What is Best for Me? Gillian's top recommendations for different disciplines and professions
- Gillian Higgins
- May 29, 2023
- 24 min read
Updated: Apr 27
If you are keen to improve your knowledge on equine biomechanics and anatomy, Horses Inside out is here to help.
Horses Inside Out provides a range of accessible resources, including books, videos, online courses, workshops, and presentations. These resources are designed to suit various learning preferences and budgets, making valuable information available to a wide audience. The affordability and availability of these resources contribute to the exceptional value that Horses Inside Out offers.
With 11 books to choose from and over 80 hours of on-demand online educational opportunities in the Horses Inside Out Academy it can be tricky to know where to start.
In this blog Gillian gives her top recommendations of what to read and watch depending on your equestrian interest or profession.
Just select the category below that applies most to you to find out Gillian's top suggestions.
Horse Owners
The book How Your Horse Moves is a great place to start and is a must for every horse owner! This entry level anatomy and biomechanics book gives you the basic building blocks of what makes up equine anatomy. It covers the muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments. There is also lots of useful information on how the horse creates movement – plus top tips for maintaining musculoskeletal health, comfort and performance.
Pilates and Stretching is another book that comes highly recommended and is our most popular book for horse owners. This is a really good practical, how to guide with lots of simple exercises that you can do with your horse.
Online Learning for Horse Owners
Available in the Horses Inside Out Academy, there are a number of different webinars available that will help all horse owners and riders whatever their level or experience.
Watching the on-demand webinars in order is best. Series one givhttps://www.horsesinsideout.com/product-page/pilates-and-stretchinges you a really good guide to the anatomy of the back, the biomechanics of the back and posture as well as some simple exercises to keep them healthy. This series also looks at poles for posture and Pilates for horses. Once you’ve watched these you can move onto series two, three, four, five and beyond.
Digestive Anatomy, Feeding and Nutrition takes you on a fascinating journey where you will learn all about the anatomy of the digestive system, top tips for nutrition, how to feed a balanced diet and how to put together the best feeding programme for your horse.
The new Online Massage Course for Horse Owners teaches you the principles of massage including the benefits, different types and when not to massage. This step-by-step course gives you the skills and confidence to make a real difference to your horse's comfort and will help to develop a closer partnership too.
Practical Courses Don’t forget the practical in person courses held at Horses Inside Out HQ in Leicestershire. We have several courses aimed specifically at horse owners including the Massage day course and Pilates course. Both of these courses are a perfect way to learn new skills to use on your own horse that will improve his comfort, strength and well-being. Group numbers are kept small on these courses, so you have plenty of opportunity to get 'hands-on' and practise, as well as the chance to chat and ask questions throughout the day.
Riders
Riders of any level and all disciplines will benefit from having a better knowledge of equine anatomy and biomechanics.
How Your Horse Moves will help you understand how the bones and muscles work together to create movement. Also, discover how correct riding and training will bring out the best in your horse by seeing exactly what happens when he moves. Learn which exercises and stretches will improve your horse's suppleness and reduce the risk of injury.
To gain an even deeper knowledge there's Posture and Performance which looks at how to deliver a safe, varied, fun, effective and achievable training programme. It provides all the ingredients you need to make informed decisions to maximise you and your horse’s potential, as well as gain more enjoyment, satisfaction and improve your skills.
Online Learning for Riders
Any rider that wants to improve their position, harmony, accuracy of aid application the four-part online lecture demonstration series is highly recommended.
It starts with the Principles of Movement before moving on to Riding from the Anatomical Perspective, Dressage Dissected, and finishing off with Jumping from the Anatomical Approach. This series covers lots of practical tips for improving riding covering posture, position, timing of the aids as well as suggesting different exercises to work on with your horse.
Dressage
For anyone with an interest in dressage understanding biomechanics is key to optimising your horse’s performance.
