Horses Inside Out

05/09/2026

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.

04/09/2026

The lateral stabiliser muscles help to protect the limb against over twisting, particularly when your horse is turning, performing sideways movements or negotiating undulations or slopes.

Horses don't have naturally strong lateral stabiliser muscles because they have evolved to run away from predators very quickly in a straight line.

There are a number of Pilates for Horses exercises that are particularly good for strengthening these muscles: The Wither Rock, The Lateral Sternum Shift and The Hindlimb Lateral Sway. Each of the these gentle exercises are a great way to help your horse.

These exercises and 60+ more are covered in The Complete Pilates for Horses Programme. Comment Pilates and we'll send you more details.

03/09/2026

YOUR AUTUMN WITH GILLIAN HIGGINS 🍂

Three hands-on opportunities to deepen your understanding of equine movement, strength and wellbeing — all with one of the best-known names in equine biomechanics.

Equine Pilates Masterclass with BHS East Midlands
Thu 10 Sep | 6:00–8:00 PM | Old Dalby, Leicestershire
An inspiring evening exploring balance, posture & way of going, with a live demo and mini anatomy exhibition.

Equine Pilates Practical Workshop with BHS East Midlands
Sat 19 Sep | 9:00 AM–4:30 PM | Brooksby College, Leicestershire
A full day of hands-on Pilates & pole work exercises with the college horses.

Massage for Horses
Sat 10 Oct | Practical Day Course | Old Dalby, Leicestershire
Learn massage techniques you can take home and use on your own horse. Perfect for supporting older horses, competition prep, or general maintenance and injury prevention.

Each of these courses will give you practical skills you can put into practice on your own horses.

Learn directly from Gillian Higgins in a small-group, hands-on setting
🎟️ Spaces are limited across all three

All details can be found on our What's On Page -

See a list of Horses Inside Out equine events including live demonstrations, webinars and our Annual Conference. Events include Horse biomechanics courses, equine anatomy education, live painted horse lecture demonstrations, massage for horses and pilates for horses workshops, Seminars, professional...

02/09/2026

Groundwork is a fabulous way to help build a language between you, the handler and your horse, emphasising trust and communication.

What you do in your groundwork sessions can be adapted for young horses, more experienced horses, competition horses and even those recovering from injury.

There are numerous benefits of doing groundwork including improving communication and bonding.

Groundwork teaches the horse to respond to subtle cues and body language, enhancing your ability to communicate effectively. As trust builds, so does the bond between you and your horse, leading to a stronger partnership under saddle.

Do you do any groundwork with your horse? Let us know what exercises you do and the benefits you see in the comments.

01/09/2026

Want a more powerful, balanced, and responsive trot? Try trot-walk-trot transitions! These help engage the hindquarters, improve trot quality, and can even help settle a horse that's feeling a little fresh!

Give this exercise a go: Ride trot-walk-trot transitions in the corners of your arena. Gradually reduce the number of walk steps in each corner to refine your horse’s balance and response - just like in the picture below!

Give it a go and let us know how your horse feels in the comments!

🐴 Share this post with your horsey friends.

31/08/2026

Wellness & Welfare: Are We Doing Enough?

Welfare isn't just a buzzword anymore — it's the question that being asked through every corner of the equestrian world. From social license debates to the quiet moments when we look at our own horses and wonder: are they comfortable and happy?

That's why Wellness and Welfare is the theme of the Horses Inside Out Conference 2027 📅 20–21 February 2027

"It's up to us, everyone involved in the equine world, to do as much as we can to make sure horses are comfortable, happy and healthy." Gillian Higgins

This isn't about guilt. It's about genuine awareness, the kind that changes how we manage, train, and care for horses every single day.

💡 Did you know? There are misconceptions about healthy weight and overweight horses. A common one is that you've got to be fat before you can get fit, that's not true. Fat doesn't necessarily turn into muscle. New research is revealing just how far-reaching the effects of excess weight really are, If a horse is overweight, they'll often make a noise in their airways — just like overweight people often snore more, because of the size of the tongue affecting their breathing. We're seeing these same patterns in horses.

From equine obesity to farriery, tack fit, dentistry, biomechanics, and behaviour — our 2027 Conference brings together the full picture of what wellness and welfare really means.

🎟️ Early Bird Offer: Save 35% when you book before 31 October 2026.

Follow along over the coming weeks as our speakers share exclusive insights into their piece of the wellness puzzle.

30/08/2026

We think of the hindquarters as the powerhouse of the horse, but the head and neck act as a crucial counterbalance and communication system for the entire body. Accounting for approximately 10% of the horse's total body weight, the head and neck influence the centre of mass, balance, and the quality of every stride.

The position of the head directly affects the back through the ligament system, specifically the nuchal and supraspinous ligaments. When the head is carried high, this ligament system becomes slack and the back drops. When the head and neck reach forward and down, the ligament is drawn taut, actively influencing back posture and tension in a positive, dynamic way. This is beautifully engineered system that we can either work with or unknowingly work against through poor equipment fit and how we ride and train horses.

Head and neck position also affects:
Breathing: A heavily flexed neck position narrows the pharynx, the shared space of the digestive and respiratory systems, reducing airflow. Horses working at speed instinctively seek a more extended head and neck position partly because it opens this airway.

Forelimb movement: When the head comes down and the base of the neck rises, the result is a rounder, more expressive shoulder movement. Conversely, when the head comes up and the base of the neck drops forward, movement through the shoulder becomes choppier and more restricted.

Hip extension: There's a direct biomechanical relationship between elongation of the head and neck and the degree of hip extension a horse can achieve. Whether galloping, performing extended trot across a diagonal, or jumping a line of bounces, this relationship is working.

Essential, whatever we place on a horse's head, and however it applies pressure, has the potential to influence their movement.

29/08/2026

🍂 The Horses Inside Out Autumn Webinar Series is here!

Six live online webinars. Four expert speakers. One goal: helping you understand your horse better, from the inside out.

14 Oct — Sue's Snippets of Science with Dr Sue Dyson
28 Oct — The Power or Pole Walk - Part 1: Walk Poles with Gillian Higgins
18 Nov — The Power of Pole Work - Part 2: Trot Poles with Gillian Higgins
25 Nov — What's New in Equine Nutrition? with Prof Meriel Moore-Colyer
9 Dec — The Power of Pole Work - Part 3: Canter Poles with Gillian Higgins
16 Dec — Rethinking Worming with Diane Gilby

Every session is live via Zoom (90–120 mins + Q&A), and you'll get 7 days' access to the recording afterwards — so even if you can't make it live, you won't miss out.

Join us from anywhere in the world, from the comfort of your own home.

Which one are you most excited for? Tell us below 👇

28/08/2026

Understand more about your horse's shoulder blade

27/08/2026

Joint Mobilisation & Musculoskeletal Testing Online Course with Gillian Higgins
📅 7 Oct – 2 Dec 2026

Over 8 weeks, you'll learn to:
- Detect subtle joint restrictions
- Apply targeted mobilisation techniques
- Build strengthening programmes for long-term health
- Refine your assessment and palpation skills

140+ demo videos. Live sessions. Be part of a community of like-minded professionals. Plus, 6 months access to content after the course ends.

This course is fully online, meaning qualified equine therapists anywhere in the world can join.

All the details can be found here - https://www.horsesinsideout.com/joint-mobilisation-course