Bristol Equine Therapy LLC

08/16/2025

Here’s just a small, raw example of what you get in one of my 2-hour therapy sessions.

It always starts with bodywork. In between treating the hind end and the front end, we evaluate how your horse moves and identify which corrective exercises are needed—not just to support muscle development, but also to improve neuromuscular connections and overall movement.

Don’t get me wrong—the bodywork definitely sets the stage for rest and repair. But the real magic happens with the exercises and the consistent homework you put in between sessions!

08/13/2025

🐴 Ted Talk Tuesday: Let's Talk Girths! 🐴
Girths—whether standard or anatomical—often get blamed for a range of issues, from vet concerns to performance problems. Traditionally, girth galls or sores were chalked up to dirty tack or worn-out gear. But what if that’s not the whole story?

Let’s talk pressure points.
The muscles under the girth area are crucial for both posture and movement. Excessive or uneven pressure here can restrict these muscle groups—something I commonly see in my bodywork sessions. And that restriction doesn’t just stay local. It can impact the horse bio-mechanically, limiting scapular movement and even causing compensation through the hind end.
When pressure is applied to muscles responsible for posture and core stability, it can throw off the horse’s entire way of going. Poor posture = reduced ability to carry themselves = compensation patterns = performance issues.

📊 A study published in The Veterinary Journal (Vol. 198, Issue 1) compared anatomical girths to traditional ones. Here’s what they found:
-Traditional girths exerted 22% (left) and 14% (right) more maximum force.
-Peak pressures were 76% (left) and 98% (right) greater with traditional girths.

-Anatomical girths led to:
-6–11% more forelimb protraction
-10–20% more hind limb protraction
- 4% more carpal flexion
- 3% more tarsal flexion

📌 Conclusion: Anatomical girths reduced pressure and allowed for better movement. Horses showed both physical and bio-mechanical improvement.

That said—every horse is an individual.
Some horses don’t do well in anatomical girths. That’s why it’s always about listening to your horse.

👉 My advice?
Check the girth area like you check their back. Is there soreness or tenderness? If so, it might be time for a change. What works for one horse won’t always work for another.

💬 Drop a comment below—what’s been your experience with anatomical vs. traditional girths?

08/10/2025

Muscle recovery is so important just like humans. You dont build muscle in the gym. That is when you are tearing it. Rest is when you are actually building muscle. Same for horses. Are you prioritizing muscle recovery and rest for your horse too?

Yes I know i am supposed to be doing the course but the doom phase is real 😃😃

We often hear the words "pain is in the brain" and while it is correct the brain does not feel pain because of the lack of nociceptors (specialised nerve endings), it is responsible for sending the signal of pain to the body in order to warn that area to down tools and limit activity, yet i find now we are so focused on the "nervous system" that we are beginning to lose sight that the areas of all the horse still need addressed and correct movement can only occur when the body is no longer on red alert

Muscles often lose out and are somewhat thought of as puppets besides structures like fascia but they are important in whole horse health and a severe muscle injury can takes months to heal
We must not forget every muscle will tell us a story what lies deeper so it is important that the health of these are

So if you horse has say done the spilts in the field we have to think, how much out of range did the muscles and joints go and how long would it take to heal and how quick we bring them back into work because there is no "lameness"

Has your horse scrambled over a gate?? Gone over a stable door with those hinds legs trailing mid air?? What about the illiopsoas or the groin muscles.

Often running your hands on the pectorals or hamstrings it may feel stringy like guitar strings and that can tell you a story of maybe the horses past incidents.

Rehab and recovery ? As I sit nursing a torn gastrocnemius i can tell you the pain is not there all the time but one wrong step and I dont know where to place my foot to alleviate the pain, my achilles tendon is affected, so what about the horse that stops dead, explodes we often miss muscle issues because we jump straight to a bone issue, yet the spasm from a sore muscle can be sporadic and intense.
Has your horse had surgery?? What about the muscle that was cut through ?? Is the area now weaker as scar tissue has taken over from healthy muscle tissue are we bringing the horse back to work to soon once the surgery sight has healed.

Rapid muscle loss or an injury must always be seen by a vet it is so important that the underlying issue is first diagnosed, recovery time can vary from a few days to months

Hope this helps xx

08/08/2025

🐴💛 Our Sweet Elder, Wilma 💆‍♀️

At 24 yrs young Wilma reminds us just how much love and care our senior horses deserve. Regular massage helps her stay comfortable, relaxed, and moving with ease.

