OnTheMuscle Equine Massage

10/17/2026

Great video on the lumbosacral joint!
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08/25/2026

08/25/2026

My clients have heard me say they should move the horse after a session to help repattern but I may not have described the "why" quite this well!

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07/17/2026

Good information on air quality and keeping your horses lungs healthy! Click the diagram to read the text!

When now the smoke seems to be a problem for more days, Dr van Wessum put together some scientifically based information to explain what to do and what NOT to do. Dr van Wessum is a ACVSMR board certified specialist in Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, which gives him great insight in how to deal with sport related problems, and he is board credentialed by the Dutch AVMA in Equine Medicine.

The first remark is to realize how your barn is. Most barns will not have an air filtration system, so the air in the barn is the same as the air outside. With required good ventilation (especially with higher temperatures - and ammonia vapour from the stalls can really damage the lining of the lung, much more damage than inhaling particles will do) there needs to be a high air turnover, so outside air is inside air. That means there is no advantage to keeping horses in 24-hours. Being outside in early morning, when temperatures are relatively low and do not trigger a higher respiration frequency, being outside has one GREAT advantage: the horse’s head is down while grazing, and mucus and debris can easily be moved from deeper airways to the trachea and out. This will not happen that way when locked in the barn. The mucociliary clearing (little whip hairs that move mucus from deeper airways to the trachea) is the best defense mechanism the horse has against small, inhaled particles, and we take that partly away by keeping them inside. When they are inside, feed hay from the ground for that reason!
Second point is that when horses are in the barn only, some small parts of the lung will no longer be used in breathing, and smoke particles can get lodged in into those lung parts, giving a breeding ground for infection later (it can cause pneumonia!). When the horse is walking for 10-15 minutes at east, those lung parts stay open, ventilated and with adequate blood flow, which again is a big part in the defense mechanism for the horse’s airways. Take them out for a walk in the morning or do some walking exercises in the arena to keep your horse’s lungs healthier!

Research has shown that ANY particles in the lungs of the horse in the healthy horse are removed within 24 to maximum 48 hours. There is NO need to wait 3 to 4 weeks after the smoke has cleared before starting to work again. It is even detrimental, because normal function of the lungs is limited when at stall rest (while most barns are not “clean”, often many dust and even fungus particles load the airways more than when they are outside or at work).

The mistake that is made here is that the longer period of 3 to 4 weeks is when the horse has been exposed to fire with smoke. Hot air from a fire will damage lungs much more than inhaling just some particles, and that is where the confusion stems from.

Only when your horse has a pre-existing long problem (allergies, COPD) then it may take much longer to clear the airways.

When starting to work again you should pay attention to your horse, when it is breathing faster or shallower, or has some mild exudate in the nose or does cough a bit, then take it easy and reduce workload. Being outside in the morning is still encouraged!

We hope to have explained some of the misunderstandings and misinformation that is out there by a specialist in the field with large scientific credentials to keep us all doing the best for our horses and let’s hope we can return to a more normal situation soon.

06/05/2026

Shout out to my polocrosse clients!!! Have a great time at the tourney in ND, play hard and stay safe!
https://happeningnext.com/event/2026-dakota-dust-up-polocrosse-tournament-eid3a0dnppdwm

05/08/2026

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A recent study from the University of Tennessee provided strong support for something trainers, movement specialists, and bodyworkers have observed for years:

Ground poles significantly increase activation of important postural and core muscles in horses.

What the Study Found

Walking over ground poles increased activity in:

• Longissimus dorsi — a major topline and spinal support muscle
• Abdominal muscles — critical for core stability and support of the spine

Even at the walk, poles require the horse to:

• Lift the limbs higher
• Stabilize the trunk more actively
• Organize posture and balance with greater precision
• Continuously adjust limb placement and timing

At the trot, researchers also found increased activation of the abdominal muscles.

Trotting over poles requires greater dynamic stabilization, and the increased limb elevation demands more coordinated control of the trunk, pelvis, and spine.

What This Means

These findings support the long-standing use of cavaletti and ground poles as a low-impact way to:

• Strengthen the topline
• Improve abdominal engagement
• Support spinal stability
• Enhance proprioception and coordination
• Encourage improved posture and self-carriage
• Develop better movement organization through the whole body

One of the most important aspects of pole work is that it influences both sides of the postural system:

• The dorsal chain — including the longissimus muscles along the back
• The ventral chain — including the abdominal support system

This balance is essential for efficient movement, force transfer, and development of a healthy, functional topline.

But pole work is not only muscular.

It is neurological.

