The Horse Physio

07/12/2025

The Ridden Horse Performance Checklist
24: Bucking or kicking backwards (one or both hindlimbs)

Research shows that if 8 or more of this list of 24 ridden behaviours are shown, it’s highly likely that the horse is in musculoskeletal pain.
Find out more on the Harmonious Horsemanship website.
The Ridden Horse Performance Checklist is adapted from:
Dyson, Sue & Berger, Jeannine & Ellis, Andrea & Mullard, Jessica. (2017). Development of an ethogram for a pain scoring system in ridden horses and its application to determine the presence of musculoskeletal pain. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2017.10.008

Bucking doesn’t always mean bold.
When a horse bucks or kicks out under saddle, it’s easy to assume they’re fresh, naughty, or testing boundaries. But this behaviour—especially when repeated—can be a clear and desperate attempt to say “I’m not comfortable.”
Bucking is one of the 24 signs included in the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE), a scientifically validated checklist to help identify musculoskeletal pain in ridden horses. It’s not just big behaviour—it’s a big message.
In Harmonious Horsemanship, co-authored with Dr Sue Dyson, we guide you in interpreting behaviours like this with empathy and evidence, so you can advocate for your horse’s well-being with confidence.

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👉 www.thehorsephysio.co.uk/newsletter



Image shared with thanks to Train with Trust
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https://trainwithtrust.com

07/12/2025

Better understanding = better performance
A pain-free horse is a happier, more willing partner. Harmonious Horsemanship shows you how to assess ridden behaviour for signs of discomfort—because knowledge is power. 💙🐎
🔗 Order now, sign up for The Horse Physio newsletter for the link and a 20% discount - link in bio!

07/12/2025

Today I’m grateful for sleep, blankets, and pillows.

What are you grateful for today?

07/12/2025

Post 6 – Spotting Back Pain in Horses
Back pain is one of the most common reasons I’m called to assess a horse, and it’s also one of the most misunderstood. Too often, horses are labelled “naughty” or “cold-backed” when in reality they’re just trying to communicate discomfort.
What might this look like?
Dipping or hollowing the back when mounted
Bucking or resisting in canter transitions
Difficulty picking up or maintaining a lead
Resistance to grooming or saddling
Shortened stride or reluctance to go forward
When I assess a horse, I’m guided as much by what I feel as by what I see. A muscle that tightens under my fingers, or an area that flinches to light pressure, can reveal pain that the eye alone might miss. Behaviour is part of the picture too. A horse who swishes his tail, pins his ears, or simply seems “not himself” may be telling us his back hurts.
Physiotherapy can’t replace veterinary care, but it plays a crucial role in identifying issues early and supporting recovery. With a whole-horse approach, we can help prevent small discomforts from becoming bigger problems.
🌿 Learn more about recognising subtle signs of discomfort in my free newsletter: https://www.thehorsephysio.co.uk/newsletter/
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07/12/2025

06/12/2025

The Ridden Horse Performance Checklist
23: Rearing (both forelimbs off the ground)

Research shows that if 8 or more of this list of 24 ridden behaviours are shown, it’s highly likely that the horse is in musculoskeletal pain.
Find out more on the Harmonious Horsemanship website.
The Ridden Horse Performance Checklist is adapted from:
Dyson, Sue & Berger, Jeannine & Ellis, Andrea & Mullard, Jessica. (2017). Development of an ethogram for a pain scoring system in ridden horses and its application to determine the presence of musculoskeletal pain. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2017.10.008

Rearing isn’t always rebellion.
Rearing can feel extreme—frightening, dramatic, and dangerous. It’s often interpreted as disobedience or dominance. But it can also be one of the clearest signs of discomfort.
This behaviour is included in the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE), a peer-reviewed checklist of behaviours shown to be associated with musculoskeletal pain in ridden horses. A horse who rears may be trying to avoid pressure, movement, or pain they cannot otherwise escape.
In Harmonious Horsemanship, co-authored with Dr Sue Dyson, we explore how to understand what’s behind behaviours like rearing, and how to respond in a way that supports your horse’s welfare and safety.

🌿 Sign up to my newsletter for kind, science-informed insights—and receive a 20% discount on the book.
👉 www.thehorsephysio.co.uk/newsletter



Image shared with thanks to Train with Trust
https://www.facebook.com/trainwithtrust
https://trainwithtrust.com

06/12/2025

What if ‘bad’ behaviour is actually pain?
Before labelling your horse as ‘difficult,’ read Harmonious Horsemanship. This book provides the tools to recognise subtle signs of pain, backed by science and expert knowledge. 🐴💡
📚 Sign up for The Horse Physio newsletter for the link and a 20% discount - link in bio!

05/12/2025

The Ridden Horse Performance Checklist
14: Tail swishing large movements: repeatedly up and down / side to side / circular; during transitions

Research shows that if 8 or more of this list of 24 ridden behaviours are shown, it’s highly likely that the horse is in musculoskeletal pain.
Find out more on the Harmonious Horsemanship website.
The Ridden Horse Performance Checklist is adapted from:
Dyson, Sue & Berger, Jeannine & Ellis, Andrea & Mullard, Jessica. (2017). Development of an ethogram for a pain scoring system in ridden horses and its application to determine the presence of musculoskeletal pain. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2017.10.008

Is your horse just being sassy—or signalling discomfort?
A swishing tail can be expressive. But when it becomes large, repetitive, and especially pronounced during transitions, it could be more than mood.
This behaviour is one of the 24 signs in the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE), based on scientific research into how pain shows up under saddle. When a horse’s tail moves in big, persistent motions—up and down, side to side, or even circular—it might be a response to discomfort, not just energy.
In Harmonious Horsemanship, co-authored with Dr Sue Dyson, we help you understand what these behaviours mean and how to respond with informed compassion.

🌿 Sign up to my newsletter for practical tools, supportive insight, and a 20% discount on the book.
👉 www.thehorsephysio.co.uk/newsletter



Image shared with thanks to Train with Trust
https://www.facebook.com/trainwithtrust
https://trainwithtrust.com

05/12/2025

Did you know that chronic stress can speed up ageing through something called inflammaging – low-grade, persistent inflammation that builds as we get older?

This soft, sleepy eye is a moment of complete relaxation during a physio treatment. And it’s a powerful reminder: stress relief is not just a luxury for us or our horses — it’s a necessity for long-term health and well-being.

For humans and horses alike, we need to make space for calm. That might look like gentle exercise, a hack through the woods, grooming your horse without watching the clock, or laughing with friends on the yard.

✨ When we actively choose activities that reduce stress, we reduce inflammation… and we help our bodies (and minds) heal.

Want more bite-sized insights like this into the health and happiness of both horses and humans?
👉 Join Healthy Humans, Happy Horses — your expert-led hub for well-being.
💚 Link in bio.