The books that every dressage rider should have on their bookshelf are:
How Your Horse Moves - The perfect introduction to the world of equine anatomy and biomechanics. All delivered in an easy to understand way together with practical exercises you can use to reduce the risk of injury and improve your horse's suppleness.
Posture and Performance - Create an effective, fun and achievable training programme with the principles of anatomy and biomechanics and the welfare of your horse in mind.
Anatomy in Action - The ultimate resource for understanding how your horse moves and performs movements. This book and video course really is a must-have.
Online Learning for Dressage Enthusiasts
You will find a whole range of different on-demand webinars and presentations, which are perfect for helping the dressage enthusiast. Here are a few to watch:
Understanding the Horse's Neck looks at how the position of the horse’s head and neck influences the back, outline, movement, performance, comfort, welfare and way of going.
It also studies the anatomy and location of the cervical vertebrae, spinal cord, cervical nerves, muscles, fascia and ligaments within the neck and explains how these structures have an enormous anatomical and biomechanical influence on how the horse moves.
Dressage Dissected is a two-hour on-demand lecture demonstration that studies how equine anatomy and biomechanics link to the scales of training. The first part of this lecture looks at how the horse maintains an outline, the different head and neck positions and how those different positions affect the horse's movement and way of going. The second part demonstrates exercises designed to improve each of the scales of training and discusses the relevant biomechanics.
The Biomechanics of Transitions webinar gives you the knowledge and skills you need to ride effortless harmonious transitions that will improve engagement, strength, balance, body control and posture. It explains and illustrates the biomechanics of the limb sequence and balance transfer that are both key to achieving a quality transition. It also looks at the common causes of problems within transitions and how to solve them.
The Biomechanics of Lateral Work gives you a thorough understanding of exactly how your horse creates sideways movement and how to ride them more effectively. It also looks at the biomechanical variations of different lateral movements such as leg-yield v’s half-pass, shoulder-in v’s renvers and travers – as well as recognising factors that challenge lateral movement.
The Biomechanics of Collection and Engagement focusses on the anatomy and biomechanics of the hindquarters and back that every rider and coach wishing to improve collection needs to understand.
This webinar also looks at the biomechanical connections that explain how moving one part of the horse’s body can affect the rest when it comes to engagement and collection and also considers how and why poor collection can potentially increase the risk of injury.
Jumping
If you are interested in showjumping, eventing or training with gymnastic jumping and pole work to improve posture, athletic ability, strength and suppleness, having an understanding of the biomechanics of how your horse jumps will help your training and if you compete it will have a positive effect on this too.
How Your Horse Moves is a great place to start, giving you a fantastic insight into anatomy and biomechanics. This book also covers, in detail, how your horse jumps from the anatomical approach. This chapter breaks down the five phases of the jump (approach, take-off, suspension, landing, recovery) and looks at each of them in detail, giving you a whole new perspective and understanding of how your horse jumps.
Posture and Performance is another great book that will help take your training to another level. It covers basic anatomy and the principles of training your horse from the anatomical perspective. It looks at the importance of posture and the effects of riding on your horse.
This book also gives you a great selection of pole work exercises and gymnastic jumping exercises that will help to improve your horse's posture, flexibility, core stability and musculoskeletal health.
Online Learning for Jumping Enthusiasts
Head to the Horses Inside Out Academy and you will find a number of on-demand webinars which are perfect for you.
Pole work and Gymnastic Jumping
focusses on canter poles, bounces and gymnastic jumping. It begins by looking at the biomechanics of how the horse canters. It studies head and neck position, hind limb and forelimb action as well as the biomechanics of the hip, pelvis, and lumbosacral
The main part of the webinar looks at pole work and jumping configurations, how to ride them and how they benefit the horse.
Poles for Posture looks at the benefits of pole work and what equipment you need. This webinar also gives you walk and trot pole exercises, poles for straightness - plus poles for lateral work and bending.
