Osteochondrosis (OCD) in Horses
Osteochondrosis (osteochondrosis dissecans, also known as OCD) is a relatively common manifestation of a broader disease syndrome in horses, known as Developmental Orthopaedic Disease (DOD).
Based near Killarney, Co Kerry, my name is Joanne OโShea. I am a passionate and caring, fully qualified and registered Advanced Equine Veterinary Nurse (AnScVN, PgCertAVN), Equine Physical Therapist, Equine Nutritional Advisor and Electrophysical Therapist.
I believe in a holistic approach to equine healthcare, that prioritises the well-being of horses. I combine manual therapy and osteopathic techniques, with electrophysical therapy and nutritional management, to support the physical and emotional wellbeing of horses at all stages of life, for clients nationwide.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please explore my site, or contact me directly.
Your horse’s well-being is our priority! Let us give your horse a voice!
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My mission is to always advocate for the horse and to constantly strive to enhance the quality of life for horses and their owners, through a compassionate, evidence-based osteopathic approach.
I strongly believe in the interconnectedness of the whole horse, and that the body, the mind and the spirit are inherently linked, creating a delicate balance that must work harmoniously, in order to achieve true health and wellbeing. I believe that all these elements need to be fully nurtured and understood, for a horse to thrive with resilience and good health, which in turn leads to strongly bonded harmonious partnerships with their human companions.
I am hugely passionate about promoting the longevity of horses and I seek to empower horse owners with the most up to date knowledge and resources, while fostering a nurturing environment that promotes healing, comfort and overall health.
Where required, I will always challenge and discredit the numerous myths that exist withinย the horse industry and I will always encourage owners to ask themselves why, when things are not going right! Horses do speak to us in their own language, if only we are willing to listen! It is my mission to give your horse a voice!ย
Expert Care
I am extensively trained and experienced, with a well-rounded education and approach to equine health.
Compassionate Environment
I treat every horse as if they were my own, providing a calm, relaxing and supportive atmosphere.
Client Education
I believe informed horse owners make the best decisions for their horses, and I’m here to guide you.
Join me in my commitment to holistic equine healthcare. Together, we can ensure your horses lead happy, healthy lives.
I offer a range of evidence-based equine services designed to support your horseโs unique needs, including:
- Comprehensive evaluations to identify areas of discomfort or dysfunction
- A wide range of treatment modalities
- Tailored rehabilitation plans to aid recovery from injuries or surgeries.
- Wellness programmes, with preventative care strategies, to maintain optimal health and well-being.
The Role of the Equine Veterinary Nurse in General Anaesthesia
Equine general anaesthesia is more fraught with danger of mortality and serious morbidity, than GA in small animal species as well as in humans.
Beet Pulp for Horses
The by-product of the sugar beet industry, unmolassed beet pulp is a safe, palatable and a highly digestible feed for horses.
"๐๐'๐ ๐ผ๐ป๐น๐ ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฑ๐น๐ฒ ๐น๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐" … ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐?!![]()
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This is a phrase that is unfortunately still heard in the equestrian world, but it's also one that can be misleading. It refers to the belief that some horses are not truly lame but that the rider, the bridle, or the tack somehow creates the appearance or illusion of lameness. In other words, if the horse only looks lame under saddle, it isn't considered a "real" lameness ๐ซฃ![]()
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Well current evidence suggests otherwise. When a horse is ridden, its posture, balance and movement change. The additional weight of the rider, together with the demands of working in a contact, bending, collecting and engaging the hindquarters, places different loads on the musculoskeletal system. If there is an underlying orthopaedic problem, these changes can simply make it more apparent.![]()
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The bridle or the rider does not create the lameness. Instead, ridden exercise can reveal an underlying problem that isn't as obvious when the horse is loose, on the lunge, or moving without the weight of a rider.![]()
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This is why it is important that horses that are "only lame when ridden" deserve careful veterinary investigation rather than having their signs dismissed. These cases are more common than many people realise.![]()
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Research by Dr Sue Dyson and colleagues has transformed our understanding of the ridden horse. Many behaviours once labelled as naughtiness, resistance, or poor training are now recognised as potential indicators of musculoskeletal pain. A thorough assessment should consider the horse, the tack, the rider, and the way they interact, but the possibility of genuine pain should never be overlooked.![]()
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Our horses communicate through the way they move. Sometimes they whisper before they shout. ![]()
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The question is… are we listening? ๐ค
