Wind Drinker Equine Bodywork and Massage, LLC.

10/31/2025

10/30/2025

A horse's full intestines can weigh over 100 pounds (45 kg), with the large intestine alone potentially accounting for that entire weight when full of feed.

The total weight depends on the horse's size and what it has recently consumed.
Key components of the equine digestive tract include:
Total capacity: The entire gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a fed, mature horse can hold nearly 50 gallons (190 liters) of fluid and feed.
Hindgut weight: The hindgut (cecum and colon) accounts for approximately 64% of the empty weight of the GI tract. This is the area where fiber fermentation occurs.
Large intestine capacity: The large intestine is a significant contributor to the total weight of the full intestines.
It can hold 80 liters (21 gallons) or more of food and water.
When filled with feed, it can weigh up to 100 pounds (45 kg).
Cecum capacity: The cecum, a comma-shaped organ on the right side of the abdomen, can hold up to 30 liters (about 8 gallons) of food and water.

Another thing to consider in our horses is that the small intestines is suspended via the mesentry to the vertebral column of the lumbar. The lumbar is one of the last places to mature in horses and is susceptible to problems. Lumbar pain is a common site of dysfunction in horses I see for several reasons…..that is another post!

Below is just the intestinal tract from a 15hh horse, in a dissection it takes 4 people to comfortably carry this all out on a tarpaulin.

Below is a link to whole collection of videos on the intestinal tract.

https://www.patreon.com/collection/1804697t

10/30/2025

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The Mesentery: The Hidden Web of Core Balance and Comfort

Illustration of a horse's anatomy showing the positioning of the small and large intestines within the abdomen.

Hidden deep within the abdomen lies a structure few horse owners have ever heard of — yet it influences everything from digestion to posture.
The mesentery is a fascinating and often overlooked tissue — especially relevant in horses because of its sheer size and influence on gut mobility, core stability, and comfort.
What the Mesentery Is

The mesentery is a continuous fold of connective tissue — a double layer of the peritoneum — that attaches the intestines to the dorsal wall of the abdomen.

Far from being a passive membrane, it functions as a dynamic fascial organ that suspends, supports, and nourishes the digestive tract through its vascular, neural, and lymphatic networks.

Structure and Function
Attachment & Support

The mesentery connects the intestines to the dorsal body wall, organizing and stabilizing the loops of bowel while still allowing them to move and glide.

Vascular Highway

It carries the blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerves that feed and regulate the intestines — like a life-support harness for the digestive system.

Fascial Continuity

The mesentery is part of the deep fascial network, meaning restrictions here can influence movement, tension, and comfort throughout the trunk, diaphragm, and even into the back.

Mobility & Motion

In a healthy horse, the intestines should slide and shift slightly with each breath and stride. This subtle motion contributes to gut motility, assists lymphatic drainage, and helps dissipate internal tension.

The Mesentery: A Fascial Bridge Between Breath, Spine, and Gut

The mesentery is far more than a support for the intestines — it’s a continuous fascial bridge that connects the motion of the gut to the motion of the spine and diaphragm.

Each pulse of breath and shift of posture is transmitted through this living sheet, linking the digestive organs to the body’s core suspension system.

From the jejunum and ileum of the small intestine to the transverse and sigmoid sections of the colon, the mesentery carries a seamless web of vessels, lymphatics, and nerves that both anchor and animate.

It’s part of the same fascial continuum that blends with the retroperitoneum, pelvic fascia, and even the crura of the diaphragm, creating a unified field of tension and support.

When that field glides freely, digestion, posture, and breath harmonize.

When it stiffens or twists, restriction in one region — whether spine, viscera, or diaphragm — can echo through them all.

Why It Matters in Horses

The equine digestive tract is enormous — up to 30 meters (100 feet) of intestine — and the mesentery must support, suspend, and stabilize all of it.

Because it connects the viscera to the lumbar region through the dorsal fascia, its health has far-reaching effects:

Visceral restrictions (from colic, dehydration, adhesions, or chronic postural compression) can limit mesenteric glide, altering core tension and contributing to back or girth sensitivity.
Fascial tension here can mimic or worsen issues such as a “tight back,” short hind-limb reach, or reluctance to lift through the core.

A well-functioning mesentery supports gut motility, core balance, and a calm nervous system — since visceral comfort directly influences vagal tone and emotional state.

In Bodywork and Movement

Although the mesentery lies deep within the abdominal cavity and cannot be accessed directly by hand, bodywork can influence it indirectly in several important ways:

The outer fascial layers of the abdomen, diaphragm, and lumbar region are continuous with the mesenteric network, so releasing surface tension can improve internal glide and circulation.

