The Posture Problem: How Poor Alignment Affects Your Horse’s Soundness and Schooling

As a horse owner, you’re doing your best—regular riding, good care, vet checkups. But if your horse is still feeling “off,” crooked in their body, or resistant in their work… there’s often a missing piece:

Posture.

As an equine physio with 13 years of equine therapy & rehab experience, posture and crookedness have become a specialist area of mine—and I can tell you, poor posture is one of the biggest, most misunderstood issues affecting horses today.

Many horses aren’t technically lame… but they’re not moving right either.

What poor posture looks like:

• Falling in on a circle or drifting through the shoulder

• Uneven in the contact or heavy in the hand

• Struggling to bend one way

• Short-striding or toe-dragging behind

• Bracing through the back or resisting transitions

• Rushing, hollowing, or sluggish movement

Sound familiar?

These are all signs that your horse’s core isn’t supporting them properly. And when the core isn’t working, the body starts compensating—leading to uneven muscle development, stiffness, and long-term strain on joints and soft tissue.

Why posture matters more than you think…

When your horse’s posture is off, everything becomes harder:

• Suppleness decreases

• Balance becomes a challenge

• Ridden work becomes frustrating—for both of you

And here’s the problem: these patterns don’t fix themselves. They get more ingrained over time, creating physical limitations that training alone can’t undo.

The root of it all? Weak core muscles.

Core strength is what allows your horse to carry themselves in balance, lift through the back, and move evenly through both sides. When it’s weak, the forehand gets overloaded (which increases injury risk), and the spine can start to compress and tighten—especially through the thoracic region where kissing spine often develops.

Think about it: if you were about to start weightlifting or run a half marathon, you’d be doing core and mobility work for months to prepare. The same goes for our horses.

They are athletes. And they need the same kind of thoughtful prep—especially before carrying a rider.

The good news? It only takes a few minutes a day.

That’s exactly why I created my Core Exercises for Your Horse course. These are the same proven, science-backed exercises I’ve used with client horses for years—and with my own horse Azuro, especially during his recovery from kissing spine surgery.

You don’t need fancy tools. You don’t need to be an expert. You just need a few minutes a day and the willingness to help your horse feel better in their body.

What you’ll get in the course:

• Vet- and physio-approved core exercises

• Step-by-step videos that are easy to follow

• Just 10 minutes a day for big changes

• No special equipment needed

• Support for posture, symmetry, and smoother movement

If your horse struggles with any of the signs above, now’s the time to help them feel stronger, straighter, and more comfortable in their work.

Click here to get the Core Exercises Course for just £9 – lifetime access included.

Your horse’s body will thank you.