Horse inspections are crucial to eventing welfare and public confidence, yet assessing a fit, excited horse in-hand remains inherently subjective. Dr Sue Dyson examines whether objective gait analysis could improve decision-making at three-day events, and why current lameness thresholds may not yet offer a clear answer.

In this article Gillian unpicks the problem of getting the correct canter lead. Understand why it happens, how to identify what's really going on, and the exercises that can help fix it.

Equine welfare is something that's at the forefront of all of our minds. With so much happening in the equestrian world from a social license perspective, but also just becoming so much more aware of the horses that we love and that we work with.

Soundness isn't just something that happens to your horse, it's something you can actively build. Gillian Higgins helps you to understand how your horse's body works, and shares a few simple changes to how you care, ride, and train him can help strengthen the structures that keep him going, and give him the best chance of a long, active life.

There isn't one magic exercise that fixes kissing spines. Successful rehabilitation comes from combining a variety of exercises that encourage your horse to use their body more effectively. The aim isn't simply to make the back stronger, it's to improve the way the whole horse moves.

A diagnosis of kissing spines can feel overwhelming. It's natural to wonder what it means for your horse's future and whether they'll ever be comfortable again. The good news is that a diagnosis of kissing spines doesn't automatically mean the end of your horse's ridden career. With the right veterinary guidance, appropriate management and a carefully planned rehabilitation programme, many horses go on to become happier, stronger and more comfortable.

What's really happening when your horse's head goes forward and down; stretching, or something else entirely? Gillian Higgins breaks down the anatomy behind a correct outline, from the nuchal ligament to the neck's key joints, and explains why the base of the neck matters more to your horse's frame than where the nose sits.

Once you have an understanding of how your horse's muscles work, you'll start reading their movement completely differently, whether you're in the saddle, working from the ground, or watching him move round during turnout.

When we look at a horse's back, it's tempting to think of it simply as the place where the saddle sits. However, underneath that saddle lies a fascinating, complex system of muscles that work together to allow movement, support posture, and help carry the rider.

Joint mobilisations are quiet, unhurried movements, but don't let that fool you. The effects they create throughout the body are anything but small and something that should be part of all horse's care routine.

To truly understand the anatomy behind bridle fit, we need to go much deeper into what's beneath the skin. In this article, Gillian Higgins explains that the head of the horse is not simply a place to attach pieces of tack. It's a sophisticated, interconnected system of bones, muscles, nerves, and fascial chains whose health directly influences how well your horse can move, breathe, swallow, and perform.

Understand your horse and gain a insight into how they move and function when you visit the Inside the Horse Anatomy Exhibition this August.

Dr Sue Dyson looks at recent research that suggests that the idea of moody mares is far more myth than reality

Gillian Higgins explains what good posture is and shares her four-point practical guide to assessing your horse's posture

Gillian's tips and advice for riding in harmony with your horse. True harmony isn’t about holding the horse together or making things happen. It’s about understanding how the horse’s body works and learning how to work with it, not against it.

Gillian Higgins shares her advice and tips on supporting locomotion, mobility and flexibility in veteran horses

2026 marks 20 years of making the invisible visible. From one painted horse in a livery yard to a globally respected education platform, the journey has transformed how people understand, care for, and train horses.

From the science of laterality to rehabilitation, nutrition, and welfare, day 2 of the 2026 Conference highlighted just how complex the subject of soundness and symmetry really is. While symmetry is often viewed as the ideal, the speakers over the whole weekend made it clear that the reality is far more layered. Just like humans, horses are naturally asymmetrical and understanding the difference between normal variation and when it is more serious is essential for anyone wor

The conference kicked off with Dr Kevin Haussler who discussed Spinal Evaluation Techniques in Horses. He stressed a clear and structured approach is needed, emphasising that assessment must go beyond simply identifying sore areas. He explained that the spine plays a central role in posture, locomotion, performance, and neurologic function, meaning dysfunction can present as poor performance, behavioural resistance, vague lameness, or subtle neurologic deficits.

Dr Sue Dyson looks at recent research on whether coaches are able to detect hindlimb lameness in horses and why this is an important skill to have to ensure the welfare of the horse.