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Peak Performance International LLC, Smithville, NJ (2026)

04/13/2026

If your horse feels unstable through the back, loses balance in transitions, or struggles to hold posture under saddle, the issue may be deep spinal stabilization, not topline strength alone.

The multifidi are deep spinal stabilizers that run from C2 to the sacrum and help control segmental motion and protect the spine during movement.

Origin: articular and mamillary processes from C2 to the sacrum
Insertion: spinous processes of the preceding vertebrae
Innervation: dorsal branches of the local spinal nerves

Primary functions:
segmental spinal stabilization
rotates the spine with unilateral activation
supports controlled neck elevation and posture

Though small, these muscles protect the spine against shear and excessive motion. When they are not functioning well, riders often notice loss of posture in transitions, difficulty holding frame, instability through the back, and faster fatigue in collected work.

Restricted vertebral motion can inhibit multifidus activation and alter proprioceptive input. That is why mobility comes before true stabilization work.

Comment BALANCE and I’ll message you the first thing I check when a horse loses posture in transitions.

If spinal stability or postural control has changed, book a Performance Assessment.

04/11/2026

A horse that feels heavy on the forehand is not always dealing with a front end problem.

A lot of horses that feel downhill, heavy in the contact, or unstable through one shoulder are actually dealing with thoracic sling dysfunction and changes in how the trunk is being supported between the forelimbs.

That matters because if the issue is really load distribution, shoulder mechanics, and front end support, more riding or more training alone does not always fix it.

I just wrote a new blog breaking down why some horses stay heavy in front, what the thoracic sling actually does, and the signs that the problem may be biomechanical rather than just training-related.

You can read it here: https://peakperformanceequine.net/horse-heavy-on-forehand-thoracic-sling/

04/11/2026

Your horse being heavy on the forehand is not just a balance issue.
It is a load distribution problem.

The front end of the horse is not attached by bone.
It is suspended by a muscular system called the thoracic sling.

This system controls:
• lifting the withers
• stabilizing the shoulder
• distributing weight through the front limbs

When it is not functioning:
• the thorax drops
• weight shifts forward
• the horse becomes heavy in the hand

This is why simply adding more leg or trying to “lift” the horse does not solve the issue.

You cannot push weight off the forehand if the front end cannot support it.

I break this down step by step in the full blog, including what the research shows and how it applies to performance horses.

Read the full article here: https://peakperformanceequine.net/horse-heavy-on-forehand-thoracic-sling/

If your horse feels heavy, struggles in transitions, or lacks front-end stability, the issue may be in how the system is functioning.

04/09/2026

Therapy Thursday | Serratus Ventralis Support for Thoracic Sling Strength

If your horse feels heavy in front or falls through one shoulder, this is one simple way to support thoracic sling function.

A lot of horses that feel downhill are not missing effort. They are missing support and control through the front end.

Exercise | Forelimb Protraction Stretch
This controlled shoulder stretch supports scapular mechanics and helps improve mobility through the structures that influence thoracic sling function.

Why this helps
Forelimb protraction creates controlled lengthening through the serratus ventralis and scapulothoracic interface, encouraging better scapular glide and improved front end organization.

Over time, this can support:
lighter contact
better balance in turns
more shoulder freedom
better front end control

Clinical note
This supports the system, but it does not replace restoring restriction or addressing neuromuscular inhibition. If the cervicothoracic junction, ribs, or scapulothoracic interface are not moving well, the horse will not stabilize efficiently.

Save this post and add it to your warm up routine this week.

Comment FOREHAND and I’ll message you what this usually tells me clinically when a horse feels heavy in front.

If front end balance or shoulder stability is limiting movement, book a Performance Assessment.

04/07/2026

If your horse feels heavy in front, falls through one shoulder, or struggles to lift through the withers, I am not assuming the problem is in the leg.

A lot of horses that feel downhill are actually dealing with changes in shoulder mechanics, thoracic sling function, rib motion, and cervicothoracic mobility.

That matters because front end balance depends on more than the limb itself. It depends on how the trunk is being supported and how force is being transferred through the system.

This is why I do not just look at the symptom. I assess how the horse moves, identify what is driving the compensation, and then treat the system contributing to the dysfunction.

Comment SHOULDER and I’ll message you the first thing I look at when a horse feels uneven or unstable in front.

If your horse has started to feel flatter in transitions, heavier in the contact, or less organized through the shoulder, book a Performance Assessment.

04/06/2026

Serratus Ventralis | Thoracic Sling Stabilizer

If your horse feels heavy on the forehand, the problem may not be in the legs.