๐๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ "๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฝ" ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐น๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐น๐ ๐ผ๐น๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ, ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐'๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ผ ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ!![]()
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โWhen I'm called to a yard as an equine therapist, it is very often because something is not working. Often I can see lameness, biomechanical compensation, suboptimal management, or the nutritional gaps, for example, that have been dismissed as "normal". … but sometimes, the moment I suggest that a "naughty" horse could actually be in pain, or that the current management could possibly be fueling the very problem they want me to "fix," the mood can shift ๐ It can be an awkward, isolating spot to be in! ๐๐ซฃ![]()
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However, I'm not there to be liked; I am there to advocate for the horse, no matter how exhausting it can be when the people who hired me for my professional input suddenly don't want to hear it, because it challenges the very way theyโve always done things! ![]()
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โIt can be very frustrating to watch people reach for a band-aid ~ a stronger bit, a pair of draw reins, punishing behavioural reactions instead of considering physical or emotional stress, a quick-fix, when I know thereโs a root cause beneath the surface that needs to be addressed … but the thing is ~ I simply cannot un-see it! ๐ซฃ๐ง๐![]()
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โOnce you look at the scientific evidence, at the actual biology and physiology of the horse, you canโt just ignore the obvious. I know without a doubt that if we don't address the root cause, nothing actually changes for that horse, except maybe temporarily. And if I donโt speak up, then who will? The horse certainly can't! ๐คทโโ๏ธ๐![]()
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โIt can be a lonely path being the one who refuses to play along with "tradition" when it is in fact, failing the animal ๐ Science allows us to move beyond assumption, habit and anecdotal evidence, and instead lets us to make decisions based on what is objectively shown to improve the horseโs quality of life. Following the evidence base does not mean abandoning experience; it means combining experience with critical thinking, curiosity and a willingness to evolve when new information emerges. I fully intend to keep educating myself and to keep following the scientific evidence, because that is the only way we can truly progress.![]()
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โI know that change can be hard and it can be uncomfortable. Nobody likes it and almost everyone tries to avoid it, often clinging to the old status-quo because it definitely feels safer and dare I say easier! Sometimes, we cling to these 'old ways' because they were taught to us by our mentors who we deeply respected and challenging them can feel like a personal attack on our history, or our teachers. But time and time again, I see that the changes we fear are the very ones that lead us to a better, healthier life for the horse. It isn't easy to challenge how things are done, but growth is rarely comfortable ๐ฑ![]()
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โI believe that the equine industry will only move forward when we stop being afraid of making people uncomfortable. When we start thinking deeper and stay open-minded. When we question ourselves and always ask ourselves "why"! … Because for our beloved horses, itโs the only way forward!! โค๏ธ๐โค๏ธ
๐ช๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ-๐ฆ๐๐ฐ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐: ๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฎ '๐๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐'![]()
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Behaviours such as wind-sucking and crib-biting are often dismissed as simply a โbad habitโ or boredom behaviour in horses. However, the scientific evidence suggests the picture is far more complex than that. These behaviours are classified as stereotypic behaviours. That is repetitive behaviours that are thought to develop in response to factors such as stress, management, feeding practices, or a reduced ability to perform natural behaviours.![]()
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Research has shown a significant association between wind-sucking/crib-biting and gastric disease, particularly Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS). While not every horse that windsucks will necessarily have ulcers and not every horse with ulcers will windsuck, the relationship between gastric health and stereotypic behaviour is considered very important.![]()
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The current thinking is that in many cases, wind-sucking develops secondary to factors such as:![]()
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โก Gastric irritation or ulceration![]()
โก High concentrate/high starch diets![]()
โก Restricted forage intake![]()
โก Stable confinement ![]()
โก Stress and frustration![]()
โก Altered digestive comfort![]()
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For years, it was often believed that wind-sucking itself caused ulcers. However, modern evidence supports the opposite direction more strongly, that is that gastrointestinal discomfort and management factors may contribute to the development of the behaviour in the first place.![]()
