Wind Drinker Equine Bodywork and Massage, LLC.

12/14/2025

📖 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘁

🐴 I love reading about misconceptions when it comes to feeding horses, but today I’d like to debunk some common myths about good old sodium chloride.

🧂 Myth #1: Salt only needs to be fed when the weather is hot.

🐴 Truth #1: Salt needs to be fed 365 days a year because it is vital for many bodily processes and is excreted in sweat, saliva, mucous and urine. Even in the midst of winter, horses need salt.

🧂 Myth #2: Horses instinctively know to drink water regularly, especially when they are hot and sweaty.

🐴 Truth #2: A horse’s thirst reflex is triggered by sodium, which is a component of salt. Horses’ sodium requirements need to be met in order for them to seek water.

🧂 Myth #3: A horse can meet their sodium and chloride requirements with a salt block alone.

🐴 Truth #3: Unlike cattle, horses do not have an abrasive tongue and are not designed to lick harsh surfaces to extract nutrients. While it is technically possible for a horse to consume their daily salt requirement from a salt block, it is much less work and more physiologically-appropriate for them to consume loose salt that is either provided in a meal or left out free-choice.

🧂 Myth #4: Horses know what nutrients they need and can self-medicate with supplements such as vitamins and minerals.

🐴 Truth #4: Salt is the only nutrient horses have been studied and proven to actively seek out when it is required. They will not seek out other nutrients “because they know they need it.” Look at how much salt and molasses (palatable additives) are added to free-choice supplements.

🧂 Myth #5: Himalayan rock salt is better for horses than plain salt.

🐴 Truth #5: Himalayan rock salt contains naturally occurring components other than sodium and chloride. Some may view this as a positive; however, it is usually a more expensive means of supplementing salt, and often contains traces of iron which almost never needs to be supplemented given horses are generally oversupplied iron by their forage intake alone.

🐎 Your horse’s diet should be providing a minimum of 10g of salt per 100kg of body weight each day; typically more after exercise, intense weather, or illness. Ensuring your horse always has access to clean, cool, and fresh drinking water will ensure they remain well-hydrated and if by chance they intake more salt than necessary, the water they drink allows them to excrete excess very effectively. The best kind of salt to feed is plain sodium chloride such as table salt, unless the diet is deficient in iodine which makes iodised salt more appropriate.

12/14/2025

Two day dissection, hands on and informative. Questions are encouraged, perfect for every horse person. UpcomingUSA April 2026

12/14/2025

❤️

12/09/2025

12/02/2025

Chronic Back Pain Interrupts Myofascial Force Transmission

The myofascial system is a continuous, body-wide network of fascia and muscle that distributes tension, load, and movement forces from one region to another. When it’s healthy, forces generated in the hips, limbs, or trunk travel efficiently through this network, allowing coordinated movement, balanced posture, and elastic energy return.

But chronic back pain changes all of that.
Pain doesn’t stay local — it disrupts the way the entire myofascial web transmits and organizes force.

How Chronic Back Pain Disrupts the Myofascial System

1. Protective Muscle Guarding

Long-term pain triggers automatic bracing: muscles tighten to protect the painful region.

This creates:

• local rigidity

• reduced fascial glide

• blocked or diverted force flow through the kinetic chain

Even small zones of guarding can act like “stiff knots” in an otherwise flexible web.

2. Fascial Densification & Adhesions

Chronic irritation, inflammation, or immobility can cause fascia to thicken, dehydrate, or bind to surrounding structures.

Dense or sticky fascia resists tension and disrupts the smooth transmission of mechanical forces along fascial lines.

Instead of distributing load, the system begins to catch and hold it.

3. Neuromuscular Inhibition

Pain changes motor control patterns, especially in deep stabilizers like:

• multifidus

• transverse abdominis

• pelvic stabilizers

When these muscles become inhibited or delayed, the body can’t efficiently organize or pass forces through the trunk. Larger, superficial muscles overwork to compensate — adding more imbalance to the system.

4. Loss of Elastic Energy Transfer

Healthy fascia behaves like a spring: it stores and releases elastic energy with every step, turn, and lift.

Chronic tension or densification reduces this recoil capacity, leading to:

• heavier, more effortful movement

• faster fatigue

• poor energy return

The body has to muscle its way through movements instead of relying on stored elastic energy.

5. Asymmetrical Load Distribution

Pain changes movement patterns.
We shift, lean, shorten strides, or unconsciously avoid certain ranges.

Over time, these compensations distort:

• fascial tension lines

• joint loading

• force vectors

This often causes secondary areas of pain or dysfunction far from the original site.

Clinical Implications

Chronic back pain can lead to:

• reduced performance and coordination

• increased injury risk elsewhere due to compensation

• slower recovery and decreased tissue adaptability

• impaired balance and postural control

The issue is not only the pain — it’s the altered force economy of the entire body.

