The most important thing to remember when
working with horses is that there is no such thing as the symmetrical equine. Horses, like
humans, have a stronger side, are uneven through the body and develop postural habits and
traits at a very early age.
The posture of the horse directly influences
behaviour and performance and many unwanted problems such as bucking, bolting, rearing,
napping, biting etc can be traced to specific patterns of uneven tension and blocked
awareness in the body.
By learning how each part of the horse's body
directly affects performance and behaviour you can take steps to improve every aspect of
your horse's life safely and effectively. You can make the impossible possible, the
possible easy and the easy elegant. You can minimise the natural one-sidedness of your
horse, help him to stay sound or recover from an injury and enable him to realise his full
potential whatever your goal whilst enjoying the benefits of a happy and harmonious
relationship.
Understanding how posture relates to, and
influences behaviour in horses can give you valuable information about how and why your
horse reacts the way he does in certain situations. This can be a helpful tool when
thinking of taking on a horse when you have to rely on the information given by the
previous owner or when faced with problems handling or managing the horse already in your
care. Questions can be answered and frustrations removed. Even if your horse has simply
become 'stuck' in his training or is inconsistent in his performance you can help him
achieve freedom of movement through applying simple and proven techniques.
Body work can be used to release tension,
reduce stiffness, improve circulation, increase body awareness and improve mobility and
performance. It can enable horses to overcome a fear of contact, change an expectation or
memory of pain, and helps horses to be easier to handle and train. Body work also helps to
trigger the parasympathetic nervous system, encourages deep and rhythmical breathing which
boosts the immune system, improves sensory integration, reduces stress, improves
performance and promotes a sense of well being in the horse.
