Light Touch Equine Bodywork

02/23/2026

Could you imagine trying to run a sprint race after spending the week sitting on the couch.. why expect your horses to do it then?

Things I’ll never understand…
Going to a barrel race unprepared and expecting it to go well.

You haven’t ridden all week.
Maybe you rode once.
But you loaded up.
Paid the entry fees.
Paid for fuel.
Took the time.

And still expected magic.
Here’s the truth:
Confidence comes from preparation.
Consistency comes from repetition.
Feel comes from saddle time.

You can’t shortcut the work and expect the result.
This isn’t just horses it’s life.

If you want to be good at something:
• You practice when it’s boring
• You ride when you’re tired
• You fix things at home instead of hoping they fix themselves in the alley

Running your horse is not the same as training your horse. You don’t rise to the occasion.
You fall back on your preparation.
If you want different results,
the work has to change first.

No judgment just reality.

Put the time in.
Make the fuel and entry fee worth it.

02/23/2026

I can’t stress this enough!!!

✨ Let’s clear up some common misconceptions about chiropractic work and Why chiropractic work doesn’t “realign bones” the way people think ✨

Chiropractic care does not automatically mean bones are being “realigned.”
In most cases, the skeletal system itself isn’t the primary issue.

🦴 Bones follow muscles.
When a muscle or fascial structure is extremely tight, guarded, or neurologically holding, it can pull a joint into a restricted position. The bone isn’t “out of place” — it’s being held there by soft tissue tension.

✨ What’s actually being released?
That popping sound often heard during adjustments is not bones snapping back into place. It is commonly explained as the release of pressure within the joint — often referred to as air or gas pockets (cavitation).

🌿 My professional stance on chiropractic care:
I absolutely believe chiropractic work can be beneficial. However, I also believe the body is far more capable of holding an adjustment after muscle, fascial, and nervous system tension has been released.
If the tension pattern remains, the body will often pull the joint right back into the same position.

📚 This isn’t just personal opinion.
This information comes from experienced chiropractors across human, equine, and canine practices, along with ongoing collaboration in rehabilitation and bodywork settings.

🚩 Why terminology matters
This is also why I’m cautious when I hear statements like:
• “The poll is out of alignment” — the poll is one solid bone.
• “The shoulders are out of alignment” — horses do not have a clavicle; the shoulder is a floating structure supported by muscle and fascia.
• “The SI is out” — if the sacroiliac joint were truly displaced, the horse would not be able to walk.

These phrases often describe muscular tension, neurological guarding, or restriction, not true skeletal displacement.

True, lasting alignment isn’t forced.
It happens when the body is supported in releasing what’s pulling — and then adjustments can hold.

02/22/2026

Studies have shown that in horses with kissing spines (overriding or impinging dorsal spinous processes), the interspinous ligament often becomes inflamed or fibrotic.

This chronic irritation can lead to:

🔹 Increased sensory nerve fibers (hyper-innervation)
• This phenomenon, often referred to as neuronal sprouting, is common in chronically inflamed or damaged tissues.
• It heightens the area’s sensitivity to mechanical pressure, movement, or even mild touch.

🔹 Clinical Relevance
• This explains why horses with kissing spines can display dramatic or unpredictable behaviors under saddle, even if they don’t show clear signs of lameness.
• Pain from hyper-innervated tissue can be sharp, localized, and exacerbated by back movement, especially when the saddle or rider compresses the spine.

Massage therapy can be a powerful tool for horses with kissing spines.

Massage helps by:

✅ Reducing muscular tension
✅ Improving circulation
✅ Releasing fascial restrictions
✅ Reducing pain and discomfort
✅ Alleviate compensatory patterns that contribute to pain.

Over time, this support allows the horse to adopt a healthier posture—lifting through the thoracic sling, engaging the core, and reducing pressure between the spinous processes—ultimately promoting better movement and comfort.

Bonus Insight

This kind of neural adaptation is also observed in humans with chronic back pain, where ligamentous or fascial structures develop increased nociceptive input, contributing to pain sensitization and sometimes movement avoidance behaviors.