Jumping from the Anatomical Approach
is a two-hour on-demand lecture demo that studies the biomechanics of jumping and gives you the ability to assess and recognise what is a good jump. With this knowledge you are then able pick the best exercises to ride on your own horse to improve his performance and jump. For the serious jumpers the Anatomy in Action video course is a fabulous resource. It compares the biomechanics of jumping, different jumping styles and different jumping shapes from bounces to narrow fences, grids to wide triple bars, jumping uphill, downhill as well as steps and water.
Hacking
It doesn't matter what discipline you do with your horse, having an understanding of his anatomy and biomechanics will help to keep him comfortable and healthy.
To get you started, read How Your Horse Moves. This easy to follow book helps you to understand how horses move, presented from the inside out.
You will gain an insight into how bones and muscles work together to produce movement by seeing the musculoskeletal system painted on the horse. Learn how correct riding and training can bring out the best in your horse – by seeing exactly what happens as he moves.
Also, discover how to increase fitness, strength and balance, plus practical exercises and stretches demonstrate how you can improve suppleness, reduce the risk of injury and develop a deeper rapport with your horse.
Online Learning for Hacking Enthusiasts
There are two on-demand webinars that we recommended as a must watch for starters:
Riding from the Anatomical Perspective looks at the effect the rider has on the horse, compromising his posture and ability to move, as well as effecting his balance and increasing the strain on joints, tendons and ligaments.
Improving your equine partner's fitness, posture, strength and suppleness are key to preparing and future proofing the body. There are many ways riders can help to reduce the burden placed on the horse's backs. Personal fitness, balance, posture and riding skill are all things we can work on to improve not only our own health but that of our horse's too.
This lecture demonstration covers what is good back posture and what we as riders can do to help the horse support that back posture and prepare him for carrying the weight of the rider.
You will also learn a number of exercises that are good for strengthening your horse’s body so he’s more able to perform as a ridden horse. These exercises are suitable for all horses whatever their age and are beneficial for keeping them healthy through their backs.
The second one is Poles for Posture.
This webinar focuses on the biomechanical advantages of pole work exercises.
Pole Work is excellent for maintaining and improving posture and contributing to a healthy, mobile, fully functioning musculoskeletal system.
In this webinar you see a variety of different exercises, pole configurations and discover how pole work can develop balance, flexibility, coordination, lateral flexion, strength and control.
Young Horses
When it comes to young horses, building the correct foundations is the key to a happy horse and a long career. It's important to do as much as we can to ensure young horses have the best possible start and that includes their musculoskeletal health.
Horse Anatomy for Performance shows you how all the systems of the horse work together to affect performance and reduce the risk of injury. This book gives you a unique perspective of the 11 internal body systems and once you have read it you will look at your horse in a new light, care for him with empathy and ride with perception and consideration.
Online Learning for Young Horse Trainers
Skeletal Maturity and Exercises for Young Horses is the perfect on-demand webinar for you. It looks at how youngsters, regardless of conformation or type, develop both muscularly and skeletally.
It compares skeletons with both open and closed growth plates and looks at different activities and exercises to help prepare young horses for future ridden work. During this on-demand webinar different exercises are demonstrated that will improve lateral stability, strengthening posture and back muscles and proprioception.
Annual Conference 2024
The theme for the Horses Inside Out Conference in 2024 is Growth and Development. We have a fantastic line up of expert speakers who will be covering lots of different topics that are relevant to young horses. If you own or train young horses, this two-day conference is a definite date for your diary.
Rehabilitating Horses
If you have a horse that is recovering from an injury, or you are looking for exercises to keep him horse mobile. Pilates for Horses is the first place to start.
This how to guide shows you lots of simple exercises that you can do with your horse to improve core stability, strength and body awareness. These exercises can also improve posture, help achieve balance between strength and flexibility as well as relieve tension.
Online Learning for Rehabilitation
The key to effective rehabilitation is firstly identifying the injuries, any postural and movement compensations and the musculoskeletal strengths and weaknesses and secondly working out a simple and effective management and exercise programme to help the horse come back to peak performance.