Therapeutic Approaches That Help Restore Force Transmission

• Myofascial Release & Soft Tissue Work

Restores glide, hydration, and elasticity across restricted fascial layers.

• Movement Re-Education

Corrects compensatory patterns and restores efficient sequencing through the kinetic chain.

• Progressive Load Training

Gradually re-establishes healthy force distribution and rebuilds stabilizer engagement.

• Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Downregulates chronic tension and helps reduce protective guarding.

The Bigger Picture

Chronic pain is never isolated.
Wherever it start, it changes how the entire myofascial system behaves.

Pain alters tension, timing, and load distribution throughout the web — and that ripple effect continues until the system is rebalanced.

https://koperequine.com/understanding-fascial-adhesions-causes-effects-and-reducing-the-risk-of-developing/

12/01/2025

Fascia hears before the brain does.

Fascia is one of the most sensory-rich tissues in the body — packed with far more nerve endings than muscle.

It contains:
• Mechanoreceptors that sense movement, pressure, and loading
• Nociceptors that detect discomfort or pain
• Interoceptors that track the horse’s internal state and safety

Equine fascia is constantly reading the environment. It detects tension, stretch, compression, shear, vibration, temperature, and internal shifts with incredible speed and precision.

These receptors fire faster than conscious processing.

Because of this massive sensory input, fascia acts as the horse’s predictive and corrective system, adjusting posture, balance, muscle tone, and protective responses before the thinking brain ever engages.
It’s why horses react instantly, fluidly, and sometimes explosively — their fascia responds first.

The fluid layers within the fascial network also behave like a biological antenna, transmitting and receiving subtle mechanical and energetic information through wave-like patterns that travel across the whole body.

Your horse’s fascia is always listening — and responding —
long before the conscious mind catches up.



https://koperequine.com/where-horses-feel-it-most-common-soreness-zones-in-muscles-and-fascia/

11/26/2025

The Effects on Fascia, Muscle, and Nerves: Why Vitamin E Deficiency Is More Common This Time of Year and Why It’s More Common in TBs

Vitamin E is an antioxidant essential for:
• muscle health
• nervous system function
• immune support
• recovery and performance
• preventing muscle soreness (tying up, fasciculations, stiffness)

Horses cannot synthesize vitamin E. They get it only from fresh forage—especially green, growing pasture.

Before exploring the seasonal causes, it’s important to understand how low vitamin E affects the body’s most sensitive systems:

The Effects on Fascia, Muscle, and Nerves

Effects on Muscle

Vitamin E deficiency can lead to:
• increased muscle cell damage from oxidative stress
• slower repair of micro-tears
• reduced ability to clear metabolic waste
• greater post-exercise soreness
• stiffness, cramping, or tying up (especially in TBs)
• difficulty developing or maintaining topline
• delayed recovery after normal work

Muscles fatigue faster, repair slower, and hurt more when vitamin E is low.

Effects on Fascia

The fascial system depends heavily on antioxidants for glide, hydration, and elasticity. Low vitamin E contributes to:
• reduced fascial glide
• thickened or “sticky” fascial planes
• increased whole-body stiffness
• compensatory tension patterns
• slower response to bodywork
• decreased force transmission through myofascial lines

Fascia becomes less elastic and more reactive, creating the tight, rigid feeling many owners notice.

Effects on the Nervous System

Vitamin E is crucial for nerve health—especially long peripheral nerves in the limbs, back, and hindquarters.

Deficiency may cause:
• increased nerve irritability
• muscle fasciculations (twitching)
• poor proprioception
• stumbling or uncoordinated movement
• hypersensitivity to pressure or touch
• vague neurologic signs that mimic weakness
• difficulty maintaining coordination under saddle

Even mild deficiency can make a horse feel shaky, twitchy, weak, or unbalanced.

Horses Without Pasture Access (Year-Round Risk)

Some horses receive little or no access to fresh pasture at any time of year, including:
• metabolic horses on dry lots
• rehab horses on restricted turnout
• horses in desert or arid regions
• horses boarded in facilities with limited grazing
• horses kept in sand pens or small paddocks

These horses are at constant risk of low vitamin E and often require year-round supplementation, not just seasonal support.

Why Vitamin E Deficiency Becomes More Common This Time of Year

1. Pasture Quality Drops Dramatically

In late fall–winter–early spring:
• grass goes dormant
• green content drops
• vitamin E content plunges
• horses graze less
• many move to dry lots or sacrifice paddocks

Fresh grass is the #1 natural source of vitamin E. When it disappears, intake drops sharply.

2. Hay Contains Very Little Vitamin E

Even high-quality hay loses up to 80% of vitamin E within:
• 6–8 weeks after cutting
• and continues degrading during storage

By winter or early spring, most hay contains:

👉 virtually no vitamin E

Even alfalfa loses its vitamin E during curing.

