If you prefer watching or listening, please click on the video above. If you like reading, please keep scrolling. Please note that this may contain affiliate links. Please subscribe to The Horse Physio newsletter, and follow, like and share me on the social media channels that you enjoy the most (you can find links to each channel at the bottom of this page). Your support is important to me and enables me to continue producing content to help you and your horse.

New Year, Same Gentle Approach
Well, that’s it – most of the festive madness has passed! I hope Christmas Day brought you moments of peace and joy, no matter how small. I’m incredibly grateful to have spent the day with family. The days ahead hold time at home, catching up with friends, and working on a few exciting business projects. Writing is one of my greatest joys, and this year I’m finally ready to release several short ebooks that have been quietly waiting in the wings. If you’re curious and want to be the first to hear when they launch, be sure to sign up for my newsletter.
I’m not much for New Year’s resolutions. I think that’s because I’m always learning, reading, and evolving as the year goes on. But as 2025 approaches, I’m setting an intention – to focus on my health, both physical and mental. Over the past fifty years, I’ve thrown myself into work and play with equal enthusiasm, and I’m starting to feel the impact of those choices. As a physio with a passion for lifestyle medicine, I know what it takes to care for myself, but as we all know, change isn’t always easy. I have a feeling I’m not the only one who feels this way, and I hope you’ll join me on this journey toward building a better, more balanced life.

One of the best online courses I’ve ever done – for free until 31st December!

I completed the excellent, highly recommended online course Recognizing Affective States in Equine as part of a research study from Oklahoma State University. This course was too good not to share with you. If you’re not sure what ‘affective states’ means, basically, it means being better able to recognise what your horse is trying to express. This course has a foundation of strong scientific research, but it is presented in an interesting, accessible way. I loved the variety of interactive ways that they made use of online learning. Clearly, they have a better grasp of technology than I do, plus no doubt an IT support team to help! I don’t know the people who put the course together, but it does include, in the assessment of ridden horses, information on the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram and a video provided by Dr Sue Dyson where you can put your skills to the test. Until 31st December 2024 there’s a $20 discount on this $50 course plus a $30 Amazon voucher 90 days after completion, effectively making it a free course, so if you’re interested, make the most of this very soon!

Horses, Healing, and Holiday Calm
If you’re looking for a way to unwind and connect with your horse over the holidays, I recommend my online course, Horse Massage for Horse Owners. There’s something incredibly grounding about massaging your horse – it’s the perfect way to slow down and share quiet moments together. Every day I work as a horse physio feels like a gift. Watching horses relax, soften, and show signs of release is endlessly rewarding. Through this course, you’ll learn how to offer your horse the same comfort and care. There’s something magical about feeling a tight muscle melt under your hands and knowing you’ve made a difference. Owners often tell me their horses seem happier, more at ease, and more comfortable after just a few sessions. I’m incredibly lucky to do this work, and I know how grateful your horse will be when you take this step toward their well-being.

Let’s Step into 2025 Together
As we ease into the new year, I’m holding space for compassion, rest, and growth. I hope you’ll join me in prioritising your health and happiness, so we can show up as the best versions of ourselves – for our horses, our families, and, most importantly, for us. Here’s to a year of kindness, connection, and small but powerful steps forward.

Sue Palmer MCSP, aka The Horse Physio, is an award-winning author, educator, and Chartered Physiotherapist. Sue specialises in understanding the links between equine pain and behaviour, focusing on prevention, partnership and performance. She promotes the kind and fair treatment of horses through empathetic education, and is registered with the RAMP, the ACPAT, the IHA, the CSP and the HCPC.

To arrange a phone call or online coaching session with Sue Palmer, The Horse Physio, click here.

For news, views, and exclusive deals, please subscribe to our free newsletter. Your support is important to us, and helps us to continue to create content to help you and your horse.

You can find The Horse Physio on the web, on Facebook, on Instagram, and on YouTube, book an online consultation, or take a look at Sue’s online courses.

Horse Health Check: The 10-Point Plan for Physical Wellness

Head to Hoof: An Introduction to Horse Massage

Horse Massage for Horse Owners

Stretching Your Horse: A Guide to Keeping Your Equine Friend Happy and Healthy

Kissing Spines In Horses: Preventive Measures and Long-Term Management Solutions

Harmonious Horsemanship, co-authored with Dr Sue Dyson

Understanding Horse Performance: Brain, Pain or Training?

Horse Massage for Horse Owners

Thank you for your interest in this post; I appreciate your time and am grateful you chose to spend it with me. If you found value in this article, please support me by liking, subscribing, following, and sharing it on your favourite social media platform, and turn on the relevant notifications for future content from The Horse Physio. Please also take a moment to subscribe to my newsletter. Your support means the world to me, and it helps me continue creating content that matters to you.