Going Beneath the Surface – My Visit to Horses Inside Out

As an Equine Sports & Rehabilitation Massage Therapist, I spend a lot of time looking at horses from the outside – watching how they stand, how they move, where they hold tension and, importantly, how they

respond to touch.

But what is actually happening underneath the skin?

I recently visited the Horses Inside Out – Inside the Horse Anatomy Exhibition, created by equine anatomy and biomechanics specialist Gillian Higgins.

For me, continuing to learn is a really important part of being a therapist. You can study anatomy in books and look at diagrams, but seeing the structures of the horse in real life gives you a completely different perspective.

Seeing What Lies Beneath

• 

The exhibition gives you the opportunity to explore the horse's anatomy in incredible detail

– from bones and joints to muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and internal structures.

One of the things that really stood out to me was being able to see how interconnected everything is.

When I place my hands on a horse during a treatment, I am not simply working on an isolated tight muscle. The horse's body works as a whole.

A restriction, weakness or compensation in one area can influence the way another part of the body moves and functions.

It reinforced something I feel very strongly about in my own work:

We need to look at the whole horse, not simply the area where we see the problem.

Anatomy, Movement and Compensation

• 

Seeing the skeletons positioned in movement was particularly interesting.

It really highlights just how much has to happen within the horse's body to create what appears, from the outside, to be a simple movement.

It also makes you think about compensation.

If a horse isn't comfortable using one area of its body correctly, another area may start working harder. Over time, this can contribute to muscular tension, changes in posture and altered movement patterns.

This is one of the reasons I spend time observing a horse before and during treatment rather than simply beginning with massage.

How does the horse stand?

Where is it carrying its weight?

Where does the muscle feel different from one side to the other?

Is the horse guarding an area?

And what might the body be trying to tell us?

A Particular Interest in Sensitive Horses

My specialist interest is working with nervous, sensitive and previously mistreated horses.

For these horses especially, I believe we have to consider more than muscles alone.

A horse may be physically holding tension while also being worried about being touched or handled. Trying to force treatment onto that horse can simply create more tension.

This is why my approach is patient and horse-led.

I use massage and bodywork alongside PhysioKey, gradually allowing the horse to become comfortable with me, with touch and with treatment.

Sometimes the first part of helping the body is simply helping the horse feel safe enough to let go.

Bringing What I Learn Back to My Treatments

Days like this are important because every bit of knowledge changes the way I look at the horse standing in front of me.

Understanding more about anatomy and biomechanics helps me ask better questions during an assessment and think more deeply about why a horse may be carrying tension rather than simply finding the tight area and treating it.

There is always more to learn about horses – and I don't think that should ever stop.

The more we understand about what is happening beneath the surface, the better we can support their comfort, movement and wellbeing.

Gemma Migdal Cert ESMT, IAAT

Knead Supple Muscles Equine Massage Gentle Care for Sensitive Horses