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Interestingly, wind-sucking can also have a self-soothing effect for the horse. Studies suggest it can increase saliva production, potentially helping to buffer stomach acid, while also influencing stress and reward pathways within the brain. This could help explain why some horses continue to perform the behaviour even after ulcers or management issues are addressed.![]()
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This is one reason why simply preventing the behaviour mechanically (for example with anti-cribbing collars) without considering the horseโs overall management, diet, forage intake, stress levels and gastric health may fail to address the underlying issue.![]()
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In many cases, these horses benefit from a more holistic review of: ![]()
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โข Feeding practices ![]()
โข Forage availability ![]()
โข Starch intake ![]()
โข Turnout and social interaction ![]()
โข Stress levels ![]()
โข Gastric health ![]()
โข Musculoskeletal comfort and pain![]()
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As always, every horse is an individual and wind-sucking is more likely to be multifactorial rather than having one single cause. Still, it is important that we move away from the outdated idea that these horses are simply performing a meaningless "bad habit." The behaviour itself may not be the problem, but rather a clue to something deeper.![]()
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๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฌ ![]()
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Nicol, C.J., Davidson, H.P.B., Harris, P.A., Waters, A.J. and Wilson, A.D. (2002) โStudy of crib-biting and gastric inflammation and ulceration in young horsesโ, Veterinary Record, 151(22), pp. 658โ662. Available at: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12498408/.![]()
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Wickens, C.L. and Heleski, C.R. (2010) โCrib-biting behavior in horses: A reviewโ, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 128(1โ4), pp. 1โ9. Available at: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159110002029.![]()
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Kentucky Equine Research (n.d.) Stereotypies in horses: Feeding management among likely causes. Available at: ker.com/equinews/stereotypies-in-horses-feeding-management-among-likely-causes/.
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pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
๐๐พ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ ๐จ๐น๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ (๐๐๐จ๐ฆ)![]()
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Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) is something most horse owners have heard about but recognising the signs can be challenging, as they can be vague and non-specific.![]()
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The only way to definitively diagnose gastric ulcers is through veterinary gastroscopy (scoping). However, horses will often give us good clues that something may not be quite right. The more signs present together, the more suspicion it can raise that ulcers may be at play.![]()
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Possible signs associated with EGUS can include:![]()
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โข Poor performance![]()
โข Reluctance to go forward![]()
โข Behavioural changes or becoming โgrumpyโ![]()
โข Girthiness![]()
โข Sensitivity around the abdomen![]()
โข Resistance during ridden work![]()
โข Tail swishing, ear pinning![]()
โข Tension![]()
โข Difficulty maintaining condition or weight loss![]()
โข Dull coat![]()
โข Reduced appetite or picky eating![]()
โข Leaving hard feed unfinished![]()
โข Eating hay but avoiding concentrates![]()
โข Mild recurrent colic![]()
โข Teeth grinding![]()
โข Excessive salivation![]()
โข Changes in temperament![]()
โข Poor topline development![]()
โข Intermittent loose droppings![]()
โข Stressy or anxious behaviour![]()
โข Reduced willingness to work![]()
โข Spooking or overreactivity![]()
โข Lying down more often than normal![]()
โข Poor recovery from exercise![]()
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Some horses with ulcers show very obvious signs, while others can appear almost completely normal. Equally, many of the signs listed above can also occur with several other conditions including orthopaedic pain, dental disease, poor saddle fit, inappropriate management, stress, or other medical conditions.![]()
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This is why it is so important not to jump straight to assuming โulcersโ without proper veterinary investigation.![]()
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Risk factors that can contribute to EGUS can include:![]()
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โข High starch diets![]()
โข Long periods without forage![]()
โข Lack of turnout![]()
โข Stress![]()
โข Changes in environment/routine, or major life changes e.g. changing homes![]()
โข Stereotypical behaviours e.g. windsucking ![]()
โข Intensive training![]()
โข Frequent travel![]()
โข Heavy competition schedules![]()
โข Chronic pain or discomfort elsewhere in the body![]()
โข Illness![]()
โข NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) use![]()
โข Multiple handlers/caregivers![]()
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The horseโs stomach was designed for near-constant forage intake. Modern management often challenges that system significantly.![]()
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If you suspect ulcers, speak with your vet. Gastroscopy remains the gold standard for diagnosis and allows for appropriate medical treatment, as well as management changes that should be put in place.
