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Michelle Method, San Jose, CA (2026)

10/16/2026

When performed gently and correctly, a lateral tail pull can be a useful way to challenge your horse’s postural control, balance, trunk stability, and awareness of where their body is in space.

Think of it less as “stretching the horse” and more as asking:

Can you maintain your balance while an external force challenges your body?

That’s where this gets interesting.

A gentle lateral pull can encourage your horse to:
→ Shift weight through the limbs
→ Engage the trunk to maintain stability
→ Coordinate the pelvis and spine
→ Explore lateral mobility
→ Develop proprioceptive awareness
→ Control their body instead of simply reacting to the stimulus

And here’s what I want you to watch for 👀

Does your horse calmly adjust their balance?

Or do they brace, step excessively, hollow their back, swing their head, or lose their posture?

Those responses can give you information about how your horse manages an unfamiliar demand.

More movement isn’t automatically better.

The goal isn’t to pull harder or farther. The goal is controlled, comfortable movement with your horse remaining relaxed and able to organize their body.

That’s a major principle behind The Michelle Method:
Mobility + stability + strength + coordination = better movement.

And remember: this is not an exercise to force. Use very light pressure, stay within your horse’s comfortable range, and stop if they show discomfort, resistance, or pain.

Sometimes the smallest exercises create the biggest opportunities to teach a horse how to control their body.

Comment “YOUTUBE” for the full video and more how-to exercises videos!

For more information, please visit:
www.Michelle-Method.com

Disclaimer: The Michelle Method is a paid strength and conditioning program. It does not diagnose, treat, or replace veterinary advice. Always consult your vet before starting a new program.

10/15/2026

Backing your horse uphill with an Equiband belly band can be a REALLY useful strength & conditioning exercise… but only when you understand what you’re actually training. 👇

When you back a horse uphill, you’re asking them to control their body against gravity while stepping backward. That can increase the demand for:
-Core stabilization: the trunk has to stay organized while the limbs move.
-Hind-end strength: the horse must flex and load the hind limbs rather than simply dragging themselves backward.
-Postural control: backing challenges the horse to maintain balance while changing their center of mass.
-Coordination & proprioception: the horse has to know where their feet are and place them intentionally.

Now add the Equiband belly band.

The band provides gentle sensory input around the trunk, which can encourage greater awareness of the abdominal region and help the horse organize their posture. It is NOT a magic “core activator,” and it shouldn’t be used to force a horse into a frame or create artificial engagement.

The goal is better body awareness + better movement organization + progressive strength.

And here’s the important part:

👉 Start EASY.

You don’t need to back 50 feet uphill. A few controlled steps with good quality can be far more valuable than excessive repetitions performed with rushing, bracing, crookedness, or loss of balance.

Watch for:
✔️ Quiet, controlled steps
✔️ Even weight distribution
✔️ Hind limbs stepping underneath the body
✔️ A stable trunk
✔️ No rushing or resistance

Quality > quantity.

This is exactly why I love progressive/regressive exercise selection: the exercise isn’t inherently “good” or “bad.” The question is whether the dose, setup, and progression are appropriate for THIS horse.

Like and follow!

For more information, please visit:
www.Michelle-Method.com

Disclaimer: The Michelle Method is a paid strength and conditioning program. It does not diagnose, treat, or replace veterinary advice. Always consult your vet before starting a new program.

10/14/2026

Hind limb retraction stretch: This is one of those activities that can look almost too simple to matter.

But when performed correctly, hind limb retraction can help your horse explore hip extension while also giving you valuable information about how they move through their hindquarters.

Why does that matter?

Your horse’s hind limbs are responsible for much more than “pushing.”

They need to be able to:
→ Extend through the hip
→ Coordinate the pelvis and hind limb
→ Maintain balance while the limb moves
→ Control the limb through a larger range of motion
→ Transition between positions without unnecessary tension

And here’s the part I want you to pay attention to:

Don’t just look at how far the leg goes. Watch HOW your horse gets there.

Does your horse shift their weight dramatically?
Brace through the topline?
Rotate the pelvis?
Rush?
Resist?
Or can they calmly allow the limb to move while maintaining postural control?

That information can be more valuable than chasing a “bigger stretch.”

In The Michelle Method, I don’t use stretching as a standalone solution. I use it as one piece of a progressive system designed to improve mobility, strength, stability, coordination, and body awareness.

Because flexibility without control isn’t the goal.

We want your horse to have access to movement AND the strength to control it.

💡 Try this slowly and within your horse’s comfortable range. Never force the limb into a position.

