The Horse PT

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from The Horse PT, Physical therapist, Nashville, TN.

Doctor of Physical Therapy 👩‍⚕️

Empowering intuitive horse owners to prevent & resolve soundness issues with R+ based training and physical therapy principles 🦄

11/21/2025

✨ Course Spotlight: Catching the Hard-to-Catch Horse

Does your horse disappear the moment they see a halter? 🐎
You're not alone—and you're not stuck.

My Catching the Hard-to-Catch Horse Course gives you step-by-step, ethical strategies to turn stressful catch sessions into calm, willing connections.

🧠 Built on positive reinforcement and LIMA principles, this DIY course teaches you how to:
✔️ Understand why your horse avoids being caught
✔️ Build trust through choice-based training
✔️ Use practical, humane techniques that actually work
✔️ Apply strategies that are beginner-friendly and effective for pros, too

This course will guide you through the process of teaching even the most fearful horses to walk right up to you and stick their head willingly in the halter.

🖤 Starting Monday, Nov 24, this course is guaranteed to be 30% off during our Black Friday Sale.

👀 It may also appear as a Flash Sale (50% off for one day only) or be featured in a bundle for even bigger savings.

📩 Want a reminder when it drops?

Follow this page + sign up for sneak peaks and exclusive deals on my email list at the link below.

11/21/2025

🗓 Thanksgiving is coming soon! But Monday - That’s when it all kicks off.

Here’s your Black Friday game plan:
1️⃣ Make your wishlist
2️⃣ Check your email for sneak peaks and bonus deals
3️⃣ Set your alarm for Monday morning
4️⃣ Be ready to grab flash sales before they disappear!

🎁 Remember:
✔️ 30% off sitewide all week
✔️ 50% off select flash sale courses for 24 hours only
✔️ 3 exclusive bundles at our best prices of the year

Follow now + join the email list (link in comments) to shop smart this Black Friday. 🖤

See you soon 🎯

11/20/2025

Before you put your horse on a foam pad, here’s what you need to know:

You have probably seen them popping up in rehab programs, groundwork sessions, or social media clips: horses standing on foam pads in simple or complex configurations.

So… what are balance pads? And are they worth using?

Balance pads are soft, unstable surfaces — often made of dense foam — that challenge a horse’s postural control when they stand on them. They come in different shapes and firmness levels, and they're typically used under one or more hooves for short periods of time.

💡 Why They Work

Balance pads create just enough instability to engage a horse’s deep postural and stabilizing muscles. When used thoughtfully, they can help:
🤸‍♀️Improve proprioception (body awareness)
🤸‍♀️Strengthen core and stabilizer muscles
🤸‍♀️Encourage weight-shifting and limb-loading awareness
🤸‍♀️Support balance and coordination in rehab or fitness programs
🤸‍♀️Increase parasympathetic nervous system tone (helping the horse relax)

It’s a simple tool — but when paired with good observation and handling, it can be incredibly effective.

🚫 What Balance Pads Are Not

Let’s be clear:
❌ They are not a magic fix for lameness or poor posture
❌ They won’t correct major asymmetries on their own
❌ They can’t replace movement, bodywork, or a proper training program
❌ They’re not suitable for every horse, every day — and using them incorrectly or expecting them to solve issues that needed deeper treatment can cause more harm than good

Balance pads are a tool in the toolbox, not a solution on their own.

🐎 When Might They Be Helpful?

Balance pads might be a good fit when:
✔️ You’re helping a horse recover from injury (with guidance from your vet or therapist)
✔️ You want to improve your horse’s proprioception in a low-impact way
✔️ You’re incorporating core stability and balance work into groundwork or postural training
✔️ You’re supporting an older or arthritic horse in gently activating underused muscles
✔️ You’re deepening your horse’s mind-body awareness in a calm, regulated state

Start slow. Use one pad at a time in the beginning. Watch for signs of fatigue, tension, or avoidance and allow the horse to step off the pads if they want to. Sessions might last just a few seconds to a few minutes — and that’s OK. Less is more when it comes to nervous system-based work.

✅ Takeaway:
Balance pads are a useful, affordable way to build postural strength, awareness, and calm focus — when used with intention and integrated into a bigger picture of thoughtful training and care.

As always: seek help from trained and qualified professionals before you think you need it and observe, adjust, and listen to your horse.

11/20/2025

What if you could…

✔️ Catch subtle signs of discomfort before they become injuries
✔️ Understand your horse’s movement and posture with more confidence
✔️ Create a rehab or care plan that actually works

🖤 Our courses are designed to help you do exactly that—and during our Black Friday Event, you’ll be able to access them for 30% off sitewide (with flash sales + bundles for even deeper discounts).

🎯 Whether you're a dedicated owner or an equine professional, there's something here to help you support horses more confidently, compassionately, and effectively.

📅 The sale starts Monday, Nov 24.

✅ Follow this page
📩 Join the mailing list for sneak peaks and updates (link in comments)

… and get ready to learn more for less!

