Abigayle Williams, Physiotherapy for Animals

08/02/2025

Please read this. The upper part of the horse’s skeleton doesn’t mature fully until at approximately 7 years old and because your 3 year old is big, strong and can barrel you out of the way it doesn’t mean its physically or mentally mature, not remotely. It doesn’t mean it can be ridden as if it were a mature horse.

Please be educated and considerate around your expectations of young horses or run the risk of breaking them literally and no one wants that on their hindsight conscience, do they?

These images I took from Gillian Higgins of Horses Inside Out’s rising 4 yr old specimen clearly show un-fused growth plates and a very vulnerable un-developed spinous process. Too much work, too soon on vulnerable structures leads to a life of low to increasing levels of discomfort, continuous pain, loss of performance, injuries and early end of life. It's in your hands.

06/08/2023

So much emphasis is placed on lunging horses in the belief it encourages suppleness in the horse. This diagram from Gail William’s book, shows the limited the lateral flexion ability of the thoroacolumbar and how restricted the sacral portion of the spinal column is in reality. So when lunging a horse it is insufficintly strong enough in the core and gluteal muscles, it is likely they will compensate by overflexing through their neck and fall in through the shoulder. The horse is not anatomically designed to work well on a circle and constantly straining the body in circles whilst weak muscles aren’t able to cope will not improve suppleness and actually have the opposite effect upon the muscles.

The use of specific groundwork patterns and exercises are more effective and productive in developing the correct muscles to support, enable and improve suppleness, so when a horse executes a turn the body is prepared and physically capable to do this movement in a balanced way less detrimental impact on joints.

Thuerefore lunging the arthritic horse is further detrimental to the joints, particularly those of the lower limbs. The repetitive lateral strain on joints and compensatory muscle patterns create the development of negative postural muscles resulting in a horse unable to engage the correct muscles during lunging, resulting in an increasingly damaging effect on joint pathology.

Instead of lunging, consider a groundwork programme that includes low intensity mobilisation exercises working under the guidance of your veterinary physiotherapist to develop correct core postural muscles for improvement in posture, suppleness engagement and straightness in the horse.
Picture: Dr Gail Williams.

15/07/2023

Wise words.

Jennie Loriston-Clarke MBE, the doyenne of British dressage, shared an interesting thought in a column published in Horse & Hound in July 2022. Its title was "‘Are we sacrificing horses’ soundness for the wow factor?"

06/07/2023

All levels of the horse's system are utilised when a horse is worked. How they are utilised determins how each system improves and develops.

06/07/2023

Thigh blocks & their position on your saddle. Something to consider when purchasing your new saddle or adjusting the thigh blocks on an existing saddle.

**NEW RESEARCH PUBLISHED**

A new study “Saddle Thigh Block Design Can Influence Rider and Horse Biomechanics”, published in Animals Open Access

Rachel Murray, Mark Fisher, Vanessa Fairfax and Russell MacKechnie-Guire

Link to read full study: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/13/2127

There is increasing interest in the effect of saddle design on horse kinematics, but little evidence of the influence on rider–saddle interaction and how this affects horse movement patterns.

We aimed to investigate the effect of changing the design of the saddle’s thigh block on the interaction between the rider and saddle and the effect this has on rider movement and horse movement.

To do this, we used a seat pressure mat between the rider and the saddle and tracking technology to analyse horse and rider movement. Elite level sports horses, ridden by elite level riders, were trotted in well-fitting dressage saddles that were identical, except for the thigh block design.

During straight-line locomotion when in sitting trot, results showed that a thigh block with a more deformable face (thigh block F) resulted in a greater contact area and more pressure between the rider’s seat and the saddle as well as a more upright rider position when the horse’s limbs were on the ground. An association between thigh block design, horse spinal movement, and forelimb flexion was also seen. These findings illustrated the importance of optimizing rider–saddle–horse interaction.

04/07/2023

18/05/2023

A fresh look at the Training Scale With Andrew McLean Posted on December 3, 2014 by horsemagazine   One of the refreshing things about Andrew McLean is that he is quite happy to cross-examine sacred cows, and always prepared to think outside the square. So while for most of us, the German Training ...

04/05/2023

Regularly check your stirrup leather lengths are equal. Riding with uneven stirrups causes many problems for you, your saddle and your horse.

** THURSDAY RESEARCH MEME**

Todays research meme relates to uneven stirrups. Sometimes one stirrup can appear longer than the other, and to correct this riders may shorten/lengthen one to ensure they are level……however, uneven stirrups may be as a result of saddle slip.

As can be seen in the picture, saddle slip right will give the appearance that the right stirrup is longer but this is as a function of the saddle rolling to the right and altering the position of the right stirrup bar relative to the left.

In case where the stirrups appear uneven, remove the leathers and check their symmetry “off-horse”. Always good to check the leathers periodically to ensure that they are symmetrical and have not stretched.

Important to ride with symmetrical stirrups.🤓

For more information www.centaurbiomechanics.co.uk/blog/

26/04/2023

Gastric ulcers. A helpful guide to identifying if your horse has gastric ulcers or signs of gastric distress.

This article provides an in-depth, comprehensive guide for owners, riders, and managers on gastric ulcers in horses. Learn about different types of

15/04/2023

Worth reading.

Tom Roberts was an Australian horseman ahead of his time. He dedicated his life to finding out how horses learn and in turn, was able to share his knowledge about a more sympathetic way to train.

This book is in two parts, the first part, written by Nicki Stuart, provides insights into how Tom influenced people’s lives with horses.

In the second part, Dr Andrew McLean gives readers an understanding of why Tom’s methods worked with horses, and compare with our current day knowledge about horse training theories.

Proceeds from the sale of this book will go towards continuing the educational opportunities for horse owners, including film conservation, audio books and preservation of donated items through the non-profit organisation, Horse SA.

Available to purchase on our website: https://esi-education.com/shop/

30/03/2023

Just chilling.

30/03/2023

More research coming through on girth pressures. More research required on girth pressures. So many variables in horses make this a difficult subject to resolve, but good that more focus is being placed on this issue for horse welfare.

** THURSDAY RESEARCH MEME**

Todays research meme relates to girth pressures. Despite some opinions, findings from a peer reviewed study, which we did some time ago, girth pressures are at their highest in the region behind the elbows. Of course, as the girth passes over the sternum, there is sternal pressure, but these pressures are considerably lower than the pressures found behind the elbows when horses were in trot, canter, gallop and when jumping.

As a point for consideration - where do horses get girth rubs…..?

Girth pressures occur every stride and are closely linked to the stance phase of the FL. Girth pressures are of a magnitude which can cause discomfort, but can be reduced with girth design. When selecting a girth, it is important to consider girth fit and design in relation to the horses anatomy 🤓

For more information www.centaurbiomechanics.co.uk/blog/