Gentle touch, rhythmic rocking, or slow abdominal strokes can enhance parasympathetic tone, promoting peristalsis and visceral mobility through the horse’s own nervous system.

Breathing and posture are the main drivers of mesenteric motion; any work that frees the diaphragm or encourages relaxed, rhythmic breathing helps maintain internal suppleness.
In essence, manual therapy doesn’t move the mesentery — it creates the conditions for it to move itself through breath, circulation, and natural motion.

Please click here for the 2nd 1/2 of this article - https://koperequine.com/the-mesentery-the-hidden-web-of-core-balance-and-comfort/

10/27/2025

There is a prophecy by Edgar Cayce about horses that the world has ignored for nearly a century. He said a time would come when humanity, lost in its machine...

10/27/2025

10/20/2025

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10/16/2025

Gentle Touch, Big Impact: How Face & Neck Massage Could Support Your Horse’s Brain Health and Overall Wellness

A groundbreaking discovery in neuroscience found that gentle massage of the face and neck in mice and monkeys tripled the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) — the vital fluid that clears away waste and harmful proteins linked to conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

🔬 Researchers discovered a network of lymphatic vessels just under the skin of the face and neck — much closer to the surface than previously believed. By lightly stroking this area for only one minute, older animals showed fluid movement similar to much younger ones.

✨ Why does this matter for horses?
• Horses, like humans, rely on CSF flow to “clean” the brain.
• If similar pathways exist in equines (which is very likely), gentle massage of the head and neck could support neurological health, mental clarity, and recovery.
• Many equine bodyworkers already observe that horses become deeply relaxed, soften their eyes, and “let go” when these regions are gently worked. Now we may have a scientific explanation why.

🌊 CSF Flow & Brain Health
• CSF acts like the brain’s detox fluid, clearing waste and harmful proteins.
• If gentle touch can triple CSF flow, then therapies that influence the head, neck, and fascia (like massage, myofascial release, and craniosacral therapy) may do far more than relax muscles — they may directly support neurological resilience and longevity.

🐴 Nervous System Balance in Horses
• Horses are prey animals, always tuned to their environment. A buildup of waste proteins or restricted CSF flow could influence stress responses, learning ability, and even physical soundness.
• Gentle work around the poll, TMJ, and upper neck may encourage parasympathetic dominance (rest and digest mode), allowing the horse to truly relax and recover.

💆 The Role of Craniosacral Therapy (CST)
• CST already focuses on enhancing CSF flow through subtle, hands-on techniques.
• This discovery provides biological validation: even light touch on the skin and fascia may stimulate lymphatic vessels connected to CSF drainage.
• That means CST may not just balance cranial rhythms — it could help detoxify the brain and support long-term neurological health.

🧩 Whole-Body Wellness Implications
• Cognitive function: Sharper focus, learning, and memory.
• Aging: Restoring youthful fluid movement in older horses.
• Injury recovery: Supporting brain and nerve healing after trauma or stress.
• Sleep quality: Enhancing the brain’s natural nighttime cleansing process.

✨ Bottom line:
This groundbreaking research gives scientific weight to what equine bodyworkers have long observed — gentle, intentional touch to the head and neck doesn’t just relax the horse; it may help keep the brain itself healthier and more resilient.

https://koperequine.com/fascia-the-primo-vascular-system-and-massages-effects-on-them-the-bodys-hidden-highway/

10/10/2025

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The Interplay Between the Thoracic Sling and the Fascial Sleeve of the Forelimb

The horse’s forehand is a marvel of suspension and flow — a dynamic system that relies on the thoracic sling and the fascial sleeve of the forelimb working together as one continuous, responsive unit. The efficiency, elasticity, and comfort of the horse’s entire front end depend on how these two systems share load, tension, and sensory feedback.

🩻 The Thoracic Sling: The Horse’s “Living Suspension System”

Unlike humans, horses do not have a bony joint connecting their forelimbs to the trunk. Instead, the thoracic sling — a network of muscles and fascia — suspends the ribcage between the shoulder blades. Key players include:
• Serratus ventralis cervicis and thoracis
• Pectoralis profundus and subclavius
• Trapezius and rhomboideus
• Latissimus dorsi
• Related myofascia

These structures stabilize and lift the trunk during movement, absorb impact, and allow for fine adjustments in balance and posture. A supple, strong sling lets the horse “float” the ribcage between the shoulders rather than brace against the ground.

