Blog – Page 6 – The Horse Physio – Sue Palmer

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Was it a regret or a lesson?

By Sue Palmer on January 29, 2024

You know that really embarrassing thing you did a few years ago? The one that still makes you cringe every time you think about it? Do you regret doing it, or could you reframe it more positively as a lesson you’ve learned from?

How to rest and recharge

By Sue Palmer on January 28, 2024

I had an epiphany. Time out is essential! Sitting still is not one of my strong points. I’m usually busy with a horse or with a child. If I am sitting still, it will usually be at my desk, writing, studying, or working on my computer. For years, friends and family have advised me to slow down, take a breather, make some time for myself, and have a rest, or I’ll burn out. Honestly, I do listen, and I do try!

Would your horse choose to be with you?

By Sue Palmer on January 25, 2024

The lady in the stable opposite did nothing but moan. “I’ve been up half the night. No one told me the taps at the yard were frozen. I’ve got far too much to do; I don’t need this.”

Are you in a hurry?

By Sue Palmer on January 23, 2024

It’s an age-old debate. The vast majority of younger horses are backed (‘broken in’) at three or four years old. At this age, the growth plates have not fused, and many horses are unable to function optimally into their teens, potentially through damage that occurred in relation to starting ridden work too early. The usual comment (in the circles that I move in) is that we start our horses too young, and we should give them more time to grow before we ask them to accept the weight of a rider and the pressures that we put upon them as a ridden horse. I want to suggest an alternative viewpoint. We know that the body grows in response to the stresses placed upon it. Bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments develop in response to the stresses placed upon them. If we want health, longevity, and soundness in our horses, then I believe that we should be introducing their bodies to milder versions of these stresses early on. Certainly as early as two years old, and perhaps even as a yearling.

How do you keep warm with horses?

By Sue Palmer on January 18, 2024

How do you keep warm? Do you know what a 'piece of string day' is?

The role of stretching

By Sue Palmer on December 2, 2023

In conclusion, stretching is a valuable practice for both humans and horses. Incorporating regular stretches into your equine's routine can promote flexibility, prevent injuries, and enhance overall performance. Whether you choose static, dynamic, or a combination of both, doing stretches with your horse will not only benefit their physical well-being but also deepen your bond and partnership with them. So, let's embrace the power of stretching and unlock the full potential of our equine companions.

Brain, Pain or Training?’ Practical Exercises: Introduction

By Sue Palmer on May 11, 2023

This may be the most important chapter of this book.Here you’ll find a set of ten practical exercises that you can do with your horse to help assess whether he could be suffering some discomfort that might affect his behaviour or performance. The aim of these exercises is to assess balance, comfort, ease and freedom of movement, muscle tone, reaction to touch, soundness, symmetry of the musculoskeletal system, and symmetry of movement. Unexpected responses could flag up weakness, discomfort, stiffness, restriction in range of movement, muscle spasm, unsoundness, and asymmetry in either the horse’s musculoskeletal system or his movement.

Get your hands on our hands-on massage course!

By Sue Palmer on May 9, 2023

We all love a massage, and our horses are no different. Massage is an excellent skill to learn and a great gift to give our horses. If you love learning from a book, buy Sue Palmer’s book [Horse Massage for Horse Owners]. However, learning from a book is complex and problematic for many people. More and more people have been asking for Sue to run a hands-on massage course to give them a chance to learn some valuable techniques to help with their horses.

Is ridden work important in an equine lameness assessment?

By Sue Palmer on April 13, 2023

A rider may feel a change in their horse’s performance during ridden exercise, but when assessed moving in hand, the horse is not detectably lame. Some people then use the term ‘bridle lameness’, with the assumption that the gait irregularity is in some way caused by the rider and is not related to the horse’s discomfort.

Equine TLC 101: Exploring the Fundamentals of Horse Massage

By Sue Palmer on April 8, 2023

Massage involves ‘ pressure, tension, motion or vibration.’ Again, I find this useful and thought-provoking. Throughout this book I will talk about using pressure, albeit often very lightly, to massage your horse. There are many ways of describing massage techniques, and many massage techniques to describe. Please bear in mind that the techniques I discuss here I have chosen because they suit my purpose of creating confidence in you, the reader, to give a safe and effective massage to your own horse.

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