King Equine

Free Ride Equestrian just dropped a whole new line this morning and some new perforated sun shirts! They have some beautiful colors that I just couldn’t resist. Make sure to click the link in my Linktree or use code KINGEQUINE at checkout for a discount!

@kingequine | Linktree Linktree. Make your link do more.

We asked equine professionals, “What is one thing you wish clients understood?” Their answers are important for riders of all ages to read and understand.

“That “just one thing ” I do for you that takes me 5 minutes? Yeah, that actually adds an hour to my day. And if I don’t charge for doing the “little” extra things, then I can’t get to the big things”

“How hard it is to go 24/7 365 days of the year. And the money/time/mental facilities it takes to run the farm…”

“The tremendous amount of responsibility we carry on our shoulders. For the client, as well as the horse.”

“That horses aren’t vehicles that anyone can drive. You can’t just buy a 3’6″ horse and do the 3’6″ any more than you can just buy a grand prix horse and do the grand prix.”

“Organizing turnout is way harder than you expect. Who goes where, for how long, with a buddy or not. It is way more thoughtful than just putting a horse in a field.”

“The most expensive ponies are the old ones stepping down. If you want a deal, ask for a green or quirky one.”

“Just because I’m available to the horse 24/7 doesn’t mean I need to be available to the humans 24/7! Clients understand that we drop everything for the horses at all hours, and they expect the same for them which is really unfair. Clients who respect boundaries and our ability to have free time or a day off are worth their weight in gold.”

“There is no guarantee that your horse will stay sound.”

Next time you head to the barn or chat with your trainer, try keeping these things in mind. While questions are always welcome, the timing and the way that you ask them can be key. Remember, your trainer wants you and your horse to succeed, so there is almost always a reason for everything they do!

Instead of an educational post today, I want to give a shoutout to a small business that deserves more support 🤍

If you know Norman (or really any fresh off the track thoroughbred), you know how picky he is about treats. We were getting by with peppermints and German Horse Muffins until I came across Gunner’s Goodies on Facebook. As a small business owner myself, I try to support small and local whenever I can, so this was an easy decision.

Norman is OBSESSED! Not only do these treats pass his very high standards, but they’re made with just 5 simple ingredients and packed with flavor.

If you’ve got a picky horse at home (or any horse), I highly recommend giving these a try… You won’t regret it 🐴✨

*I am not paid nor benefit from making this post or sales from this company. I am just calling out a good product when I find it*

Balance Pads & Soundness. What I’m Actually Seeing in the Body.

Balance pads are one of those tools that get hyped fast, and misunderstood even faster. So let’s talk about what they’re actually doing and where they fit in when we’re talking about soundness.

From a bodywork perspective

When I put my hands on a horse, I’m not just looking for “tight muscles.” I’m feeling for
• Lack of stability
• Poor postural control
• Compensation patterns that aren’t resolving

A lot of horses aren’t weak in the way people think. They’re disorganized. And that’s where balance pads come in.

What they actually change ✅

Balance pads challenge the system that controls movement, not just the muscles that create it. They target
• Proprioception (where the body is in space)
• Neuromuscular coordination
• Deep stabilizers that don’t show up in traditional strength work

This is the stuff that determines whether a horse can
• Absorb force correctly
• Stabilize joints under load
• Stop compensating through the same overused patterns

Let’s talk soundness 🐴

Soundness is not just about tissue health. It’s about how the body manages stress. If a horse can’t stabilize
• You’ll see repeated tightness in the same areas
• You’ll feel restriction come back fast after bodywork
• You’ll chase symptoms instead of changing the pattern

Improving postural control changes that.

What I see in practice 📚

When the postural system starts doing its job
• Horses hold adjustments longer
• Compensation patterns decrease
• Movement becomes more consistent and efficient

And over time, the likelihood of staying sound improves. Not because of one tool, but because the system is functioning better as a whole.

How I actually use them 🛠️

Balance pads are one piece of a much bigger picture. I use them to
• Reinforce the changes we create during bodywork
• Wake up stabilizing systems that aren’t doing their job
• Help horses hold better posture between sessions

✨Always✨
• Short duration
• Intentional setup
• Based on what I’m feeling in that specific horse

The bottom line is, balance pads don’t make horses sound. They help horses
• Organize movement
• Stabilize more effectively
• Stop defaulting into compensation

And when that improves, soundness becomes a lot more sustainable. If you’re using them, ask yourself - Are you just adding a tool… or are you actually changing how your horse uses its body

Things I feel during bodywork that make me immediately question saddle fit…

I don’t need to see the saddle right away to start asking questions. Because the body tells me everything first. Here are some things I feel that instantly make me go, “Okay… we need to talk about your saddle.”

• Ropey, tight longissimus muscles (along the back). Instead of soft, elastic muscle, it feels hard, reactive, and guarded.

This often points to chronic pressure or a saddle that isn’t distributing weight correctly.

• A “drop away” response when I run my hand along the back and the horse drops away, flinches, or braces instead of lifting.

That’s not just sensitivity… That’s discomfort.