Save this post so you can come back to it during your next groundwork session.

Comment “YOUTUBE” for the full video and more!

For more information, please visit:
www.Michelle-Method.com

Disclaimer: The Michelle Method is a paid strength and conditioning program. It does not diagnose, treat, or replace veterinary advice. Always consult your vet before starting a new program.

10/13/2026

Day 5 Working With Cody - Putting His Assessment Into Action

Today was Day 5 with Cody, and this was officially our first session working with him based on everything I discovered during his full assessment.

After completing all four parts of his assessment on Day 4, I had a much clearer picture of where Cody was struggling, where he was compensating, and some of the areas where he appeared uncomfortable.

So today, we started addressing those findings.

This session was focused primarily on Cody’s hind end, with a combination of:
• Massage
• Gentle stretching
• Relaxation and body awareness
• Beginning to address some of the areas identified during his assessment

I wanted this first session to be about listening to his body and introducing movement appropriately, rather than jumping straight into difficult exercises.

But there’s another really interesting part of today’s video…

Immediately after working with Cody, I spoke with Taylor, an animal communicator, and you’ll be able to listen to our full conversation.

Taylor has worked with all of my previous leased horses, so I’ve really enjoyed having her as another perspective throughout my horses’ journeys.

What I found especially interesting with Cody was how many commonalities there were between what I observed during my physical assessment and what Taylor reported from her communication with him.

You can listen to the conversation for yourself and compare her observations with what I had already found during Cody’s assessment.

Comment “YOUTUBE” for the full video!

For more information, please visit:
www.Michelle-Method.com

Disclaimer: The Michelle Method is a paid strength and conditioning program. It does not diagnose, treat, or replace veterinary advice. Always consult your vet before starting a new program.

10/12/2026

💨 Did you know your horse passing gas during bodywork can be a sign that they’re relaxing?

When a horse begins to settle, their nervous system can shift away from a more guarded state. As muscle tone decreases and the body relaxes, normal gastrointestinal movement may become more noticeable… and sometimes that means… 💨😂

But here’s the important part:
Passing gas does NOT automatically mean you “released tension.”

It’s one small observation within a much bigger picture.

When I’m assessing a horse, I’m looking at the whole body and the horse’s response:
• Does their breathing become slower and deeper?
• Does their topline soften?
• Are they lowering their head and neck?
• Does their facial expression change?
• Do they stop bracing against touch?
• Does their movement become easier afterward?
• Are they able to maintain that improved movement when asked to perform?

That’s where bodywork becomes much more meaningful.

The goal isn’t simply to make a horse “feel relaxed” for 20 minutes.

The goal is to help them develop the strength, stability, mobility, coordination, and body awareness to maintain better movement when they go back to work.

And sometimes… the horse farts while you’re doing it. 😂💨

Consider it a data point… not a diagnosis.

Because with horses, the little things can tell you a LOT when you know what to look for. 🐴

For more information, please visit:
www.Michelle-Method.com

Disclaimer: The Michelle Method is a paid strength and conditioning program. It does not diagnose, treat, or replace veterinary advice. Always consult your vet before starting a new program.

10/11/2026

6 spots just opened!

I’m looking for 6 owners who have been trying so hard to help their horse… but still feel like they’re getting nowhere.

Maybe your horse just feels… off.

You’ve had the vet out.
X-rays and ultrasounds didn’t show anything significant.
You’ve worked with farriers, saddle fitters, bodyworkers, trainers…
Maybe something helped, but the improvement didn’t last.

And now you’re stuck wondering:

“What else can I do?”

Because you know your horse.
You can feel that something isn’t quite right.

But you also don’t want to randomly throw exercises at them and accidentally make things worse.

This is where I believe strength & conditioning can be incredibly valuable.

A horse can be cleared for work and still lack the strength, stability, coordination, mobility, or postural control needed to perform comfortably and efficiently.

That doesn’t mean something is “wrong” with your horse.

It means there may be an opportunity to build their physical capacity progressively and intentionally.

That’s the foundation of The Michelle Method.

We don’t chase symptoms.

We assess where your horse is starting, identify areas that need support, and build from there. With appropriate progressions, regressions, consistency, and patience.

Because the goal isn’t simply to make your horse do more.

It’s to help them become stronger, more stable, more coordinated, and more confident in their body.

If you’ve been thinking:
“I just want to help my horse, but I don’t know what to do.”

I’m here 💪

6 spots are available for October.

Comment “READY” below and I’ll personally help you and your horse👇👇

For more information, please visit:
www.Michelle-Method.com

Disclaimer: The Michelle Method is a paid strength and conditioning program. It does not diagnose, treat, or replace veterinary advice. Always consult your vet before starting a new program.