A lot of horses that feel downhill, unstable through the shoulder, or harder to lift in front are not dealing with a front limb issue first. Often the issue is how the trunk is being supported between the forelimbs.

The serratus ventralis is a cornerstone of the thoracic sling, the muscular system that suspends the trunk between the forelimbs without a clavicle.

Origin: cervical portion C4 to C7 transverse processes, thoracic portion ribs 1 to 8
Insertion: scapular cartilage and medial scapula
Innervation: long thoracic nerve and ventral branches of the cervical spinal nerves

Primary functions:
suspends the trunk between the forelimbs
assists scapular rotation and protraction
supports postural stability
contributes to respiratory mechanics during work

When this system is not functioning well, riders often notice a downhill feel, shoulder instability, heavy contact, reduced shoulder freedom, and poor balance in turns and transitions.

Restricted motion at the cervicothoracic junction, ribs, or scapulothoracic interface can inhibit serratus ventralis activation. Mobility first. Then stability. Then performance.

Comment FOREHAND and I’ll message you the first thing I check when a horse feels heavy in front.

If front end balance or shoulder stability has changed, book a Performance Assessment.

04/04/2026

Most riders are icing… but not using it correctly.

Longer does not mean better.
And not all cooling methods do the same thing.

This is where a lot of well-intentioned care turns into inefficient recovery.

Icing is not just something you “do after a ride”
It is a dose-dependent intervention that affects circulation, tissue loading, and recovery timelines.

And if you are:
• icing too long
• using the wrong method
• or relying on icing alone

you may not be getting the effect you think you are.

Here is what most people miss:

After a certain point, prolonged cold exposure triggers a rebound effect where blood flow returns.

That means more time does not equal more cooling.

At the same time, different methods pe*****te tissue at completely different depths.

So the question becomes:

Are you actually cooling the structure you are trying to influence?

I broke this down in detail, including:
• how long to ice (based on physiology)
• which methods cool deepest
• what icing actually does for tendons
• and how to use it correctly within a full recovery strategy

Read the full breakdown here:
https://peakperformanceequine.net/how-to-ice-horse-legs-correctly/

Save this post so you can refer back to it.

Comment ICE if you want help optimizing your horse’s recovery program.

Book a performance assessment with Peak Performance International if you are concerned about tendon load, recovery, or long-term soundness.

04/02/2026

Therapy Thursday | Spinal Decompression for Pelvic Stability & Engagement

If your horse feels flat behind, struggles to sit, or shows uneven push off,
the issue may not be strength alone.

It is often lumbosacral function and pelvic control.

The gluteus medius drives propulsion, but it depends on how well the lumbar spine and pelvis move together under load.

If that system is restricted:
• activation becomes inefficient
• pelvic control is lost
• compensation develops

Exercise | Tail Traction (Spinal Decompression)

This technique supports mobility through the lumbar spine and reduces protective tension that limits glute activation.

Research and clinical observation show that light, sustained traction can reduce spinal discomfort and improve mobility (Hyytiäinen et al.).

This helps:
• improve pelvic control
• enhance gluteus medius recruitment
• restore force transfer through the hind end

Over time, riders often notice:
• better ability to sit in transitions
• more consistent push off
• improved symmetry behind

Important
This supports activation but does not replace addressing joint restriction or neurologic inhibition.

Mobility first. Then strength.

Save this post and add it to your routine.

Comment ENGAGEMENT if your horse feels flat behind or struggles to sit.

Book a performance assessment with Peak Performance International if hind end power, symmetry, or pelvic control has changed.

03/31/2026

Lumbar Adjustment | Restoring Pelvic Control

If your horse feels flat behind or struggles to sit,
it is not always a limb problem.

It is often in the lumbar spine.

The gluteus medius drives propulsion, but it depends on proper motion through the lumbosacral junction and lumbar spine to function correctly.

When this region is restricted:
• pelvic control becomes inconsistent
• neural input to the gluteals is altered
• force transfer through the hind end is reduced

That is when you see:
• flat or weak canter
• delayed or hollow transitions
• difficulty sitting behind
• asymmetry in push off

This is where most people focus on strengthening and miss the underlying problem.

You cannot strengthen a system that is not moving or recruiting correctly.

Restoring lumbar motion improves:
• gluteus medius activation
• pelvic stability
• hind end engagement

Mobility first. Then power.

Comment ENGAGEMENT if your horse feels flat behind or struggles to sit.

Keep an eye out for this week’s Therapy Thursday post where I’ll show you how to support this with targeted work.