11/20/2025

✨ Course Spotlight: Kissing Spines Masterclass

Does your horse struggle with chronic back pain, poor performance, or behavioral changes under saddle? 🐴

Our Kissing Spines Masterclass gives you clear, practical guidance on one of the most misunderstood conditions in the equine world.

🎓 You'll learn:
✔️ What kissing spines really is (beyond the x-ray)
✔️ Current treatment options + research
✔️ Step-by-step rehab progression
✔️ How posture and movement are affected—and how to help

🖤 And here’s the good news:
This course is guaranteed to be 30% off all week during our Black Friday sitewide sale starting Friday, Nov 28!

👀 Even better?
It might also show up as a Flash Sale (50% off for 24 hours)
— OR be included in some of our exclusive deep-discount bundles.

💡 If it’s on your wishlist, now’s the time to plan ahead.
Follow this page + sign up for my email list (link below) for early reminders and deal alerts.

11/20/2025

Partners it crime 👯‍♀️

11/19/2025

🐎 Hard-to-catch horses aren’t just being difficult

If your horse walks away when you come with the halter — or plays the “catch me if you can” game — you’re not alone.

It can feel frustrating. Embarrassing. Discouraging.

But here’s something worth considering:
A horse that avoids being caught isn’t trying to be difficult.
They’re trying to protect themselves — either from discomfort, fear, or confusion.

Many “hard-to-catch” horses have one or more of the following in their history:
🔎Negative associations with being caught (painful work, unpleasant experiences, inconsistent handling)
🔎Lack of clarity in communication — they don’t know what’s expected or feel unsafe
🔎Anxiety or distrust of humans due to past trauma or rushed training
🔎Discomfort — physical or emotional — when being handled, groomed, or ridden

💡 Here’s the paradigm shift: Instead of seeing catching as a task to check off, think of it as a relationship checkpoint.

If your horse isn’t approaching you willingly, it’s feedback — not failure.

That doesn’t always mean you’ve done something wrong. It means there’s opportunity for more trust, more clarity, more connection.

🐴 Rebuilding that trust means:
✨Approaching slowly, without pressure or agenda
✨Waiting for the horse to engage — instead of pushing yourself on them
✨Using positive reinforcement to reward curiosity and voluntary interaction
✨Respecting “no” as information — and not taking it personally
✨Shifting your focus from catching → to connection

This doesn’t just improve catching — it improves everything about your horse’s willingness, confidence, and emotional safety.

✅ Takeaway:
Catching isn’t about control. It’s about communication. Slow down, listen closely, and show your horse that you’re safe, consistent, and worth engaging with. The halter comes second. Trust comes first.

11/19/2025

✨Course Spotlight: The Equine Dental Connection

Unexplained tension? Resistance under saddle? Crooked movement?

Sometimes, the problem starts where you least expect it — in the mouth. 🦷

Our Equine Dental Connection course dives into the mouth–body connections, teaching you how dental imbalances can affect posture, performance, and soundness.

🧠 Co-taught by Dr. Barbara Parks and equine neuromuscular dentist Suzzi Peeler, this course helps you:
✔️ Understand dental + TMJ anatomy
✔️ Learn the 3 most common dental imbalances
✔️ See how issues in the mouth impact the rest of the body
✔️ Watch real case studies + before-and-after changes
✔️ Perform simple assessment techniques as a horse owner

🖤 And yes—it’s part of our Black Friday Event starting Monday, Nov 24!

🎯 Guaranteed 30% off during the sitewide sale
🔥 Might appear as a Flash Sale at 50% off
🎁 Could be featured in a high-value bundle

If this course is on your radar, now’s the time to get ready.

📩 Follow + join the email list (link below) for first access to deals.

11/19/2025

🎁 What’s better than one course? A whole toolkit.

This Black Friday and Cyber Monday, we’re offering 3 exclusive bundles — carefully curated to give you the most value and the most practical results.

💥 These are more than just discounts — each bundle combines related topics to help you build real, integrated skills you can use to support horses more effectively.

Here’s what to expect:
✨ Up to 70% off
✨ Bundles designed for both horse owners and equine professionals
✨ Topics include rehab, bodywork, movement, and more
✨ Available all week (starting Nov 24)

Each bundle will be revealed soon… 👀

Want first access + a sneak peek in your inbox?
👉 Follow this page and
📩 Join the email list at the link in comments.

You’re going to want these in your learning library. 🔥

11/18/2025

📚 Why Education Empowers Horse Owners

There’s a shift happening in the horse world.
More and more owners aren’t just relying on outside experts — they’re choosing to learn more themselves, so they can be active, informed participants in their horse’s care.

I think this shift is beautiful and extremely important.
You don’t need to be a vet, bodyworker, or farrier to understand the basics of anatomy, movement, pain signals, hoof health, or dental balance. You just need curiosity — and someone to guide you in asking the right questions.