๐๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐บ๐๐๐ฐ๐น๐ฒ ๐ถ๐๐ปโ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ, ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐น๐ฒ๐๐ฒ. ๐ฆ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐! ๐คทโโ๏ธ![]()
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Because the horse is a biotensegrity system, his structure is maintained by continuous soft tissue tension (muscle, tendons, ligaments & fascia), with bones acting as compression struts (Levin, 2002; Schleip et al., 2012). This means that the horse's muscle doesnโt just create movement, it creates and maintains the actual structure itself. So when the muscle isnโt there, the horse doesnโt just lose strength, he loses stability, ability to distribute load, force transfer and shock absorption. In other words, he loses the ability to function under athletic demand. So it's not that he will just be less developed and it's not that he will just need a bit of topline, or some manual therapy; he simply cannot perform as an athlete! ![]()
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When the system is underdeveloped, the body cannot organise itself effectively under load. The thoracic sling loses its ability to support the trunk, resulting in a dropped posture through the forehand. The back is no longer able to stabilise and transfer force efficiently, so instead of transmitting energy from the hindlimbs forward, that energy is dissipated through the system. The hindlimbs may still be able to generate force, but without a stable and co-ordinated system to receive and transfer it, that force is not used effectively. As a result, load becomes unevenly distributed, increasing stress on certain structures and leading to compensation. ![]()
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This is not simply a training issue, but a serious structural limitation, with a system that cannot organise or support itself under load … and if the system cannot do that, then it simply cannot perform. Not because it wonโt, but because it physically canโt.![]()
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Research into fascial and musculoskeletal systems supports this, showing that the body functions as an integrated tension network, not as isolated parts (Schleip et al., 2012; Elbrรธnd, 2015).![]()
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A horse is not born an athlete, it becomes one through appropriate, repeated biological stimulus. The same also applies to human athletes. No one is born with the strength, co-ordination and load tolerance required for performance; these are developed over time through progressive training, adequate nutrition and adequate recovery. Horses should be treated no differently. The musculoskeletal system is biologically active and adapts to the demands placed upon it. Muscle, tendon, ligaments, fascia and bone all require appropriate, repeated loading, in order to develop the strength, co-ordination and resilience necessary for performance. Without this normal stimulus, the system remains underdeveloped and unable to support athletic function.![]()
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Although manual therapy can improve comfort and movement quality, it does not build the tissue required for performance. There is absolutely no shortcut around this. Tissue capable of performance can only be developed through progressive loading, appropriate nutrition and time for adaptation.โ![]()
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While much of the foundational work on biotensegrity and fascial networks originates from human research, these principles also apply directly to the horse and are increasingly reflected in equine-specific models of locomotion (Elbrรธnd, 2015).![]()
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๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐![]()
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Elbrรธnd, V.S. and Schultz, R.M. (2015) Myofascia โ the unexplored tissue: Myofascial kinetic lines in horses, a model for describing locomotion using comparative dissection studies derived from human lines. Medical Research Archives, 3. ![]()
Available at: esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/125.![]()
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Levin, S.M. (2002) The tensegrity-truss as a model for spine mechanics: Biotensegrity. Journal of Mechanics in Medicine and Biology. Available at: www.worldscientific.com/doi/10.1142/S0219519402000472.![]()
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Schleip, R., Findley, T.W., Chaitow, L. and Huijing, P.A.J.B.M. (eds.) (2012) Fascia: The Tensional Network of the Human Body. Edinburgh: Elsevier. Available at: www.elsevier.com/books/fascia/schleip/9780702071836.
