Dr Sue Dyson - The Horse Physio - Sue Palmer

Category: Dr Sue Dyson

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.

The rider size debate and the welfare of ridden horses

By Sue Palmer on February 16, 2023

All riders must take ownership of their responsibilities for their horse’s welfare. None of us wants to do a horse harm, but through lack of awareness, we sometimes do so. Food for thought.

What is the role of close spinous processes, so-called ‘kissing spines’ in horses? A guest blog by Dr Sue Dyson

By Sue Palmer on December 13, 2022

There are many misconceptions in the equine world, one of which surrounds horses that behave normally in hand and on the lunge but perform sub-optimally when ridden or behave ‘badly’ – and sometimes get labelled as naughty horses. If thought is given that an underlying cause may be pain, there is often an assumption that because this behaviour is only seen when ridden and since the change is a rider sitting on the horse’s back it must reflect primary back pain.

Can hindlimb proximal suspensory desmopathy be treated surgically and a horse continue to compete?

By Sue Palmer on December 11, 2022

Proximal suspensory desmopathy, the technical term for injury to the top of the suspensory ligament, is a common cause of hindlimb lameness or poor performance in horses from all equestrian sports, including general purpose horses. The most successful long-term treatment is a surgical procedure

Does Your Horse’s Crooked Tail Carriage Mean Anything?

By Sue Palmer on November 19, 2022

A Guest Blog By Dr Sue Dyson, VetMB PhD A crooked tail carriage – does this mean anything? Sue Dyson, sue.dyson@aol.com A horse’s tail is effectively an extension of the thoracolumbosacral region (the back). A normal horse ‘carries’ the tail, so the dock region is variably arched upwards, rather than being clamped to the buttocks, […]

13.10.2022 The influence of saddle fit for the rider

By Sue Palmer on October 13, 2022

A Guest Blog By Dr Sue Dyson Sue Dyson sue.dyson@aol.com Having recently returned from a fantastic riding safari in the Masai Mara, Kenya, when we were riding for up to 7 hours per day, I thought it was relevant to consider the fit of saddles for riders and the potential importance for rider comfort and […]

13.7.2022 Why is rein back often performed so badly?

By Sue Palmer on July 13, 2022

A Guest Blog By Dr Sue Dyson Sue Dyson, sue.dyson@aol.com Why is rein back often performed so badly? Rein back is a movement that we do not see horses often perform spontaneously, left to their own devices. Sometimes when two horses are playing, they will separate by moving backwards away from each other, but this […]

13.5.2022 Does A Crooked Tail Carriage Mean Anything?

By Sue Palmer on May 13, 2022

A Guest Blog By Dr Sue Dyson, VetMB PhD A crooked tail carriage – does this mean anything? Sue Dyson, sue.dyson@aol.com A horse’s tail is effectively an extension of the thoracolumbosacral region (the back). A normal horse ‘carries’ the tail, so the dock region is variably arched upwards, rather than being clamped to the buttocks, […]

13.3.2022 The Relationship Between Ridden Horse Behaviour And Performance

By Sue Palmer on March 13, 2022

A Guest Blog By Dr Sue Dyson The relationship between ridden horse behaviour and performance: evidence-based information at British Eventing 90, 100 and Novice events Sue Dyson (sue.dyson@aol.com) The equine industry is at a potential turning point with increased discussion about the social licence to ride and compete with horses. The welfare of horses engaged […]

13.2.2022 Why do horses open their mouths during ridden exercise?

By Sue Palmer on February 13, 2022

A Guest Blog By Dr Sue Dyson There is on-going debate about noseband fit, particularly related to tightness. One of the reasons given by riders for the use of a noseband is to restrict mouth opening. Several questions arise from this. Do tight nosebands prevent mouth opening? Does this depend on the type of noseband […]

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