Equine Kneads

03/10/2026

Not all “quiet” horses are relaxed. Sometimes they're just checked out. Knowing the difference helps you give the right care and support.

Learning to read these signals helps you know when to push, when to pause, and when a horse might need more support whether it be from groundwork, bodywork, or a professional check-in.

03/09/2026

This program is not a weekend course.
It’s not a technique download.
It’s not surface-level training.

It’s a structured, scaffolded, school-style education designed to build:
• Strong anatomical understanding
• Confident palpation skills
• Assessment-driven treatment decisions
• Clear communication with veterinarians and trainers
• Ethical, professional practice standards

Application deadline: March 16
Cohort begins: April 6

If you’ve been waiting for a sign — this is it.
Apply today: www.equine-kneads.com/application

03/08/2026

As bodyworkers, what happens between sessions matters just as much as what we do in a session.

Giving your clients simple, intentional groundwork can:
• Reinforce the changes you created
• Improve proprioception and coordination
• Build strength in newly available ranges of motion
• Help owners feel involved in their horse’s progress

Here are a few ideas you can send home with your clients.

And remember, when we educate owners on why we assign certain movements, compliance goes up and so do results.

03/06/2026

Sometimes tightness or soreness isn't just about a little tension. It's a sign that they might need a little additional support.

Watch for:
• Swelling or heat in joints
• Behavioral changes under saddle or on the ground
• Persistent stiffness that doesn't improve with normal care

Recognizing when to bring in a bodyworker, vet, or chiropractor isn’t a sign of failure — it’s protecting your horse’s health and ensuring lasting comfort and performance.

03/06/2026

By the end of the Equine Kneads Certification Program, you’ll be able to:
• Identify and palpate anatomical structures with confidence
• Recognize signs of discomfort and compensation
• Assess range of motion to guide decisions
• Apply massage techniques specific to the horse in front of you
• Document sessions using professional SOAPR notes

If you’re ready to move from passion to professional-level skill — this is your next step.
Apply today: www.equine-kneads.com/application

03/04/2026

Quarter Cracks: A Biomechanics Perspective

When horse owners see a quarter crack in the hoof wall, the immediate reaction is often to focus on the crack itself — patch it, stabilize it, grow it out.

But the crack is rarely the true problem.

More often, it is the visible result of a biomechanical issue occurring somewhere within the horse’s movement or loading pattern.

Let’s break this down.

Understanding the Quarter of the Hoof

The quarters of the hoof sit between the toe and the heel on both the medial and lateral sides.

This region is designed to flex and expand under load. When a horse lands and weight moves through the foot, the heels and quarters deform slightly to absorb concussion and distribute forces throughout the hoof capsule.

This flexibility is essential to normal hoof function.

However, it also means the quarters are a common location for structural failure when forces become uneven or excessive.

When Biomechanics Go Off Track

A quarter crack often develops when the hoof wall in that region experiences repetitive stress that exceeds the horn’s ability to withstand it.

Several biomechanical factors commonly contribute.

Uneven loading of the hoof: If a horse consistently loads one side of the hoof more than the other, the quarter on that side experiences increased compression while the opposite side may experience tensile stress.

Over time, this imbalance creates stress concentrations in the hoof wall, which can lead to vertical cracks forming along the horn tubules.

This can occur because of:
• Limb conformation (toe-in, toe-out,
base narrow or base wide)
• Medial-lateral trimming imbalance
• Compensation from pain or
restriction elsewhere in the body

Restricted heel and quarter expansion
The hoof capsule is meant to expand slightly when the horse bears weight.

If this natural expansion is restricted — due to contracted heels, long-term shoeing limitations, or reduced engagement of the frog and digital cushion — the forces that would normally dissipate through expansion instead concentrate within the hoof wall.

The quarter becomes a stress point, and the wall may eventually split vertically.

Delayed breakover and excessive torque
When breakover is delayed (for example, with a long toe or low heel), the hoof remains loaded longer during the stride.

This can increase shearing forces along the quarters, particularly on the side of the foot that remains engaged longest during push-off.

Hoof wall horn is strong under compression, but it is far less tolerant of torsion and shear, which makes cracks more likely to develop.

Uneven landing patterns: Some horses consistently land slightly lateral-first or medial-first.

This may occur due to conformational tendencies, hoof balance issues, or compensatory movement patterns higher in the limb or body.

Repeated uneven landing concentrates impact forces on the same quarter over thousands of strides.

Eventually, the wall may fail at that point.

