Equine Sports Massage Therapy

12/23/2025

Backing up is a low-impact exercise with no moment of suspension. It can be done in-hand and ridden. You horse should move his limbs in diagonal pairs.

Executed correctly with relaxation, impulsion and with the head lowered, the movement increases the throacic vertebral rotation, encourages core recruitment of the abdominals , thoracic sling and hip flexors. It also contributes to back mobility, the ability to collect and good posture.

This exercise requires your horse to carry more weight on his hindquarters, and maintain increased hindlimb, lumbosacral and back joint flexion throughout the stride cycle.

For maximum benefit ask your horse to back up in-hand daily. Start with 1 or 2 steps and progress to 20 steps. The aim is good quality, long, marching steps.

12/20/2025

Did you know.....The Tongue 👅 is the most sensitive part of your horse's mouth and the most prone to injury.

This very large muscle extends from its tip, which you can see, to the hyoid apparatus and its attachment to the ramus of the mandible at the back.

The tongue is vital for swallowing and influencing the hyoid apparatus

Like any other muscle, restriction or tension within it can induce a muscular chain reaction.

The sensitivity of the tongue is a crucial consideration when fitting a bit. An ill-fitting or harsh bit or excessive pressure on the bit from your hands can cause pain and discomfort. In some cases it can result in tension throughout the body and poor performance.

Like and follow our page for lots more tips, exercises and advice on equine anatomy and biomechanics.

12/19/2025

𝐄𝐲𝐞 𝐔𝐥𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐃𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐡𝐲

Eye ulcers are not something to “wait and see” on. Horses produce a lot of tears, blink hard, and rub their faces, which means even a small ulcer can turn into a big problem fast. When a horse comes in squinting, tearing, or with a cloudy eye, diagnostics matter before treatment ever starts.

𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘰:
- Fluorescein stain to identify if an ulcer is present and how deep or wide it is. The stain sticks to damaged cornea and shows us the exact shape and severity.
- Full eye exam to check pupil response, swelling, pressure concerns, and rule out deeper issues like uveitis.
- Once diagnosed, treatment is based on severity, location, and how fast the eye needs medication.

If an ulcer requires frequent medication, this is where the eye catheter comes in. A subpalpebral lavage system is a tiny tube placed through the eyelid and secured so medications can be given without fighting the horse or irritating the eye further. It allows accurate dosing multiple times a day while keeping everyone safer and reducing stress on the eye.

Bottom line: eye ulcers are painful, progressive, and time sensitive. Early diagnostics and proper treatment make the difference between healing and permanent damage.

𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐗 𝐕𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬
xxvets.com ◦ (940) 514-9500

12/19/2025

Last post about the plexus brachialis created a bit of confusion in some of you - it was about the spinal nerve C8. The horse has, of course, 7 cervical vertebrae! But there are 8 pairs of cervical nerves!

I prepared an image to illustrate the numbering of the cervical spinal nerves.

There is a unique system for numbering the cervical spinal nerves, which is the confusing part.
The first cervical nerve emerges through the foramen on the wing of the atlas (seen almost in the front of the atlas). The second cervical spinal nerve emerges through the intervertebral foramen of the axis (C2). So, unlike the rest of the body, cervical spinal nerves C1 - C7 emerge cranial to the vertebra of the same number. And then, there is a nerve emerging caudal to vertebra C7, in between C7 and Th1, and that is the mysterious C8 cervical spinal nerve.
The good news is that the rest of the spinal nerves emerge just caudal (behind) their corresponding vertebra.

12/18/2025

12/16/2025

I have some open dates if need some work done 903-629-5706

12/16/2025

12/16/2025

12/11/2025

𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬, 𝐬𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. . .

If I had a dollar for every time someone pulled out this tired argument, I could finally build that new barn I have been dreaming about.

So I am here to set the record straight. Comparing domestic horses to wild horses is not the slam-dunk some people think it is. Rather, it falls apart once you get past the surface because it was never solid logic to begin with.

Yes, ‘wild’ horses, moose, elk, antelope, and whatever other critters people like to use in this argument don’t wear blankets. But here’s the part that is conveniently left out: they survive by paying a price. There is no safety net. Nature is not kind. And when a wild horse isn’t thriving, nature removes it. And it can be a painful and drawn out process.

Thankfully, domestic horses don’t live this way. But the trade off is that they are required to live within the constraints of human expectations.

They live in limited space, depend entirely on what we provide, and do not have the ability to roam miles to find shelter, better forage, or protection from the elements. Some drop weight dramatically in winter. Some have metabolic disorders, clipped coats, low body conditions, or age-related problems. We groom them, ride them, and many have been bred for refinement and traits that excel in the show pen, not rugged survival.

And here’s the biggest difference: our responsibility to domestic horses is not to simply allow them to survive but rather we have a responsibility to help them thrive.

I am a huge advocate for letting a horse be a horse. But it is not always that simple. Humans domesticated them so it has become our duty to manage them.

Blanketing is not about pampering. It’s not about fashion. It’s not about treating horses like fragile glass figurines. It’s about understanding the individual needs of the animal in front of you. Some horses will be perfectly fine naked all winter. Others will burn calories they don’t have, shiver for hours, lose weight, or struggle quietly.

Will they survive without a blanket?
Most likely.

But will they thrive?
That depends on the horse. And as their caretakers, it’s our job to know the difference.

So stop using that lazy “wild horses don’t need blankets” line.

We’re in the 21st century. We have knowledge, tools, and compassion. Use them. Do what’s best for your horse, not what a wild animal has no choice but to endure solely based on principle.

And I want to be clear. I think MANY horses do just fine without blankets, just not ALL horses. And that is the distinction I am trying to make here.

Cheers,
Dr. DeBoer

I am also super grateful for Untamed Souls Photography (link to their page in the comments!) for letting me use their picture in this post. While I pride myself in creating my own visuals, I didn’t have anything I loved for this post and her picture captured my vision perfectly!

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