Just like us, horses carry tension in their neck and shoulders. Here is an idea to start exploring what happens if we ask the horse to let go.

We tend to carry around excess tension in our neck and shoulders. In my experience, horses do the same thing. What happens when we let that go?

When working our horses to develop stamina or strength, we mostly focus on work in trot and canter, but we shouldn't forget that the walk is actually a great way to develop both muscles and endurance. And while we might see it only as a warm-up and cool-down gait, we shouldn't overlook its potential benefits. Here are five ways in which working in walk can benefit your horse.

Groundwork is an excellent tool if used properly. Here are 5 common mistakes that compromise the beneficial effects of this kind of work.

You've addressed the pain, you've checked saddle fit, but the horse is still acting up while being tacked up. What now? The answer lies in the nervous system.

A lot of horses have a hard time relaxing and finding comfort in their own bodies. By inviting them into a resting posture, we can teach them that it is ok to relax and let go of the tension in their bodies.

Many horses are constantly in an alert state and have trouble relaxing. Taking the time to relax and do nothing can be very beneficial.

If you are curious to try some bodywork moves on your horse, but are unsure how to approach it, here are some basic guidelines to help you on your way.

Here is a closer look at the ingredients of teaching good posture – communication, coordination and strength.

Teaching good movement can be a daunting task. Breaking it down into smaller goals will help us stay on the right path and train in a systematic way.

Most bodyworkers will recommend a break from work following a bodywork session, but this does not mean the horse should be kept in a stall.

Most modern sports horses are hypermobile, meaning that their joints have an excessive range of motion. While big movement might seem impressive, it can cause a lot of issues down the road.

Working over cavaletti can be very beneficial or very harmful, depending on how it’s done. Using the cavaletti in walk can be a wonderful exercise for horses in re-training.

A simple exercise you can do with your horse to release some front-end tension and address the nervous system.

The nervous system is an important component of restoring functionality in a body and should not be overlooked. Exercises that target the nervous system are gentle, but very effective.