“The foundation of every state is the education of its youth.” Diogenes

You would think that a foal, a yearling, a two-year-old, wouldn’t have any significant muscle spasm, or stiffness, or restriction in range of movement. You’d be wrong, in numerous instances.

Have you seen the videos on YouTube of foals playing in the field? Take a look at this one, for example. First there’s the fact that simply being born, moving through the birth canal, is probably one of the most traumatic experiences that a body goes through. Then there’s the crazy moves that these youngsters perform, just loose in the field. Add in various stages of growth and development, and it’s no wonder that every so often, even the youngsters end up tight, stiff, and sore.

I am lucky enough to treat a couple of youngsters, and they help me to keep real. They remind me that there is no ‘perfect’. When we back a youngster, or ride an older horse, we are building on the imperfections that are already there. That’s why it’s so important to get the right physical assessment and therapy for your horse from the youngest age possible. As well as teaching them to accept handling from an equestrian professional, someone outside their immediate ‘family’, it’s a sensible check to do what you can to preserve the longevity of your baby.

© Sue Palmer, The Horse Physio, 2021

Treating your horse with care, connection, curiosity, and compassion