Project Pegasus Equine Massage Therapy & Bodywork

10/23/2025

Great read, giving good information regarding the necessity to continue to study and learn the effects of training on young horses’ bones.

10/07/2025

Myofascial Network Notes: How Fascial Lines Stabilize, Support, and Transmit Power

The myofascial lines work together to stabilize, support, and transmit power throughout the horse’s body:

Superficial Dorsal Line (SDL): Engages to lengthen the spine and maintain posture along the back.

Deep Dorsal Line (DDL): Provides deep spinal support and segmental stability.

Superficial Ventral Line (SVL): Shortens and lifts the belly to support the torso.

Deep Ventral Line (DVL): Stabilizes internal organs and maintains core integrity.

Lateral Lines: Stabilize the thorax, assist in lifting the belly, and support back engagement.

Functional Lines: Transmit power forward, linking the back to the limbs for coordinated movement.

Spiral Lines: Create controlled asymmetry and torsion, allowing smooth rotational flow throughout the body.

Front Limb Lines:
• Superficial Front Limb Lines: Lift and swing the forelimbs forward, linking into the back and spine for coordinated motion. They contribute to stride length, forelimb protraction, and elasticity in the gait.

• Deep Front Limb Lines: Connect through the pectorals and deeper stabilizing muscles, linking into the ventral line. They support the thoracic sling, stabilize the trunk between the forelimbs, and aid balance and engagement through the underside of the body.

Key Integration:
All four front limb lines—superficial and deep—converge in the thoracic sling, a fascial and muscular network that:
• Supports the horse’s forehand while providing both strength and elasticity
• Absorbs shock from the forelimbs during movement
• Suspends and stabilizes the ribcage and everything inside it between the shoulders
• Links the forelimbs to the spine and core, ensuring coordinated, efficient movement

In essence: The myofascial system functions as a dynamic network of lengthening, lifting, stabilizing, and power-transmitting structures, enabling the horse to move with efficiency, fluidity, and resilience.

When any of these lines are restricted, the effects ripple throughout the body, often without obvious lameness:

• Postural compensation: If the DDL or SDL is tight, the horse may hollow its back or lose suspension in the gait.

• Core instability: Restrictions in the ventral or thoracic sling lines can make the horse “fall on the forehand” or struggle to engage the hindquarters.

• Asymmetry and torsion: Spiral line restrictions can subtly rotate the body, causing uneven weight distribution, uneven hoof wear, and apparent “behavioral” issues.

• Power transmission loss: Functional line tightness or front limb restrictions reduce stride length and elasticity, which can mimic fatigue or lack of training.

Because these dysfunctions don’t always show as pain on palpation or obvious lameness, owners, trainers, and even vets may attribute changes to behavior, saddle fit, or general conditioning—rather than underlying fascial restriction.

08/11/2025

Q🐎 I’ve said it many times — 𝙃𝙊𝙍𝙎𝙀𝙎 𝘿𝙊 𝙂𝙀𝙏 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝘿𝘼𝘾𝙃𝙀𝙎!!

And I’ll keep saying it, because too many still ignore the signs.

𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗢𝗧𝗛 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 🚩
𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗪𝗛𝗬 ⬇️

The general term head shyness refers to a horse that moves its head away when touched in certain areas — especially the ears, poll, face, or upper neck.

Yes, rough handling can create this behaviour. But I’m talking about the horses that give a clear pain response — and we MUST pay attention to the 🚩 red flags 🚩

Let’s break it down with some anatomy — including cranial nerves — and real-life examples:

🔺 If you have to take your bridle apart to get it on — this is NOT normal.
🚩 It’s a pain response! Likely involving the poll, the occipital bone, or surrounding soft tissues like the nuchal ligament and suboccipital muscles.

🔺 Soreness around C1 and the upper neck? 🚩
The atlas (C1) supports the skull and sits in close proximity to the brainstem — where cranial nerves originate. If there’s tension, compression, or trauma in this area, horses can experience headaches, vision changes, coordination issues, and hypersensitivity.

🔺 Ear shyness – Behind the ears lies a complex neural and muscular region. Structures here include:

CN VII (Facial Nerve) – controls facial expression; dysfunction can lead to twitching or hypersensitivity.

CN V (Trigeminal Nerve) – especially its mandibular and ophthalmic branches, which are often involved in facial pain and head-shyness.

CN VIII (Vestibulocochlear Nerve) – important for balance; tension near the inner ear can affect proprioception and make head movement uncomfortable.