3. Horses Often Work More or Differently in Winter

Changing workload can increase oxidative stress, raising the horse’s vitamin E requirement:
• exercise
• training changes
• trailering
• indoor arena footing
• cold-weather stiffness

This creates a “higher need, lower intake” imbalance.

4. Confinement + Less Movement = Higher Oxidative Stress

More time in:
• stalls
• dry lots
• small paddocks

…reduces muscle circulation and increases oxidative load, raising antioxidant needs.

5. Not All Feeds Provide Enough Vitamin E

Many horses rely on:
• ration balancers
• basic grain mixes
• senior feeds

Even fortified feeds often fail to meet vitamin E needs unless the horse eats the full recommended serving.

Most horses need 1,000–2,000 IU/day, while performance horses may need 2,000–5,000 IU/day.

Why Thoroughbreds May Be More Prone to Vitamin E Deficiency

This is something many professionals observe, and several valid reasons explain why.

1. Higher Metabolic Rate

Thoroughbreds have:
• higher metabolic demand
• faster oxidative turnover
• naturally stronger stress responses

They burn through antioxidants—including vitamin E—much faster.

2. More Prone to Muscle Disorders

TBs are more susceptible to:
• tying up (RER)
• muscle soreness
• fasciculations
• exercise intolerance

Vitamin E deficiency increases the severity and frequency of these issues.

Why Thoroughbreds Are More Prone to Muscle Disorders

Key contributing factors include:

• Natural Predisposition to RER

Many TBs have a genetic tendency toward Recurrent Exertional Rhabdomyolysis (RER), where:
• muscle cells mismanage calcium
• contractions last too long
• muscles cramp, stiffen, or “tie up”

• Fast-Twitch–Dominant Muscle Fibers

TBs are built for:
• speed
• power
• rapid acceleration

Meaning:
• higher heat production
• greater oxidative stress
• elevated vitamin E needs

• High-Strung, Reactive Nervous System

Thoroughbreds often have:
• a naturally “ready for action” nervous system
• higher sympathetic tone
• elevated baseline muscle tension

This makes their muscles:
• more contracted
• more reactive to stress
• more prone to spasms and soreness

• Common TB Management Patterns

Many TBs experience:
• limited turnout
• increased stall time
• high-starch diets
• inconsistent exercise
• environmental stress

All raise the risk of:
• muscle tightness
• cramping
• tying up
• vitamin E depletion

3. Many TBs Are Coming Off the Track

Ex-racers often have:
• long periods stalled
• hay-based diets
• limited turnout
• high muscular stress
• nutritional gaps from racing environments

They frequently begin their post-track life already low in vitamin E.

4. Stress Sensitivity

TBs tend to be:
• sensitive
• high-alert
• reactive

Chronic stress increases oxidative load → increasing vitamin E requirements.

5. Thin Body Type = Less Antioxidant Reserve

Thoroughbreds typically have:
• lower natural fat stores
• fewer fat-soluble nutrient reserves
• faster depletion of vitamin E

This makes deficiency symptoms appear sooner.

Signs of Low Vitamin E (Common in Winter + TBs)
• muscle twitching
• topline loss despite adequate feed
• poor stamina
• slow recovery after exercise
• weakness or stumbling
• vague hind-end issues
• difficulty holding chiropractic/bodywork results
• nerve hypersensitivity
• lowered immune resilience

TBs often show subtle early signs.

Supplement Tip: Not All Vitamin E Forms Are Equal

Vitamin E supplements vary widely in absorption. In horses:
• Natural d-alpha-tocopherol is better absorbed than synthetic dl-alpha-tocopherol
• Water-dispersible (micellized) forms are ideal for horses on low-fat diets or those showing deficiency
• Powdered synthetic forms may not significantly raise blood levels in some horses

For horses showing symptoms, a high-quality natural, water-dispersible form is often the most effective.

Important Selenium Caution

Vitamin E and selenium are often paired, but:
• many feeds and balancers already contain selenium
• too much selenium can be toxic
• avoid stacking multiple E/Se products without checking totals

Always review total selenium intake with a veterinarian before adding selenium-containing supplements.

When to Involve Your Veterinarian

Consider veterinary testing if you notice:
• persistent muscle twitching
• unexplained weakness, stumbling, or poor coordination
• progressive topline loss
• vague neurologic signs
• chronic soreness or delayed recovery
• sudden behavior changes that feel “neurologic”

A simple serum vitamin E test can confirm deficiency and guide dosage.

Other High-Risk Horses

Beyond Thoroughbreds, vitamin E deficiency may appear sooner in:
• older horses
• horses in intense work
• horses with chronic pain or compensation patterns
• metabolic horses kept off grass
• horses recovering from illness or injury

These horses may benefit from proactive supplementation.