* The interspinous ligament connects the spinous processes of adjacent thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. It supports spinal stability and helps limit excessive flexion. In conditions like kissing spines, it can become inflamed, thickened, or fibrotic, contributing to pain and restricted mobility.

Massage with Myofascial Release can be a Real Game Changer for Horses with Kissing Spines - https://koperequine.com/massage-can-be-a-game-changer-for-horses-with-kissing-spines/

02/22/2026

𝗝𝗮𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗶𝘀 > 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗠𝗝 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗹𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸.

One of the most consistent compensatory patterns I assess in horses is the same-side relationship between the TMJ (temporomandibular joint) and the ilium.

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝗮𝘄, 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦.

The 𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘂𝗺 forms part of the pelvic component of the 𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗰 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 (𝗦𝗜𝗝) > a structure that plays a critical role in force transfer from the hindlimbs through the lumbar spine and into the trunk.

If SI mobility is compromised, the relative motion of the hind legs, pelvis and lumbar region changes. Power, straightness and loading patterns all adapt.
𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘯

The 𝗧𝗠𝗝 sits at the top of a fascial and neurological system that influences the poll, cervical spine and thoracolumbar junction. Restrictions here alter tension patterns throughout the axial skeleton. Those patterns do not stop at the withers, they continue caudally into the pelvis.

So:

• Jaw restriction can contribute to pelvic dysfunction
• Iliac/SI restriction can reinforce jaw asymmetry
• 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱 ‼️

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘢𝘸 𝘪𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘰𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯.

It is also why a true 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲-𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 evaluation matters. If we focus only on the site of obvious pain or performance loss, we miss the driver behind it.

In practice, this is why I collaborate closely with farriers, dental professionals and veterinary colleagues.

𝘔𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭, 𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘴.

If your horse is showing performance changes, hind-end weakness, asymmetry, resistance in the contact, or recurring SI concerns, it may be time to look beyond the obvious area.

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝗮𝘄.

𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯…

If the 𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘂𝗺 is so influential > and if its relationship with the 𝗧𝗠𝗝 is this significant, how thoroughly are we really assessing the 𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗰 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻?

Because the SI joint is not just “the SI.”

● It is the articulation between sacrum and ilium.

● It is a load-transfer junction.

● It is a motion-dependent structure.

In the next post, I’ll break down why properly assessing the sacrum and ilium, rather than simply labelling “𝗦𝗜 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻” > can completely change outcomes.

𝙒𝙚𝙚𝙠𝙚𝙣𝙙 > 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙥𝙝𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙢

02/22/2026

02/22/2026

02/21/2026

Wow!!!

02/21/2026

Magnesium, Cellular Energy, and the Regulation of the Equine Fascial–Muscular System

Magnesium and the Equine Fascial–Muscular Network: Regulation Through Cellular Energy

Magnesium is often described as a “calming mineral,” but in horses it functions more accurately as a physiological regulator. Its influence extends across fascia, muscle, nerves, and joints — not by directly altering structure, but by supporting the metabolic conditions that allow these tissues to coordinate efficiently.

At the foundation of this regulation is cellular energy. ATP — the energy currency of the cell — is biologically active only when bound to magnesium (Mg-ATP). Every adaptive process in fascia, muscle, neural tissue, and joint structures depends on this complex.

Magnesium’s effects are therefore systemic: it supports energy-dependent regulation within an integrated mechanical network.

Effects on Fascia

Fascia is a hydrated, sensory-rich, metabolically active connective tissue network responsible for load transfer and communication throughout the body.

Healthy fascial function depends on:
• Fluid balance
• Ionic regulation
• Adequate cellular energy
• Balanced inflammatory signaling
• Fibroblast activity and matrix turnover

Magnesium participates in each of these processes.

Within fascial tissue, Mg-ATP supports fibroblast metabolism, collagen remodeling, extracellular matrix maintenance, and ion transport. When cellular energy or mineral balance is compromised, fascial tissue may become less pliable, exhibit reduced glide, or transfer load less efficiently.

Magnesium supports the internal environment that allows fascia to adapt to mechanical demand and reorganize following strain.

