Two Hands Equine Massage

09/05/2026

Caudal Tail Traction: What Does the Research Tell Us?

Caudal tail traction involves applying a slow, steady pull backward through the horse’s tail. It has traditionally been used by therapists to influence the back and pelvic region, but what does the research actually show?

A 2020 study by Long, McGowan and Hyytiäinen investigated 11 horses with clinical signs of back pain.

Before treatment, the researchers measured mechanical nociceptive thresholds at several locations over the horses’ thoracic, lumbar and pelvic regions. This measures how much pressure can be applied before the horse responds and gives researchers a way of assessing changes in pressure sensitivity.

The tail traction was carefully standardized:

* the horse stood square with the neck straight
* the tail was plaited
* 4.5 kg (approximately 10 lb) of steady traction was applied using a digital scale
* traction was held for 20 seconds
* followed by 10 seconds of release
* repeated three times
* the pull followed the slope of the croup

Immediately afterward, the horses tolerated significantly more pressure at all of the areas measured.

Mechanical nociceptive thresholds increased by approximately:

* 83% in the thoracic region
* 50% in the lumbar region
* 52% in the pelvic region

Interestingly, the greatest change occurred in the thoracic region, some distance from where the traction was applied.

This suggests that the response cannot necessarily be explained simply as a local mechanical effect at the tail or pelvis. Traction provides mechanical and sensory input that can influence muscular activity, postural responses and the way nociceptive information is processed by the nervous system.

The study was small, had no control group and measured only the immediate response, so it does not prove that tail traction treats back pain or produces lasting changes.

What it does show is interesting: a brief session of standardized caudal tail traction produced an immediate reduction in pressure sensitivity across the thoracic, lumbar and pelvic regions of horses with signs of back pain.

Study: Long K, McGowan CM, Hyytiäinen HK. Effect of caudal traction on mechanical nociceptive thresholds of epaxial and pelvic musculature in horses with signs of back pain. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 2020.

https://koperequine.com/a-few-signs-of-poll-head-upper-neck-issues/

08/02/2026

08/01/2026

That picture shows something quite elegant: a cutaneous nerve entering the skin and branching throughout the dermis like a tree.
This sensory (afferent) nerve carries information from the skin to the central nervous system.
Different sensory endings detect different stimuli—temperature, the lightest touch, pressure, hair movement, vibration, or potentially damaging stimuli.
Every sensation begins with these tiny branches translating the outside world into electrical signals for the nervous system to interpret.

07/10/2026

This sweet 4-week old c**t was born with contracted extensor tendons on the front. Naturally this will cause some compensation issues in the thoracic sling, neck and back. With some stretching and massage techniques we can help this sweet boy straighten and stay comfortable. Not to mention, he loves the attention and will become used to being touched everywhere on his body. After his session he was ready for his, "bottle," and a long nap.

Its never too early to get started on bodywork.

Maintain, relax, rejuvenate.

Www.twohandsequinemassage.com

06/20/2026

Angles!!!! Its where it all starts!

06/20/2026

Improve comfort. Improve health. Improved lives.

Meliorism comes from the Latin melior, meaning “better.” It is the belief that the world can be improved through thoughtful action, education, and the choices we make every day.

I like to think that massage therapy, fascial therapy, and education are my small contribution to that idea.

Every horse that moves more comfortably, every owner who learns to recognize subtle signs of discomfort, and every person who begins to see their horse through a lens of curiosity, empathy, and understanding creates a ripple effect.

Through hands-on therapy, I help horses find greater comfort, mobility, and freedom within their bodies.

Through education, articles, and awareness, I hope to help people better understand how movement, posture, fascia, compensation patterns, aging, training, recovery, and overall wellbeing are interconnected.

Knowledge changes observation.

Observation changes decisions.

Better decisions improve welfare.

And improved welfare improves lives.

I may not change the entire world, but I can help make the world a little better for the horses and people within it.

This is my version of meliorism in practice: using what I know, sharing what I can, and helping create a little more comfort, understanding, and compassion than existed before.

Perhaps you can do the same in your own corner of the world.

https://koperequine.com/connection-the-oldest-language-of-the-nervous-system/

05/10/2026

04/13/2026

Groom with intention.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1C8A15zcpA/

Most riders groom to remove mud. I groom to find the ‘drop’.

The first minutes on the yard are often rushed, yet they are the most critical window for your horse’s performance. If your horse is tight or distracted before you tack up, that tension follows you into the arena.

The shoulder and neck contain high concentrations of tactile receptors linked to the parasympathetic nervous system. Proven research shows that slow, rhythmic pressure in this zone triggers a physiological shift. When your horse lowers their head, licks, or chews, they aren't just being ‘good’: they are physically shifting from a sympathetic (alert) state to a parasympathetic (relaxed) state.

I call this ‘The Shoulder Minute’. Dedicating the first 60 seconds of your session to deliberate, calming strokes in this area signals safety to the brain. You aren’t just cleaning a coat; you are regulating a nervous system.

Save this for your next ride and observe the change in focus. To master the science of equine regulation, my ebook ‘The Regulated Horse’ details these protocols. Message me ‘RELAX’ for the link.

04/12/2026

Im sure everyone is desperate to find a solution to decrease ticks on their farms/property. Seems this might be effective! https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1KC6hHmFD5/

04/12/2026

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Why Some Horses Feel “Different” or Slightly Uncoordinated the Day After a Massage

It is common for a horse to feel a little loose, wiggly, or not quite put together the day after a massage. This is not a setback. It is a normal phase in which the body and nervous system are integrating new freedom and reorganizing movement patterns.

Riders may describe this as mild uncoordination, extra bendiness, or a horse that feels freer but temporarily less organized. These sensations are typically short-lived—and they are often signs that meaningful change has occurred.
Why This Happens

The Brain–Body Map Has Just Changed
Massage and myofascial work alter the sensory information sent to the brain. When restrictions release, the body suddenly moves differently, and the nervous system must update its internal map of posture, balance, and coordination.
This may show up as:

A different sense of balance
A new shape under saddle
More movement than the horse can immediately organize

This integration process typically settles within 24–48 hours.

Fascia Is Hydrating and Reorganizing

Following myofascial release, fascial layers often regain elasticity and glide. Fascia continues adapting over the next day or so, which can temporarily create a feeling of looseness or instability as tension patterns reorganize across the body.

The horse is adjusting to a body that moves differently.

Muscle Tone Drops Before It Rebalances

Massage temporarily lowers resting muscle tone as protective tension releases. Before postural and stabilizing muscles - https://koperequine.com/some-horses-feel-different-or-slightly-uncoordinated-the-day-after-a-massage/