A little extra TLC goes a long way in their golden years. 💕

08/06/2025

Welcome back to TED Talk Tuesday!
Tonight’s topic: the trapezius muscle group—with a special focus on the thoracic trapezius.

This is an area I often see underdeveloped or associated with discomfort in horses. In many cases, the root of the problem comes down to equipment failure—typically a poorly fitting saddle or girth. But before we dive into that, let’s take a moment to talk about anatomy.

The trapezius is a fan-shaped, superficial muscle that originates along the nuchal and supraspinous ligaments, spanning from C2 to T10. It sort of resembles a butterfly across the horse’s neck and upper back (if we’re comparing to the human body).

It’s divided into two parts:

The cervical trapezius (over the neck)

The thoracic trapezius (over the withers)

This muscle’s main role is to elevate and move the scapula forward and backward.
Fun fact: the scapula isn’t held in place by a joint—it’s suspended entirely by muscles and fascia. That’s why balance in this area is so critical!

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s talk about the common causes of underdevelopment in the thoracic trapezius and what you can do to support this area.

The biggest cause of underdevelopment or dysfunction in the thoracic trapezius that I see is often due to equipment failure—most commonly, poor saddle fit.

Saddle fit isn’t a “set it and forget it” situation. It should be monitored and evaluated regularly to ensure the horse can move and perform comfortably and correctly.

And we’re not just talking about basic wither clearance. What I like to focus on is what I call “glide clearance.”
This refers to how far the scapula (shoulder blade) is able to move—or glide—during motion.

The freedom, suppleness, and dynamic strength of the shoulder muscles—along with unobstructed scapular movement—are key to allowing the horse full range of limb protraction and retraction. In other words, the better the glide, the better the stride.

Keeping this area free and supported starts with proper tack, but it doesn’t end there—strengthening and mobility work play a big role too.
So what now?
How do you fix or support this area once you notice a problem?

As we mentioned earlier, the first step is always saddle fit. If that’s off, no amount of exercise will fully solve the issue. Make sure your saddle allows for full scapular movement and doesn't restrict the trapezius area.

The next step is giving the horse time out of the tack. This is key. Time without a saddle allows you to target the thoracic trapezius directly, helping the muscles rebuild strength, mobility, and function without interference.

This can be done through:

In-hand exercises

Lunging with proper posture and balance

Pole work to encourage scapular engagement

And specific groundwork that supports shoulder freedom and upper back mobility. Bodywork helps this process. Areas that have little muscular development can be encouraged for growth through targeted massage. This promotes fascia to release and allow more circulation.
Building strength and restoring function takes consistency.
With the right plan and attention to detail, it’s absolutely possible to bring this area back to full health!

07/30/2025

Valuable information—get those angles checked! Supporting the hoof means supporting the whole body.

❓ Does 2 Degrees really make Difference? ❓

👉 This post is going to be a lengthy one, but I'm about to expose the root problem with most back and stifle problems with performance horses... So buckle up.

We're talking about NPA (negative plantar angles) on the hind hooves. So in layman's terms... LOW HEELS HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE WHOLE BODY.

▪️ Most vets that don't have a significant amount of biomechanics and podiatry training will say.... "Oh, 2 degrees won't make that much difference either way in your horse."
Any experienced Bodyworker or Farrier will say the exact opposite.

👉 Here is the difference in the scopes of practice:
- Your vet is looking for a lameness, so 2 degrees difference might mean your horse won't go lame... But he also might not snap back quickly on your barrel turn. Most vets will not inject without some degree of lameness.
- Your farrier is trying to keep the feet in balance... 2 degrees will eventually become 3 degrees and the 4 degrees and then the horse will refuse performance all together. You have to correct things before the collapse.
- Your bodyworker is looking at the tension throughout the fascia, muscles and soft tissue connections. An experienced bodyworker can tell you the chain of events that will become a lameness long before your vet will pick it up on a flex test. It's not magic... It's the study of the fascia system and compensation patterns. When restriction in the fascia and muscles are not addressed the joints take on excess wear and tear leading to more frequent injections.

👉 Let's look at the pictures here... The first picture is this mare standing barefoot behind (before we put a new set of shoes on).