I love this post and it really hits home! ๐คฏ๐ฅต๐คฆโโ๏ธ … I think a lot of us who work in this industry feel the same โฆ once youโre well trained in gait analysis, movement, compensation and pain ~ you canโt just unsee things when it suits you! ๐ซฃ๐๐ตโโ๏ธ๐![]()
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Being educated in horse's movement patterns can have it's advantages and disadvantages and sometimes ignorance is bliss, meaning no disrespect to anybody.![]()
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As children, we chose ponies with our hearts on our sleeves! ๐๐ No vettings, no x-rays, no questions โฆ and somehow they gave us some of the best years we ever had! ๐๐ But looking back now, with educated eyes, how many of those horses were actually lame, uncomfortable, or compensating?![]()
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Because the reality is (and this is not just my opinion, this is based on vast scientific research) a significant proportion of horses in training are not truly sound. Some studies suggest close to 50% (Dyson & Pollard, 2020), others have shown up to 70% of horses assumed to be sound, actually have measurable lameness (Dyson & Pollard, 2020) and most of it goes unrecognised.![]()
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This is definitely not to say that these horses cannot be made comfortable, or cannot work, as many indeed can.![]()
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So now the challenge isnโt just about finding a nice horse, but itโs about finding one that functions well enough to stay sound. Itโs definitely not about perfection (because that doesnโt exist unless you're after a unicorn! ๐ฆ), It's about understanding any dysfunction you are seeing, what is driving it and whether itโs something you can realistically manage, or improve long-term.![]()
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… It makes things much more difficult … because when you knowโฆ you unfortunately cannot un-know!! ๐ซฃ๐คฆโโ๏ธ๐๐![]()
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References ![]()
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Dyson, S. & Pollard, D. (2020) Application of a Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram and Its Relationship with Gait in a Convenience Sample of 60 Riding Horses. Animals, 10(6), 1044. Available at: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7341225/โ ![]()
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Dyson, S. & Pollard, D. (2020) Application of a Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram and Its Relationship with Gait in a Convenience Sample of 60 Riding Horses (PDF version). Available at: www.24horsebehaviors.org/s/Dyson-Pollard-RHpE-60-horses-Animals-10-01044-v2.pdfโ .๐คก๐คก The process of buying a horse is no April Fools….but itโs a foolโs game!!!![]()
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I miss the days as a child, a much simpler time. I tried 2 ponies, I picked which one of the two I prefered, Dad would do the deal, no vetting, no xray, no scans, no flexion tests. They were the best ponies I ever had!!!! In hindsight, they were lame or a bit โoffโ for the majority of their life, but I was a child, a carefree and nobody knew any better!! Oh to be ignorant!! โจโจโจ![]()
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Now, I see too much, I know too much, once I see, I canโt unsee it ๐ ![]()
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God give me strength!!!!!!
This is what I discussed yesterday! ๐
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๐ข๐ป๐ฒ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐๐ฟ๐๐๐ต ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ![]()
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Multiple peer-reviewed studies over the last decade or so, have shown us something many people find difficult to accept ~ that is that around ๐๐โ๐๐% ๐จ๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ซ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐ง-๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ญ ๐๐๐ง๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ, despite being considered to be sound by their owners and trainers. These horses are not all obviously lame ~ many show low-grade, or ridden-only abnormalities, that can be easily missed in day-to-day training.![]()
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This figure comes from large-scale research studies on performance horses, including the work of Dr Sue Dyson and colleagues, where horses were assessed thoroughly (including on circles and under saddle), rather than only in straight lines.![]()
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Then, even more concerning is a well-designed study from Sweden, where riding instructors and trainers were given structured, online training and feedback to improve their ability to recognise hindlimb lameness. Results showed that it did not significantly improve their accuracy, particularly for subtle or low-grade lameness.![]()
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This study, was led by researchers including Elin Hernlund, who is also one of the developers of Sleip, the objective lameness technology, demonstrates the fact that experience and good intentions alone are not enough to reliably detect pain-related gait abnormalities.![]()
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This is not a criticism of owners or trainers, but it does reflect the fact that there are limits to human visual perception and the very complex way that horses compensate for discomfort.![]()
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Many performance horses do continue working with undetected pain and subtle lameness is genuinely difficult to see. Education does help awareness, but it does not replace structured assessment, clinical expertise, or objective evaluation.![]()
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This is not to say that these horses cannot have a job. Indeed many may be made serviceably sound and are able to work comfortably with appropriate limits.![]()
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For improved performance, longevity and welfare, we need to move beyond assuming that โlooks soundโ means โis soundโ to the untrained eye and be willing to seek experienced clinical assessment when concerns arise.![]()
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๐๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐๐๐จ![]()
