The Fundamentals of Horse Posture
The intention for this course is not to make you an expert in the field of horse posture, but to help you to recognise abnormalities, understand their aetiology and articulate your observations – thus helping you to become a better advocate for the horses around you. This course is suitable for everyone - whether you are a horse owner looking to help your horse, or a professional in the industry looking to enhance your skillset.
The Fundamentals of Horse Posture
I firmly believe that understanding posture is a cornerstone in supporting horse welfare.
Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working with thousands of horses, many of whom have been on a spectrum of varying abnormal postures.
Many have corresponding behavioural traits which can make handling them difficult or dangerous. Many have accompanying veterinary diagnoses which match their posture and many find their horse’s posture inhibits their performance.
It is my belief that many of these horses with compromised posture, many have also had some form of compromised welfare - be it chronic pain, having an exercise regime which is unsuitable for them, being managed inappropriately and more. It is also my belief that it is possible to remedy many of these presentations, though some may need more time and management than others.
The intention of this course is not to make you and expert in the field of horse posture, but to help you to recognise the abnormalities, understand their aetiology and articulate your observations - thus helping you to become a better advocate for the horses around you.
This course is suitable for everyone - whether you are a horse owner looking to help your horse, or a professional in the industry looking to enhance your skillset.
This course contains 7 chapters:
CHAPTER 1: The Musculoskeletal System
CHAPTER 2: Joint Range of Motion
CHAPTER 3: Conformation vs. Posture
CHAPTER 4: Introduction to Postural Assessment
CHAPTER 5: Postural Assessment Case Studies
CHAPTER 6: Influences on Posture
CHAPTER 7: What Does This Mean For You?
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Posture is more than muscle and movement - it’s your horse’s story. Every stance reflects safety or stress, confidence or concern. In this course, you’ll learn how to blend science and compassion to unlock freer movement, deeper connection, and lasting change for both you and your horse.
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Every horse has preferences - small choices that reveal a little bit about their personality. When we notice and honour these, we show our horse their voice matters. This builds safety and mutual respect, turning training into a partnership where the horse feels seen, and free to express themselves.
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Our inner narratives and past influences shape how we see a horse’s posture—sometimes focusing on flaws and missing signs of ease. By softening bias with awareness and curiosity, we can balance critique with appreciation, leading to clearer, more compassionate connection with our horses.
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This guided breathwork session invites you to slow down and notice subtle sensations in your body. By experiencing this yourself, you gain empathy for your horse’s challenges during bodywork and training, encouraging patience, compassion, and a more ethical approach that meets them exactly where they are.
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Postural development isn’t about fixing every deficit we see. Context matters: posture reflects training stage, emotional readiness, environment, or protective patterns. True harm arises when we push too soon. Ethical horsemanship means asking not “how to fix,” but “is this appropriate now?” - supporting strength, confidence, and sustainable change.
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Conformation is the horse’s structural blueprint, while posture is its living expression - shaped by comfort, experience, and emotion. By distinguishing the two, we can identify strain, support wellbeing, and reduce conflict. Posture becomes more than form; it reveals the horse’s story, tension patterns, and potential for positive change.
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Your horse’s movement is shaped by emotion and experience. Each motion becomes a message between brain and body, shaped by environment, handling, and training. When movement feels unsafe, traditional methods fail. True balance arises from curiosity, freedom, and emotional safety - allowing the nervous system to explore, adapt, and rediscover joy in motion.
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WANT TO DISCUSS YOUR LEARNINGS?
Book your 1-2-1 Learnings Review with Yasmin
If you’d like to discuss what you have learned in this course, you can book a 1-2-1 online review with Yasmin. To do this, visit our contact page using the button below.