In the Horses Inside Out Academy there is lots of content that would help with rehabilitation. However which is best depends on which structures are dysfunctioning.
The on-demand webinars Pilates for Horses and Poles for Posture give lots of exercises that are suitable for horses that are recovering from an injury to help stimulate core muscles, plus lateral stabilising exercises to help musculoskeletal health.
If your horse is suffering from and sacroiliac, pelvic or lumbosacral dysfunction the video course: The Sacroiliac Ligaments and the Iliopsoas Muscle Group is a must for helping to create you rehabilitation programme. As well as rehabilition exercises this course explains the anatomy, location, function, biomechanics, dysfunction of the sacroiliac and associated structures.
If you horse has had any tendon or ligament injury then: Tendinitis and Tendinopathy - Understanding the Tendons and Ligaments of the Lower Limb is an absolute must watch.
The Online Massage Course for Horse Owners is another recommendation for all horses on a rehab programme. Learn basic massage techniques and all about the anatomy of massage at your own pace in this online course. This course includes over six hours of online tutorials that clearly demonstrate all the different massage techniques as well as an accompanying book.
Practical Courses There’s also the option to join one of the practical day courses held at Horses Inside Out. Massage for Horse Owners and Pilates for Horse Owners are both a great introduction to these topics. These day courses are very much hands-on, so you will get lots of practice doing the various techniques under Gillian's guidance so you can then go away and use them on your own horse.
Coaches and Instructors
Having a comprehensive understanding of anatomy and biomechanics will help you as a coach to improve the way of going of the horse, but also give you the ability to recognise when a horse is comfortable, or struggling.
Teaching isn’t just about getting the horse to go well for the sake of improving dressage tests or going clear jumping. Training is for the sake of the horse and to improve their way of going. Think of it like going to a personal trainer – where you are given exercises to improve your balance and body posture. Being able to recognise a horse’s weaknesses and then prescribing appropriate effective exercises is really important.
Posture and Performance is a fantastic book that goes into detail on training as well as covering the importance of good posture, skeletal maturity and working with young horses, and the effect adding the weight of the rider. This book also covers a lot of theory about anatomy and biomechanics. In particular, the biomechanics of different exercises. If we truly understand the biomechanics of certain exercises it will help us to tailor our training by selecting the best exercises that will improve individual horses.
Another must-have book for any trainer, instructor or coach is Anatomy in Action. This comprehensive course (book and video) covers the biomechanics of the basic gaits of walk, trot, canter and gallop and all the variations within those gaits. The use of anatomically painted horses and riders wearing a skeleton suit help your understanding and images are used not just from side on but from above, in front and behind to give you a much clearer illustration from all angles of how the horse moves.
Anatomy in Action also studies the biomechanical effect of different pole work exercises, lateral work, bending and straightness exercises as well as other gaits, jumping, the effect of going up and down hill, backward and work on an aqua-treadmill. It includes different types, breeds and discilines of horses from Icelandic to Western horses and dressage warmbloods to racing thoroughbreds.
Online Learning For Coaches
Learning more about brain function and how the horse learns will allow you to train smarter - working with the horse to ensure the best performance.
The Complete Coach's Collection has been created to help you improve your knowledge and learn new skills to help your existing clients and attract new ones. This collection has been specifically selected for equestrian coaches, instructors and trainers. You will learn all about equine anatomy and biomechanics and gain practical and valuable tools to help the riders and horses you train.
Training the Brain seminar with Dr Andrew Hemmings is a true eye opener and will give you lots of food for thought about how the equine brain works and how to use this knowledge to improve training and horse care.
Equine Therapy Professionals
Many colleges and equine therapy courses include Gillian's books in the recommended reading list and the complete collection is something every equine therapists should build up to. Both for learning and CPD and because the books are so useful for illustrating points to clients.
