Equi-Formance

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Equi-Formance

Equine Performance and Rehabilitation Specialists covering North and South of Ireland.

Internationally trained equine physiotherapist offering manual and electrotherapy techniques as well as exercise prescription in South Australia.

16/06/2026

When owners are given a rehabilitation or fitness plan, they're often surprised when I recommend hand walking rather than ridden work.

After all, surely hacking does the same thing? Not always. If fact, hand walking can offer several advantages- no rider weight, better control of pace, focus on movement quality, gradual loading, and loser progress monitoring (to name a few). This doesn't mean hacking is bad… in fact, hacking is often a hugely valuable part of rehabilitation and fitness programmes.

But sometimes the best place to start is much simpler than people expect.
Have you ever been prescribed hand walking as part of a rehab programme? Let me know in the comments!

15/06/2026

When we label horses as naughty, we stop investigating.

When we become curious, we start learning.

And sometimes that curiosity is exactly what our horse needs.

💭 What's a behaviour you've seen that turned out to have an underlying cause?

09/06/2026

My horse in a million❤️

08/06/2026

Olivia has a few last minute appointments available in Bangor and surrounding areas. PM the page to book for Wednesday and Sunday!

06/06/2026

Why do we think so differently about farriers and physiotherapists?

Most horse owners wouldn't wait until their horse's feet were causing obvious problems before booking the farrier... so why wait until there an obvious performance issue before booking the physio? We understand that regular visits help maintain hoof health, identify small changes early, and prevent bigger issues from developing. Yet physiotherapy is often viewed soooo differently! Many horses are only assessed once they're showing signs of discomfort, struggling with performance, changing behaviour under saddle, or recovering from injury.

But just like hoof balance, a horse's musculoskeletal health changes gradually over time; workload changes, fitness changes, compensations develop, muscle strength fluctuates, all while the body adapts to training, injury, and age.

Physiotherapy isn't only about treating problems when they arise. It's also about monitoring how a horse is coping with the demands we place on them and identifying subtle changes before they become more significant. That doesn't mean every horse needs frequent treatment, but regular assessments can help ensure that your horse is staying comfortable, working efficiently, and progressing as expected.

Sometimes the most valuable appointment is the one where we find very little wrong at all! Because maintaining health is always easier than restoring it.

How often does your horse have a physiotherapy assessment?

04/06/2026

Hello everyone! Olivia here🖤❤️

Just a little message to ask that everyone bear with me getting back to messages and getting appointments booked etc etc. I took a bit of a tumble off my own horse and have injured my back and neck😩

Nothing broken thankfully😅 but a big old concussion and inability to move my neck or stand for too long means I won’t be able to see any of you lovely people until next week, at least.

I’m so sorry for the inconvenience! But please message the page and get your names on my list for when I get back into action 📲

As always, never the horses fault😆
Stay safe and ALWAYS wear your hat… mine saved my life🐴

28/05/2026

If you’re trying to put the head somewhere, you’ve already skipped half the process 🐎
One of the biggest misconceptions in ridden work is treating head carriage as the starting point of engagement.
In reality, the neck position is often the RESULT of:
- thoracic sling function
- hindlimb contribution
- abdominal support
- balance and self-carriage
A horse can appear “round” while still:
- travelling on the forehand
- bracing through the underside of the neck
- hollowing through the back
- disconnecting the hind limbs
True engagement is a whole-body coordination pattern... the forehand elevates because the thoracic sling is functioning, the back lifts because the abdominal system is supporting it, and the neck lengthens because the horse no longer needs to brace for stability.
This is why physiotherapy looks beyond where the head is positioned and asks what the rest of the body is doing to create it.
The outline should be an expression of correct biomechanics... not a substitute for them💪

27/05/2026

Good afternoon pony parents!

Below are the remaining appointments for June with Caroline and Olivia 🐴
these appointments are remaining of the days that we already have booked up... so please don't hesitate to get in touch to organise a limited amount of other dates for yards or larger groups local.
With Carolines due date fast approaching, it's crucial that folks awaiting an appointment with her get in touch ASAP🫄!

Now get back out there and enjoy the sun🤩

21/05/2026

“Stretchy” does not mean the horse should lose engagement.
A common misunderstanding in ridden work is that when we ask the horse to lengthen the neck, we should accept the hind end trailing out behind or the body becoming heavy on the forehand.
But true stretching should maintain activity and support THROUGH the body, not abandon it.

In the first image ⬆️
- The neck lengthens, but the body loses support. Notice the reduced extension (particularly in this horses hip and stifle) as the leg retracts during this stride. You'll also see contraction of this horses lumbar (circled behind the saddle) musculature as the core is not supporting the spine in this frame.
- The thoracic sling drops rather than lifts. You will see I have circled the muscle contraction happening as this horse loads onto the front limb.
- Hind limbs stop stepping actively underneath. Not highlighted, but this horse is under tracking by about half a hoof... so not much, but enough!
- The horse travels more downhill and onto the forehand, despite the head being higher than in the second image!
- Subtle but present- the fetlock of the front limb over extends due to excess weight carried on the forehand.

In the second image ⬇️
- The neck lengthens while maintaining postural support, giving a softer and rounder frame.
- The thoracic sling stays active
- The back elevates rather than hollowing
- Hindlimbs continue to step towards the centre of mass
- The stretch comes from the whole topline, not just the head and neck

This is the difference between simply “putting the head down” and allowing the horse to truly lengthen over the back while staying connected and balanced.
From a physiotherapy perspective, this distinction matters hugely. Repeatedly working in a disconnected frame can increase overload through:
- forelimbs
- lower cervical musculature
- thoracolumbar junction
- SIJ stabilisers
A correct stretch should feel like the horse is reaching FORWARD into the contact while still carrying themselves, not falling apart through the body.
The goal isn’t just a longer neck. The goal is maintaining functional engagement while allowing the top line to lengthen.

19/05/2026

I feel SO LUCKY to call this glorious world my “office” 🥹😍 if I’m coming to visit you, please tell me the most scenic way to get there!!!! I will thank you forever and ever🫶🏼

Address

Dromore

Telephone

+447568536887

Website

http://www.equi-formance.co.uk/

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