• Hollowing instead of lifting
When I apply pressure and the horse can’t engage or lift through the topline, they just hollow or brace.

A lot of times, they’ve learned that using their back = discomfort.

• Restricted scapula movement

I’ll work around the shoulder and feel limited glide or resistance. If the scapula can’t move freely, I’m immediately wondering what’s sitting on top of it.

• Tension through the pecs & sternum.
Super tight, reactive, almost “braced” feeling through the girth area.

This is one I see ALL the time with horses who are labeled “girthy.”

• Uneven feel side to side. One side releases easily… the other is guarded, tight, or underdeveloped.

Yes, rider asymmetry can play a role, but saddle balance is always on my radar.

• Atrophy patterns
When I feel muscle loss (especially behind the shoulder or along the topline), I’m not just thinking conditioning…

I’m thinking why isn’t this muscle being used?

Here’s the thing: I’m not diagnosing saddle fit.
But when the same patterns show up over and over again, you start connecting dots. The body doesn’t lie. And it doesn’t create these patterns for no reason.

If something feels off, it probably is.

And your horse deserves someone who listens to what their body is saying. ❤️

Boots, Polos & Tendon Health - What Every Horse Owner Should Know

Brushing boots, polos, and leg wraps are everywhere in the horse world—but are we always using them for the right reasons?

Let’s break down what’s actually happening underneath them 👇

• Why We Use Boots

Boots are designed to protect the legs from interference (hitting themselves) and prevent impact injuries from hooves, jumps, or uneven movement. They are protective tools though not harmless accessories

The Heat Factor🔥

Research consistently shows that boots and wraps increase the temperature of the horse’s lower limb during exercise up to 30% and even more. Legs tend to stay hotter for longer, even after work is done.

Now here’s the important part…

The lower limb has very little muscle, limited blood flow for cooling and are highly sensitive to heat. Research has shown that tendon cells can begin to be negatively impacted at around 107-113 degrees.

Why This Matters for the Body

Tendons are built to handle strain—but not excessive heat over time. Repeated heat exposure can disrupt normal tendon cell function, reduce oxygen delivery and contribute to micro-damage and long-term wear. This is especially important for structures like the superficial digital flexor tendon, which already takes on a huge workload.

So When SHOULD You Use Boots?

✅ Use them when protection is needed:

* Horses that interfere or hit themselves
* Jumping or high-impact work
* Unpredictable footing or environments

❌ Think twice when:

* Doing light flatwork
* Hacking
* Working a horse that moves clean and doesn’t interfere

At the end of the day, boots are not “bad” but they are also not neutral. Every time you use them, you’re making a trade-off:
➡️ Protection from impact
➡️ Increased heat in the tendons

The goal should be to use them intentionally, not just out of habit.

From a bodywork perspective (what I directly see)

Heat, restriction, and repetitive stress all influence how a horse moves, compensates, and eventually breaks down.

If you’re seeing tightness in the limbs, subtle movement changes, recurring soft tissue issues

…it’s worth looking at not just the workload, but the equipment choices too.

📚 Sources:

* Westermann et al., 2014 — Effects of tendon boots on limb temperature
* The Horse — Research on boots and wraps increasing leg heat
* Stable Management — Cannon bone temperature findings
* Equine tendon research on heat-related cellular damage

(Below is a picture of my personal horse wearing boots on all fours)

Hay net height matters more than you think!

When we hang hay nets, we’re not just choosing convenience, we’re directly influencing a horse’s entire body.

Horses are designed to graze with their head and neck lowered for 16–18 hours a day. This position supports proper function of the topline, jaw, airway, and digestive system.

Research has shown that feeding position significantly changes posture:
• Horses eating from HIGH hay nets (around wither height or above) show altered neck and back posture, including shortening of the topline muscles
• The angle of the jaw and throat changes, creating a more “closed” and unnatural position
• This can affect not just muscles, but potentially breathing and drainage of the respiratory system

In contrast:
• Feeding from a LOW position (closer to the ground or slightly below chest height) produces posture much closer to natural grazing
• The back remains more relaxed and elongated
• The neck can stretch forward and down, supporting healthy biomechanics

An Ohio State study found that horses actually PREFERRED hay offered on the ground over hay nets at chest or wither height. When forced to choose between nets, they preferred lower positions over higher ones.

But safety still matters:
Low nets can pose a risk for entanglement if not designed or secured properly.

So what’s the takeaway?
✔️ Aim for the lowest SAFE feeding position possible
✔️ Avoid hanging hay nets high at or above the withers
✔️ Consider slow feeders that allow a more natural head/neck position

As an equine massage therapist, I see firsthand how posture during feeding shows up as tension in the neck, poll, and back.

Small management changes = big body changes

📚
Sources:
• Raspa et al., 2021 – Effects of feeding position on equine posture
• Ohio State University Extension (Garrett, 2017) – Hay net height preference study
• Kentucky Equine Research – Feeding position and musculoskeletal effect

I want to start doing a weekly educational post on this page. I have some topics ready to go, but I want hear from my followers! Comment any topics you’d like me to cover!

Picture of Norman enjoying his balance pads (a topic I’ll be covering in the near future😉)