03/10/2026
Good evening, everybody! 💜
I’ve been meaning to share this post for the last couple of weeks because I really wanted to show just how valuable posture platform training can be — particularly when we’re looking to help a horse settle, decompress and move towards a more relaxed, parasympathetic state through the nervous system.
The video you’re about to watch was taken a few days after Rafferty came home from the trainers.
He was a little sore and quite lethargic through his body, so we gave him a few days off and supported him with his nutrition.
As most of you know, I’m a strong advocate for Dynavyte MicroBiome Support, and during this period Raff was on a stress dose for 2–3 days.
Why do I consider supporting the gut microbiome so important, particularly during periods of stress or recovery?
Dynavyte MicroBiome Support is a naturally brewed and fermented synbiotic, meaning it provides both a prebiotic and probiotic. It contains Bacillus subtilis, which Dynavyte says supports beneficial bacteria within the intestines and promotes a healthier gastrointestinal tract.
Dynavyte also discusses the role of the gut microbiome in digestion, nutrient absorption and the body's response to stress, including the production of serotonin and other neuropeptides by Bacillus subtilis.
For me, this is an important part of the bigger picture.
We can’t look at the nervous system in isolation from the gut.
When a horse has been through travel, training, changes in environment, increased workload or physical stress, I want to support the whole horse — not just the muscles and posture.
And this is where Rafferty’s posture platform work comes in.
Have a really good look at how he steps onto it.
There’s no rushing. No resistance.
Once he is standing there, you can see him begin to decompress.
Look at his eyes — that soft, almost doughy look.
Watch the neck structure start to relax and the thoracic sling begin to engage.
For Rafferty, this is particularly important because we were only around 13 weeks post the neck injury he sustained, and you may still notice some of that through the way he holds his neck.
The posture work gives him an opportunity to release tension through the neck and encourage better postural engagement, including around the C5, C6 and C7 region.
You’ll also notice the deep veining through his hind limbs once he settles into a fairly square stance.
One important safety note:
You’ll see me looking between his front legs to check where his hind legs are positioned.
I am NOT recommending that anyone do this when they are first starting posture training with their horse.
Please always put your own safety first. There are ways to observe and assess your horse without putting yourself in a vulnerable position, particularly when your horse is new to the exercise.
So, have a look at Rafferty in the video and watch for those little changes as he settles.
For me, this is about looking at the horse as a whole — gut, nervous system, posture and musculoskeletal function all working together.
Sometimes the quietest exercises can tell us an awful lot. 💜
If you have any questions about posture platform training or supporting your horse through periods of stress and recovery, feel free to send me a DM.
Have a wonderful rest of your weekend.
H x
