Mitavite Asia

14/05/2026

TheHorse.com
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Learn about this common hoof condition from farriers and horse owners who have managed it.

14/05/2026

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American Farriers

Many disease pathologies that affect the equine hoof require intervention from a veterinarian and farrier team. In addition, a resection of hoof wall portions may be necessary.

14/05/2026

Equus Magazine
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How to safely buy a horse and not get scammed by a savvy horse seller. Watch for these red flags when horse shopping.

14/05/2026

Koper Equine Thanks

The Thoracic Sling: The Horse’s Primary System for Balance, Posture, and Force Organization

For generations, equestrian tradition taught that the hindquarters were the horse’s primary source of power. Riders were encouraged to “ride from behind,” develop engagement, and focus training almost exclusively on the rear of the horse. While the hind end is indeed responsible for propulsion, this perspective does not fully explain balance, posture, straightness, elevation, or whole-body coordination.

Modern biomechanics offers a more complete model. The hindquarters generate thrust, but the thoracic sling organizes, stabilizes, and directs movement. The forehand—specifically the thoracic sling and its integration with the core—is the primary system responsible for organizing balance and posture in motion.
The Traditional View Was Hind-End Dominant
Classical training emphasized the hindquarters as the horse’s engine. This view is accurate in terms of:

Generating forward thrust
Contributing to carrying power
Adding part of the horse’s ability to collect
Sharing load with the forehand

However, the hind end does not independently determine:

Where body mass travels
The height of the trunk
Organization of the spine and ribcage
Straightness or lateral balance
Elevation of the forehand

The hindquarters push, but they do not control the system they are pushing into.

The Thoracic Sling Is the Horse’s Primary Balancing and Postural Engine

The thoracic sling is a muscular–fascial suspension system that holds the trunk between the forelimbs. Functioning in place of a clavicle, it does far more than support the front end.

The thoracic sling:
Suspends the ribcage between the forelimbs
Regulates trunk height
Absorbs landing forces
Stabilizes the shoulders during movement
Initiates upward shifts of the center of mass
Determines front-to-back weight distribution
Controls straightness and lateral balance
Integrates with the deep core to manage whole-body posture

From a biomechanical standpoint, the thoracic sling is the horse’s primary balancing and postural system. Without a functional sling, hindquarter power cannot be translated through the body in a stable or organized way.

The Hind End Pushes — The Thoracic Sling Catches

This framework aligns with findings from force-plate studies, kinematic analysis, and myofascial research.

Current evidence shows that: https://koperequine.com/the-thoracic-sling-the-horses-primary-system-for-balance-posture-and-force-organization/

14/05/2026

Wolds Equine Sports Massage
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Problems are not always coming from where you first think 💭 What makes this interesting is that horses carrying tension through the iliocostalis often do not just present as “back pain”. Instead, owners and riders notice things like lack of bend, stiffness through transitions, a horse that struggles to lift through the thoracic sling, or one that feels tight and possibly guarded through the ribcage.

Because this muscle sits closely linked with the ribs and breathing mechanics, tension here can also influence how freely the horse moves through the whole upper body. This is why we teach students to look beyond isolated sore spots and instead assess the horse as one connected system ✨

I hope the diagram helps as a useful visual 🐎 Need help keeping on top of your anatomy and CPD? Pop over to https://woldsequinemassage.co.uk/monthly-cpd

Diploma and Career Change 🐎
www.woldsequinemassage.co.uk

14/05/2026

Equine Healthworks
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Blog post on thehorsesback. com: Why Do Horse Owners Keep Hiring Unqualified Equine Chiros?
This is one of those topics where discussions often end up with ''let's agree to disagree''. I am generally a) non-confrontational, which is why this post remained unwritten for nearly a decade and, once written, has sat quietly on my blog. In the end, I decided that everyone will make their own decisions, regardless of what my view is. But if there are people who are feeling borderline uneasy with things that they're seeing, while feeling too under-informed to understand why, then perhaps this perspective will help.
There's a companion post to this one, which suggests questions you can ask when booking someone. More on that another day!
Link in the first comment (it has to go there, or this post won't appear in many feeds :-) )

14/05/2026

Horseman’s News
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Bathing your horse offers more than just a refreshing scrub; it’s a prime opportunity to forge a stronger bond with your equine companion while keeping their coat radiant and health in check. However, determining the ideal frequency for bathing hinges on various factors such as your horse’s activity level, showing regimen, prevailing weather conditions, and the surrounding environment. In many cases, a thorough rinse to eliminate sweat and loose hair suffices to maintain your horse’s coat and skin health, as excessive shampooing can strip natural oils, leading to dry skin and coat issues.
✅ Click here to read more: https://bit.ly/4uuDiSe

14/05/2026

Legacy Equine Nutrition
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14/05/2026

Warwick Schiller’s Attuned Horsemanship
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14/05/2026

My Virtual Eventing Coach
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🐴 Improving the Trot!

In Dressage, it is often said that the trot is the easiest gait to improve... and the walk is the easiest gait to ruin. And, in my experience, both are very true. Only through correct Dressage training, and judicious use of the various exercises we have available, will you be able to bring out the best trot that your horse is capable of. Here are some specific exercises to work on, to bring out the best in your horse's trot!

Use the link below to continue reading 👇👇👇

https://www.myvirtualeventingcoach.com/improving-the-trot/

14/05/2026

Mid-Rivers Equine Centre
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