Articles

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.

Horses are incredible athletes, capable of remarkable feats of strength and agility. However, their demanding work schedules can lead to muscle tension, stiffness, and pain. This is where equine massage and stretching come in, offering a natural, science-backed approach to improving your horse's well-being.

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 working with horses.

During the 2026 conference we were lucky enough to welcome Ros Canter to the stage for a relaxed chat and Q&As with Gillian Higgins. In this article, Allison Lowther brings you the highlights which includes assessing asymmetry and how it may impact performance. As well as training young horses with longevity in mind and more. Assessing Horses and Managing Movement Q: How do you go about assessing your own horses and the management side of assessing movement? Ros says: When it comes to...

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.

when you can’t ride or turnout, there's still so much you can do. It may be tricky to find the motivation but this is the perfect time to focus on strengthening your partnership, improving your horse’s comfort and posture, and building solid foundations that will help your training and performance in the future.

Freshness and spookiness can be a real challenge during the winter months. Shorter days, reduced turnout, colder temperatures, clipped coats and more time spent in the stable can all have a significant impact on a horse’s behaviour.

In the quest of better movement, improved performance and long-term soundness, we often look closely at the horse. We analyse conformation, training methods, saddle fit and management in minute detail. But what if one of the most influential factors is sitting right on top of the horse?

Nicola Wilson talks about her passion for coaching, resilience and the lessons life has taught her along the way.