Aurora Equine - Emma Criniti

08/12/2025

👍

Shoulder Control..

Shoulder control is a foundational element of good horsemanship and essential for developing a balanced, responsive and athletic horse. The shoulders are a major point of influence in how a horse moves, turns and carries his weight. When a rider can correctly influence the shoulders and hind quarters together they gain access to better movement, suppleness and overall body alignment.

A horse that lacks shoulder control often drifts, leans or falls in and out of turns, creating imbalance and resistance/tension. This not only makes riding less precise but can also place unnecessary strain on joints and muscles. By contrast, a horse that yields its shoulders and hind leg willingly can maintain straightness, execute clean transitions and perform lateral movements with fluidity thus enabling the horse to move forwards better! Because thats the goal of lateral work.

Training exercises such as shoulder-fore, counter bend, leg yields and controlled circles help horses learn to move their shoulders independently from their hindquarters. These movements encourage engagement of the core, improved rhythm and better weight distribution. Riders also benefit, as improved shoulder control enhances communication/aids and deepens the partnership.

Ultimately, developing shoulder control is more than just a technical skill - it lays the groundwork for functional movement, more gymnastic maneuvers and a stronger more confident horse and for me this is the next step in a horses education once he is infront of the leg.

But.. dont just concentrate on the shoulders it is important to look at the horse as a whole and slowly because no horse ever became balanced through running onto the shoulders.

08/12/2025

This 🙌❤️

There comes a point in learning where it becomes tedious.

Initially, when you’re introduced to it, you’re pulled in by promise, excitement, and sometimes very quick immediate changes. You feel something you’ve never felt before and crave it, you want to keep it.

But then, it fizzles. Your old habits come back, your magic feeling fades. To get it back, you must make normal the movement patterns and ways of being that created it.

This is where daily practice comes in- tedious, tiresome but essential daily practice. Fine tuning your habits, your thoughts and disciplining yourself to continue creating what you desire.

It can only be yours to keep when you work to make yourself the kind of person who can create it for themselves, as a new way of normal. And this cannot be given to you or sold to you- discipline and daily practice of excellent habits are the only ways to achieve this, there is no way around it.

Stop seeking just the thrill, and learn to love the mundane - because that is where all magic is made. Big changes are made up of little things done well over time.

30/11/2025

🙌

Just because we can doesn't mean we should 🐴

A common theme with the horses I go out to see is that they have been given the “all clear” by vets/bodyworkers/various other professionals. Therefore the owner logically assumes they are definitely dealing with a behavioural issue as they have done all of the things they’re supposed to do as a caring owner.

Unfortunately diagnostics can be very limited and people seem to have trouble seeing the whole horse. Just because you haven’t found a solid cause yet doesn’t mean the horse isn’t in pain. Horses don’t lie and if they are behaving like they’re in pain I believe them. There is more to pain than hocks, kissing spine or ulcers and bute doesn't magically remove any pain that may be present.

With permission, I’m going to tell you a story which is unfortunately not an unusual one. I was called out to this horse as he had a “fear” of being mounted, but they said he was fine once they were on and they were jumping him competitively up to 1.20m. They had done x-rays of his back, stifles and hocks and scoped him for ulcers. A physio had also seen him and said they found no issues. The owner had tried every training method under the sun to fix this behaviour, pressure/release, chasing him around with a flag, clicker training, putting him against the wall, having someone hold a lick in front of his face etc. The horse was still biting, swinging away and becoming really agitated. I observed him being ridden and he was showing several conflict behaviours, tail swishing, unhappy in the mouth, head tossing etc. I didn’t do any training with the horse, to my eye the horse was definitely in pain and I referred them onto a recommended specialist vet. Upon investigation this horse had extensive arthritis in his neck and issues in his spine that had not been picked up by the first vet.

Horses are so, so stoic and we are also rubbish as an industry at seeing discomfort in them because it is so normalised. We see them as “fine” to ride as long as they aren’t actively decking us. We ignore them until they’re screaming and even then many do not listen because it is justified away as “quirky” or “sassy” behaviour.

Imaging is only useful if the person reading it has the skill to do so well and I have experience of one vet saying x-rays are fine then a second-opinion specialist vet making a pretty devastating diagnosis from the same images.

I am not saying we all need to spend thousands at the vet immediately, a huge part of what I do is gently, quietly improving posture and emotional health to see if we can start to help the horse feel and move better over time, but a hill I absolutely will die on is if the horse is unhappy with any part of tacking up/mounting then we do not ride the horse that day.

There are so many things we can do beyond just medicating and cracking on, if we can all learn a bit more about recognising postural issues and behavioural indicators we can potentially avoid a lot of heartache and frustration.

