Sarah Ridd Veterinary Therapist

07/04/2026

👇🏻Why I use raised pole work 🐎
More then you may think let me explain
⸻

🔶 Motor control

As the limb approaches and clears the pole:

– The horse cannot rely on its usual, often inefficient, movement pattern
– It has to reorganise the timing and sequencing of the stride
– There is increased demand on proprioceptive feedback and motor planning

This is why poles are so effective —
they don’t just strengthen, they retrain movement.

⸻

🔶 Thoracic sling

To lift and place the limb accurately:

– The thoracic sling (serratus ventralis, pectorals) must control the trunk between the forelimbs
– You’ll often see improved withers lift and reduced collapse through the shoulder
– The limb is no longer just pushing — it is supporting and stabilising

⸻

🔶 Pelvic sling & hindlimb contribution

Through the stride:

– The hindlimb has to flex more and step through more deliberately
– There is increased demand on gluteals, hamstrings and abdominal support
– The pelvis becomes more controlled rather than trailing

This is where you start to see improved engagement and step quality, not just activity.

⸻

🔶 Epaxial stability

With the increased limb flexion and altered timing:

– The epaxial muscles (longissimus, multifidus) must stabilise the spine
– Rather than bracing, they work to control movement between segments
– This supports a more functional thoracolumbar posture

⸻

🔶 Limb loading & joint mechanics

This is clearly visible in the photos:

– Increased joint flexion to clear the pole
– A more controlled flight arc
– More deliberate foot placement on landing

Which leads to:

– Smoother load acceptance
– Reduced abrupt loading
– More even distribution of forces through the limb

⸻

🔶 Why this matters

Without this type of stimulus, many horses will:

– Default to habitual, often compensatory, movement patterns
– Reduce joint articulation
– Load asymmetrically without it being obvious

Poles introduce just enough challenge to change the strategy of movement.

⸻

🔁 Progression

Once this is established, a belly thoraband can be added to:

– Increase abdominal activation
– Support thoracolumbar lift
– Reinforce postural stability

⸻

🔶 Take-home

This isn’t about getting a bigger step.

It’s about improving:

– Motor control
– Stability through the slings
– Quality of limb loading

That’s what underpins soundness and performance.

⸻

If you’re unsure what you should be seeing in your own horse, feel free to get in touch.

07/04/2026

👇🏻Why I use raised pole work 🐎
More then you may think let me explain
⸻

🔶 Motor control

As the limb approaches and clears the pole:

– The horse cannot rely on its usual, often inefficient, movement pattern
– It has to reorganise the timing and sequencing of the stride
– There is increased demand on proprioceptive feedback and motor planning

This is why poles are so effective —
they don’t just strengthen, they retrain movement.

⸻

🔶 Thoracic sling

To lift and place the limb accurately:

– The thoracic sling (serratus ventralis, pectorals) must control the trunk between the forelimbs
– You’ll often see improved withers lift and reduced collapse through the shoulder
– The limb is no longer just pushing — it is supporting and stabilising

⸻

🔶 Pelvic sling & hindlimb contribution

Through the stride:

– The hindlimb has to flex more and step through more deliberately
– There is increased demand on gluteals, hamstrings and abdominal support
– The pelvis becomes more controlled rather than trailing

This is where you start to see improved engagement and step quality, not just activity.

⸻

🔶 Epaxial stability

With the increased limb flexion and altered timing:

– The epaxial muscles (longissimus, multifidus) must stabilise the spine
– Rather than bracing, they work to control movement between segments
– This supports a more functional thoracolumbar posture

⸻

🔶 Limb loading & joint mechanics

This is clearly visible in the photos:

– Increased joint flexion to clear the pole
– A more controlled flight arc
– More deliberate foot placement on landing

Which leads to:

– Smoother load acceptance
– Reduced abrupt loading
– More even distribution of forces through the limb

⸻

🔶 Why this matters

Without this type of stimulus, many horses will:

– Default to habitual, often compensatory, movement patterns
– Reduce joint articulation
– Load asymmetrically without it being obvious

Poles introduce just enough challenge to change the strategy of movement.

⸻

🔁 Progression

Once this is established, a belly thoraband can be added to:

– Increase abdominal activation
– Support thoracolumbar lift
– Reinforce postural stability

⸻

🔶 Take-home

This isn’t about getting a bigger step.

It’s about improving:

– Motor control
– Stability through the slings
– Quality of limb loading

That’s what underpins soundness and performance.

⸻

If you’re unsure what you should be seeing in your own horse, feel free to get in touch.

03/04/2026

Providing local Veterinary Physiotherapy to you pets, to put that spring back into their step.

02/04/2026

Providing local Veterinary Physiotherapy - to your pets helping put that spring back into their step.

31/03/2026

31/03/2026

Pole work… but not as you think 👇

This isn’t just about “lifting the legs”.

Even a simple static pole exercise like this is doing a huge amount for your horse’s neuromuscular system.

🧠 Proprioception (body awareness)
As the limb contacts and negotiates the pole, receptors in the hoof, joints and soft tissues are stimulated. This improves coordination, accuracy of limb placement and overall movement quality.

⚖️ Loading vs medial proprioception
The horse is constantly making small postural adjustments:
• Loading proprioception (green) → sensing and controlling weight through each limb
• Medial/lateral proprioception (purple) → awareness of limb position relative to the body

This is especially valuable in horses with asymmetry, weakness or post-injury compensation patterns.