Each pole creates a movement problem the horse must solve in real time.

The horse has to:

• Judge distance
• Adjust stride length
• Control timing
• Stabilize the trunk
• Organize the limbs in space
• Adapt moment-to-moment to changing demands

That process requires attention, coordination, body awareness, and ongoing nervous system regulation.

In many horses, poles appear to improve focus not simply because the horse is “behaving,” but because the nervous system is becoming more engaged and organized around the task.

Pole work may also influence neurological tone — the background level of muscular and nervous system readiness that affects posture, movement quality, stiffness, and coordination.

For some horses, this can help reduce excessive bracing and improve adaptability through the body.
For others, it can help improve postural engagement and overall organization.

Why It Matters

Regular pole work can benefit many types of horses:

• Young horses developing coordination and posture
• Performance horses improving strength, agility, movement quality, and limb awareness
• Horses rebuilding core control and stability after periods of weakness or reduced work
• Older horses maintaining mobility, coordination, and movement confidence

Importantly, many of these benefits occur even at the walk, making poles accessible to horses across a wide range of ages, disciplines, and fitness levels.

Rather than simply “making horses pick up their feet,” poles appear to challenge the nervous system, postural system, sensory system, and muscular system together — encouraging the horse to organize movement with greater control, awareness, and adaptability.

https://koperequine.com/step-by-step-the-benefits-of-walk-poles-for-horses/

02/28/2026

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The Nuchal Ligament - one of the most important structures in the horse's body

It's a strong, elastic, rope-like ligament that is made from fibrous material with a relatively poor blood supply. It runs from the poll to the top of the spinous processes at the withers.

The nuchal ligament has several major functions, including:
🔹 Helping to support the weight of the head and neck, holding it in position
🔹 Acting as an energy saving device for reducing the amount of muscular effort needed to support the head and neck
🔹 Allowing the head and neck to be raised & lowered
🔹 Restraining and stabilising the movement of the spinous processes at the highest point of the withers
🔹 Maintaining the correct alignment of the cervical vetebrae

The nuchal ligament has 2 parts
1. The funicular part - 2 parallel cords that run along the nuchal crest from the occipital bone to the top of the spinous processes at the withers.
2. The lamellar part - made up of finger-like projections that run from the funicular cord to the tops of the cervical neck vertebrae below it.

The nuchal ligament continues as the supraspinous ligament, linking the tops of each vertebral spinous process from the withers to the end of the sacrum.

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02/11/2026

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Did you know? We can not treat the foot as an isolated mechanical object

The hoof is not a detached unit at the end of the limb. It is part of a continuous biotensegrity system, where load, tension, posture, and neurology are distributed throughout the entire horse.

This relationship is bi-directional.

Changes in hoof balance alter how forces are resolved through the distal limb. That changes internal moments, tendon strain, joint loading, and proprioceptive input. Those changes do not stop at the fetlock or the knee. They propagate proximally through fascia, muscle tone, and postural organisation.

At the same time, posture, rider influence, training patterns, and environmental constraints alter how the horse organises itself under load. That altered organisation feeds back into the hoof, shaping growth, deformation, and long-term morphology.

This is why hoof balance cannot be understood purely as a foot problem, and posture cannot be understood purely as a body problem.

The hoof both expresses whole-body organisation and influences it.

When balance is mechanically efficient, the system distributes load with minimal internal strain. When balance deteriorates, the system compensates. And compensation is not neutral. It redistributes tension elsewhere, often invisibly, until something reaches its limit.

This is also why some horses “cope” for years before failing, and why correcting the hoof alone does not always resolve the problem if the postural drivers remain unchanged.

The goal is not to make the hoof look right in isolation.
The goal is to place the foot in a mechanical relationship that allows the entire horse to organise itself with less effort, less strain, and greater durability.

Hoof balance is not a static endpoint.
It is a participant in a living, adaptive system.

12/21/2025

Great info on the importance of the thoracic sling!!

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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 view does not fully explain balance, posture, straightness, elevation, or whole-body coordination.

Modern biomechanics presents a more complete picture. The hindquarters generate thrust, but the thoracic sling organizes, stabilizes, and directs the horse’s movement. The forehand—specifically the thoracic sling and its integration with the core—the primary system 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 is accurate in terms of generating forward thrust, contributing to carrying power, adding part of the horse’s ability to collect, and sharing load with the forehand.

However, the hind end does not independently determine where the body mass travels, the height of the trunk, the organization of the spine and ribcage, straightness or lateral balance, or the ability to elevate 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 how weight is distributed front to back, controls straightness and lateral balance, and integrates with the deep core to manage whole-body posture.

