Magic Hands Equine

12/17/2025

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Did You Know?
• A growing body of research shows that inadequate hydration increases cortisol spikes in response to stress
• In cold weather, horses naturally drink less, even when water is readily available
• Horses drank 40% more water when it was offered at 66°F compared to 32–38°F
• 82% of daily water intake occurs within the first 3 hours after feeding
• This makes feed time the most critical window for providing fresh, warm water

Why This Matters

Reduced water intake quietly increases:
• physiological stress
• digestive strain
• risk of impactions
• muscle and fascial stiffness

Winter Hydration, Stress, and Electrolytes in Horses

Cold weather naturally reduces a horse’s thirst — but hydration is just as critical in winter as in summer. When water intake drops, stress hormones rise, digestion slows, and muscles and fascia lose elasticity.

Most winter dehydration happens quietly. If water is too cold or not refreshed at feeding time, horses simply don’t drink enough.

Cold Weather Hydration Basics

Horses that drink less water are more prone to:
• dehydration
• dry manure and impaction colic
• poor digestion
• muscle stiffness and slower warm-ups

Practical tip:
Refill buckets with fresh, warm water at feeding time, when horses are most likely to drink.

Even small daily water deficits add up over time, increasing colic risk and physical stress.

Salt and Electrolytes Still Matter in Winter

Electrolytes aren’t just a summer concern. Cold weather creates its own hydration challenges.

Salt keeps horses drinking.
Cold temperatures blunt thirst, and many horses drink only 50–80% of their normal intake in winter. Salt stimulates thirst and supports circulation and digestion.

Salt helps the body retain water.
Salt doesn’t just increase drinking — it helps the body hold onto and properly distribute water. Without enough salt, water passes through too quickly and tissues remain dehydrated.

Why this matters:
Water alone doesn’t equal hydration. Salt allows water to actually hydrate tissues.

Winter Dehydration Is Often Missed

Cold-weather dehydration contributes to:
• impaction colic
• reduced performance
• muscle tightness
• poor circulation

Horses also lose electrolytes through urine, manure, normal metabolism, and moisture lost from the respiratory tract — even without visible sweat.

A horse can be dehydrated without ever looking sweaty.

Cold Stress Increases Daily Needs

To stay warm, horses burn more calories and rely on sodium and chloride for normal muscle and nerve function. Adequate hydration supports muscle firing, coordination, circulation, and heat production.

Blankets can further hide sweat and salt loss, allowing dehydration to build unnoticed.

What to Feed in Winter

Plain salt (daily):
Most horses need 1–2 tablespoons (15–30 g) of plain salt year-round. Salt blocks and licks are rarely sufficient.

Electrolytes:
Consider adding when the horse is in work, water intake drops, manure becomes drier, weather is cold and dry, or the horse sweats under blankets.
Choose salt-based, not sugar-based products.

In Essence
• Salt keeps horses drinking and helps retain water
• Electrolytes keep muscles and nerves functioning
• Hydration keeps the gut moving and tissues healthy

Winter hydration isn’t optional — it’s foundational to health, movement, and performance.

Learn more about it here -
https://koperequine.com/?s=Salt

12/15/2025

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12/15/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/14RQfyXcc3g/

Looking at the dissection through a riding and training lens, one of the most impactful conversations centered around what riding a horse behind the vertical actually does to their body.

Before any anatomy was exposed, we ran a simple but sobering experiment. We compared the range of motion of the hind limb under different conditions: nothing on the head, a tight cavesson, a snaffle bit lifted into the corners of the lips, a snaffle bit creating direct pressure on the tongue and bars, and finally, a behind-the-vertical head position.

The results were immediate and undeniable.

Hind limb range of motion, especially extension, was significantly reduced with a tight cavesson and tongue/bar pressure and majorly restricted with a BTV posture. I’ve always known I don’t like what I feel in my hands or under my seat when a horse curls behind the vertical, but feeling that restriction echoed all the way back into the hind limb was heartbreaking.

What these horses will offer us, even at tremendous cost to their own bodies, is hard to comprehend.

When I released the leg, I felt a sudden rush of energy strong enough to give me goosebumps. Whether it was residual electrical charge in the nervous system or simply Royal’s presence underscoring the importance of the lesson, it was unmistakable. That moment stayed with me.

Later in the dissection, that felt experience was given anatomical context.

We spent time discussing the upper cervical spine and what happens structurally when a horse is consistently asked to work behind the vertical.

The occiput is the large bone forming the back of the horse's head, containing the foramen magnum (where the spinal cord exits) and the occipital condyles. These condyles rest in the concave surfaces (foveae) of the atlas (C1), forming the atlanto-occipital (AO) joint. This joint is where the brain transitions into the spinal cord, with multiple nerves exiting in close proximity, making it both vital and vulnerable.

The AO joint primarily allows flexion and extension of the head (think nodding yes) as well as a small amount of lateral bending. Many horses already lack full, clean translation of the occipital condyles within the atlas, meaning their range of motion here may be limited before training ever begins.