If you haven't already got them you definitely need to have Posture and Performance and Pilates for Horses.
Also recommended is Sacroiliac Ligaments and the Iliopsoas muscle Group. This book and video course studies the anatomy, biomechanics, location and function of the structures around the sacroiliac and pelvic region. It also looks at injury, dysfunction as well as strengthening and rehabilitation exercises that you can use to help the area.
Online Learning for Equine Therapy Professionals
There’s a huge amount of relevant content available in the Horses Inside Out Academy for the professional equine therapist. This online content gives you tips and explanations of sometimes complex subjects that will help when you are talking to clients.
It is worth working through all the on-demand webinars as each one links the subject back the biomechanics, dysfunction and suggests relevant exercises that you can pass on to horse owners.
In addition to the on-demand webinars an absolute must watch is
the on demand seminar Recognising Pain Related Poor Performance with Dr Sue Dyson. This truly fascinating seminar reveals Sue Dyson's straightforward system for assessing horse movement and comfort. During this online seminar, she explains how to use this system, sharing tips, techniques and giving you the confidence to recognise pain related poor performance.
Practical Courses
For professional therapists the Horses Inside Out Annual Conference is a must. This two-day conference is a great opportunity for networking with like minded professionals, not just other therapists but other para professionals too.
Also, at Horses Inside out HQ we run professional CPD Courses specifically for equine therapists.
These include:
Myofascial Chains and Techniques
Joint Mobilisation and Musculoskeletal Testing
Assessing Posture and Movement
Saddlers and Saddle Fitters
Anybody working in the saddlery industry will know that fit and comfort are key for the welfare and performance of the horse. The slightest imbalance in the saddle can truly affect the horse’s way of going and can impact on the rider as well.
Understanding equine anatomy and biomechanics relevant to saddle fit is crucial. How Your Horse Moves and Posture and Performance are two good books to read that will provide an insight into the anatomy and movement of the horse.
Online Learning for Saddlery Professionals
There are a number of on demand webinars and seminars that are an absolute must watch for every saddlery professional:
Understanding the Horse’s Back covers the anatomy and biomechanics of the back as well as covering the topic of posture and why it’s crucial for the health and performance of the horse.
Muscular Misconceptions studies which muscles which lie in the area underneath the saddle and girth area. It also examines their importance to riding, posture, training, health, comfort and tack fit, dispelling some myths about their anatomy and function.
Recognising Pain Related Poor Performance with Dr Sue Dyson is a fascinating seminar that looks at the straightforward system Sue Dyson has developed for assessing horse movement and comfort. She explains how to use this system, sharing tips, techniques and giving you the confidence to recognise pain related poor performance.
The comprehensive video course Anatomy in Action is also an extremely valuable resource. It looks at all the paces and different movements that horses do. This is a really good overview of equine movement that will be relevant to the work you do as a saddle fitter.
Practical Courses
The two-day course Applied Anatomy and Biomechanics for Saddlery Professionals takes an in-depth look at the structure and function of the horse, relates it to the way of going and how saddle and bridle fit completes the puzzle. This course is jam-packed with content and is always a popular one to attend.
Dentists, Bit and Bridle Fitters
Understanding the structure and anatomy of the head, not just the joints, muscles and nerves but the anatomical connections to the rest of the body is really important when it comes to bridle, bit fitting and dental health.
The book Illustrated Head Anatomy is a must for any professional working with the horse's head.
It will help you further your knowledge about the anatomy of the head. It combines the use of painted horses, anatomical models and a video course that all illustrate the structures of the head in relation to bridle fit. You will also find this book a valuable resource to show to clients to help illustrate points and boost their knowledge too.
Online Learning for Denstists, Bit and Bridle Fitters
Anatomy of the Head is an on-demand webinar that looks in detail at the internal and external structures of the head. It gives you a clear understanding of what lies under the horse’s skin. This in-depth webinar studies the hyoid apparatus, temporomandibular joint and tongue as well as the bones, nerves, muscles and teeth.