Book a performance assessment with Peak Performance International if hind end power, symmetry, or pelvic control has changed.

03/30/2026

Gluteus Medius | Pelvic Stability & Hind End Power

If your horse feels flat behind or struggles to sit and engage the hind end,
it is not always a hock problem.

The issue is often higher at the pelvis.

True engagement starts at the lumbosacral region.

The gluteus medius is one of the most powerful muscles in the hind end. It drives propulsion, stabilizes the pelvis, and allows efficient force transfer through the lumbosacral and sacroiliac regions.

This is the muscle responsible for how your horse pushes, carries, and stabilizes from behind.

Anatomy (quick overview)
Origin
• Longissimus lumborum
• Gluteal surface of the ilium
• Sacrum
• Sacroiliac and sacrosciatic ligaments

Insertion
• Greater trochanter of the femur

Innervation
• Cranial gluteal nerve

Primary functions
• Extends the hip
• Abducts the hindlimb
• Stabilizes the pelvis relative to the spine
• Controls pelvic position during single limb stance
• Drives propulsion through the hind end

When this system is not working
• Flat or weak canter
• Delayed or hollow transitions
• Difficulty sitting
• Pelvic drop or asymmetry
• Loss of impulsion

Riders feel this as a horse that looks engaged, but does not actually push or carry from behind.

What most people miss
The cranial gluteal nerve originates from the lumbosacral plexus.

If motion is restricted through the lumbar spine, SI region, or lumbosacral junction:
• neural input changes
• muscle recruitment becomes inefficient
• compensation develops

This is why:
you cannot strengthen a muscle that is not being recruited correctly.

Chiropractic insight
Restoring motion through the lumbar spine, lumbosacral junction, and pelvis improves neuromuscular signaling and allows the gluteus medius to function properly.

Mobility first. Then power.

Save this post for reference.

Comment ENGAGEMENT if your horse feels flat behind or struggles to sit.

Keep an eye out for this week’s Therapy Thursday post where I’ll show you how to support glute activation and pelvic stability.

03/28/2026

Most riders try to fix straightness with more leg.

But if your horse cannot control the hindlimb under load, more pressure will not solve the problem.

Research shows that muscles like the gracilis are responsible for both movement and stability. This is what allows the horse to step under, stay straight, and move with precision.

When this system is not functioning correctly, riders often see:

• drifting in lateral work
• difficulty crossing under
• inconsistent transitions

This is often mistaken for stiffness or lack of training.

In reality, it is a breakdown in pelvic stability and neuromuscular control.

In the full blog, I break down:

• what the research actually shows
• why this happens clinically
• how to address it through training and rehab

If your horse struggles to stay straight, the issue may be in how the system is functioning, not how hard you are riding.

Read the full article at the link in bio.

Comment LATERAL if this sounds like your horse.

Save this post so you can come back to it during training.

03/26/2026

Therapy Thursday | Gracilis Activation for Lateral Control & Pelvic Stability

If your horse struggles to cross under, drifts in lateral work, or feels unstable in transitions,
the issue may not be flexibility.

It is often adductor control and pelvic stability.

Suppleness and straightness depend on how well the hindlimb moves toward midline and stabilizes under load. The gracilis plays a key role in adduction, pelvic control, and stifle stability during single limb support. When this system is weak or poorly coordinated, horses lose straightness and compensate through the lumbosacral region.

Exercise | Single Hindlimb Lift on an Unstable Surface
This drill targets adductor activation and pelvic control.

How to perform
• Place one hindlimb on an unstable surface such as a foam pad
• Ask the horse to lift the opposite hindlimb
• Hold briefly without loss of balance
• Monitor pelvic alignment

Why this works
The supporting limb must adduct and stabilize under load, directly engaging the gracilis and adductor group. The unstable surface increases proprioceptive demand, improving coordination, neuromuscular timing, and pelvic control.

Over time riders often notice:
• improved ability to cross under
• better straightness in lateral work
• more controlled transitions

Clinical considerations
Use only in horses with adequate baseline balance. Avoid in cases of acute hindlimb injury, neurologic deficits, or significant instability. Discontinue if coordination decreases.

Chiropractic considerations
This drill improves activation but does not correct joint restriction or nerve inhibition.
Restrictions through the lumbosacral region and pelvis can impair obturator nerve function and limit adductor recruitment.

Mobility first. Then control.

Save this post and add it to your routine.
Comment LATERAL if your horse struggles to cross under or stay straight.
Book a performance assessment with Peak Performance International if hindlimb coordination or pelvic control has changed.

Peak Performance International LLC

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