration.
Stifle: Alternated between both modes to release tension in the surrounding muscles, improve joint mobility, and ease discomfort.

What the horse feels:
As it might feel different at first, most horses relax during Tecar therapy — you’ll see soft eyes, licking, chewing, and shifting into a calm, resting stage as warmth spreads through the tissue.

09/27/2025

Interesting video...So happy I got introduced to WOW Saddles...
My horse loves his saddle and I see so many positive changes in his posture, muscle structure, overall performance and attitude.
Saddles are so easy to adjust and make it perfect with the flair system and with Renske Valkenburg The Saddle Doc LLC
Very curious how much of a adjustment we are going to need after a couple of months since our last fitting.

09/26/2025

So proud of all the horses who gave their best last week! They work so hard for us — from the long hours of trailering, to the excitement of the showgrounds, to stepping into the ring and giving it their all.

That’s why recovery is just as important as preparation.
A post-show bodywork session helps them let go of tension, relax sore muscles, and settle back into balance so they can feel their best again.

They carry us through every stride — and they deserve the same care and support in return.

Roe loved his well deserved session after a week of adventures.🧡🤎

09/24/2025

Tecar Therapy for Horses

We’ve already seen wonderful results using Tecar on a wide range of cases:
🔹 Stringhalt – reaching deep into the psoas with great improvement! So exited about this one.
🔹 Hock inflammation & ringbone support
🔹 Lumbar spine discomfort
🔹 Splints & suspensory injuries
🔹 Neck arthritis
🔹 Old scar tissue
🔹 General muscle soreness & recovery
🔹Shoulder restrictions

Why Tecar?
Tecar therapy works by stimulating the horse’s own natural healing response. It increases circulation, helps with inflammation, softens restrictions in deeper layers, and speeds up recovery.

What the horse feels:
Most horses quickly relax into the session. They feel gentle warmth deep in the tissues, releasing tension, improving comfort, and allowing freer movement. Many even start yawning, licking, chewing, or dropping their head as the body lets go of restriction.

Whether it’s joint issues, old injuries, or just muscle tightness from training, Tecar has proven to be a powerful tool in supporting equine performance and comfort.