Stifle Lameness
The stifle is the largest and most complex joint in the horse and, as such, it is an important cause of hindlimb lameness. Equivalent to the human knee, the stifle is controlled by some of the most powerful muscles in the horse’s hindquarters and is subject to...
A Fly Went By… The Cutaneus Muscle Reflex in Horses
'A fly went by' is the title of a children’s book by Mike McClintock that I love to read. If you haven't, Google it! It is funny and it inspired me to write about this fascinating but often overlooked muscle group. We have all seen horses twitch their skin to get rid...
Conformation Fault or Compensation Pattern?
When you look at a horse, are you evaluating the bone structure, leg alignment, musculature, balance and body proportions; that is, are you judging the horse’s conformation? What if I told you that many of the so-called conformation faults are not inherited or fixed...
The Hype About The Hyoid
Hyoid Apparatus: Who would have thought that a small and fragile bony structure located at the ‘floor’ of the horse’s mouth between the two halves of the horse’s mandible (lower jaw) would be so important to a horse’s athletic performance? Much has been written about...
Horse Bit Fit: Comfort and Communication
We can’t change the world by helping one horse and rider but we can change the world for that horse and rider. Over recent years, Horse Bit Fit consultants have placed a spotlight on the notion that bit and bridle fit must be considered as a routine part of every...
A Bit More Choice: The Rise of Bit Fit Consulting
Bit fit. Trained bit fitting consultants now offer horse owners holistic and welfare-centric solutions. Choosing the correct bit for your horse is more challenging than most people might think and, particularly so when your horse is coping with ‘contact issues’ or...
The Ripple of her Legacy: A Story of Sox who Suffered From C6/C7 Malformation
C6/C7 Malformation This is my story of Sox. Sox came to me as a very sweet, very talented, yet very immature rising four-year-old in October 2014. I was excited about her bright future but I was prepared to give her time. I am very much against rushing the training of...
The Mystery of the Missing Lamellae
Our knowledge of equine anatomy may be based on outdated findings and needs to be revised. According to the anatomy books that, to date, have served as study reference to veterinarians and practitioners around the world, the nuchal ligament lamellae attaches from C2...
Your Spooky Horse Explained: The Limbic Motor System
Spooky horse? Improving your understanding of the inbuilt instinct for survival in the horse - how it is triggered and what it looks like - will improve your training methods, reduce the instances of injury to both, you and other people around the fearful horse and...
How to Avoid Kissing Spines: Lessons from the Old Masters
Kissing spines. Adams’ 'Lameness in Horses' (1987)1 describes kissing spines as a condition of the vertebral column in horses caused by overlapping and/or impingement of the dorsal spinous processes (DSP) in the thoracic and/or lumbar vertebrae. Kissing spines...
Tarcoola’s Legacy: Sharon May-Davis’ promise to improve horses’ lives
Sharon May-Davis, equine anatomy. The professional development room at Avoca Park is filled with equine industry professionals and interested horse owners. Everyone sits in plastic chairs as the presenters finish their preparations for the next three days’ work. Wheel...
Science answers: Do whips hurt horses?
The racing industry insist that padded whips don't hurt horses. But two humans who volunteered to be struck by a padded whip on camera said it hurts bad - so, is there any anatomical reason to believe that horses don't feel pain in the same way we do? As part of an...