Another on-demand webinar to watch is Understanding Your Horse’s Neck. Although this doesn't go into the structures of the head, it does look at the different outlines and how the position of the head and neck impacts on the rest of the body.
Attend the one-day seminar Get Ahead! with Gillian and Dr Chris Pearce on Saturday 2 December 2023.
This will study the integral role dentistry, bridle fit and understanding anatomy play in equine comfort and performance. You can either attend this seminar in person at the Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester, or it will be live streamed, so you can watch from home. Everyone is welcome!
Farriers and Podiatrists
There is no truer saying - No hoof, no horse. Thinking about it logically, the horse has his entire weight loaded onto his four feet when standing and onto only one foot when galloping. Essentially, without good feet you have nothing. The hoof tells so much about the state of the horse’s health and without a healthy horse it’s hard to have healthy feet.
Good healthy feet are an integral part to a horse’s well-being, but as a hoof care professional it's important to take a holistic view of the horse when it comes to hoof care and shoeing. Having an understanding of how the horse moves and the anatomy and biomechanics will help you in your day-to-day job.
These are the books recommended for farriers and podiatrists wishing to learn more:
How Your Horse Moves is a great place to start and is a must for every horse owner! This entry level anatomy and biomechanics book gives you the basic building blocks of what makes up equine anatomy. It covers the muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments. There is also lots of useful information on how the horse creates movement – plus top tips for maintaining musculoskeletal health, comfort and performance.
The Anatomy poster book Volume 1: The Musculo-Skeletal System is an invaluable and easy way to help you learn the names of all the anatomical structures. Each image in this poster book is fully labelled up on anatomically painted horses to help bring this subject to life. It's also useful on the job for helping to explain points to clients.
Online Learning for Farriers and Hoof Care Professionals
Understanding the Horse's Leg studies the anatomy and biomechanics of the lower leg and focuses on tendon injury and its prevention, early detection, management and rehabilitation. This on-demand seminar with experts Dr Seth O'Neill and Gillian Higgins gives you a better understanding of:-
Anatomy and palpation of the tendons and ligaments of the lower limb
How to reduce the risk of injury
Ways to improve performance
Injury and dysfunction
Tendinitis and Tendinopathy
Designing appropriate training and rehabilitaion regimes
The on-demand webinar series 5: Understanding and Assessing Movement is a must watch for anyone wishing to better their dynamic movement assessment skills. This three-part series studies the walk, trot and canter. Each one studies the biomechanics of the gait, irregularities and potential issues.
Recognising Pain Related Poor Performance is an on-demand online seminar with Dr Sue Dyson. It can be easy to overlook mild, multi-limb lameness and mild pain-related issues but it’s essential for the welfare of the horse to be able to identify when this is the problem.
Dr Sue Dyson has developed a straightforward system for assessing horse movement and comfort. In this online seminar, she explains how to use this system, sharing tips, techniques and giving you the confidence to recognise pain related poor performance.
For the good of the horse this online seminar is something all professionals within the equine industry need to see.
Understanding Orthopaedic Problems in Horses is a live online seminar with vet Dr Jessica Kidd, that takes place on Saturday 7 October 2023. During this educational seminar Jessica will discuss the common orthopaedic problems she sees and their treatment. She will also look at the top ten of lameness in sports horses.
Equine Therapy Students
If you are interested in becoming an equine therapist, whether that’s a chiropractor, osteopath, or massage therapist, there's a lot of relevant resources to help you with your studies. Gillian's books have inspired and helped many students through their courses. The clear, easy to understand descriptions, beautiful paintings and visual illustrations as well as the applied nature of the anatomy makes them a must for every therapy student.
The three core books to have are - How Your Horse Moves, Horse Anatomy for Performance and Posture and Performance. These are on most course recommended reading lists.
