Bristol Equine Therapy LLC

02/17/2026

One area I have started to noitce is a source of performance issues in horses is rib and sternum pain.

This discomfort can result from ill-fitting equipment, improper use of the body, or direct injury to the ribs. Such as rib rotation or fractures. Referred pain from the back can also radiate into the ribcage, further affecting movement and performance.

Signs of rib pain may include:
• Resistance in lateral work/ or hitching when breathing
• Girthiness during tacking up
• Behavioral issues under saddle
• Difficulty maintaining connection in the bridle
• Inability to properly lift the ribcage and engage correct mechanics for collection

Targeted bodywork can help relieve tension and discomfort, especially when combined with appropriate muscle rehabilitation exercises. Addressing rib dysfunction can make a significant difference in comfort, performance, and overall well-being. 💪

02/09/2026

Let’s talk about “naughty” behavior during bodywork 👀

Ear pinning, pawing, moving around—clients often apologize for it. Please don’t. As a bodyworker, I actually love it.

That’s your horse communicating the only way they know how. Every reaction gives me valuable information and helps guide the session.

We don’t expect them to be quiet or polite. We want feedback. Your horse is telling me what it needs and that’s the whole point!

02/06/2026

01/09/2026

When is it the right time to ask a horse for more?
Conditioning horses can be confusing sometimes because a horse may "appear" to do the job. Meaning the appearance of "proper musculature" , but fails to be able to do the job effectively. Horses are masters at being able to do what we are asking and "appear" as if they are doing it..but not really effectively or correctly. Especially when asked to increase intensity. When it comes to conditioning you have to take into consideration 3 big things:

1.Can they do it at lower impact gaits?
2. Can they hold it effectively for a longer duration at the lower impact gaits?
3. Consider the horse as a individual.

If your answer is no. Then your horse is not ready muscle wise to increase the intensity. Gradual progression is key when conditioning. Intensity and duration as stated before in previous post, are never ask together. You work on one or the other. Ideally duration first then intensity as the horse progresses through training. Also, focusing on lower impact more during training. Helps to keep a horse sound longer to do the higher impact gaits (jumping, galloping, etc)
Example: Horses that jump focusing more on pole/ low grid work and flat. With no more than one maybe two jump schools a week.

Your pony with thank you. Remember to ask youself those big 3. Especially the first 2.

01/04/2026

Just another update on my personal journey with my mare, Winnie.

Back in July, I started questioning her saddle fit due to changes in how she was moving and a noticeable loss of topline. Especially behind the shoulders along with pec and shoulder discomfort.
After having the saddle evaluated, it was confirmed to be ill-fitting. I replaced it with one that fit her correctly. At the same time, we took a step back from riding and focused on rehabbing her topline through purposeful, targeted exercises designed to rebuild her shoulders and overall topline, along with regular bodywork.

This is her five-month progression in muscle development. There’s still more improvement to be made, but we’re absolutely heading in the right direction.

One of the biggest takeaways from this experience is that a saddle cannot be properly fitted to a dysfunctional or compromised back. You must first address muscle health and overall comfort. Doing so saves money in the long run..fewer vet bills, fewer “quick fix” gadgets, and far fewer saddles over the course of a horse’s lifetime.

01/01/2026

Happy New Year!

I’m incredibly grateful for the growth that has happened in 2025. So greatful for the wonderful horses and clients I’ve had the privilege to work with. Here’s to continued education, stronger partnerships, and exciting opportunities ahead in 2026. 🐎✨

12/31/2025

Lunging:
I am sure everyone has lunged there horse. The question is are you lunging with a purpose? There are pros and cons to lunging. You will hear some say lunging is horrible for your horse dont do it. Others say the opposite...but let's break it down shall we?

Pros:
💥A means to connect to your horse and improve overall communication.
💥If done correctly, can give the horse a chance to build muscle and balance without the worry of a rider on there back.
💥Assesement of horses movement.

Cons:
💥Letting your horse run around like a looney tune on the lunge to "get energy out". This increases the chance of injury. We all know horses can be fresh, but it is so important to make sure movement is always productive.
💥To small of a circle. Always work in a 20 mm circle or bigger. Yes there is a time and place for small circles. Consistent lunging needs to be in big circles to insure correct loading of the system.
💥The most important in my book a horse staying "striaght" on the circle. A horse that is leaning to far in or out is incorrectly loading. They are at risk for injury or compensation. Slowly build intensity in the gaits until they are able to hold themselves up.

Take Home:
💥Lunging is a great tool for building muscle and balance.
💥Helps improve communication with your horse.
💥Stay consistent and slow is the game.
💥 Always have purpose in what you are asking

Happy Lunging! 🐎

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Sending our warmest wishes from the Bristol Equine family to yours. 🎄🤍

12/13/2025

Do you stretch your horse enough?

By now we recognize that riders are athletes. For example: Studies show that riders often develop significantly tighter adductor fascia than non-riders. This reduced hip mobility leads to compensation patterns, which commonly show up as lower back and hip pain, and the list goes on.The same concept applies to our horses.

Unfortunately, many horses develop a shortened musculoskeletal system, especially when you consider how much time some spend stalled. Less movement leads to tighter, shortened fascia lines, which creates resistance and compensatory movement. While regular riding provides some active mobilization, it’s often not enough for what we ask of our equine athletes.

Mobilization and stretching help improve or maintain optimal muscle and fascial length. Longer muscle fibers mean greater suppleness, relaxation, and efficiency.

So when should you stretch your horse?

💥 Always stretch after a workout, when the body is warm.
❌ Never stretch cold muscles, especially with static stretching.
💥 If stretching before riding, start with in-hand walking before tacking up to properly warm the muscles.

Bottom line: Stretch your ponies. They’ll thank you!! 😊 Supple, relaxed fascia and muscles significantly reduce the risk of injury and improve overall performance.