Balanced Bodywork for Equines

09/11/2026

With the welcomed addition of Dr Carol Shwetz DVM to this work I’ve been very quiet on the pelvic collapse front….not because there hasn’t been work happening but because joining all the dots together with the breadcrumbs horses bodies leave us has become a recognisable pattern. One that has formed quite the data set for collecting information and recognising patterns. With the formation of Etica Equine Charitable Trust to under take this mammoth task in collating the data. We are lucky to have two academics on the board of trustees to oversee this study.

Organising all the data points and understanding what might be happening at what point is a massive task! The changes we are seeing from hooves to lumbar and up the connections of soft tissues is truely quiet the chain of action and reaction. Compensation seems to play a huge role in the way the body adapts to such a mechanical failure of the skeletal system. The changes to soft tissues are notable and obvious in dissection.

I value working as part of a team so much because this work is truely overwhelming at times. If you follow me on patreon, I’ve been very honest about the toll of the work. This is going to take a community of collaboration. For more information on our pelvic study, check out the Etica website www.eticaequine.com

I have done an updated video on patreon discussing some of the new discussions happening around what the bones are recording and how dissections are leading the conversations.

https://www.patreon.com/Becks_nairn/posts/pelvic-collapse-169186730

08/17/2026

Another quiz question: What muscle is on the image? That is question number one! Question number two is more important (reality check): what is the origin of the pictured muscle.

Happy guessing!

Edit:
Such great answers, as usual — well done! I know it was tricky, with no location given and no real hint. There are a few superficial muscles that have a very specific shape, and TFL is one of them — it has a triangular shape, and the muscle belly resembles an A-frame.

Answer in the next post. Thank you for playing!

08/03/2026

During our latest equine anatomy study session with The study of the equine hoof, I had the opportunity to use excellent lighting and captured a few images that I really like.

You all seem to enjoy a challenge, so here are three questions:

1. Which anatomical region is shown?
2. Which joint can you identify?
3. Which side of the horse are we looking at?

Take your best guess in the comments! 😊

I'll share the answers in tomorrow's post.

07/14/2026

Great video example…

05/28/2026

05/03/2026

Do you view grooming as a chore or a performance tool?

In professional grooming, we understand that a horse’s skin is more than just a coat to be polished; it is the interface to their entire musculoskeletal system. This is where biotensegrity comes in: the proven concept that every part of the horse is connected through a continuous web of tension and fascia.

The reason for this is 'fascia glide'. The fascia is a connective tissue layer that must slide smoothly for a horse to use their thoracic sling effectively. When we follow a structured grooming sequence: starting with the skin interface: we aren't just removing dust. We are stimulating a positive tissue response and encouraging that essential glide.

In practice, correct pressure and sequence allow for better engagement of the thoracic sling, directly impacting freedom of movement. It is the difference between a horse that feels 'blocked' and one that is ready to work.

This is a core principle in my ebook, ‘The Regulated Horse’.

Save this for your next session, and message me ‘GLIDE’ to learn more about how our systems support equine regulation.

03/27/2026