02/08/2026
Many of the horses I work with are well cared for and thoughtfully managed, yet something in their movement still doesn’t feel quite right.
One reason is that not all tension originates in the muscle.
Often, stiffness is a protective response from the nervous system. When something feels uncomfortable or unstable, the body limits movement to stay safe. That protection can show up as resistance, a shortened stride, difficulty bending, or performance that feels inconsistent — even when everything else appears to be in order.
Stretching supports flexibility by guiding a limb through a comfortable range of motion, and it can be a valuable part of maintenance. But if the nervous system still feels the need to guard, the body will often return to that tension.
This is where my work focuses differently.
Rather than placing the limb into a stretch, I support the leg and follow the horse’s responses, allowing the release to happen when the body is ready. I watch for small but meaningful signs that the nervous system is shifting out of protection mode.
Here’s a simple way to understand the difference:
Stretching
• Handler guides the limb
• Focuses on muscle flexibility
• Improves available range of motion
• Often used for maintenance
Nervous System Release
• Horse participates in the release
• Focuses on reducing protective tension
• Improves the body’s willingness to use that range
• Often creates longer-lasting change
Bottom line: Flexibility is helpful, but when the nervous system feels safe, the body no longer has to guard — and that’s when movement truly opens up.
By working with the nervous system, we can often reduce the need for the body to protect in the first place. As that tension softens, many horses begin to move with more freedom, efficiency, and comfort — not because they were pushed there, but because the restriction is no longer necessary.
Understanding the reason behind tension is one of the most important pieces of supporting long-term comfort and movement.
Horses that feel "off" despite regular care often respond quickly when we target the root cause —
DM "STRETCH" to see if this work is a good fit!
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ARIZONA
