Jo Johnson Equine Physiotherapy

20/08/2026

As the grass starts growing rapidly with the welcome rain, it’s worth remembering the impact on our horses’ health.

Sudden increases in grass intake can increase the risk of laminitis, colic, tying-up and other metabolic problems, particularly in horses already considered higher risk.

The key message: manage the transition rather than letting it happen overnight. 🌿

Gradually increase grazing, consider turnout times, grazing muzzles or restricted areas where appropriate, and assess your individual horse’s risk.

🌧️With rain finally arriving after this summer’s drought, it’s important to consider how your horse’s grazing may be changing.

🌱Fresh grass growth can mean a sudden change in forage intake, potentially increasing the risk of digestive disturbances and other health problems, particularly for horses prone to laminitis, colic or metabolic issues.

🔎From gradual transitions to managing turnout and grazing intake, Dr David Marlin shares practical ways to reduce the risks.

Read the full article on Animalweb 👇
🔗https://kntn.io/ForageHealthProblems

17/08/2026

🌊🐴 Swimming Horses in Cornwall 🐴🌊

Swimming with horses has been on my bucket list since I was a little girl- in fact, I even wrote to Jim’ll Fix It as a youngster in the hope he would help make my dream come true. Thankfully, my letter wasn’t picked! 😅😂

Well, this year I finally did it and WOW- what an incredible experience I had with my two youngest daughters.

Swimming with the horses in the beautiful Cornish sea was such a special experience- definitely something we’ll talk about for years! 🩵

The horses from Cornwall Swimming Horses were beautifully trained, incredibly calm and very well cared for and loved. They were confident going into the water (a welcome relief to be in the water to cool off in the intense heat we’ve had I suspect!), responsive to their handlers and appeared very comfortable with the experience.

But… being an equine physio, I couldn’t help thinking about it afterwards! 🤓

How good actually is swimming for the horse?

There are some obvious benefits.

💙 Cardiovascular fitness

Swimming is hard work! The horses are moving their whole bodies against considerable water resistance and so the heart and lungs are working very hard! Swimming has been used for decades for equine conditioning and rehabilitation, and the physiological demands are well documented.

💙 Muscular work

Swimming requires coordinated activity from a huge number of muscle groups, particularly through the trunk and hindquarters. Recent studies looking at swimming have demonstrated that the limbs move very differently underwater, with substantial joint movement and high angular velocities in some joints. (PubMed Central (PMC))

💙 Reduced weight-bearing

Because the horse is buoyant, swimming provides exercise without the same weight-bearing forces and concussion experienced during exercise on land. That can potentially be useful in selected rehabilitation situations.

And, after the long, hot summer we’ve had, with baked-hard ground making faster work less than ideal, I can certainly see the appeal of getting horses exercising in water instead! 🌊🐴

Although , as I’m discovering, “less weight-bearing” doesn’t necessarily mean “less demanding” - swimming is a surprisingly intense workout!

But there is another side to the story…

I’m very aware from my knowledge of water treadmills that water depth significantly alters equine biomechanics.

Research has shown that increasing water depth changes limb movement, pelvic movement and the flexion-extension range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine. In other words, the horse isn’t simply doing the same movement as it would on land, but with less weight on its limbs. (ScienceDirect)

And swimming is very different again.

The horse is completely buoyant, the limbs are moving differently, and the neck and spine have to adopt a posture that allows the horse to keep its airway above the water. Significant spinal extension has been identified as one potential consideration with swimming, although the research into the spinal biomechanics of swimming is still relatively limited. (PubMed Central (PMC))

The horse is also dealing with:

🌊 waves and changing water resistance
🌊 variable water depth
🌊 currents
🌊 changes in buoyancy
🌊 unpredictable footing when entering and exiting
🌊 potentially considerable psychological stimulation
🌊 potentially less controlled exercise duration than we’d use in a rehabilitation setting

And that made me wonder…

Is swimming actually beneficial for the horse’s back?

I guess we can’t confidently say that it is.

A recent 2026 study followed horses with cervical or thoracolumbar musculoskeletal lesions through a rehabilitation programme incorporating swimming three times a week. Their spinal mobility remained broadly stable during the swimming phase, with no consistent group-level change. The authors concluded that individual monitoring remains important rather than assuming a uniform effect of swimming on the spine. (PubMed Central (PMC))

So, for me, the evidence doesn’t suggest that swimming is inherently bad for a horse’s back either.

Instead, it reminds us that swimming is a very different form of exercise from land-based work. We shouldn’t automatically equate increased movement with beneficial strengthening.

As with so many things in rehabilitation, context, dosage and the individual horse matter.

I wouldn’t necessarily prescribe swimming specifically as a way of strengthening the back- particularly as swimming cannot replace the progressive, weight-bearing loading needed to develop the strength and adaptations required for normal land-based function.

So, do the horses actually enjoy it? 🐴 🏊

The horses we swam with certainly appeared to.

They were calm, willing and beautifully behaved, and it was very clear that the Cornwall Swimming Horses team had put a huge amount of time and training into producing horses that are confident and safe in the water.

