Dark Horse Therapeutics

10/14/2025

This year I've undergone Dauphin Horsemanship's Bit Course and indulged a lot of my technical curiosity about equine oral structures and mechanics related to bit use. When we step back and consider what we're doing: putting metal in the mouth of another being for the purpose of control (we say communication... but communication for what purpose?), it is easy to feel some ick factor. As a speech language pathologist who treats dysphagia (swallowing disorder) my primary concern about bits is how they impact the vital mechanical and neurological process of swallowing in the horse.

Also, as an equine bodyworker and riding instructor, I just don't think bits are at the top of the list of complaints a horse has related to their comfort. If I had a to make an (informed) guess and rank a couple, I'd say access to sufficient movement, emotionally healthy herd dynamics, quality of human communication, and saddle fitting all far exceed bitting issues.

That's not to say that bits, namely, bit use, isn't something we should carefully consider. Actually, I think rein use is a better way to frame the concern. I have similar concerns about rein use with bitless rigs as bitted. 40lbs of rein pressure vs 0.01 oz is a big difference, and 40lbs of pressure for 0.05 seconds vs 45 minutes is also makes a big difference to the horse.

I think this article gets it wrong from the start.

"Metal bits, or at least bits made of solid materials, when is contact with these tissues stimulate pain receptors, such that the greater the pressure, the worse is the experience of pain."

I don't agree that bits operate solely by means of pain receptors. I could cause pain with my gua sha myofascial tool if I wanted to, but I can also release tension and support healthy tissue.

Some of the references listed are compelling and important, and I would encourage horse lovers and learners to go on and read these studies, remembering what types of horses are included and under what conditions.

Reading between the lines, this author is globally opposed to "animal use," which is a pretty extreme stance and not one I'm on board with. I cherish our inherited stewardship of domesticated animals and see a lot of mutual benefit in these relationships.

For more info on bits, how they function, and most importantly to the horse: HOW WE USE THEM, reach out, I'd love to help.

Follow Dauphin Horsemanship, he's always putting out great info and free webinars to better understand many aspects of horsemanship.

Comment below to share your experiences, good and bad, using bits with horses.

Emeritus Prof David Mellor explains why, from a welfare perspective, the perfect horse bit is the one that stays on the tack room wall.

10/11/2025

Reading through this post initially I felt a wave of sadness and regret. I am not a world class athlete or artist, I’m not a Great Rider with many thousands of horses under my seat bones. I dream of being a rider who can help horses with my body and my knowledge, and some days that dream feels a little far away.

But then I remembered, I do have many more than 10,000 hours of skilled practice in another area of my life: as a signer and a person who conveys ideas visually. My students have been my teachers, at this point hundreds of children who’ve showed me what connection to concepts feels like. How many Helen Keller W-A-T-E-R moments have I born witness to, seeing understanding light up behind their eyes.

This has to count for something for my horses.

I might not have the athletic Body Memory (yet), but my body and my mind know what it feels like to share information between beings, understand, and be understood.

We all have our journey to becoming better riders, better horsemen.

What’s your 10,000 hours?

10/08/2025

https://gofund.me/6ef331c5e

Send a message to learn more

10/08/2025

Dark Horse Therapeutics is celebrating one year in business at Blue Rock Farm!

This year Dark Horse has:

- Grown our string from one to five amazing equine teachers.

-Served twelve riders of all ages and abilities.

- Provided training and community to nine committed volunteers.

- Provided mentorship to two talented student instructors pursuing certification in therapeutic riding instruction through PATH, Intl.

- Been featured on two podcasts! (See links in comments)

-Conducted equine assisted speech therapy

-Taught riding and horsemanship in American Sign Language to Deaf community members

- Taken riding lessons and attended clinics to grow our knowledge base.

- Maintained and grown our equine bodywork practice.

- Undergone a 40 hour bit fitting course

- Completed a 3 day educational equine dissection

- Supported students attending their first and second horse shows!

I want to say a huge thank you to Elyssa Doner and Carol Dolinskas for giving Dark Horse a home at Blue Rock Farm. Thank you to the boarders and community members who make Blue Rock such a fun and inclusive environment. Thank you to Cathy, Kathy, Kerry, and Judy for trusting me with your horses and sharing their magic with my community. Thank you Loki, Aslan, Jesse, Peace, and Whinny for being the best equine coworkers I could ask for.