Also highly recommended are the two anatomical poster books – these are invaluable to help you learn the names of all the anatomical structures. Once you are qualified, these two poster books are also really useful for showing to clients to help their understanding of anatomy too.
Online Learning for Equine Therapy Students
Within the Academy most of the on-demand content on there is relevant to your studies and it is worth working your way through all the content.
Here is a good place to start:
Understanding the Horse’s Back
Understanding your Horse’s Neck
Practical Courses
We also run a number of relevant courses for therapists at Horses Inside Out. These interactive and fun courses are always popular and a great way to learn new skills in a practical environment. Groups are kept small so there is plenty of opportunity to get hands-on and ask questions.
The ones that that are ideal for students are:
Equine Science Students
As an Equine Science Student you will find the following three books are on the recommended reading list for many degree courses.
How Your Horse Moves describes what makes up equine anatomy. It covers the muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments. It also looks at how the horse creates movement – plus top tips for maintaining musculoskeletal health, comfort and performance.
Horse Anatomy for Performance studies all the anatomical systems of the horse and how to use this information to improve the way we ride, train and look after the horse.
Posture and Performance goes into detail on training as well as covering the importance of good posture, skeletal maturity – working with young horses, and the effect adding the weight of the rider. This book covers a lot of theory about anatomy and biomechanics. The second part of Posture and Performance goes into the biomechanics of different exercises. If we understand the biomechanics of certain exercises that will help us select the right ones to improve different horses. Online Learning for Equine Science Students
In the Academy there is so much relevant content for students. The on-demand webinar series is such great value at just £10 each, you get lifetime access to a fantastic learning resource.
There’s something for everyone, whatever module you are studying. For example, if you’re looking at the horse’s neck – you’ll find a webinar that covers that topic. Alternatively, if you are studying about the biomechanics of riding, there’s a selection of webinars that will fit the bill, from the Biomechanics of lateral Work, Transitions and much more.
Head to the Horses Inside Out Academy page and you can use the filter to find relevant online material all at the click of a button.
Also, the ebook on the Carpus and Tarsus looks at the function and construction of these complex joints of multiple bones. This ebook is a great introduction to their positioning and is of interest to anyone who would like to identify and familiarise themselves with their organisation and location.
Practical Courses
The Applied Biomechanics and Anatomy two-day course takes an in-depth look at the structure and function of the equine body and relates it to the horse's way of going.
It also highlights that the key to effective and sympathetic training requires a thorough understanding of anatomy, biomechanics and posture.
Equine Vet Students
As an equine vet student immersing yourself in anything and everything to do with horses is a great way to help your studies.
At Horses Inside Out there's a whole host of resources that will boost your learning in the areas of equine anatomy and biomechanics.
Horse Anatomy for Performance studies all the anatomical systems of the horse and how to use this information to improve the way we ride, train and look after the horse.
This book gives you a unique perspective of the 11 internal body systems and shows you how all the systems work together to affect performance and reduce the risk of injury.
Posture and Performance goes into detail on training as well as covering the importance of good posture, skeletal maturity – working with young horses, and the effect adding the weight of the rider. This book covers a lot of theory about anatomy and biomechanics.
The second part of Posture and Performance goes into the biomechanics of different exercises. If we understand the biomechanics of certain exercises that will help us select the right ones to improve different horses.
Online Learning for Equine Vet Students
There’s a huge amount of relevant content available in the Horses Inside Out Academy This online content is a great way to increase your knowledge and also gives you tips and explanations of sometimes complex subjects.
Recommended is Sacroiliac Ligaments and the Iliopsoas muscle Group. This book and video course studies the anatomy, biomechanics, location and function of the structures around the sacroiliac and pelvic region. It also looks at injury, dysfunction as well as strengthening and rehabilitation exercises that you can use to help the area.
The book and associated video course Illustrated Head Anatomy will help you further your knowledge about the anatomy of the head. It combines the use of painted horses, anatomical models and a video course that all illustrate the structures of the head in relation to bridle fit.
