The Equine Functional Posture Podcast

Do you know how to recognise an abdominal muscle injury??

The horse’s abdominals are one of the most important support systems in the body. In this episode, we explore the anatomy and function of the abdominal muscles, how abdominal injuries can occur, and why these injuries are so commonly missed. We also discuss how abdominal dysfunction can influence posture, spinal stability, thoracic sling function, pelvic mechanics, and movement quality throughout the entire body.

In this episode, we unpack:

The role of the abdominal muscles in spinal support, posture, breathing, urination, defecation, and movement

The four abdominal muscles and how their different fibre directions help stabilize and coordinate the body

Common causes of abdominal injuries, including slips, falls, getting caught in fences, mud, float injuries, kicks, and compensation patterns

Why abdominal injuries often do not present as obvious lameness, making them easy to overlook

Signs of abdominal dysfunction, including shortened stride length, difficulty cantering, poor back lift, altered posture, instability, and difficulty picking up limbs for the farrier

How abdominal injuries can influence the thoracic sling, pelvis, lumbar spine, multifidi, and whole-body biomechanics

Why rehabilitation must focus on restoring whole-body function rather than just treating one isolated area

This episode highlights how interconnected the horse’s body truly is and why understanding abdominal function can completely change the way you assess posture, movement, performance, and rehabilitation. It also reinforces the importance of observation, palpation, and recognising subtle compensations before they develop into larger problems.

To learn more about Dr Raquel Butler visit:

Facebook: Integrated Veterinary Therapeutics
Website: https://www.integratedvettherapeutics.com.au

To learn more about Sophie Vandenberg:

Facebook: Equine Posturelate – Sophie Vandenberg

Have any questions or topics you’d love us to cover?

Email us at: [email protected]

Do you know how to observe your horse's back to know whether the work you do is improving or detracting from your horse's back health?

Your horse’s back can give valuable clues about how they are coping with work, carrying a rider, and managing tension or fatigue through the body. This episode is about creating simple, purposeful checks you can use before and after riding. We also discuss causeso f back discomfort - so that if anything goes awry you can begin a process of elimination!

In this episode, we unpack:

Why the back can act as a window into whole-body function and compensation

What to observe : we cover shape, comfort, texture/tone, function

How back tension may relate to saddle fit, rider function, workload, fatigue, limb discomfort, or hoof balance

Why knowing what is normal for your horse can help you pick up small changes earlier

This episode is a practical guide to making your pre and post work observations more intentional, so you can recognise change earlier and have more useful conversations with the professionals supporting your horse.

To learn more about Dr Raquel Butler visit:

Facebook: Integrated Veterinary Therapeutics
Website: https://www.integratedvettherapeutics.com

To learn more about Sophie Vandenberg:

Facebook: Equine Posturelate – Sophie Vandenberg

Have any questions or topics you’d love us to cover?

Email us at: [email protected]

What does your horses paddock posture reveal?

What if you could learn more about your horse’s posture, comfort, and biomechanics just by watching them in the paddock? Your horse spends the majority of their time in their paddock or living arrangement, and observing how they are loading through their body in these spaces is important information.

In this episode, we unpack:

What grazing posture can reveal about balance, stability, and compensation

How hard feed posture may show tension, offloading, or discomfort

Why urination and defecation positions can give clues about the pelvis, lumbar spine, stifles, abdominals, and tail

What balanced, effortless paddock posture should look like



To learn more about Dr Raquel Butler visit:

Facebook: Integrated Veterinary Therapeutics
Website: https://www.integratedvettherapeutics.com

To learn more about Sophie Vandenberg:

Facebook: Equine Posturelate – Sophie Vandenberg

Have any questions or topics you’d love us to cover?

Email us at: [email protected]

Rope Walking and What It Reveals About Your Horse’s Body

Rope Walking in horses (walking as if on a tightrope) is more than just an unusual gait, it’s a clue that something deeper is going on within the body. We break down why alignment should be balanced rather than narrow, and why this change in movement and loading can indicate instability, compensation, or pain.

We draw on real clinical cases and practical experience and guide you through the most common causes, how to assess your horse, and simple strategies to begin improving movement, stability, and comfort.

In this episode, we unpack

What ropewalking vs correct limb alignment should look like during movement and standing

Common causes in the forelimbs, including pectoral injury, shoulder instability, saddle or girth discomfort, and neurological issues

Common contributors in the hindlimbs, including groin tension, abdominal weakness, pelvic dysfunction, and lumbar discomfort

Why downhill surfaces can highlight instability and make rope walking more obvious

When to consider neurological involvement and seek veterinary assessment

Practical ways to assess your horse, and rehabilitation strategies that gently recalibrate the system

This is an important conversation for horse owners because rope walking is not a training issue and therefore training is not a primary solution - rather a structural and postural one!

To learn more about Dr Raquel Butler visit:

Facebook: Integrated Veterinary Therapeutics
Website: https://www.integratedvettherapeutics.com

To learn more about Sophie Vandenberg:

Facebook: Equine Posturelate – Sophie Vandenberg

Have any questions or topics you’d love us to cover?

Email us at: [email protected]

Sleep Deprivation and Posture

Sleep deprivation in horses is a serious welfare issue, and one that can easily be missed or mistaken for something else. In this episode, we unpack what normal sleep looks like in the horse, why REM sleep matters so much, and some of the reasons a horse may not be getting the rest they need.

We talk through the difference between standing rest, laying sleep, and REM sleep, and why the ability to comfortably get down to the ground and back up again matters more than many people realise. We also explore how pain, physical dysfunction, group housing dynamics, space, footing, and environmental stress can all influence whether a horse feels safe and able to sleep properly.

In this episode, we unpack:

What normal sleep patterns look like in horses, including standing rest, recumbent sleep, and REM sleep

Why foals and young horses need much more sleep, and why REM sleep is essential for recovery and nervous system function

Common causes of sleep deprivation, including pain, chronic discomfort, difficulty lying down or getting up, and environmental stress

How sleep deprivation can show up through collapse episodes, fatigue, reduced focus, stress, pain sensitivity, and emotional dysregulation

Why whole-body posture is so important for the horse's stay apparatus - providing stability during standing sleep and rest

What owners can do to improve comfort, safety, and sleep opportunities for their horse

This is an important conversation for horse owners because sleep deprivation is not just a behaviour issue. It is a welfare issue, and one that deserves attention when a horse is not coping physically or emotionally.



To learn more about Dr Raquel Butler visit:

Facebook: Integrated Veterinary Therapeutics

Website: https://www.integratedvettherapeutics.com

To learn more about Sophie Vandenberg:

Facebook: Equine Posturelate - Sophie Vandenberg

Have any questions? Have a topic you would like to hear about?



Email us at: [email protected]