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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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All About Anatomy
The Horses Inside Out Anatomy Exhibition is a must see for every equestrian and anatomy enthusiast and one to rival aspects of the Natural History Museum! Each skeleton, specimen and anatomical model reveals different fascinating structure, anatomy, asymmetries, anomalies and pathologies. The next anatomy exhibition will take place at the 2024 Conference: Growth and Development . There is a great opportunity to get up, close and personal with each specimen, get hands on with

Gillian Higgins
Oct 23, 20234 min read


Feeding for the Future
Equine nutrition is a subject often spoken about and one that can lead to some confusion. When it comes to young horses, their diet sets the foundation for their future and needs to be balanced and as natural a possible. Professor Meriel Moore-Colyer believes feeding doesn’t need to be complicated – it just needs to be balanced. Meriel has always had a keen interest in equine nutrition, loving to make up the feeds at the yard and looking at how feeds can have different effe

Horses Inside Out
Oct 18, 20234 min read


Angular Limb Deformities and Common Developmental Issues. How and when to intervene
In our last blog Dr Sue Dyson highlighted the importance of correct front feet for long term soundness in horses. In this article, we...

Ally Lowther
Oct 15, 20234 min read


Conformation and the Link to Long Term Soundness of the Horse
When we are looking to buy a new horse, we are encouraged to look at its conformation. Horse conformation is the study of the shape and structure of a horse's body. Conformation is influenced by the length and angles of the bones, the size and shape of the muscles, and the balance and symmetry of the horse. Correct conformation is important for long term performance and soundness because it may determine how well a horse can move, carry weight, and avoid injuries. In this art

Ally Lowther
Oct 2, 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


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


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


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


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


The HIO Conference Review - Part 2
Following a packed first day, would the second day deliver such a wide ranging set of presentations? The resounding answer is yes it did!...

Ally Lowther
Mar 30, 20234 min read


Why Correct Saddle Fit is Crucial
In this blog article we will explore the importance of regular saddle fit, include some back assessment techniques and show you some simple

Gillian Higgins
Mar 24, 20233 min read


Treating Tendon Injuries in Horses
Caring for tendons, or managing a horse with a tendon injury is probably every horse owner’s nightmare. A horse with a tendon injury used...

Ally Lowther
Feb 6, 20232 min read


Learning to Listen to Your Horse
With life being such fast paced it can be so easy to overlook things that may be staring us in the face. This is also true for our horses...

Ally Lowther
Jan 16, 20233 min read


The Role of a Healthy Hind gut in Your Horse
Hind gut health is a phrase we hear a lot about at the moment, and it is an important issue. A healthy hind gut has so many positive...

Ally Lowther
Dec 12, 20223 min read
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