So, my list of pros and cons…

PROS:
✔️ Excellent cardiovascular workout
✔️ Whole-body muscular activity
✔️ Minimal weight-bearing/concussion
✔️ Potentially useful in selected rehabilitation programmes
✔️ A wonderful enrichment experience for some horses

POTENTIAL CONSIDERATIONS:
⚠️ Very different biomechanics from land exercise
⚠️ Deep water substantially alters spinal and limb kinematics
⚠️ Swimming may involve significant spinal extension
⚠️ The cardiovascular load can be considerable
⚠️ Swimming isn’t necessarily a substitute for progressive, weight-bearing strengthening
⚠️ Suitability will depend on the individual horse, its musculoskeletal history and how swimming is introduced and dosed

So, having experienced it, would I do it again? Absolutely! 🩵

It was an unforgettable experience and I have enormous respect for the horses and the team that made it possible.

But, would I now say that swimming is automatically “good for a horse’s back”?

Probably not.

Sometimes experiencing something first-hand leaves you with more questions rather than fewer! 😂

🌊🐴 🐚

With research into equine swimming still developing, this isn’t intended to suggest that swimming is either “good” or “bad” for every horse. As always, rehabilitation should be individualised and guided by the horse’s diagnosis, response and overall training programme.

14/08/2026

I’m noticing a great many horses struggling with weight gain this summer owing to the sugary, stressed grass ….

😎 During this heatwave we have seen more overweight horses than usual for the time of year.

😎 It's likely a combination of reduced activity because of the heat, and grass that is stressed. It may be brown and appear there is nothing there for your horses and ponies to eat, but it is actually quite high in sugar, especially the growing parts your horses are ingesting!

😎 The default position is often "Argh! They have nothing to eat!" and so you chuck out hay, which is essentially a free bar for fatties! No effort needed to stand and hoover it up!

😎 Always remember too - hay is only grass minus water, not sugar! So can also be pretty energy dense!

05/08/2026

☀️ Hard ground ☀️

When the ground becomes very hard the effects of repeated concussion can influence the entire musculoskeletal system.

When the ground has very little give, the hoof’s natural shock-absorbing mechanisms become less effective. The digital cushion of the hoof and associated soft tissues have less opportunity to dissipate impact forces, meaning more of the force is transmitted up the limb.

Over time, this can increase the demands placed on the joints, tendons, ligaments and muscles throughout the body.

There may be increased compression through the hocks and stifles, particularly in horses with existing arthritis or straighter hindlimb conformation. Some horses may also develop increased muscle activity through the back and thoracic sling, with compensatory tension developing through the neck, poll and jaw.

The nervous system may respond by increasing muscle activity- a clever protective strategy but one which can also reduce normal joint mobility and subtly alter the way the horse moves.

Often, we notice small changes before obvious lameness develops. Your horse may:

• Feel a little shorter-striding.
• Be less willing to go forwards.
• Feel stiffer on one rein.
• Resist canter transitions.
• Become more reactive through the back.
• Perhaps lose that feeling of freedom and enthusiasm they usually have.

Don’t forget- arenas are affected by the weather too. During prolonged dry weather they can become deeper, looser and less stable. Whilst very hard ground increases concussion, a surface that is deep or unstable can increase the demands placed on tendons and ligaments, particularly the suspensory apparatus.

If your horse competes on firm ground, completely avoiding it isn’t necessarily the answer. Brief, controlled exposure to may help prepare the musculoskeletal system, but this should form only a small part of a varied training programme. Train on a variety of surfaces and adapt the workload to both the footing and their discipline.

Ways to help reduce risk to your horse include:

🐎Adjust workloads to suit the conditions.
🐎Reduce speed before reducing movement- for example, choose hacking or walking over fast work.
🐎Avoid repetitive jumping on very firm ground.
🐎Avoid prolonged schooling on excessively deep or unstable arenas.
🐎Vary surfaces where appropriate.
🐎Maintain good hoof balance.
🐎Pay attention to subtle changes in performance, behaviour or recovery after exercise.

Horses rarely go from comfortable to lame overnight. It’s often the slow but cumulative effect over days or weeks, rather than a single ride.

01/08/2026

My daughter is incredibly fortunate to be taught by these two through Moulton Vaulting Group - MVG. Milly and Evie are not only exceptionally talented athletes but also kind, patient and inspiring coaches who lead by example every day. So too are the amazing horses that make this sport possible. The trust, balance and partnership between horse and vaulter is something truly special to watch.

I remember watching Milly and Evie practise earlier this year and feeling very emotional with the combination of their performance and the music. Such a beautiful routine and also a gorgeous relationship the sisters have.

Wishing them the biggest congratulations for their performance at the FEI Vaulting European Championship for Young Vaulters & Juniors 2026. They are wonderful ambassadors for our sport, and such positive role models for the next generation of vaulters.

What an inspiration. ✨🪇🤎🐴🤎🪇✨

31/07/2026

Rolling is much more than a horse having a scratch or enjoying a dust bath. It requires flexibility, strength, coordination and confidence in their own body.