The Bottom Line

Vitamin E deficiency becomes more common this time of year because:
• pasture disappears
• hay contains almost no vitamin E
• work + confinement increase antioxidant demand

Thoroughbreds are more prone to deficiency because of:
• higher metabolic demand
• heightened stress reactivity
• muscle sensitivity and RER tendencies
• feeding and turnout patterns
• lower nutrient reserve capacity

https://koperequine.com/the-thoracic-sling-axial-skeleton-interplay/

11/23/2025

‼️ EHM Outbreak Update‼️
Cases have now been confirmed in 7 states. Currently there are no confirmed cases in California.

The EDCC website is dedicated to maintaining up-to-date reliable information:
https://equinediseasecc.org/news/article/Equine-Herpesvirus-Myeloencephalopathy-(EHM)-Outbreak

Strict biosecurity measures remain our number one defense against the spread of this disease. Stay vigilant and stay safe ❤️

11/23/2025

11/22/2025

11/20/2025

Adipose Tissue, Fascia Quality, and Fitting Up the Whole Horse

When we look at a horse’s body, we notice what’s visible — muscle, fat cover, topline, symmetry.
But beneath all of that lies a system that influences every stride, every load, and every moment of comfort or tension: fascia.

Fascia surrounds every muscle, bone, and organ, forming a continuous, responsive network. Its quality depends on nutrition, workload, hydration, and metabolic health. This means a horse’s overall body condition — starved, lean, or highly conditioned — directly influences the health of its fascial system.

How Adipose Tissue Interacts with Fascia

Adipose tissue (fat) isn’t just stored energy. Within the fascial system, it provides:
• Cushioning and spacing between layers
• Lubrication and glide for movement
• Local inflammatory regulation
• Metabolic support and building blocks for repair

Because fascia and adipose are interwoven, changes in fat volume or metabolic health change how fascia behaves.

In a Starved or Malnourished Horse

A starved horse is not simply “thin” — it is biochemically deprived. Without adequate nutrients, the body cannot maintain connective tissue.

This leads to:
• Dry, sticky, brittle fascia
• Impaired collagen production
• Poor hydration and reduced glide
• Loss of protective fat buffering
• Increased sensitivity and guarding
• Higher risk of strain or tearing

In other words: poor nutrition = poor fascia.

In a Lean but Highly Fit Horse

Lean does not mean compromised. A well-fed, properly conditioned athlete can have exceptional fascial quality.

A fit, nourished horse often maintains:
• Hydrated, elastic fascial layers
• Strong, well-organized collagen
• Efficient load transmission
• Excellent glide between tissues

“Lean” is not the enemy. Undernourished is.

A fueled athlete develops fascia that is supple, strong, and responsive — exactly what performance requires.

What This Means for Fitting Up the Horse

Saddle fitting, bodywork, training, and nutrition cannot be separated. Fascia connects everything.

1. Evaluate Nutritional Status First

A poorly nourished horse cannot maintain healthy fascia.

Compromised tissue is:
• inconsistent
• tender
• reactive
• unable to support load

Fitting on a nutritionally depleted body often leads to false readings and fluctuating fit.
Nutrition must come first.

2. Assess Tissue Quality — Not Just Quantity

A thin horse can have beautiful fascia; an overweight horse can have stiff, inflamed fascia.

Look for:
• skin elasticity
• hydration
• easy slide between layers
• suppleness
• areas of guarding or bracing

A fit horse with responsive tissues fits very differently from a horse whose fascia is dry, adhered, or painful.

3. Use Fascia-Friendly Management

Healthy fascia requires:
• balanced nutrition (amino acids, EFAs, minerals)
• consistent, varied movement
• minimal prolonged stillness
• regular bodywork to maintain glide
• hydration + electrolytes
• tack that does not distort fascial layers

Fascia thrives on load, release, hydration, and nourishment.

4. Fit through the Whole System — Not Just the Back

Because fascia is continuous, restrictions in one area affect movement throughout the body.

A thorough fit considers:
• ribcage mobility
• shoulder freedom
• pelvic and hind-end dynamics
• thoracolumbar hydration
• fascial lines linking neck, sternum, back, and hindquarters

When superficial layers are compromised, deeper layers are affected — and fit must be monitored more closely.

The Bottom Line

Yes — adipose tissue and fascial quality matter enormously.
• Starved horse: poor fascial quality due to lack of nutrients
• Lean, well-fed athlete: strong, hydrated, resilient fascia capable of supporting work

Supporting fascia through nutrition, movement, hydration, and thoughtful fitting is one of the most effective ways to improve your horse’s comfort, performance, and long-term soundness.

https://koperequine.com/exploring-fascia-in-equine-myofascial-pain-an-integrative-view-of-mechanisms-and-healing/