With Jenny Adamson, Equine Physiotherapist & Rehabilitation Specialist
The weather has improved, and your horse is enjoying the longer days and fresh air. It feels like the perfect time to get moving again. But before you jump straight back into work, there’s a step most riders completely miss — and it can make all the difference to your horse’s strength, balance, and comfort this spring.
Most riders think topline is about muscle. But posture comes first. Always. Because a horse cannot build correct muscle on top of incorrect posture — just like a person can’t build strength efficiently if they’re slouched, stiff, and collapsing through their core. And this is where so many horses get stuck.
Many horses are coming back into work after lighter schedules, time off, or reduced intensity. And every single year, I see the same pattern. Because most people were never actually taught how to rebuild a horse’s body correctly. Because bringing a horse back into work isn’t just about fitness. It’s about rebuilding strength, coordination, posture, and stability — in the right order.
Crookedness has been framed as a training flaw, a rider problem, or something that should disappear if you just ride straighter, add more leg, or school harder. But here’s the truth: crookedness is not a failure. It’s a natural starting point. And when we misunderstand it, we often end up creating tension, compensation, and long-term issues instead of strength and balance.
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