The industry as a whole is blind to postural issues, I’m still seeing horses regularly who have been “cleared” by several professionals who I find with saddle shaped dips in their back and incredibly poor hoof balance which is going to make their body really uncomfortable. Yet the owner has been told again and again the horse is fine and they need to crack on and get a trainer out, and then the training methods make the posture even worse…

If your horse goes to the back of the stable when you arrive with your tack, you need to restrain him in cross ties or he repeatedly moves away from the mounting block, I encourage you to think about why that is. There is a reason he doesn’t want to, be it physical or emotional discomfort with the situation. Making him move his feet and harassing him until his only option is to stand still isn’t going to change those feelings. A horse complying once you’re in the saddle does not mean they’re fine with it, they just know they have no choice once you’re on because nobody has ever listened to the no. 🐴

27/11/2025

Good read 🙌

Is Your Horse Actually Bored, or Just Not Buying What You’re Selling?🫣

People often tell me their horse is “bored” with groundwork, arena work or the general concept of participating in life. As if the horse is standing there with the spiritual energy of a thirteen year old who has just discovered that everything on earth is boring except junk food and avoidance.

But here is the thing - your horse is not bored. Your horse is giving you a performance review of how well you are leading the team. I know - ouch - but bear with me!

Uncomfortable, yes. Fixable, absolutely.

Horses can look bored when our communication is fuzzy, our decisions are questionable or their bodies are quietly whispering “this feels rubbish.” They are not bored. They are demotivated. Which is different in the same way a gentle sigh is different from a full catatonic meltdown.

A few things that rescue the situation.
1️⃣Being so clear, effective and consistent that the horse gets inspired with some clarity.
2️⃣Making decisions that avoid drilling. Perfectionists, this one you need to read FIVE times.
3️⃣Accepting that horses are not born motivated to fulfil your dreams.
4️⃣Checking for the usual suspects: sore feet, ill fitting tack and surfaces designed by someone who hates joints or deep sand torture pits.

Once you get these pieces in place, your horse stops giving you the world weary teenage eye roll 🙄 that says everything is tedious and starts behaving like an animal actually interested in what you are offering.

So the next time your horse presents as “bored”, take it as feedback. Not condemnation. Not a sign that your horse needs a new hobby or you are dreadful person for asking them to leave paddock. Just information that something in your communication, timing, clarity or their physical comfort attention.

Welcome to Collectable Advice Entry 88 of 365, where I gently reveal that your horse is not bored at all, you have a motivation issues and that can be helped (see link in comments), so hit save or share and help someone realise their horse is not channeling their teenagers attitude😆.

IMAGE📸: Sox was not bored, she had ECVM and neurological issues that de-motivated her to move. It was my Reboot process that pin pointed a physical issues to her reluctance.

24/11/2025

Looking for a Xmas gift idea for your horsey friends. 🌲🎅

Aurora Equine has Gift Vouchers available for bodywork sessions or lessons. Just message me to organise and I’ll email a voucher through for you, easy 👍😁

20/11/2025

Great info 🙌

Why Some Horses Feel “Different” the Day After a Massage

It’s normal for a horse to feel a little loose, wiggly, or slightly uncoordinated the day after bodywork. This isn’t a setback — it’s a sign the body and nervous system are reorganizing after tension releases.

Why It Happens

1. The Brain–Body Map Just Updated

Massage changes how the body moves and how the brain senses it. When old restrictions release, the horse needs 24–48 hours to recalibrate balance and coordination.

2. Fascia Is Rehydrating and Reorganizing

Fascia gains glide and elasticity after bodywork. As it reshapes, the horse may feel temporarily loose or “floppy” while new tension lines settle.

3. Muscle Tone Drops Before It Rebalances

Protective tension turns off first, and postural muscles turn on second. That short gap can feel like softness or mild instability.

4. Proprioception Is Resetting

The horse is getting a flood of new sensory information. The nervous system needs a bit of time to interpret it and organize new, freer movement.

5. Old Patterns Are Gone — New Ones Are Forming

When restrictions release, the old compensation disappears instantly. The new, healthier pattern takes a little time to establish.

Normal for 24–48 Hours

✔ Slight wobbliness
✔ Extra bendiness
✔ Feeling loose or “disconnected”
✔ Mildly behind the leg

Usually by day 2–3, movement improves noticeably.

Not Normal

✘ Lameness
✘ Heat or swelling
✘ Sharp pain
✘ Symptoms worsening after 48 hours

These need veterinary attention.

How to Support Integration
• Light walk work or hacking
• Hand walking
• Gentle stretching
• Turnout and hydration
• Pole work after 48–72 hours

Movement helps lock in new patterns.