Effects on Muscle

Muscle fibers are embedded within fascial sheaths and transmit force through fascial continuity. Muscle tone and fascial tension are inseparable.

At the cellular level:
• Calcium initiates contraction.
• Magnesium counterbalances calcium to allow release.
• ATP must be bound to magnesium to power contraction–relaxation cycles.

When magnesium availability is insufficient, cross-bridge cycling becomes less efficient. Muscle fibers may remain in a low-grade contracted state, increasing overall tissue tone.

This can contribute to:
• Persistent tension
• Reduced elastic recoil
• Guarding through the thoracic sling
• Shortened stride
• Slower recovery after exertion

From a manual therapy perspective, tissue may feel resistant — not necessarily because of structural restriction, but because contraction–release dynamics are metabolically inefficient.

Effects on Joints

Joints are dynamic interfaces shaped by muscular tone and fascial continuity. Excessive or unbalanced tension increases compressive loading across articular surfaces.

Magnesium influences joint mechanics indirectly by supporting efficient muscle regulation and balanced periarticular tone.

Joint tissues are metabolically active. Synovial membranes require ATP for fluid production and maintenance, and cartilage depends on a regulated biochemical environment. Mg-ATP supports the cellular processes that sustain this environment.

Magnesium helps support the metabolic conditions under which joint tissues function.

Improved regulation may present as smoother joint motion, reduced guarding, and more coordinated load transfer — reflecting upstream changes in muscular and fascial tone.

Effects on the Nervous System

Fascia is richly innervated and in constant communication with the nervous system. Neural excitability directly influences muscle tone, which in turn shapes fascial tension and joint loading.

Magnesium supports neural regulation by:
• Stabilizing nerve cell membranes
• Regulating calcium movement into neurons, helping prevent excessive excitatory firing
• Supporting parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) balance
• Maintaining ATP-dependent ion pump function that preserves membrane stability

When magnesium levels are low, the nervous system can become more easily overstimulated. Increased neural reactivity elevates muscle tone, amplifies fascial tension, and increases joint compression.

In horses, this may present as heightened startle response, fasciculations, bruxism, elevated sympathetic tone, or difficulty settling during bodywork.

By supporting balanced neural activity, magnesium helps create the conditions in which muscular release, fascial adaptability, and coordinated movement can occur.

Cellular Energy as the Unifying Mechanism

Every contractile event, synovial adjustment, and fascial remodeling process requires ATP. ATP is active only when bound to magnesium.

When cellular energy availability declines:
• Recovery slows
• Fascial adaptability decreases
• Muscle tone remains elevated
• Joint mechanics become less efficient
• Neuromuscular coordination declines

Manual therapy changes mechanical input.
Cellular energy determines integration.

Magnesium supports the energetic foundation that allows the system to reorganize sustainably.

Stress and Global Tone

Training load, travel, and competition increase metabolic demand and magnesium utilization. Chronic stress elevates sympathetic tone, increasing muscular tension and joint compression.

When magnesium availability supports energy production and autonomic balance, horses often demonstrate:
• More consistent tone
• Improved recovery
• Greater adaptability to workload
• Reduced excessive tension patterns

This is due to improved regulatory capacity.

Implications for Equine Manual Therapy

Magnesium does not replace skilled bodywork. However, because fascia, muscle, nerves, and joints function as an integrated network, metabolic support can influence how a horse responds to:
• Myofascial release
• Stretching
• Joint mobilization
• Neuromotor retraining
• Thoracic sling strengthening

When regulation is supported, practitioners may observe improved tissue compliance, less guarding, smoother transitions, and faster post-session integration.

Regulation requires energy.
Adaptation requires energy.
Recovery requires energy.

Magnesium supports the metabolic conditions under which functional movement can be sustained.

In Summary

The effects of magnesium on fascia, muscle, nerves, and joints are regulatory rather than structural.

Magnesium:
• Supports fascial adaptability
• Enables efficient muscle contraction and release
• Influences neural excitability
• Contributes to joint metabolic function
• Powers cellular processes through Mg-ATP

In a body designed for elastic recoil, coordinated suspension, and dynamic stability, energy regulation is foundational.