She is at least 2 degrees negative and you can see the tension throughout Tensor Fascia Latte which is a muscle and fascia band that goes from the point of the hip all the way down to where the leg ties in. It hips to lift the leg, but is also a big contributor to stifle problems, flares on the hind feet and unbalanced medial/lateral landing on the hind feet. In us it's referred to as the IT Band and guess what?.... It causes knee pain, breaking down of the lateral side of your shoes and a heel strike.... Seeing a pattern yet?
Going back to the photos, you can also observe an old tear in the fascia beneath my brand that is a result of have too low of angles many years ago.

‼️ If I were to compete on a horse that has the amount of tension shown in the first picture, I would expect to have to inject hocks, stifles, back, SI, possibly psoas, probably TMJ and coffin joints on the front feet.... WHY? Because the angles of the hind feet will not help the body absorb the concussion of performance which will cause the body to create widespread inflammation throughout areas that are trying to compensate. Want to know what else gets fired up from inflammation?? Digestive Issues and EPM.... When low heels set off the psoas, the body will stay stuck in an "everything is on fire" state which will cause the collapse of the immune system and an increase in inflammation throughout the body.

😔 The sad thing is that I work on horses EVERY SINGLE DAY that look like the first picture and are being competed on heavily.... With owners complaining about the horse being money out of vet bills. It is because their injections are temporarily putting a bandaid on a bigger root problem. When the stifles cannot absorb concussion the back tightens up which shortens the stride and causes even more concussion throughout the body.

👉 Moving to our second photo.... This is after we put our normal setup on of a 2 degree leather wedge pad. You see instant improvement of how much more relaxed the muscles and fascia are, which will allow for the stifles to absorb more concussion... It's impossible not to see the improvement here. This horse is going to be more comfortable all the way around. We can work on relieving the rest of the remaining tension through fitness.

🙌 2 degrees makes a world of difference. I'll die on that hill arguing this point to owners, vets, and farriers because I can come back and prove it through pictures every time.

‼️‼️ When my Bodywork doesn't hold and the tension comes back with exercise or stretching then I need to address the angles of the feet. So I send the horse for lateral x-rays and then work with the farrier to bring the horse into balance.

▪️ We have to work together with vets and farriers to keep these horses performing their best.

Please, please, please have your vet take lateral x-rays to see where your horse is. I recommend a set of lateral x-rays at least once a year on competition horses. Twice a year if you've had to make any corrections. Every 3rd shoe reset if you're working on an acute issue. Don't just make big changes without documentation. I recommend taking X-rays at the end of the farrier cycle so you can see the horse at the most grown out point.

👉 I'm going to leave you with one last experience of mine.... I've had so many horses (50+) that have come through my practice that are terrible for the farrier... Won't pick up the hind feet... Won't hold the hind feet up.... Jump around and sn**ch the hind feet away....
.... Within 7 to 9 days of correcting the hind hoof angles, they will pick their feet up normally at the tap of a hand.....

2 or 3 degrees IS THAT SERIOUS y'all. It makes all the difference.

👢 If you want a demonstration you can do yourself, walk with one boot on and one foot barefoot and document the difference in tension on your hamstrings, back and psoas. It'll charge your posture quickly too.....
Flat shoes and lack of arch support are big contributors to back and knee problems in humans.

Let's get your horse comfortable, confident and happy to perform!

07/29/2025

Hey everyone!

I am excited to introduce a new series called " Tuesday's Ted Talks". Each week, we'll explore topics ranging from equine bodywork and anatomy to rehabilitation principles and overall wellness.

Today’s Topic: Hill Work – Are You Progressing Smartly?

This is a lesson I had to learn the hard way, and I want to share it with you so you don’t make the same mistakes!

Hill work is an incredible tool for cross-conditioning, but if it’s not introduced properly, it can do more harm than good. Don't get me wrong—terrain itself can increase the risk of soft tissue injuries. But the real issue often lies in poor gait choices and improper progression.

When conditioning horses on hills, it’s critical to remember one fundamental rule: you cannot increase both duration and intensity at the same time. This principle applies to any kind of workout with horses. Pushing both too soon places excessive stress on the musculoskeletal system—especially during rehab or when returning to work.

Let’s break it down:

Duration refers to how long or how far the horse is working.

Intensity includes factors like gait (e.g., trot vs. walk), incline grade, or pace.

Key Point: For safe progression, increase either duration or intensity—never both at once. Spread the workload gradually to give the horse time to adapt to specific demands.

This helps prevent fatigue-related compensation patterns, muscle strain, and joint stress—particularly on uneven terrain.

My personal motto comes from Finding Nemo:
“Just keep swimming.” 😆

Slow and steady really does win the race—especially when it comes to building a sound, healthy equine partner.