When a horse is asked to go behind the vertical, the mechanics shift dramatically. The neck curls, the poll ceases to be the highest point, and the second cervical vertebra (the axis) takes over.

This can be potentially dangerous because of the dens.

The dens is a prominent bony projection extending upward from C2 that fits into a specialized socket in C1, forming a pivot joint that allows rotation of the head and neck. Strong ligaments hold the dens securely against the atlas, protecting the spinal cord that runs just beneath it.

Repeated behind-the-vertical posture places strain on this system. Over time, those ligaments can become stressed or damaged, compromising the stability of a joint that exists mere millimeters from the spinal cord. A disrupted relationship here carries real neurological risk.

When C2 becomes the highest point, the subtle lateral bending available at the AO joint is lost. That loss cascades down the spine, limiting axial rotation throughout the rest of the body. In addition, this posture places increased strain on the nuchal ligament. Instead of remaining centered and elastic, it can begin to slip laterally over the cervical vertebrae.

As elasticity is lost, so is function.

The nuchal ligament’s role is to assist the muscles of the neck in supporting the weight of the head and neck. When it can no longer do that effectively, the muscular system must take on 100% of the load. This often shows up as overdevelopment of muscles like the splenius.

Holding this discussion alongside what we found in Royal’s neck added weight to the conversation. Degeneration at the atlanto-occipital joint and longstanding cervical tension illustrated how chronic restriction at the poll can leave lasting structural consequences. It was a poignant reminder that repeated patterns, especially when layered over time, can reshape the body in profound ways.

Seeing this progression from external posture to internal consequence deepened my commitment to riding that protects the nervous system, preserves spinal integrity, and honors what the horse’s body is truly capable of sustaining.

Behind the vertical is not just a frame. The way we ask a horse to carry their head shapes how their entire system organizes... or breaks down.

This dissection finally gave language to the sensations I’ve felt under saddle. When something doesn’t feel right, it usually isn’t. The body always tells the truth if we’re willing to listen.

* The dissection was by Trinity Equine Services and I highly recommend attending one if you get the chance.

12/13/2025

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Sometimes you have to think outside the box when talking to humans 😅

I was tending to a clients horse and as usual, chatting. It came up randomly in the conversation that the horse was behaving oddly when ridden. The owner was quite concerned about his knee. 😳
I asked "is he lame?", she said "no".
"Is it swollen?" Again she said "no".
I said "then what is it about his knee that has you concerned?"

She said "well he keeps rubbing it!"
I kinda have a feeling where this is going but thought let's lead her to it.
So I ask "what is he rubbing it on?"
She says "his nose! He suddenly stops when I'm riding and rubs his knee with his nose! The vet has been out and said there is nothing wrong with his knee but I'm sure there must be." She was visibly very worried.
So I asked "well what about his nose?" This puzzled her.
So I tried again "is there something wrong with his nose rather than his knee?" I saw the penny drop!
"Oh" she says, "I hadn't thought of that, but what could possibly be wrong with his nose?" I admit she looked a bit sheepish at this point 😅
So I asked "You mentioned it only happens when he's ridden? Never in the stable or in the field? What about when lunging?"
She says "never in the stable or field but yes he does on the lunge"
I ask "do you use a cavesson to lunge or your bridle?"
She said "bridle"
I double check "the same bridle you ride in?" And she confirmed. "I suspect the problem is your bridle is irritating him somehow" I finished.

Anyway, long story short, this horse happens to have an unusually high nasal notch and the owner was using a flash noseband which was fitted normally (not tight!) but given the horse's anatomy, it was sitting on the soft part of the nose, squeezing his nostrils and therefore his airway. The harder he was working, the more he was struggling to breathe easily through an airway that he couldn't dilate. The very clever lad had realised this thing on his nose was the problem and was stopping to try and get it off. The further into a session he went, the more frantic it was.

Now, in hindsight it's obvious, but the owner genuinely believed the problem was his knee! She was determined to find and fix the problem, just was looking at it upside down 🙃

I explained how to find the nasal notch and discussed nosebands that could work with his anatomy. We settled on a grackle because the horse was strong to a jump and could cross his jaw, hence the flash to start with. The problem vanished instantly 🥰🥰

We've always got to think outside the box, and ask the right questions. I've included a shot from my previous post on how to fit a noseband, just to demonstrate where the nasal notch is. In some horses it is very high and they cannot wear a flash or drop noseband at all! It's worth having a feel of your horse's nose and double checking too 😁

Just a quick edit - The part of this behaviour that was concerning is that it was interrupting his work. It is normal for them to have a quick rub at the end of a session or when resting but they should not slam on mid ride to do this. That points to a problem.
Also please note that this behaviour doesn't necessarily have to be the noseband. It was for this horse, but it can have many causes. As a few examples - dental wise we have wolf teeth (possibly blind ones), teething in young horses, sharp points, hooks, tooth root infections, food stuck etc. Other causes can be allergies, bridle buckle pressing on nerves, headpiece pressing on the ear base, poorly fitted bit, soft tissue damage, true trigeminal head shakers (this will be obvious daily and not just ridden though) and even none head related issues like neck pain or back pain (this is more about needing to put their head down rather than about the rubbing).
In this case it was a combination of the horse never showing the signs in the stable or field and showing the signs when lunged in the bridle without a saddle or rider that made me go to the bridle first.