💪 Muscle function – not just movement, but control
• Isometric stabilisation → maintaining posture over the pole
• Eccentric control → regulating load through tendons and joints (especially the fetlock and suspensory system)
• Concentric activation → subtle lifting and repositioning of the limbs

🔗 The big picture: the whole horse is involved
With the head and neck lowered, the ventral muscle chain is engaged, encouraging:
• Activation of the abdominal system
• Reduced reliance on the thoracolumbar extensors
• Improved spinal stability

This creates a foundation for better movement, not just bigger movement.

✨ Why I use this in practice
• Early-stage rehab
• Improving coordination and balance
• Re-training movement patterns
• Building a stronger, more stable topline

It’s simple… but incredibly effective when used correctly.

Because good rehab isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing the right things well.

31/03/2026

Pole work… but not as you think 👇

This isn’t just about “lifting the legs”.

Even a simple static pole exercise like this is doing a huge amount for your horse’s neuromuscular system.

🧠 Proprioception (body awareness)
As the limb contacts and negotiates the pole, receptors in the hoof, joints and soft tissues are stimulated. This improves coordination, accuracy of limb placement and overall movement quality.

⚖️ Loading vs medial proprioception
The horse is constantly making small postural adjustments:
• Loading proprioception (green) → sensing and controlling weight through each limb
• Medial/lateral proprioception (purple) → awareness of limb position relative to the body

This is especially valuable in horses with asymmetry, weakness or post-injury compensation patterns.

💪 Muscle function – not just movement, but control
• Isometric stabilisation → maintaining posture over the pole
• Eccentric control → regulating load through tendons and joints (especially the fetlock and suspensory system)
• Concentric activation → subtle lifting and repositioning of the limbs

🔗 The big picture: the whole horse is involved
With the head and neck inline with the spine or lowered, the ventral muscle chain is engaged, encouraging:
• Activation of the abdominal system
• Reduced reliance on the thoracolumbar extensors
• Improved spinal stability

This creates a foundation for better movement, not just bigger movement.

✨ Why I use this in practice
• Early-stage rehab
• Improving coordination and balance
• Re-training movement patterns
• Building a stronger, more stable topline

It’s simple… but incredibly effective when used correctly.

Because good rehab isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing the right things well.

22/03/2026

Your Horse article on lunging with yours truly when I did a feature on groundwork.

https://www.yourhorse.co.uk/horse-riding-training/horse-groundwork/lunging-a-horse/?fbclid=IwZnRzaAQtBHdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe8KIkfSktbXLnf1U0x5oGTVzDiEJQxzCaS3B8CbReniFiZKJGpk26PM-jASc_aem_FYK7qK0covzxW7sRsLxmfA

Lunging a horse is a great way to encourage them to use and develop all the right muscles that will improve their way of going when you ride

26/02/2026

Why do I use physio pads with my horse. 🐎

Proprioceptive pad work is a simple but powerful tool for postural control training💪🏻

Controlled instability increases centre of pressure (COP) displacement, producing measurable craniocaudal and mediolateral sway. This stimulates the neuromuscular system, increasing trunk stabiliser activation to maintain spinal control.

🎓Research demonstrates:

• ↑ COP displacement and sway on unstable surfaces
• Greater postural challenge when all four limbs are placed on pads
• Increased neuromuscular recruitment for trunk stabilisation
• Useful application for rehabilitation and postural control training

Small controlled instability → meaningful neuromuscular adaptation.

17/02/2026

🐎 Advanced Veterinary Physiotherapy for Performance & Rehabilitation Horses

For horses in work, returning from injury, or not moving as well as they should — subtle dysfunction, asymmetry, and biomechanical restriction can quietly limit performance and long-term soundness.

I provide a clinical, evidence-based approach to support:

• Rehabilitation & return-to-work cases
• Performance optimisation & symmetry
• Reduced injury risk & improved durability
• Horses struggling with stiffness, weakness, or uneven movement

Professional Credentials
BSc (Hons) Veterinary Physiotherapy

Winback Radiofrequency, laser, massage, mobilisation, prescriptive exercise plans. 

📊 Limited Offer — Until End of March
New clients receive Complimentary Objective Gait Analysis (Sleip AI) with their first full assessment — allowing precise measurement of movement, symmetry, and response to treatment and be shared with your vet.

📍 Covering Surrey • Sussex • Kent • Hampshire • Berkshire
📅 Limited appointments available

For professional, welfare-driven and performance-focused care:
Book or learn more →

Providing comprehensive support when every stride matters for your horse or small animal. Covering Surrey, Hampshire, Kent and Berkshire

13/12/2025

12/12/2025

Amazing CPD day spent learning more about Synthetic Materials Training.
Hoof capsule infections, treatments and casting techniques (Day 1 of 4) with Farriery Tuition Ltd that allows Veterinary physiotherapists and veterinarians to attend and observe the advanced skill sets of those farrier aiming for higher exams. 🎓
I found the presentation and discussion very interesting as well as inclusive of how other paraprofessionals in the equine industry can collectively work together for better outcomes for horses under our care 💪🏻🐴
Feeling very inspired after meeting very knowledgeable group of farriers who are so passionate to push for further education and development to advance our industry.
Highly recommend https://farriery-tuition-ltd.cademy.io/?list=603af03c-1dc8-4819-b1f4-b2debdb5776e