07/25/2025

With sadness we had to say goodbye to Echo, a gentle and sweet soul. Despite dedicated care, complications during her rehabilitation—combined with underlying genetic abnormalities—led to her early passing.

We are grateful to have been part of her journey and extend our heartfelt condolences to her loving owner.

Going to miss those alfalfa drooled filled kisses. Fly high little girl. ❤️

07/24/2025

Lets talk about my personal favorite joint in the horses body the stifle!

The stifle joint—the horse’s equivalent of the human knee—is a complex hinge joint crucial for weight-bearing, movement, and performance. Because of its anatomy and high workload, it's also highly susceptible to strain, weakness, or injury, especially in performance horses or those returning to work after time off.

So, how can muscular rehabilitation help?

1. Rebuilding Strength and Stability

After a stifle injury—or in horses with weak or unstable stifles—the surrounding muscles (especially the quadriceps, hamstrings, and gluteals) can atrophy or lose tone. Targeted rehab exercises help rebuild muscle mass to support the joint, reducing reliance on soft tissue structures and improving functional stability.

2. Enhancing range of motion

Stifle injuries often lead to stiffness or reduced mobility. Rehabilitation includes passive stretching, controlled movement, and hydrotherapy, which encourage full range of motion without putting excessive stress on healing tissues.

3. Improving Proprioception

Injury can disrupt a horse’s sense of limb placement and coordination. Muscular rehab enhances neuromuscular connections, helping the horse regain confidence in limb use through exercises that challenge balance, coordination, and joint awareness.

4. Helps to reduce the chance of re-injury

A strong and balanced musculoskeletal system is your horse’s best defense against re-injury. Regular muscular maintenance—including proper warm-up, cool-down, and ongoing strength training—keeps the stifle resilient even under demanding workloads.

***First and for most always talk to your vet before you begin any type of therapy. Therapy is supplemental to veterinary medicine and should always be used to help not treat! ***

07/23/2025

Such good information you cant only feed and supplement to get a topline.

Topline may not be rectified by just addressing the topline.

Probably the most asked question on most groups is what is the best feed to build a topline and there are plenty on the market which will sell you a dream of your horses perfect back is just a feedscoop away, or how do I build a topline, but!!!

Have we missed the rest of the horse while looking at the back???

Let's start at the feet, if your horses first step is an unbalanced or painful one then the cracks will show in the body the body will immediately begin to load to offset that one faulty step, but you just cant address the feet and then leave the body to figure out what has just been done body and feet need to be checked.

Moving to feed, our obsession with protein is widespread both in the human and equine world yet like the human your horse does not need quantity it needs quality and varied feeding heights are great for a workout over the whole body instead of one static feeding position with one limb forward, head down stance for a few hours
And teeth, it doesn't matter the quality if the horse cant chew its food, teeth are not just for food they are crucial for balance.

We look at the back muscles and forget that a few extend further towards the head and back towards the tail, so while the back may show the repercussions it may not be the prime suspect.

Different types of topline issues may mean different things, a dip behind the wither may mean something different to a saddle shaped dent that doesn't seem to go away while the first may be related to the deeper spinalis muscle the latter could be a hock loading issue so how would we address either??

What about the fascia the huge Thoracolumbar extending to the gluteal fascia ??? Is it a fascial issue first or do we address the muscle, do we address both and know the difference between fascial pain or muscular??

What about the medial gluteal a weak knee will have an affect on this and vice versa, the gluteal tongue connects both to the longissimus via the Thoracolumbar fascia, still just a topline issue???

What about the gut?? Your horse may not have ulcers but does it have a sensitivity to the enviroment with glands swollen and the fly twitch muscle extra sensitive it covers the torso

What about the personality of the horse, personality has an affect on posture

Early worm damage, injuries, a slip in the field as a 3 yr old may do unnoticed compensations only noticed years later as we climb on board.

What about the stride of the hind end, most common topline issue i come across is the saddle imprint which often begins at the hocks.

The horses previous job, how well it was able to move, the way it moved can have an affect on how quick or how long your work is going to be in recovering a more functional body.

There is never one answer for some it might be easy for others a little harder but we need to look at the whole horse to read the story of the back.

So if you are struggling to build that topline look at where else may be having difficulty step back, look at the whole horse and you might just see a connection and a reason why.

Ps this is only a few tiny proportion of connections

07/17/2025

When the stretch hits just right. 😮‍💨😮‍💨