🔺 Horse is poor to catch?
Many are not trying to be 'difficult’ — they’re avoiding the discomfort of the halter going on, which may stimulate the trigeminal nerve or cause tension in the TMJ area. 🚩

🔺 Can be brushed on one side but not the other? 🚩
Could be unilateral cranial nerve irritation, often stemming from fascial pulls, past trauma, or misalignment.

🔺 Foaming at the mouth under bit pressure? 🚩
This isn’t always “submission.” Bit pressure can impact:

the mandibular branch of CN V (trigeminal nerve)

the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) — which controls tongue movement

the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) — associated with the throat and swallowing
All of these nerves can be compromised by poor dental balance, bitting, or cranial dysfunction.

Summary

Refusal to touch the ears, poll, or head is NOT just “bad behaviour.”
It’s communication.

Horses with myofascial pain, C1 restrictions, cranial nerve irritation, or TMJ dysfunction will naturally protect themselves — pulling away, raising the head, tensing the jaw, or shutting down altogether.

💡 Signs of stress you may see when touching the head area:

Elevated heart rate or subtle sweating

Holding the head unnaturally high

Tight nostrils or pinched expression

Squinting or avoiding eye contact

Rushing to the back of the stable when a rug is taken from the door almost in a panic

Don’t ignore these changes. Don’t write them off as “just being difficult.”
Think about pull-back injuries, rope accidents, or even long-standing bridle or bit pressure. These can have lasting effects on the cranial nerves, cervical vertebrae, fascia, and overall comfort.

Not to forget the cranial sacral connections, got a a horse with SI joint issues ? Could be related all the way to the skull!

🧠 Pain is real.
🐴 Headaches are real.
🎯 And your horse is telling you — are you listening?

Reposting because it’s THAT important.
Let’s do better for them.

07/17/2025

Managing horses in the cold seems to be much easier than in the heat.

Preventing heat stress is so important in keeping your horses healthy in the summer months.

Provide plenty of fresh water, electrolytes, shade and a breeze! Hosing off your horses and letting them dry in the shade is a great way to cool them off. NO NEED TO SCRAPE OFF EXTRA WATER 💦

Otis is loving his stalled fan time while he dries from a 10min hose down 💛

07/04/2025

Happy 4th of July from me and my best girl! 🇺🇸🎆

06/13/2025

True strength isn’t about standing alone. It’s found in the quiet way we show up and stand guard for those we love.

☆ Strength grows in the silent moments of support and protection
☆ Horses teach us that true power comes from presence, not force
☆ The greatest strength is the love and care we offer, simply by being there

At the Online Horse Fair, you’ll meet horsemen and women who understand that real strength lies in standing together and invite you to experience it for yourself.

🎟️ Discover the quiet strength that comes from connection → https://www.becauseofthehorse.net/free-ticket

06/11/2025

06/05/2025

05/18/2025

Ms. Genesis and I were rockin’ that dirty white look while working out some tension 💜

05/07/2025

05/07/2025

There are so many amazing ways to support the health of your horse’s feet. I am blessed to work with such amazing hoof-care professionals who always put the horse first in all they do. Kellie Courtwright Roach with Arete Hoof Care LLC truly outdoes herself with every trim

05/01/2025

The benefits of free lunging:

I am a firm believer that everything we do on the ground with our horses directly translates to the saddle. I love using the round pen as a safe way to work on connection, communication, and play. Taking away all the “tools” really makes us focus on our own bodies and energies.

When all we have to communicate with our horses is ourselves, we are called to utilize clear signals through body language and intention to request and respond to our horse’s own body language and behaviors. It becomes a sort of dance. A beautiful exchange of energies and connection between two individuals in it’s purest form.

In order to build trust, our ego must be left at the gate. Heck, it should be left in the truck before ever stepping foot on the ground where our horses reside. Ego is the detriment to connection.

Allowing our horses to choose to participate in their sessions builds their trust in us. If we can listen to them and respect where they are that day, they will give their absolute all when they are ready and willing to work. The more we push them on their off days, the less they trust we will keep them safe. When something goes wrong or is scary, they won’t look to us for guidance, they will look elsewhere to find safety.

The round pen is a great place to practice listening to your horse and letting go of the “plan” you may have had for the session. When the two of you are in sync, it’s like nothing else in the world. When we feel like our horse isn’t listening or refusing to participate, we need to take a hard look at ourselves. How did we come into the session? What is going on in our own bodies that the horse does not feel safe around?

99% of the time, the issue isn’t the horse. It’s how we show up for our horse.

So take the time to self reflect. Release the idea of control and spend some time listening to your horse. Regulate your own energy, clear out the noise in your head and set clear intentions for yourself and your horse. Find joy and playfulness in the ring and watch your horses’ confidence bloom while your mutual trust grows with it.