Equine Body Balance

10/04/2026

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Meet the nuchal ligament: the most important part of horses’ topline you’ve probably never heard of.

The nuchal ligament, which runs from the top of the skull down the neck to the withers, is responsible for holding the weight of the horse’s head (which comprises about 10% of their total bodyweight!). It plays a role in almost every movement a horse makes, from storing a significant portion of the energy they need to move to stretching to help them lift their backs.

When I attended the Equine Brain and Body Symposium with Dr. Stephen Peters and Jillian Kreinbring over the summer, I learned a LOT about the nuchal ligament… and I’m obsessed.

Think about it: if this ligament is so important and responsible for so many functions, what happens when it’s not doing what it’s supposed to?

If horses are ridden regularly with over-flexed polls or with their necks otherwise restricted, it can trigger pain and inflammation in the nuchal ligament and even issues like nuchal bursitis. Nearly everything a horse does, from work under saddle to simply grazing in the field, is affected by an impaired nuchal ligament.

This is one of the many reasons I am so passionate about proper biomechanics in both horses and riders.

When riders learn to follow the motion of the horse with their elbows, they let the neck oscillate properly so the nuchal ligament can do what it’s built to do. When horses learn to push out to the contact with an open throatlatch and their poll as the highest point, they build the correct muscles and leave the nuchal ligament unimpeded.

Biomechanics is not just a buzzword. It’s the foundation of happy, healthy horses and harmonious riding.

09/27/2026

This gelding Jax was attacked and bitten severely by a mule some weeks before this bodywork session. In order for the owner to do the work on him since he lives a thousand miles from me, we did a FaceTime session over the phone with me coaching her. This helped the gelding get over the trauma of the attack and helped him heal.

FaceTime sessions are available for owners and students in all parts of the U.S. The ability to work this way brings Equine Ortho-Bionomy and other modalities to many more animals. Let me know in the comments below if you're interested!

09/26/2026

This Equine Ortho-Bionomy course focuses on the equine limbs and the structures that contribute to the healthy movement of limbs. It also includes new research on the nuchal ligament and its relationship to surrounding structures. How do you keep a horse moving well or within a comfortable range of function?

Join us in this lively exploration of equine structures through effective bodywork. NCBTMB-approved course.

06/25/2026

Does every horse need to be trained to saddle?

06/16/2026

When you touch a body, you initiate change. When you get really good at it, you initiate change without touching the body.

06/14/2026

The Anatomy of Auras - Horse and Human, an online 5-lesson course that helps us work with auras through anatomy, is available right now. Lesson 2 begins this Tuesday, June 16th.

Even if your contact with a horse is for 1 hour every six weeks or so, what do you bring with you? How can you “ drop in” to work most effectively and create a temporary bond?

06/01/2026

The Anatomy of Auras - Horse and human This online course debuts in June! For those interested in furthering their knowledge of horse/human relationships as well as how to offer effective bodywork to horses.

Even when working with a horse for an hour every 2 months, your work is enhanced by forming a temporary comfortable bond with that horse.