You will also find this book a valuable resource to show to clients to help illustrate points and boost their knowledge too.
Anatomy in Action is a comprehensive course (book and video) that covers the biomechanics of the basic gaits of walk, trot, canter and gallop and all the variations within those gaits.
The use of anatomically painted horses and riders wearing a skeleton suit help your understanding and images are used not just from side on but from above, in front and behind to give you a much clearer illustration from all angles of how the horse moves.
Anatomy in Action studies the biomechanical effect of different pole work exercises, lateral work, bending and straightness exercises as well as other gaits, jumping, the effect of going up and down hill, backward and work on an aqua-treadmill.
It includes different types, breeds and discilines of horses from Icelandic to Western horses and dressage warmbloods to racing thoroughbreds.
Children
For young riders and pony club members a fun way to encourage them to start learning all about equine anatomy and biomechanics is the Colouring Activity Pack for Children.
This ebook contains several anatomical colouring activities, skeletal and muscular system facts, plus a word search and quiz. It will keep a pony mad youngster happy for hours.
Although aimed at children, the labelled diagrams will also be of interest to anyone starting on their equine anatomical journey.
For teenagers, I would recommend the entry level anatomy and biomechanics book How Your Horse Moves.
Seeing the musculature and skeleton painted on the horse enables you to see how the horse moves from an anatomical perspective and shows you how bones and muscles work together to produce movement. This book is written in an easy to understand way and will help riders to train with empathy and bring the best out in your horse or pony.
Also recommended is Exploring Equine Anatomy. Although this colouring book is for adults, it can help younger riders learn about the anatomical structures of the horse too.
With beautiful images to colour, inspirational quotes and anatomical terminology of the muscles and skeleton, Exploring Equine Anatomy is a great way to relax and learn at the same time. This colouring book is designed for everyone who loves and appreciates the horse.
The two poster books use the horse as a living canvas, each photograph is labelled to help you lean.
Volume 1: The Musculoskeletal System looks at the skeleton, muscles and ligaments.
Volume 2: The Internal Organs book consists of an extensive series of labelled photographs.
It includes the digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous, endocrine, lymphatic urinary and reproductive systems.
These poster books are such a useful resource for riders, students, trainers, as well as BHS and pony club candidates following a structured exam programme and indeed anyone wishing to go learn more scientific names for equine structures.
If you are looking for a more practical book and are keen to improve your horse's posture, strength and all-round musculoskeletal health take a look at Pilates and Stretching.
This hugely popular book is a step by step guide to Pilates exercises for maintaining suppleness, flexibility and range of movement for your horse.
Each exercise is clearly explained and easy to follow, giving you information on which areas of the body will benefit and gives tips to ensure maximum benefit.
Equestrian Artists
To produce great work as an artist with understanding anatomy is key to improving accuracy and capturing, energy, movement, life and personality within a realistic sculpture, painting or drawing.
Anatomy in Action is an absolute must for all equestrian artists and you need to study both the book and the associated slow motion videos.
This comprehensive course (book and video) covers the biomechanics of the basic gaits of walk, trot, canter and gallop and all the variations within those gaits. The use of anatomically painted horses and riders wearing a skeleton suit help your understanding and images are used not just from side on but from above, in front and behind to give you a much clearer illustration from all angles of how the horse moves.
It also studies the biomechanical effect of different pole work exercises, lateral work, bending and straightness exercises as well as other gaits, jumping, the effect of going up and down hill, backward and work on an aqua-treadmill.
It includes different types, breeds and discilines of horses from Icelandic to Western horses and dressage warmbloods to racing thoroughbreds.
How Your Horse Moves - this easy to understand book illustrates entry level anatomy and biomechanics in a unique and visual way.
If you would like any more specific recommendations please email info@horsesinsideout.com and we will be happy to recommend the the book, course or online content that is most appropriate for you and your horse.
Really useful guidance to help choose the most appropriate book.