To roll comfortably, a horse needs to:
✔️ Lower themselves to the ground with control.
✔️ Flex through the neck, spine and limbs.
✔️ Generate enough momentum to roll onto their back.
✔️ Push themselves back up again using strength and balance.

When a horse struggles to roll, only rolls part way, becomes “stuck”, or avoids rolling altogether, it may indicate that something is making the movement uncomfortable.

Potential reasons can include:
• Musculoskeletal pain or stiffness.
• Arthritis or age-related changes.
• Back or neck discomfort.
• Reduced core strength.
• Obesity or poor body condition affecting mobility.
• Neurological conditions affecting coordination.
• General weakness or reduced fitness.

Some horses will repeatedly attempt to roll but stop halfway, while others carefully lie down and get straight back up without completing a roll. These behaviours don’t automatically indicate a problem, but they are worth paying attention to- especially if they represent a change from what is normal for that individual horse.

However, a horse that rolls with ease isn’t necessarily pain-free. Horses are very good at compensating, and rolling is only one small piece of the overall picture. Take my own horse, Rum (in the video) for example.

Rum rolls enthusiastically and appears completely comfortable doing so. However, when she gets up she consistently avoids taking full flexion through the right hind limb. Years earlier, veterinary investigations identified right hind weakness and significant lumbosacral pathology. While we can’t say with certainty that this causes her preferred strategy, it’s a reminder that observing how a horse moves can sometimes reveal far more than whether they complete the movement at all.

The little things- such as how they roll, how easily they lie down and get back up, or whether they seem reluctant to use one side, can provide valuable clues when considered alongside a full clinical assessment.

30/07/2026

Did you know?

A horse’s ‘knee’ isn’t actually a knee…
it’s the equivalent of your wrist.

Their real knee (the stifle) sits much higher, closer to the body and on the hind leg .

Extension and internal rotation of the horse’s wrist (anatomical name carpus), puts the joint into a close packed position.

This close packed, extended position locks the joint to allow the forelimb to act as a strut for propulsion of the hindlimbs over the forelimbs (like a pole vault), or to act as a braking mechanism. Or even to control the speed and direction.

And so, the horse actually moves on the equivalent of an elongated middle finger with the ‘knee’ the wrist and the pedal bone within the hoof the finger tip.

I love a bit of comparative anatomy!

29/07/2026

As a Chartered Physiotherapist, ACPAT Category A Veterinary Physiotherapist and RAMP Registered Practitioner, I’m proud to be part of a profession that is committed to high standards, evidence-based practice and professional accountability. I thought this was an important post to share.

27/07/2026

Remember, horses don’t always show discomfort immediately. Sometimes the effects of repeated concussion build up over time before they become obvious.

⚠️ Hard ground warning ⚠️

The recent extended period of dry weather has really caused the ground to harden up. Are you aware of the risks of riding on hard ground?

🐎 Exercising your horse on hard ground can cause concussion-related lameness issues. When the horse’s hoof meets the ground, it’s subjected to a great deal of concussive force.

When the ground is softer, it absorbs some of the impact and provides cushioning to the foot - but the harder the ground, the less force is absorbed and the more stress on the horse.

It’s not only ridden horses who are at risk of concussive injuries from hard ground - any retired oldies who like to show you they’ve still got it by galloping round their paddock can also do themselves some damage! If this sounds like your horse, consider bringing them in a little earlier than usual.

Shod horses are also at greater risk from hard ground than unshod horses, as unshod horses actually absorb some of the concussive forces through their frogs.

Hard ground can cause injuries like:
🔵 Jarring injuries
⚪️ Tendon and ligament injuries
🔵 Bruised soles
⚪️ Splints
🔵 Concussive laminitis
⚪️ Pedal bone fractures

You can reduce the risk by:
🔵 Trying not to work your horse on hard ground too often
⚪️ Choosing softer surfaces for jumping where possible
🔵 Apply cold water after hard work
⚪️ Maintain your horse’s overall fitness/strength
🔵 Listen to your individual horse

20/07/2026

Familiarity with your horse’s normal TPR is one of the easiest ways to support recognition of health problems.

Temperature, Pulse and Respiration (TPR) are your horse’s basic vital signs. They’re simple to measure and can provide invaluable information about your horse’s health.

Regularly checking and recording these values gives you a baseline, helping you recognise subtle changes that may indicate pain, illness or infection. It’s especially worthwhile after travelling, competing or mixing with unfamiliar horses.

TPR stands for:

🌡️ Temperature
❤️ Pulse (or heart) rate
🫁 Respiration rate

British Equestrian share this important information how if we regularly check our horses TPR it is easier for us to monitor their health.

Take the readings when your horse is at rest and log them in a diary or in the notes app on your phone, so you can get an idea for what's normal over time – horses are individuals, so what's usual for one might not be for another. It's good practice to check TPR in the days after meeting equines from outside of your horse's usual herd, such as a show or clinic.

During this period of increased risk for equine influenza, we also recommend taking temperature checks twice a day in the 72 hours prior to travelling.