🩹 The Fascial Sleeve of the Forelimb: A Continuum of Force and Flow

Each forelimb is encased in a fascial sleeve — a continuous, multilayered sheath of connective tissue that envelops every muscle, tendon, ligament, and neurovascular pathway from the scapula to the hoof.

Rather than separating structures, fascia integrates them, distributing tension and transmitting force both vertically (hoof to trunk) and laterally (across the chest and back). The fascial sleeve is both a stabilizer and a sensory network, richly innervated with mechanoreceptors that inform the central nervous system about position, pressure, and movement.

🔄 A Two-Way Relationship

The thoracic sling and the fascial sleeve of the forelimb form a mutually dependent system.

When one is tight, weak, or imbalanced, the other compensates — often at a cost.

1. Force Transmission

Each stride begins with ground contact. The impact and rebound forces from the limb travel up through the fascial sleeve, into the shoulder girdle, and directly into the thoracic sling.
If the fascial sleeve is supple and well-hydrated, the sling can absorb and redistribute force smoothly.
If restricted — for instance, by myofascial adhesions or muscular guarding — the load transmits as sharp, jarring impact into the sling, leading to fatigue and microstrain.

2. Postural Support

The sling lifts and stabilizes the thorax between the shoulders. But that lift depends on the integrity of the fascial tension in the forelimb.
If the limb fascia loses tone or the deep pectorals shorten, the ribcage can “drop” between the shoulders, leading to a downhill posture, shortened stride, and overload of the forehand.

3. Neuromuscular Coordination

Fascia houses thousands of sensory receptors that communicate constantly with the nervous system.
The thoracic sling relies on this feedback to coordinate timing and symmetry of movement.
When fascial tension becomes uneven — say, due to unilateral limb restriction — proprioceptive input becomes distorted, and the horse may appear crooked, heavy on one rein, or unable to maintain even rhythm.

4. Reciprocal Influence
• A tight thoracic sling can compress the fascial pathways through the shoulder and upper limb, restricting glide and muscle contraction below.
• Conversely, a restricted fascial sleeve can inhibit normal scapular rotation and ribcage lift, forcing the sling muscles to overwork.

💆‍♀️ Myofascial Release and Massage: Restoring the Dialogue

Manual therapies that target both regions — not just the limb or the trunk in isolation — are key to restoring the horse’s natural balance.

Effective bodywork can:
• Release adhesions within the fascial sleeve to restore elastic recoil.
• Improve scapular glide and thoracic lift.
• Normalize sensory input through mechanoreceptors, refining coordination.
• Encourage symmetrical movement and postural awareness through gentle, integrated mobilization.

When the thoracic sling and limb fascia move as one continuous system, the horse’s stride lengthens, the topline softens, and forehand heaviness diminishes.

🧘‍♀️ Training and Conditioning Support

Beyond manual therapy, proper conditioning maintains this balance:
• Hill work and gentle pole exercises enhance thoracic sling engagement.
• Lateral work improves scapular mobility and fascial elasticity.
• Regular checks of saddle fit and rider symmetry prevent recurring restriction.

🐎 The Takeaway

The thoracic sling doesn’t work in isolation — it’s an extension of the fascial sleeve of the forelimb, and together they form the foundation of forehand function.
Healthy fascia enables the sling to lift, absorb, and respond.
A supple, responsive sling protects the fascia from overload.

When they operate in harmony, the horse moves with effortless balance — powerful yet soft, grounded yet elevated — the way nature intended.

09/05/2025

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Horses got some TLC last night from these awesome ladies. Stride Creek Therapy Drinker Equine Bodywork and Massage, LLC

09/04/2025

Here's an interesting comparison between human and equine anatomy from our friends at Barrow Veterinary Service:

"Did you know that horses are actually walking on the tips of their fingers and toes? 🐎👣

This diagram shows how the horse’s leg bones compare to ours. What looks like a single strong hoof is really the distal phalanx (or coffin bone) – the same bone that makes up the tip of your finger! The long and short pastern bones above it help absorb concussion, while the cannon bone provides strength and support.

Over time, horses evolved to lose most of their “extra toes” (shown in gray on the left). What remains is a highly efficient structure designed for speed, weight-bearing, and shock absorption.

Understanding this anatomy is one reason hoof care and regular farrier/veterinary visits are so important. Any imbalance or injury in these bones can affect the entire limb and your horse’s comfort.

So next time you watch your horse gallop, remember – they’re essentially running on a single finger, protected by a hoof! 💨🐴"