In biomechanical terms, the thoracic sling is the horse’s primary balancing and postural system. Without a functional sling, the hindquarters cannot translate their power through the body in a stable or organized way.

The Hind End Pushes — The Thoracic Sling Catches

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

Current research shows that the forehand is responsible for most vertical control of the trunk, the thoracic sling plays a substantial role in stabilizing the ribcage, the trunk cannot elevate unless the sling and core activate first, self-carriage depends on thoracic suspension rather than hind-end drive alone, and power from behind becomes ineffective if the front cannot control incoming forces.

In motion, the forelimbs do not simply carry weight. They manage balance, braking, and impact absorption. The thoracic sling processes these forces and determines how effectively they are redistributed through the body.

The Modern Shift Across Disciplines

This updated understanding influences every area of equine performance and care.

In rehabilitation and return-to-work planning, thoracic sling function is now prioritized before intensive hind-end strengthening.

In dressage and classical schooling, true self-carriage requires elevation of the withers through the sling rather than force from behind.

In jumping, a functional sling is essential for correct bascule, shoulder freedom, and safe landing mechanics.

In bodywork and movement support, thoracic sling tension and fascial organization influence cervical mobility, forelimb swing, and trunk lift.

In hoof care, the way the foot lands and loads directly affects how both the hindquarters and thoracic sling must compensate during stance and motion.

Across disciplines, the thoracic sling is increasingly recognized as central to posture, balance, and performance.

Why the “60 Percent Forehand Weight” Rule Is Misleading

The commonly cited idea that the forehand carries 60 percent of the horse’s weight applies only to a standing horse on level ground without a rider. In dynamic movement, particularly under saddle, this percentage increases.

Forehand load rises due to the horse’s naturally forward center of mass, the added weight of the rider, variations in hoof balance and trim, posture and core strength, gait mechanics, landing forces, and weakness or collapse within the thoracic sling.

During trot and canter, forelimb loading often exceeds 60 percent and may reach 65 to 75 percent or more. This increased demand makes the thoracic sling the primary structure responsible for stabilizing and supporting the trunk in motion.

Steering Comes From the Shoulders

In horses, steering does not originate in the head or the hindquarters. Direction, line, and balance are determined by the orientation and control of the shoulders, which are suspended by the thoracic sling.

The thoracic cage sits between the forelimbs as a suspended structure. Wherever that structure is directed, the rest of the body must follow. The head follows the shoulders because it is attached to the cervical spine, which is anchored to the thorax. The pelvis and hind limbs follow because they are connected to the thoracic cage through the spine and continuous fascial chains.

A horse cannot truly go straight if the thoracic cage is crooked between the forelimbs. The hindquarters may push powerfully, but they will simply propel the body along the path the shoulders have already chosen. This is why pulling the head does not create straightness, pushing the hindquarters does not correct drift, and controlling the shoulders changes the entire trajectory of the horse.

When the thoracic sling is balanced and functional, the shoulders set the line and the rest of the body organizes naturally behind it.

Thoracic Cage Balance Determines Hind-End Function

The balance and alignment of the thoracic cage directly determine how effectively the hindquarters can work.

If the thoracic cage is dropped on one side, rotated between the forelimbs, collapsed through the sling, or unstable in vertical suspension, the hindquarters are forced into compensatory strategies rather than true engagement.

This often presents as asymmetrical stepping, uneven push mistaken for strength differences, difficulty bending evenly left versus right, loss of straightness despite strong hind-end effort, and increased strain through the lumbar spine and sacroiliac region.

The hindquarters do not choose these patterns. They respond to the balance problem they are pushing into.

When the thoracic sling lifts, centers, and stabilizes the ribcage, both hind limbs can step under evenly, propulsion becomes directed rather than wasted, carrying power improves without force, and collection becomes easier rather than more demanding.

Hind-end quality, therefore, reflects thoracic organization rather than the other way around.

A More Accurate Model of Equine Power

A modern, biomechanically accurate model is emerging.

The hindquarters generate propulsion.
The thoracic sling organizes the body, stabilizes the trunk, and distributes forces.
The core integrates the two into a coordinated whole.

This framework explains why straightness cannot be achieved through hind-end work alone, why self-carriage depends on wither elevation, why forehand heaviness is rarely a hind-end problem, and why movement quality arises from postural control rather than raw power.

Power without organization creates imbalance which crrates tension. Balance allows power to express itself. The future of equine performance lies in organizing the power the horse already has.

https://koperequine.com/the-thoracic-sling-axial-skeleton-interplay/