Why Some Horses Recalibrate and Others Don’t

Every horse’s response reflects their unique body:

A horse may need more integration time if they’re:
• tight or guarded
• weak in stabilizing muscles
• coming out of chronic patterns
• sensitive or older
• less body-aware

A horse may feel great immediately if they’re:
• already symmetrical
• strong and conditioned
• biomechanically correct
• quick to adapt neurologically
• had fewer restrictions to begin with

Both responses are normal — they simply tell you a different story about the horse’s body and nervous system.

https://koperequine.com/the-power-of-slow-why-slow-work-is-beneficial-for-horses/

12/11/2025

Definitely can’t see the number in the yellow circle 🤣🤣

It’s science. We don’t make the rules.

😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂😂🤣😂🤣

06/11/2025

It’s all about balance in everything 🙌💕

Word: Balance
(aka If the word “connection” made your head spin, wait till you hear this one!)

One of the holy trinity of horsemanship: timing, feel, and balance.
Sounds simple, right? Except balance, like connection, is a word used so often - and in so many ways - it can make your head spin.

The legendary horseman Tom Dorrance once used a broom to explain it. You know the drill: balance the broom upright on your hand. To keep it there, your hand has to keep shifting beneath the centre of mass. Stop adjusting, and the broom falls. The physics is boringly simple; the lesson isn’t. Because that constant, tiny readjustment - that’s balance in action. It’s all the micro-decisions and movements we make every second when working with a living, breathing, thinking animal that has a brain of its own.
We’re doing the same thing every time we interact with a horse - whether caring, handling, or riding. We’re respecting not only the centre of mass in the body, but also the centre of emotion and the centre of thought. Because balance in horses isn’t just physical. It’s a full-body, full-brain, full-heart experience.
Physical balance is the gymnastic one - distributing weight, force, and load evenly through the horse’s body and joints. It’s what keeps them from falling, tripping, or wearing out joints prematurely. And it takes a lot of training, because horses aren’t born symmetrical - and they certainly didn’t evolve to carry a human on their back, which makes the job about a thousand percent harder.
Mental balance means the horse isn’t switched off or switched on like a motion-sensor floodlight. Not too dull, not too reactive - just calm, thinking, responsive, and able to perform without panic.

Emotional balance is the nervous system version of the broom - recovering quickly when startled, not melting down when asked, and feeling safe enough to try. That comes from how we nurture them, what we expose them to, and what we help them understand. They need to trust that we are not a threat - that when they’re with us, they’re safe.

And then there’s the rider’s balance - the human component of the equation. A centred, stable load who moves with the horse, not like a sack of potatoes pretending to have a core.

But wait, there’s more. Nutrition must be balanced. Hooves must be balanced. Saddles must be balanced. Training schedules, work–rest ratios, feed ratios, even our emotional investment - all need balancing. Because every imbalance, however small, ripples through the whole system.

And this is where things get messy. Because there are so many dimensions of the horse that need balancing, people often get stuck defending their favourite one. The bodyworker will say physical balance is everything. The mindset coach will swear it’s emotional balance. The nutritionist, the farrier, the saddle fitter - each believes their balance matters most. But the truth is, all of them matter.

Anyone who truly understands physical balance also knows it can’t exist without mental and emotional balance - because tension, confusion, or fear will throw the body out of sync. Nutritional imbalance will quietly undo everything else. And if you get all that right but ride in an unbalanced saddle, you can kiss the rest goodbye. Every balance connects to the next. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

The secret of balance - in horses, life, or broomsticks - isn’t perfection. It’s noticing imbalance quickly and adjusting before the whole thing crashes down.

Balance is not fixed - it’s fluid. It changes, it’s influenced, it’s lived in motion. What impacts balance impacts the horse’s life, because nothing unsettles a horse more than feeling unbalanced. A horse’s primary defence is movement - take away their ability to move with confidence, and they feel vulnerable.

So yes, balance runs deep. When you hear the word and feel your eyes glaze over, remember this: it exists on many levels - physical, mental, emotional - but it all boils down to one thing:

Balance from our side of the fence - is your the ability to adjust with awareness - supporting the horse physically, mentally, and emotionally, and protecting them so they can manage the stresses of life and thrive.

PS. If you have another type of "balance" I might have missed, please add it below in the comments 😆‼

This is Collectable Advice Entry 73/365 of my challenge examining the words and terminology we use to decode them. You can SAVE it or hit the SHARE button. But please do not copy and paste these words.❤

26/10/2025

This 🙌

26/10/2025

Great info 👍

How to Recognize and Restore Thoracic Balance

Signs and Solutions: Recognizing Thoracic Collapse and Rebuilding Lift in the Horse

The thorax is the horse’s central suspension bridge — connecting the power of the hindquarters to the precision of the forehand. When this system loses integrity, the effects ripple through posture, gait, and even breathing. Recognizing the early signs and knowing how to restore lift can transform a tense, downhill mover into a light, elastic athlete.

Key Signs of Thoracic Collapse or Sternum Drop

1. Visual and Postural Changes

• Chest appears narrow or sunken between the front legs.