10/09/2026

The hind limb protraction stretch 🤩

Protraction means bringing the hind limb forward, and this stretch can be a great way to explore your horse’s available mobility through the hip and hind limb.

But here’s what I don’t want you to do:

❌ Yank the leg farther forward
❌ Chase the biggest stretch
❌ Force a horse into a position they’re resisting

Instead, think quality over quantity.

When I use a movement like this, I’m paying attention to the entire horse:

→ Does the horse stay relaxed?
→ Can they maintain their balance?
→ Is the movement smooth and controlled?
→ Do they compensate by shifting or twisting?
→ Is there a noticeable difference between sides?

Because a horse having a large range of motion doesn’t automatically mean they have good functional mobility.

Mobility is only useful when the horse has the strength and coordination to control that range.

That’s why stretching is just one piece of the puzzle in The Michelle Method.

We don’t stretch a horse simply because they “look tight.”

We assess how they’re moving, identify what they need, and then use the appropriate combination of mobility, stability, strength, and coordination exercises to progressively build their capacity.

Your goal shouldn’t be:
“How far can I get their leg?”

It should be:
“Can my horse comfortably and confidently control the movement?”

That difference is HUGE.

Comment “YOUTUBE” 👇👇 for the video

For more information, please visit:
www.Michelle-Method.com

Disclaimer: The Michelle Method is a paid strength and conditioning program. It does not diagnose, treat, or replace veterinary advice. Always consult your vet before starting a new program.

10/08/2026

If you’re on the fence about helping your horse build strength, stability, and suppleness… listen to the owners who have actually gone through the process. 💪

Because strength training isn’t about making your horse do harder and harder exercises.

It’s about teaching their body how to organize, stabilize, and produce movement more effectively.

A horse can be willing, athletic, and well-trained while still lacking the physical capacity to consistently carry themselves well.

That can show up as:
→ Difficulty maintaining balance
→ Trouble with transitions
→ A weak or inconsistent canter
→ Difficulty standing square
→ Falling through a shoulder
→ Bracing or rushing
→ Struggling to maintain self-carriage
→ Uneven muscle development
→ Compensatory movement patterns

And the answer isn’t always “ride more.”

Sometimes the missing piece is building the physical foundation underneath the skills you’re asking for.

That’s the philosophy behind The Michelle Method:

Strength before skill.
Stability before collection.
Quality before quantity.
Progression… not random exercises.

We start where the horse is, identify what they need, and progressively challenge their ability to control their body.

And the goal isn’t just what your horse looks like.

It’s how they feel, move, respond, and perform.

Want to hear directly from owners who have gone through the program?

I have even MORE client testimonials and transformation stories on my YouTube channel.

👇 Comment “YOUTUBE” below and I’ll send you the link.

Your horse doesn’t need more random exercises.

They need the right foundation, progressed at the right time.

For more information, please visit:
www.Michelle-Method.com

Disclaimer: The Michelle Method is a paid strength and conditioning program. It does not diagnose, treat, or replace veterinary advice. Always consult your vet before starting a new program.

10/07/2026

Can your horse actually lift their back and engage their core under saddle? 🤔

True postural strength is a whole-body skill

Your horse needs to be able to:
→ Stabilize their trunk against the movement of the limbs
→ Maintain balance while carrying a rider
→ Coordinate the abdominal and spinal muscles
→ Transfer force efficiently through the pelvis, spine, and limbs
→ Adjust their posture without losing rhythm, relaxation, or balance

And here’s the part I want you to think about:

Can your horse maintain that organization… or does it disappear as soon as you ask for more?

A horse may look “round” while still relying heavily on the forehand, bracing through the topline, or using compensatory strategies to maintain balance.

Ask yourself:
Does my horse have the strength, stability, mobility, coordination, and body awareness to actually perform the task I’m asking?

This is why groundwork, postural exercises, transitions, poles, controlled movement, and progressive strength training matter.

Build the physical capacity first, then ask the horse to use that capacity under saddle.

Strength before skill.
Stability before collection.
Quality before difficulty.

Your horse doesn’t need more complicated exercises.

They need the right exercises, progressed at the right time, consistently. 💪

Need help? Comment “HELP” below 👇 and I will see if I can!

For more information, please visit:
www.Michelle-Method.com

Disclaimer: The Michelle Method is a paid strength and conditioning program. It does not diagnose, treat, or replace veterinary advice. Always consult your vet before starting a new program.

Michelle Method

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