Vandlen Equine Massage and Bodywork

01/01/2026

Happy Year of the Horse! I’m finalizing this month’s schedule! If you’re not on it already and want to be, please let me know.

12/31/2025

Happy New Year’s Eve everyone. My year of the horse started early, according to my kindle library 😅

12/29/2025

https://www.vandlenequine.com/s/stories/understanding-how-horses-are-shaped-anatomy-conformation-and-posture

If you missed last week’s newsletter, its up and posted on my website. If you’ve ever wondered what are the makings of a “good riding horse” or how posture/ conformation affect soundness, this one’s for you.

Did you know that a horse’s body is shaped not only by its anatomy and conformation, but also by its posture? If you’re a client of mine, you’ve likely heard me talk a lot about posture. Still, I …

12/29/2025

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday with their family and loved ones!

This is your gentle reminder that my prices will be increasing starting Jan 1!

12/28/2025

https://www.vandlenequine.com/s/stories/understanding-how-horses-are-shaped-anatomy-conformation-and-posture

If you missed this week’s newsletter, it’s up on my website. If you’ve ever wondered how to determine a “good riding horse” or how posture/ conformation are related to soundness, this one’s for you.

Did you know that a horse’s body is shaped not only by its anatomy and conformation, but also by its posture? If you’re a client of mine, you’ve likely heard me talk a lot about posture. Still, I …

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas from Vandlen Equine to you!

12/23/2025

I’ve been putting my new toys to good use! I am absolutely loving the results and the reactions from the horses. It’s so wonderful watching them engage with the pads and communicate with me about what they need.

12/22/2025

Did you know your horse’s body is shaped not only by anatomy and conformation, but also by posture?

This is something I talk about often with clients, but it’s such an important piece of understanding how our horses move, carry weight, and stay sound. Anatomy gives the horse its basic structure, conformation gives us the external picture, but posture is the dynamic element that changes moment to moment. In my news letter this week, I discuss the differences between posture, conformation and anatomy and how you can use them to assess your own horse’s.

A horse’s ability to cope with gravity, stay balanced, and move efficiently has everything to do with how they use their body—not just how they’re built. And what’s really fascinating is that their nervous system prioritizes staying oriented to the horizon over avoiding pain. This means a horse may choose an inefficient posture simply because it feels safer to them.

When we take the time to understand anatomy, conformation, and posture together, we get a clearer picture of why a horse moves the way it does—and how we can support them in moving with more ease and comfort.

I’m excited to share more in my newsletter about how these concepts come together in my work, and how you can use them with your own horse!

Sign up for the newsletter at www.vandlenequine.com

12/21/2025

Happy Winter Solstice!

I personally cannot WAIT for some longer days!

I hope everyone is staying safe, warm and dry.

See you all in 2026

12/16/2025

12/15/2025

PSA:

Horses are all very different shaped. If you see tack labeled as “anatomical” make sure it’s suits your horses anatomy. One size does not fit all, and sometimes anatomical tack works in the opposite way than it was intended. If an anatomical girth doesn’t fit your horse perfectly, for example, it will almost certainly cause uneven pressure across their sternum and pectorals.

My suggestion, take pictures from all angles. Especially the weird ones!

12/12/2025

Straight from my book this morning.

The Yamas and the Niyamas: Exploring Yoga’s Ethical Potential by Debora Adele