• Horse looks “downhill” in front, with the withers lower than the croup.

• Sternum feels hard, tight, or asymmetric when palpated.

• Elbows drawn inward or back toward the girth.

• Ribcage appears rigid, with minimal lateral or vertical motion during breathing.

2. Movement and Performance Clues

• Shortened forelimb stride and reduced shoulder freedom.

• Heavy contact or weight on the forehand.

• Inconsistent or one-sided lead changes.

• Uneven girth pressure or girth resistance.

• Saddle bridging or sliding forward.

• Shallow or stiff breathing, especially during transitions or collection.

3. Behavioral Indicators

• Girthiness or defensiveness during grooming near the sternum or ribs.

• Reluctance to stretch forward and down.

• Resistance when mounting or moving off.

• Fatigue or lack of enthusiasm for familiar work.

Restoring Thoracic Lift and Function

1. Manual Therapy for Release

Massage and myofascial release are powerful tools for restoring thoracic mobility and balance.

Focus areas:

• Deep and ascending pectorals: Free the sternum’s pull on the ribcage.

• Intercostals and thoracic sling muscles: Encourage rib spring and scapular glide.

• Re**us abdominis and obliques: Support upward lift through the ventral line.

• Back, wither, and neck musculature: Release restrictions that limit extension and lift.

• Medial shoulder and axillary region: Mobilize the inner shoulder muscles (subclavius, subscapularis, deep pectorals, and surrounding fascia), which often become tightly bound when the thorax collapses. Restriction here locks the horse into a downhill or braced posture.

• Related fascial lines: Address any adhesion or tension running through the chest, shoulder, or ribcage fascia.

Gentle myofascial work along the sternum, intercostals, pectorals, back, and shoulder fascia helps restore symmetrical rib motion and balance between the two sides of the sling, allowing the sternum to lift naturally.

2. Movement Therapy for Retraining

Once tissue restrictions are released, targeted movement retrains postural tone and neural coordination.

• Long walk warm-ups: Begin every session with at least 15–20 minutes of purposeful walking to lubricate fascia, warm connective tissues, and prepare the thoracic sling for lift.

• Terrain variety: Incorporate gentle inclines, uneven ground, and even variations in grass height or footing texture. These subtle shifts stimulate proprioception, engage stabilizers, and wake up the sling muscles.

• In-hand lateral work (shoulder-in, leg yields, ribcage bends) promotes thoracic rotation and sling engagement.

• Shoulder mobility exercises: Controlled protraction/retraction and small, slow circles emphasizing medial shoulder glide maintain freedom and prevent re-tightening.

• Micro-movements such as rocking, weight shifts, and core “wake-up” transitions improve body awareness and control.

• Carrot stretches toward the outside of the knees and ankles activate the oblique and ventral sling lines.

• Cavaletti and raised poles encourage dynamic sternum lift.

• Hill work develops coordinated hindquarter engagement and forward lift through the thorax.

• Transitions:
Halt → walk → halt.
Halt → walk → turn left → halt → walk → turn right.
Walk forward → halt → step sideways → halt → walk forward → halt → step opposite direction → halt → back → halt → step sideways → halt → repeat.
These slow, deliberate transitions build thoracic stability and encourage balanced engagement.

• Controlled stability work (straight-line backing, small circles, slow transitions) strengthens postural integrity.

3. Management and Daily Habits

• Maintain proper saddle fit and even girth pressure.

• Encourage free movement turnout to keep fascial tissues hydrated and responsive.

• Support fascial health through balanced nutrition and hydration.

• Incorporate breathing and rib mobility checks during grooming — observe how evenly the chest expands and the ribs swing.

• Include frequent walking on different footing throughout the week — sand, grass, gravel, and gentle hills all nourish thoracic resilience through low-impact variability.

Key Takeaways

• The thorax is a living suspension system — when it collapses, posture, breathing, and limb loading all suffer.
• Consistency is key — small, regular sessions build lasting postural change more effectively than occasional intensity.

• Slow walk work matters — deliberate, mindful walking restores fascial glide, joint hydration, and nervous system balance.

• Watch for asymmetry, shortened stride, girth sensitivity, and loss of lift as early red flags.

• Mobilizing the medial shoulder is critical to freeing the thoracic sling and restoring true forehand elasticity.

• Long walks and terrain variation are the horse’s natural tools for rehydrating fascia and retraining postural control.

• Combine manual release, movement retraining, and thoughtful management to restore functional lift.

• A supple, elevated thorax allows the spine to decompress, the sternum to align, and the horse to move with effortless lightness.

• Technique Matters: HOW your horse walks over poles, reaches for a stretch, steps sideways - these things all matter if you want your work to be effective.

https://koperequine.com/the-bow-the-string-and-the-corset-how-equine-ligaments-and-myofascial-systems-support-movement/