Hartley Animal Wellness

13/11/2025

Some fantastic head anatomy info from Equine Bodyworks By Mary Sargeant

A horse does not begin at the poll.

For a long time the head was often missed out as part of the horses therapy session and only then maybe the TMJ was considered and the odd tongue mobilisation in fact probably to this day those two areas are only addressed as the mainstream when addressing the head yet there is so much more and we can't forget the head houses the brain which will interpret what we do before we even begin touching the horse. So even before we touch the horse they may already be on alert and preparing to block us out. How we introduce ourselves matters, in fact it will probably dictate how the whole session will go.

How many videos do we see with the person poking behind the ears, the horse reacting yet maybe has to endure another 5 or 6 pokes to get that sensational video??? Is this horse first thinking?? Only to see in the next video a quiet no responsive horse, well my cynical view if the horse cant get away it will check out and you can only be poked so much before the area becomes unresponsive but still just as uncomfortable for the poked.

We often forget the the muscles that work together we see a hypertrophied temporalis yet forget they belong in the group of mastication muscles so do we work on one?? Do we address the group or is it the teeth or chewing that is the issue? Or something else, as it could always be something else

We place fingers in the mouth to mobilise the tongue to mobilise the hyoid without ever thinking how does the brain feel about the foreign object in the mouth, is the sensory system now on high alert to protect the horse from the danger of swallowing a foreign object, are your hands clean?? Are the taste receptors also putting a warning sign out??
If the hyoid is connected to the root of the tongue it would make sense to start at the connection from the outside.

How are the eyes, if the horse has one eye buying alcohol and the other buying cigs then how can the rest of body get that balance that we work hard for.

What about the teeth?? The masseter muscle can tell us how the horse teeth were floated. The incisors if they have a hook on the corner then how can the horse be flexible on both reins if one side is restricted, how can the jaw have freedom of movement if restricted in one of many directions, I can do all the bodywork in the world but I cant do a thorough job if the horse doesn't have good dental care, I will be just addressing the same issue over and over again.
Is the jaw clenched through stress, worry about what you are going to do or is their personality having a part to play everytime a jaw is clenched restriction sets in we need to work out have we which one it is and adjust our work to suit the horse.
Cheek sucked in?? Or is the buccinator nice and plump?? Does anyone even notice?? It is all information that tells us a story

We can begin at the head without beginning at the head, huh???
Many muscles and structures continue and connect past the poll, past the hyoid so why would we begin at a place of stress for the horse we can work our way up, heads are continually controlled by human hands so if the horse is wary then we can work our way towards the head from another place but we must check our work to make sure we have been affective

Look forward past the poll for you may get another chapter in the story of the horses body and some answers to the questions you ask.

Again i try my best with the pics but do get some things wrong sometimes as my head ends up spinning with all the names
I may need to unclench my jaw after doing this one 😃

06/11/2025

Kudero is an amazing OTTB who has a second career as a barrel racer!

He has a potential historical pelvic injury that means his right sacral tuberosity sits higher than the left, and has really struggled to square up his hind legs. He also had reduced spinal mobility and would come into work for a few months and then break down.

I've been working with Kudero for about 7 months now and he's been happily working and competing that whole time. His spinal mobility has improved so much, he's starting to use his thoracic sling more effectively (his owner is really consistent with his muscle activations), and his muscling is much more balanced. But when I showed up today the most obvious shift was that he squared himself up in the hind even at the start of the session. His facial expressio was also noticeably softer and more relaxed.

I love working with Kudero and his owner (and his future mini rider) and it's such a delight to celebrate his progress! They're off to Forbes this weekend and then Tamworth the week after for the Australian Barrel Horse Association National Final. Wishing them both the best of runs!

06/11/2025

Last ride for the year!
It's a bit of a drive for us, but I'm about to do my nominations for 16km on Saturday and 40km on Sunday.
Looking forward to a lovely weekend and there's a fantastic raffle with amazing prizes up for grabs!

The South Coast Zone are excited to hold an Endurance ride at the beautiful country town of Braidwood on the 15th and 16th of November 2025. There will be a 10 km and 16km ride on Saturday. On the Sunday we will have a 40km and 80km ride. Come join us for a fun weekend!

01/11/2025

Stunning animation of horse gaits!

01/11/2025

Fantastic "Welfare Wednesday" post from Pony Club Australia outlining why understanding ethology is so important when working with horses ❤️

01/11/2025

Old Wally (previously known as Linc) continuing to make progress in his training to become a Mounted Police horse ❤️🐎
I was chatting to his previous owner this week and she even got to go down and visit him recently. Her instincts were spot on that he would really suit this kind of work! Wish I could go down and give him a bodywork session just to say hi, but I know what good hands he's in with the Mounted Unit and their stable staff ❤️

31/10/2025

Ever wondered about the role fascia plays?

Here are 25 fascinating properties of fascia.

It's critical to not only look at what the muscles are doing, but to look at the fascia too.

When there are fascia restrictions, movement patterns are significantly impacted.

That's why I love using dry-needling to release fascia lines - you can see an immediate difference!

25 of the Most Interesting & Important Properties of Fascia

Fascia is a truly fascinating tissue that plays a central role in how the horse moves, feels, and functions.

Here are 25 of the most interesting and important properties of fascia

1. Fascia is a full-body communication network.
It connects every muscle, bone, organ, and nerve—literally a three-dimensional web that transmits mechanical, chemical, and electrical signals faster than nerves in some cases.

2. It’s a hydraulic system.
Fascia is made up largely of water, and its gel-like matrix allows for gliding, shock absorption, and pressure distribution. Movement and massage help keep this system hydrated and functional.

3. It has more sensory nerve endings than muscle.
Fascia is densely packed with mechanoreceptors (for pressure, tension, stretch) and nociceptors (pain sensors). It’s key in body awareness (proprioception), coordination, and even pain perception.

4. It transmits force across the body.
Muscles don’t work in isolation—fascia distributes force across chains of movement (like the deep front line or superficial back line) spreading forces both across joints and parallel to them through other tissues.

5. Fascia can contract independently of muscle.
Thanks to tiny contractile cells (myofibroblasts), fascia can hold tension on its own—even without conscious movement. This contributes to stiffness, guarding, or holding patterns.

6. It responds to emotion and stress.
Fascia tightens during physical or emotional stress as part of the body’s protective reflexes. Trauma, fear, and chronic stress can create lasting changes in fascia tone and texture.

7. It’s plastic, not elastic.
Fascia can be slowly reshaped through use or movement. Unlike muscle, which contracts and relaxes quickly, fascia responds best to slow, sustained work (like myofascial release).

8. Healthy fascia glides.
When fascia is well-hydrated and mobile, it allows tissues to slide smoothly over each other. When it’s restricted (due to injury, inflammation, or lack of movement), tissues get “sticky,” causing discomfort and dysfunction.

9. It adapts based on how your horse’s uses his body.
Fascia thickens and remodels based on your movement patterns—or lack of them. Repetitive motion, poor posture, or inactivity can lead to densification, adhesions, or restrictions.

10. Fascia has memory.
It “remembers” tension patterns from past injuries or compensations. That’s why old trauma can show up as tightness years later—and why bodywork often brings up emotional or physical releases.
Please click here to read the rest of this fascinating list - https://koperequine.com/25-of-the-most-interesting-important-properties-of-fascia/