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Dyson, S., Berger, J., Ellis, A.D. and Mullard, J. (2018) โDevelopment of an ethogram for a pain-free ridden horse and its application to determine the presence of musculoskeletal painโ, Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 23, pp. 47โ57. doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2017.10.008โ ![]()
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Greve, L. and Dyson, S. (2014) โThe interrelationship of lameness, saddle slip and back shape in the general sports horse populationโ, Equine Veterinary Journal, 46(6), pp. 687โ694. doi.org/10.1111/evj.12222โ ![]()
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Dyson, S. and Greve, L. (2016) โSubjective gait assessment of 57 sports horses in normal work: A comparison of the response to flexion tests, movement in hand, on the lunge, and riddenโ, Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 38, pp. 1โ7. doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2015.12.012โ ![]()
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Leclercq, A., Bystrรถm, A., Sรถderlind, M., Persson, E., Rhodin, M., Engell, M.T. and Hernlund, E. (2022) โEvaluation of feedback methods for improved detection of hindlimb lameness in horses among riding instructors and trainersโ, Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 9, 992954. doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.992954โ ![]()
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Zetterberg, E., Persson-Sjodin, E., Lundblad, J., Hernlund, E. and Rhodin, M. (2024) โPrevalence of movement asymmetries in high-performing riding horses perceived as free from lamenessโ, PLOS ONE, 19(7), e0308061. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0308061
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"๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐น๐๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ผ๐๐" ๐ผ๐ฟ "๐๐ฎโ๐๐ฏ ๐ถ๐ ๐ผ๐๐"! ๐ซฃ ๐๐ฒ๐โ๐ ๐ฐ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฝ! ๐![]()
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In horses without traumatic injury, or pathological structural failure, bones do not simply move โout of alignmentโ. When we describe bones or the spine as being โout of alignmentโ, we are implying that they are no longer in their normal anatomical relationship.![]()
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In a living, weight-bearing horse without traumatic injury, this is not an accurate description of what is happening. What we are observing instead are functional movement preferences and asymmetrical loading patterns that are related to how forces are being transmitted through the soft tissue system, rather than structural displacement of bones. When therapists talk about rotation, side-bending, or asymmetry, this is what they mean, not bones being out of place.![]()
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If a pelvis or cervical vertebra were genuinely displaced, weโd be dealing with a horse in very severe pain, neurological signs and a veterinary emergency ๐ Not something that can be resolved with manual therapy ๐ซฃ If bones truly were โout of alignmentโ, no manual therapist could safely or legitimately deal with this. It would mean, for example, fracture, dislocation, subluxation, ligamentous rupture, or joint instability and it would be as a result of traumatic injury, or pathological structural failure. Manual therapy would be contraindicated if bones were genuinely out of alignment and no therapist should be touching them.![]()
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Muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia all influence how joints move and load. They can create the appearance of asymmetry and restriction, but the underlying issue relates to altered force transmission and load distribution, rather than bones having moved out of place.![]()
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Peer-reviewed research in equine biomechanics and musculoskeletal therapy describes spinal motion restriction and asymmetrical loading patterns, but does not support the idea that bones โmove out of placeโ in the absence of traumatic injury or structural failure.![]()
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As therapists, the language we use matters. Accurate explanations will help owners understand their horses better and reflect the complexity of the system that weโre working with.![]()
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#EquineBiomechanics![]()
#EquineRehab![]()
#EvidenceBasedPractice![]()
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#ProfessionalPractice![]()
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๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฌ![]()
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Stubbs, N.C., Hodges, P.W., Jeffcott, L.B., Cowin, G., Hodgson, D.R. and McGowan, C.M. (2006) Functional anatomy of the caudal thoracolumbar and lumbosacral spine in the horse. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement. Available at: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17402454/โ ![]()
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Haussler, K.K. (2009) Review of manual therapy techniques in equine practice. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. Available at: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0737080609006753โ ![]()
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Harrison, L.M., Sole-Guitart, A., Ahern, B. and Goff, L. (2025) Functional anatomy of the equine thoracolumbar spine related to equine back rehabilitation. Journal of Equine Rehabilitation. Available at: www.researchgate.net/publication/391042652_Functional_anatomy_of_the_equine_thoracolumbar_spine_r…โ ![]()
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Haussler, K.K., et al. (2021) A systematic review of musculoskeletal mobilization and manipulation in horses. Available at: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8532674/
Functional anatomy of the caudal thoracolumbar and lumbosacral spine in the horse – PubMed
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Equine multifidus anatomy and function are comparable to that of man. The high prevalence of anatomical variations in the LS spine may affect maximal dorsoventral motion, the stability of the LS joint…
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