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Here you will find a wealth of information about equine anatomy and biomechanics. We regularly publish articles full of exercises and top tips to help you improve your horse's musculoskeletal health, comfort and performance. Authors include Gillian Higgins, the Horses Inside Out team and a host of other equestrian specialists all world leaders in their field.
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The Big Interview: Dr. Jessica Kidd*
*BA, DVM, CertES(Orth), Dipl ECVS, MRCVS As Jessica is presenting an online seminar for us on Saturday 7th October 2023 we thought it...

Intelligent Horsemanship
Sep 25, 202312 min read


Maintaining Mobility
As I sit here writing this article I am looking out over the North Sea in the lovely Danish town of Hirtshals on the last of my...

Gillian Higgins
Aug 30, 20234 min read


Why a Strong Thoracic Sling is Important for Your Horse
A strong thoracic sling will improve your horse's performance, health, and well-being as well as enhancing his agility, power and lightness of the forehand. It can also reduce the risk of injury and lameness. A strong thoracic sling will reduce the stress on the back and spine making him better able to cope with the weight of the rider. Essentially, a strong thoracic sling means a happier, healthier horse. What is the Thoracic Sling? The horse has no collarbone and the thorac

Gillian Higgins
Aug 21, 20233 min read


Keeping Horses on the 'Road' - Training for Health and Performance
Correct training and riding are key to keeping your horse happy, comfortable and sound. Combine this with a thorough understanding equine anatomy and how the horse works and you will be better able to train, ride, reduce the risk of injury allowing your horse to perform at his best. All horses are different in the way they move and think and it’s important to recognise and work with what you have got and train each horse accordingly. There is no such thing as a perfect horse.

Horses Inside Out
Aug 7, 20233 min read


Horses Inside Out North America Tour 2023
Whoop whoop after months of preparation July finally arrived and we headed off to North America for a couple of weeks of lecture...

Gillian Higgins
Jul 24, 20235 min read


Freddie Fox - His Story Continues...
In July 2021 we sadly said good-bye to the wonderful Freddie Fox, who most of you will instantly recognise as the face of Horses Inside Out. He was the horse of a lifetime and he gave so much to the world of horses and helped to educate thousands of people across the world through Horses Inside Out. Gillian Higgins winning the 1* class at Gatcombe, receiving the prize for the best young rider under 25 from HRH the Princess Royal. After 24 years, it was such a sad day when we

Gillian Higgins
Jul 17, 20236 min read


Skeletal Maturity in Horses: Growth Plate Ossification and Age Considerations
PART 2 Understanding the process of skeletal maturity in horses is crucial for appropriate management, training and care. Skeletal maturity refers to the point at which a horse’s bones have fully developed and growth plates have ossified. In this, the second part of our blog about young horses, we explore the age at which horses generally reach skeletal maturity and the timeline of growth plate closure in different anatomical regions. Skeletal maturity in horses signifies the

Horses Inside Out
Jul 10, 20233 min read


Common Problems Seen in Young Horses
PART 1 The early years of a horse's life are crucial for their development and future success. Young horses, specifically those between the ages of three and six years, often experience a range of common problems that can affect their overall well-being, training, and performance. Growth and Development is the topic for the Horses Inside Out Conference in February 2024. Over the two days of the conference, you will be treated to a packed timetable with experts presenting th

Horses Inside Out
Jul 3, 20234 min read


My Day of Interactive Applied Anatomy
I have already attended three of Gillian’s 2 Day courses so was excited to add another one to my growing list. This time round it was the...

Jay Mackay
Jun 26, 20233 min read


Head First
A happy, comfortable horse is something all owners and trainers are striving for. Good management, feeding and training all play an integral part together with correctly fitting tack. Bridle fit and bitting is now, and quite rightly, seen as being just as important as the saddle and can have a huge impact on your horse’s performance and well-being. Having a clearer understanding of equine biomechanics and anatomy of the head highlights the huge influence that using a correctl

Horses Inside Out
Jun 19, 20235 min read


Nature 'vs' Nurture
Nature versus nurture is often talked about whether it’s considering child development or more relevant to us, in horses. Dr Andrew Hemmings has carried out lots of research that reveals that by having a detailed knowledge of innate biological characteristics (nature) can help us make decisions about the best management practices of the domestic horse (nurture). Generally, when you read about nature and nurture, the nature element very much refers to what's going on in the an

Gillian Higgins
Jun 12, 20233 min read


Getting Out There!
During the pandemic we made the decision not to do any foreign HIO trips until 2023. We'd been so busy focussing on working from home,...

Gillian Higgins
Jun 5, 20237 min read


What is Best for Me? Gillian's top recommendations for different disciplines and professions
If you are keen to improve your knowledge on equine biomechanics and anatomy, Horses Inside out is here to help. Horses Inside Out...

Gillian Higgins
May 29, 202324 min read


My Trip to Sweden with Gillian Higgins
As I write this blog I have recently returned from an incredible few days away with someone who has become a good friend over the last 3...

Jessica Limpkin
May 22, 20239 min read


Myofascial Techniques You Can Do With Your Horse
Myofascial release – it’s a bit of a buzz word in the horse world. But what is it, why is it so widely spoken about in the world of...

Gillian Higgins
May 15, 20234 min read


Neck and Back Pain in Horses
All owners want their horses to be happy, healthy and sound. Recognising when your horse isn’t performing as he should is key to his...

Gillian Higgins
May 8, 20235 min read


Building Fitness in Your Horse
With summer almost upon us, the competition season in full swing, and more daylight hours many of us will be planning to spend more time...

Ally Lowther
May 1, 20233 min read


The Anatomical Systems of the Horse and why we need to know about them
There’s no getting away from it – horses are truly amazing and as owners, riders, trainers, therapists and other equestrian professionals...

Ally Lowther
Apr 24, 20237 min read


Horses Inside Out Online Massage Course
Massage is a powerful tool and has so many benefits, and now horse owners can learn how to massage their own horse with the Horses Inside...

Ally Lowther
Apr 17, 20232 min read


Understanding Anatomy to Boost Your Riding Confidence
In this article I suggest four top tips that will help you ensure that your horse is comfortable, and his muscular skeletal system is prepar

Gillian Higgins
Apr 10, 20235 min read
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