To support Dark Horse in 2025-2026, I’m running a fundraiser to cover business costs that allow us to keep our doors open. Donations will support:

-Our specialized liability insurance policy
-Cost of license and certification maintenance that allows Dark Horse to bill for insurance and qualify for liability insurance
-Saddle fitting
-Winterizing our adaptive mounting equipment
-Obstacles to add to our lesson program

Please consider donating to support us this year and give this post a like, share, and leave comment.

Happy riding!

https://gofund.me/6ef331c5e

10/05/2025

Best friends 👯‍♂️

Awwwww Aslan and Jesse!

10/04/2025

Need this…

10/04/2025

Autumn moon ponies 🍁 🌖

09/28/2025

Sweet mares helping me ground.

Tough week, lotta stress and grief. Missing my best barn dog. 🐕

Thanks for the horse medicine girls, y’all knew I needed to see the pros today.

✨🦄 ✨

Thank you

09/25/2025

“Be yourself it’s much easier for you and your horse.” 🐎

Is forced relaxation just as bad for us as it is for the horse.

As you can tell by my page my brain is slightly chaotic, and if you met me in real life you would see what I write is who I am😃 yet i can work with horses ok, my own horses are very chilled, have no behavioural issues (oops maybe i do but my horses dont 😅) yet i have never had to change who I am to be "better" for the horse for i bring them my truth and I listen to theirs.

As I poo pick in my field that is the time that I listen to the rest of the world out there, mostly its someone telling you to change who you are to be better for the horse, like only when you find yourself will your horse find you but often in my line of work I want to bring feet back on the ground and ask people not to look in but look out at your horse for often pain and discomfort skews the view of the world for your horse and that often includes you, and no matter how many breathwork sessions we do it will not make an athritic joint on a horse disappear.

Having ADHD means I listen, I mean really listen to what people are saying, I listen to the tone, I listen for any discrepancies in their story because like horses we need to know you are safe because if not we often then have to do the exhausting task of trying to change ourselves to fit into society, yet with horses there is none of that I can be me, all my flaws which in the human world I get chastised for, talking to much, honestly its not what you say to horses its always how you say it they dont care if you chatter away and studies have shown they recognise our voices, yet some people when they talk both me and the horse go on alert their tone could be soft yet their intention is anything but.

If you find that path helps then cool fill your boots, I want to help those who dont feel comfortable with all that or dont feel its necessary that the only way to have a better relationship is by changing your whole self because every horse looks for their owner when they leave the stable, every horse looks to their owner for reassurance if they get worried but every horse i have seen that carries pain in their mind or body can struggle to feel safe and that can put them into a behaviour we may not trust yet who needs working on to make the situation better you or the horse??

I listened to a podcast about being happy and proceeded to listen to the person who was projecting happiness cry the whole podcast and in my mind i thought who are you trying to convince us out there or yourself.

Horses need the truth and we dont always have to be a one emotion robot, and neither do we want a constant state of emotional sedation for our horses. Fear is often what drives us to seek help and its ok to admit that fear can creep in as part of horse ownership, its what keeps us from probably getting hurt yet does that fear lay in some past trauma that unqualified people make you open up the Pandoras box and expect you to put a lid on it after a weekend course leaving you where??? Usually with a co dependency to those "who get you" and those who get you develope a co dependency to your bank balance.

True change often comes with acceptance of who we are because the horse already knows the truth we just have to accept their view of us, for those that tell you to change because it worked for them they are making you follow their path not yours and have they changed in the horses mind for often they use the same tools before the epiphany so how much change does their horse see??

Be yourself its much easier for you and your horse.xx

09/23/2025

Barn Dog

load up
good girl
leave it
sicc ‘em

Never underfoot
Always in my shadow

There’s good sniffs in the aisle
Hoof trimmings to chew

don’t eat that s**t
don’t chase that cat
c’mon dog
We’ve got work to do

Horses come in
Chores get done

Let’s get going
So we can go down to the creek
Watch fireflies come out
Smell summer on the breeze

Good dogs can’t stick around

not long enough.

09/17/2025

Learning learning