Why Quarter Cracks Often Return

This is why quarter cracks sometimes seem to “heal and come back.”

If the underlying biomechanical forces remain unchanged, the hoof wall will continue to experience the same stresses.

Repairing the crack without addressing the movement pattern, hoof balance, or structural restrictions causing the overload often leads to recurrence.

The Bigger Picture

The hoof is not an isolated structure.

It reflects what is happening throughout the horse’s body.

Quarter cracks often involve a combination of factors, including:
• Hoof balance
• Limb loading patterns
• Conformation
• Musculoskeletal compensation
• Movement asymmetry

Addressing them effectively often requires collaboration between the farrier, veterinarian, trainer, and bodywork professionals.

A Thought for Horse Owners

When you see a crack in the hoof wall, it can be tempting to view it as simply a hoof problem.

But very often, it is the hoof telling us something about how the horse is moving and distributing load.

Looking beyond the crack itself — and understanding the forces acting on the foot — is where real, lasting solutions begin.

03/03/2026

Our year-long hybrid certification is designed to take you from foundational anatomy to working confidently within a professional care team.

✔ Live Zoom lectures every Monday at 5 PM CT
✔ Two in-person practicums
✔ Built-in accountability
✔ Structured education

This isn’t just a certificate. It’s your professional foundation.
Applications close March 16.

Apply today: www.equine-kneads.com/application

03/02/2026

If you’ve been watching…
If you’ve been waiting…
If you’ve been wondering if you’re “ready”…

This is your reminder: readiness isn’t about knowing everything already. It’s about being willing to learn deeply and do this well.
The Equine Kneads Massage Certification Program begins April 6.

✔ Year-long hybrid structure
✔ Live Monday lectures (5 PM CT)
✔ Two immersive hands-on practicums
✔ Clinical reasoning, not memorized routines
✔ Professional documentation and care-team collaboration

Application deadline: March 16
Enrollment + Tuition deadline: March 23

This is the foundation everything else is built on.
If you’re serious about becoming a skilled, credible equine bodyworker — now is the time.

Apply today: www.equine-kneads.com/application

02/28/2026

Your warm-up should consist of 3 phases:

Phase 1: Passive Walking
Ideally walk your horse in-hand, adding a blanket if it’s cold.
Look for an active walk—don’t drag them around!
For lazy movers, elastic rehab bands (thera-bands) under the tummy or around the hind legs can help increase engagement.

Phase 2: General Warm-Up
Warm-weather horses: 10 min
Cold-weather, older, or rehabbing horses: 20 min
Include walk, trot, and canter at a comfortable pace.
Stick to big circles (≥20m) and gentle flexing.
In hot weather, add extra walk breaks to prevent overheating.

Phase 3: Specific Exercises
Begin your targeted exercises, but keep it light—no repeated strenuous work yet.

And of course, when you're done don't skip your post ride cool-down. Depending on the work you've done this should consist of 5–10 minutes of relaxed trot, then walk.
This flushes waste products from muscles, lowers heart rate, and cools the horse gradually.

A proper warm-up (and cool-down) keeps your horse loose, engaged, and ready to answer the questions you're asking them.

02/28/2026

“It matters.”
“This matters.”
“Everything matters.”

And technically… yes.
But also — wow, that’s a heavy load to put on horse owners. And a LOT of pressure on the vets, bodyworkers, farriers, etc to be all knowing. It’s just not possible.

Scroll social media for five minutes and you’ll be told that:
• This muscle imbalance matters
• That toe angle matters
• This saddle choice matters
• That feeding schedule matters
• This therapy matters
• That therapy is wrong
• And if you’re not doing all of it, you’re
failing your horse

No wonder horse owners feel overwhelmed, confused, frantic, and emotionally drained.

Here’s the hard truth we don’t talk about enough: When everything is framed as critical, urgent, and make-or-break, people lose their ability to prioritize. Instead of clarity, they get anxiety. Instead of confidence, they get paralysis.

And the horse?
The horse is still standing there — adaptable, resilient, communicating quietly — while the human spirals.

So are we overthinking things?
Or are we finally seeing the big picture?

Honestly… both can be true.

Yes, our understanding of biomechanics, pain, behavior, nutrition, and nervous system regulation has grown. That’s a good thing. Education matters. Awareness matters.

But context matters more.

➡️Not every asymmetry is pathology. (Much of it is natural and supposed to be present.)

➡️Not every tension is an emergency. (Especially in massage and bodywork - it should never be an “emergency”. Call the vet for emergencies.