Magnesium supports that foundation by sustaining the cellular systems that allow tissues to adapt, reorganize, and maintain functional movement.

https://koperequine.com/the-effects-of-vitamin-e-on-fascia-muscle-and-nerves/

02/20/2026

🧠 Let’s Train Your Eye 🐴

Below are two backs—A and B.

At first glance, which one looks healthier or more functional to you?

👇 Comment:
• A or B
• And what made you choose it

Don’t worry about being “right.” This is exactly how we start learning to read the body before the hands ever touch the horse.

I’ll come back later and break down what I see 👀✨

02/20/2026

Why Hands On Massage Is The Best Way To Care For Sore Muscles

I often see people posting about their horse having muscle knots and being muscle sore, talking about having the chiropractor out, Pemf and red light, kt tape, vet’s been out and still the horse is not better, why?

My question is; why are you doing everything you can think of to help your horse feel better EXCEPT the one thing that actually addresses those sore, tight muscles directly?!
Other therapies are NOT stand-ins or substitutes for massage – they do different things for the horse.

Massage is the only one of these therapies that physically manipulates the muscles, fascia and skin to ease tight, sore muscles lengthen and supple myofascia, free painful nerves, improve circulation, increase range of motion and bring balance and biotensegrity back to the body to improve performance and soundness.

An equine massage therapist uses their hands to feel and carefully manipulate the soft tissues to work out tension, knots, kinks and adhesions. Massage manually opens myofascial tissue, softening, stretching, balancing tension, improving range of motion and freedom of movement of muscle, fascia, joints and skin.
Massage speeds muscle healing. The micro tears and trigger points caused by exercise and building muscles heal faster, stronger and with a healthier range of motion when your horse receives regular massage sessions.

Tight, tense and fatigued muscles increase the risk of tendon injuries. Tendons are an extension of the muscle and anchor the muscle to the bone. If the muscle is impaired, the tendon will also be, which greatly raises the risk of injury. Massage can improve the health and function of the muscles and tendons to help ward off injuries.

Massage techniques with different frequencies, amplitudes and intensities can improve athleticism by stimulating the mechanoreceptors and improving the horse’s proprioception (awareness of position) and kinesthesia (movement in the body), helpful when improving the horse’s overall athleticism. This will also help stimulate healing if the horse has suffered a neurological insult.

Massage physically stimulates weak and inactive muscles to help bring them back into action.
Pain and tension interfere with the body’s ability to recover from illness or injury and will extend recovery time. Many veterinarians have begun to incorporate massage therapy into their recovery protocols as an effective, natural way to aid in pain regulation and recovery for both acute and chronic issues. Equine Massage therapists are trained to work on soft tissues to alleviate pain and improve the body’s ability to heal itself.

Massage physically pumps and presses circulation into congested areas, opening them to better nourishment, oxygenation and hydration all of which optimize healing and healthy tissue development and performance.

Massage increases the production of mitochondria, responsible for powering the production of ATP in cellular metabolism. More mitochondria lead to more ATP, which means increased energy to heal. Massage also increases levels of white blood cells which attack viruses and bacteria.

Massage increases the production of cytokines, chemical messengers that work for the immune system to regulate things like fever, pain and inflammation.

Massage releases endorphins which act as a natural analgesic helping to relieve headaches, myofascial pain, muscle soreness, TMJ, and other discomforts and a lasting sense of well-being.

A full-body massage can improve digestion by increasing the release of enzymes essential for healthy digestion and stimulating the motion of the intestine, and its contents, to move along.
Regular massage can retrain the body to move more readily into the parasympathetic state, the state in which the body is able to relax, digest and repair. This can be especially helpful for high strung, spooky or recovering horses.

Massage is one of, if not the, most effective muscle and myofascial therapies available and it can be customized to meet each horse’s physical needs. Leaving it out of your regular care and exercise routine leaves a huge hole and a missed opportunity.

https://koperequine.com/25-of-the-most-interesting-important-properties-of-fascia/