12/07/2025

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12/07/2025

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☆☆☆ ORGANS AND THE SPINE ☆☆☆
(eg Back problems causing colic and guts causing back problems)

A great image to show how the guts (and other organs) as well as blood supply are so strongly related to the spinal cord and the vertebrae.
It is this neurological connection that makes the organs such an important aspect to consider during any treatment process.
Not considering their role in the reduction in mobility of the body results in a reduced quality of treatment. This is because a large factor has been overlooked.

The digestive system, the reproductive system, the urinary system and respiratory system all must be included within the treatment thought process.

In this image it shows the relationship between the spine, the spinal cord and intestine plus it's blood supply.
ANY changes to the mobility of the spine can increase the risk of digestive disturbances including colic....
It also goes the other way in that ANY problems with the gut can reduce mobility of the spine...

All food for thought...

NB I found this image in the depths of my phone. I have no idea where it came from...

11/18/2025

Touch Over Tools: Fascia Knows the Difference

In bodywork, tools can assist — but they cannot replace the intelligence, sensitivity, or neurological impact of human touch.
Hands-on work communicates with the body in ways no device or instrument can.

1. Hands Provide Real-Time Feedback Tools Cannot Match

Your hands sense:
• tissue temperature
• hydration and viscosity
• fascial glide
• subtle resistance
• breath changes
• micro-guarding
• nervous-system shifts

This information shapes your pressure, angle, and pace.
Tools apply pressure — hands interpret and respond.

2. The Nervous System Responds Uniquely to Human Touch

Skin and fascia contain mechanoreceptors that respond strongly to:
• sustained contact
• warmth
• contour
• slow, intentional pressure

Human touch activates pathways that:
• quiet the sympathetic system
• reduce pain signaling
• soften protective muscle tone
• improve movement organization

Tools stimulate tissue.
Hands regulate the nervous system.

3. The Effect of Physical Contact Itself

Physical contact changes physiology — even before technique begins.

Touch triggers:
• lowered cortisol
• increased oxytocin
• improved emotional regulation
• better proprioception
• reduced defensive tension

Horses and dogs — whose social systems rely on grooming, leaning, and affiliative touch — respond especially deeply.
Tools can compress tissue, but they cannot create that neurochemical shift.

4. Hands Follow Structure; Tools Push Through It

Fascia does not run in straight lines — it spirals, blends, suspends, and wraps.

Hands can:
• contour around curves
• follow the subtle direction of ease
• melt into tissue instead of forcing through it

Tools often pull or scrape in a linear path, bypassing the subtleties that create real, lasting change.

5. Tools Can Override the Body’s Natural Limits

Hands feel when:
• tissue meets its natural barrier
• the nervous system hesitates
• a micro-release initiates
• the body shifts direction or depth

Tools can overpower these boundaries, creating irritation, rebound tension, or compensation patterns.
Hands work with the body’s pacing — not against it.

6. Hands Support Whole-Body Integration

Bodywork isn’t about “fixing a spot.”
It’s about improving communication across the entire system.

Hands-on work:
• connects multiple lines at once
• enhances global proprioception
• improves coordination and balance
• supports the body’s natural movement strategies

Tools tend to treat locally.
Hands treat the whole conversation.

7. Physical Touch Builds Trust, Comfort, and Confidence

Comfort creates confidence.
Confidence nurtures optimism and willingness.

Hands-on work:
• reduces defensiveness
• supports emotional safety
• encourages softness
• creates a more receptive body
• builds trust and relationship

Tools cannot build rapport or communicate safety.
Hands do — instantly.

Additional Elements (Optional Enhancements)

A. Co-regulation: Nervous System to Nervous System

Humans, horses, and dogs all co-regulate through touch and proximity.
Your calm hands shift their physiology — and theirs shifts yours.
This shared state enables deeper, safer release.

B. Touch Enhances Sensory Clarity

Touch refines the brain’s map of the body (somatosensory resolution), improving:
• coordination
• balance
• movement efficiency
• reduced bracing

Tools cannot refine the sensory map with the same precision.

C. Hands Integrate Technique and Intuition

The brain blends tactile information with pattern recognition and subtle intuition.
Tools separate you from that information.
Hands plug you into it.

In Short

Hands-on wins because touch is biologically intelligent, neurologically profound, and relationship-building.
Tools press — but hands listen, interpret, regulate, and connect.

When the body feels safe and understood, it reorganizes more deeply, moves more freely, and heals more efficiently.

The Energy Connection Between Horse and Human: Science and Sensation - https://koperequine.com/the-energy-connection-between-horse-and-human-science-and-sensation/

11/15/2025

This was SUCH a cool clinic to attend!