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Can your horse tell you where it hurts?

By Sue Palmer on June 4, 2024

I had a self-care day with an online Somatics session from Nicki Marshall, The Somatics Coach, and an online consultation with Mehmet Gem, The Hip Physio. As you probably know, I believe in regular physiotherapy for maintenance and prevention. Given the physical job I have and the importance of staying sound, I have physio approximately every six weeks with Dave Paling at the Snazell Pain Relief Clinic, and massage, reflexology, or whichever of her therapies takes my fancy, every six weeks or so from Jenny Charlton at Holistic Horizons. The body fascinates me, and I love learning about health. In all these sessions, the practitioner relies on feedback from me, the patient. I’m acutely aware of how much feedback we miss from our horses since they can’t communicate verbally.

Three things that might make your horse…

By Sue Palmer on May 30, 2024

Three things that might make your horse... buck, spook, trip, grumpy to tack up, strong in the hand, unsettled in the contact, lazy, struggle to engage from behind, or refuse a fence...

Horses In Pain: The Link With Behaviour

By Sue Palmer on May 9, 2024

What got you interested in the links between pain and behaviour in horses? Perhaps there is a particular horse that has come into your life, or a past situation that you would like to understand better? Maybe you wish that you'd known then what you know now, so that you could do things differently? Here, in an extract from the preface, I explain how and why I came to write Harmonious Horsemanship with Dr Sue Dyson. In this informative book, we explain how the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram is essential in recognising pain in ridden horses.

Ease your horse’s neck stiffness with this gentle fascial stretch!

By Sue Palmer on May 1, 2024

If your horse is stiff through his neck, you can help to improve the movement with regular stretches. This fascial stretch of the equine neck and shoulder girdle muscles is taken from the online course, “Stretching Your Horse: A Guide to Keeping Your Equine Friend Happy and Healthy”, with me, Sue Palmer, The Horse Physio. I’m on a mission to help those who can't get the horse physio assessment and treatment they would like to offer their horse, and I’ve carefully and lovingly created this course with that aim in mind.

Don’t wait until your horse is in pain to check their comfort levels!

By Sue Palmer on April 28, 2024

I’m frustrated at horses being labelled as naughty when they’re actually lame or in pain. How else is a horse supposed to tell you that he’s hurting other than through his behaviour? Since you’re reading this, I know you share my frustration. We know that just about everyone loves their horse and wants the best for him. You’d be devastated if he was in pain and you didn’t know about it. So, to help owners and riders be more confident that their horse is comfortable, I’ve put together this short video and blog, which I’d appreciate it if you would share widely on your favourite social media channel. Here are three simple exercises you can do on a daily basis to check that your horse is comfortable.

The Equicore Interview: Part 1 – An Introduction To The Concept Of The Equiband System

By Sue Palmer on April 14, 2024

In May 2018, Sue Palmer and Nicole Rombach got together to talk about Equicore Concepts, and the Equiband system. Sue asked questions put forward by horse owners, physiotherapists, and veterinarians. I hope this article helps you learn how to help your horse as much as Sue felt it helped her! Below is the (lightly edited) transcript of Part One.

No Mud, No Lotus

By Sue Palmer on April 14, 2024

I woke up to a negative review on my Facebook page and a particularly nasty personal message. It made no sense to me. I didn’t know who the lady was, and I didn’t understand what she was accusing me of. Thank goodness for my Facebook followers, who solved the mystery for me!

The Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram: A Tool for Equine Wellness and Performance

By Sue Palmer on April 14, 2024

Join me on a journey as we delve into the significance of 'Harmonious Horsemanship' and the transformative Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram! Let’s uncover insights shared during a recent webinar I presented with Dr. Sue Dyson hosted by Gillian Higgins of Horses Inside Out.

How Pain Affects Your Horse

By Sue Palmer on April 7, 2024

In any subject, there are key areas to consider. In this lesson, ‘How Pain Affects Your Horse’, I’ll discuss the ‘5W’s’ of pain, the what, why, when, where, and who. I’ll also include the ‘H’ of ‘how’. What is ‘pain’? The International Association for the Study of Pain (ISAP) defines pain as "An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage.” Short-term pain is called ‘acute pain’, and long-term pain is called ‘persistent’ or ‘chronic’ pain. Pain that comes and goes is called ‘recurrent’ or ‘intermittent’. Pain is a complex phenomenon involving our whole body, and the experience of pain can change from one day to the next.

Embracing the Present: Finding Joy in the Journey

By Sue Palmer on April 4, 2024

She found it hard to bend. Her muscles held tight, keeping the joints from moving through their full range of movement. I held my hand gently behind her poll and breathed into the release. Working with my breath, I applied pressure and then eased off again. I felt the soft tissues lengthen slowly, gradually, in their own time.

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