You also don't have to *become* a vet, bodyworker, or farrier.... but the more you know, the easier it is to successfully coordinate your horse's professional care team

Here’s what happens when you educate yourself:
✨You notice small issues before they become big ones.
✨You advocate more confidently for your horse.
✨You understand what your vet or therapist is looking at.
✨You collaborate more effectively with your care team.
✨You become more in tune with your horse’s body and behavior.

And perhaps most importantly…
🔑 You stop second-guessing yourself.

You stop feeling overwhelmed.
You start feeling empowered.

🧠 But just as important as the choice to learn — is who you learn from. All of our courses are taught by experienced, qualified professionals with deep expertise in their fields. And as a licensed physical therapist, I design every course to be both scientifically grounded and practically applicable.

We’re here to translate complex concepts into useful, down-to-earth tools you can actually use — no fluff, no jargon overload, and absolutely no talking down to you. But you can still be confident you're learning from people who are qualified to be teaching!

✅ Takeaway:
Every time you invest in your learning, you’re investing in your horse’s health, comfort, and long-term soundness.

The more you know, the better care you can give — and the deeper the trust you build with your horse. When you understand your horse’s body, behavior, and needs, you can make clearer, more confident decisions. You can spot issues earlier and communicate more effectively with your care team.

11/18/2025

✨Course Spotlight: Introduction to Equine Anatomy

Ever feel lost when someone talks about “fascia,” “SI joints,” or “suspensories”? 😵‍💫
You’re not alone—and that’s exactly why I created this course.

🐴 Introduction to Equine Anatomy is the course every horse owner wishes they had years ago.

It’s clear, visual, and refreshingly practical—designed for horse owners, bodywork students, and equine pros who want to truly understand how the horse’s body works (without memorizing a bunch of Latin terms).

🎓 You’ll learn:
✔️ Key bones, joints, muscles & soft tissue structures
✔️ How anatomy affects movement, posture & performance
✔️ What to feel and look for on your own horse
✔️ Real-life applications for care, training & prevention

📚 Includes:
✨ Short video lessons
✨ Coloring book–style visuals
✨ Label-it-yourself diagrams
✨ Downloadable cheat sheets
✨ Lifetime access

🖤 And the best part?
This course is 30% off during our Black Friday sitewide sale starting Monday, Nov 24

🔥 PLUS — it might be featured in a 50% off Flash Sale or bundled with other must-haves for even bigger savings!

📩 Want reminders + first dibs on deals?
Follow this page and sign up via the link below
You can understand your horse’s body.
This course is your starting point.

11/18/2025

We get asked this all the time 👇
“Which course should I start with?”

The answer? It depends on your goals—whether you want to support your horse’s recovery, understand movement, or learn practical bodywork skills.

Over the next week, we’re helping you decide with:
✅ Daily course spotlights
✅ Sneak peeks at what’s going on sale
✅ Guidance on which courses are right for your level and goals

🖤 And remember—starting Monday, Nov 24, you’ll get:
➡️ 30% off all courses
➡️ Flash sales at 50% off throughout the week
➡️ Exclusive bundles you won’t find any other time of year

🎯 Follow this page and Equine Massage Academy - US campus or join the email list (link in comments) so you don’t miss out on these limited-time deals!

Address

Nashville, TN

Telephone

+1 919-971-0963

Website

http://www.drbarbaraparks.com/, http://www.imagineequineeducation.com/, https://bsky.app/profile/thehorsept.bsky.social

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Physical Therapy for Equines and Equestrians in Middle TN

Born and raised in North Carolina, I moved to Nashville for graduate school in 2015. I received my Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Belmont University and my Equine Rehabilitation certification (CERP) from The University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 2018. I am also a PATH certified therapeutic riding instructor and I provide PT services utilizing hippotherapy for children at a local PATH Intl. facility. I currently live in Madison, TN and travel throughout middle TN (and sometimes beyond, just ask!) providing physical therapy services.

Physical therapy for people is now the norm after injury, surgery, neurological disease, to prevent future injuries or need for surgery, and even for performance enhancement for athletes. I believe the same should be true for horses. Physical therapy can increase strength, increase range of motion, reduce pain, improve function, prevent future injury and prevent the need for costly and invasive surgical procedures. PT can even help solve many common behavioral problems that are often related to pain such as girthiness, reluctance to bend, reluctance to turn, kicking out when asked to trot or canter, and the list goes on! I will work with your veterinarian to develop a plan tailored to your goals and your equine companion’s specific needs.

Do you have pain during or after riding? Do you have difficulty sitting the trot, keeping your heels down, or staying balanced through transitions? I can help with that, too! Many times our own asymmetries and weaknesses will cause similar changes in our horses that manifest as things like behavioral problems, difficulty picking up the correct lead, or poor impulsion. Unfortunately with horses, things are always our fault. Often fixing the rider is the most important step towards fixing the horse!

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The Horse PT

11/21/2025

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11/18/2025

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Physical Therapy for Equines and Equestrians in Middle TN