➡️Not every off day means something is “wrong.” Everyone and everything has bad days.

➡️And not every horse needs every modality, gadget, supplement, or intervention — especially all at once.

Good horsemanship and good care aren’t about reacting to every nuance with urgency. They’re about pattern recognition, prioritization, and proportional response.

What’s changing? We’re moving from ignorance to information overload — and we haven’t yet learned how to filter responsibly.

And when professionals don’t help horse owners sort signal from noise, we unintentionally create fear instead of empowerment.

So maybe the better question isn’t “Does this matter?”
But:
• How much does it matter right now?
• Compared to what?
• Over what time frame?
• And what’s the most useful next step — not all the steps?

The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is a horse that is comfortable, functional, understood — and a human who isn’t constantly second-guessing themselves.

Because care rooted in panic isn’t better care.

And education that overwhelms helps no one — especially the horse.

Let’s stop and take a moment to enjoy our horses and be grateful for all they bring to us.

02/27/2026

PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO READ AND FOLLOE THROUGH!

No matter what brand PEMF you use, if you want to continue using it… doesn’t matter if you’re a horse owner, equine practitioner, etc… this is the kind of thing that changes regulations in a domino effect.

Send your email, make your phone calls! Please! This is for all of us!

From AOPP:

Urgent Oklahoma HB 3239 Update:
Member Action Needed Now
Dear Members,

We need your help immediately.

As HB 3239 has moved through the committee process in Oklahoma, the bill has changed, and the PEMF certification pathway language has been removed. This is a major development for animal PEMF practitioners and for efforts to create clear, practical legal frameworks for PEMF sessions.

Oklahoma has the potential to set an important example for how states address animal PEMF sessions through clarity, standards, and accountability. If this language is removed without a clear alternative, PEMF will remain restricted to licensed veterinarians, and PEMF users, business owners, and animal owners will be left operating in a gray area.

AOPP has already contacted Representative Hasenbeck and Senator Murdock directly and urged them to maintain a clear legal pathway for animal PEMF services in HB 3239 by restoring the PEMF certification pathway or clearly removing PEMF from the definition of veterinary medicine for qualified non-veterinary providers.

What we need our members to do now:
Use one of the templates below (or write your own message) to contact Representative Hasenbeck and Senator Murdock as soon as possible and respectfully ask them to restore the PEMF certification pathway in HB 3239, and/or clearly exclude PEMF from the definition of veterinary medicine for qualified non-veterinary providers.

Rep. Toni Hasenbeck
Toni.Hasenbeck@okhouse.gov
(405) 557-7305

Sen. Casey Murdock
Casey.Murdock@oksenate.gov
(405) 521-5626



Direct Message template:
Rep. Hasenbeck and Sen. Murdock, please maintain a clear legal pathway for animal PEMF sessions in HB 3239 by restoring the PEMF certification pathway and/or clearly excluding PEMF from the definition of veterinary medicine for qualified non-veterinary providers. These sessions are already being used in Oklahoma, and clear legal standards are needed to support animal and public protection, professional accountability, and collaboration with veterinarians.



Email template:
Subject: Please maintain a clear legal pathway for animal PEMF sessions in HB 3239

Dear Representative Hasenbeck / Senator Murdock,
I am writing to urge you to maintain a clear legal pathway for animal PEMF sessions in HB 3239. Please restore the PEMF certification pathway and/or clearly exclude PEMF from the definition of veterinary medicine for qualified non-veterinary providers. These sessions are already being used in Oklahoma to support wellness and quality of life for animals.

A clear legal framework supports animal and public protection, professional accountability, and clearer collaboration with veterinarians. Without clarity, practitioners, veterinarians, business owners, and animal owners are left without consistent standards.


Phone Script
Hi, my name is [Name], and I’m calling to ask you to keep the PEMF certification pathway provision in HB 3239. This provision supports public protection and professionalism by requiring training, vet endorsement, liability coverage, and continuing education. Please protect that language as the bill moves through committee. Thank you.


Thank you for acting quickly. Your outreach matters!
Lauren Feger
Latest Oklahoma Updates - Click Here
Profile Image Lauren Feger
Vice President
Association of PEMF Professionals
Lauren@pemfprofessionals.com
(502) 741-8807 - Mobile
pemfprofessionals.com/
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02/27/2026

Running an equine business doesn’t come with a handbook—but the right mentor makes all the difference.

Learn more about our mentorship program today:
https://equine-kneads.com/business-mentoring