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The Functional Horse
Blog
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Blog
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Contact Us
Horses in pain: recognising red flags
welfare Katja Porenta 10/22/23 welfare Katja Porenta 10/22/23

Horses in pain: recognising red flags

Horses are really good at hiding pain, so we need to be able to hear the slightest hints of discomfort. Here are some common red flags to look out for.

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Relaxation is just as important as training
training Katja Porenta 10/12/23 training Katja Porenta 10/12/23

Relaxation is just as important as training

Many horses are constantly in an alert state and have trouble relaxing. Taking the time to relax and do nothing can be very beneficial.

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It's never just tight hamstrings
biomechanics, equine bodywork Katja Porenta 10/5/23 biomechanics, equine bodywork Katja Porenta 10/5/23

It's never just tight hamstrings

Tight hamstrings is a very common issue in horses, but simply treating the tightness might do more harm than good.

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My horse has kissing spines. Now what?
whole horse rehabilitation Katja Porenta 9/28/23 whole horse rehabilitation Katja Porenta 9/28/23

My horse has kissing spines. Now what?

Kissing spines as a diagnosis has become quite popular in the past decade. Much like arthritis or navicular syndrome, it's a horse owner's nightmare. Some research suggests that a third of riding horses have some level of kissing spines, which is an astonishing number.

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Track systems on a small area
husbandry Katja Porenta 9/21/23 husbandry Katja Porenta 9/21/23

Track systems on a small area

With a little effort, small properties can be turned into great track systems. Here are some things to keep in mind.

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Want to try some bodywork with your horse? Here's how!
equine bodywork Katja Porenta 9/14/23 equine bodywork Katja Porenta 9/14/23

Want to try some bodywork with your horse? Here's how!

If you are curious to try some bodywork moves on your horse, but are unsure how to approach it, here are some basic guidelines to help you on your way.

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How to retrain a horse
training Katja Porenta 9/7/23 training Katja Porenta 9/7/23

How to retrain a horse

Here is a closer look at the ingredients of teaching good posture – communication, coordination and strength.

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What are the goals of retraining horses?
training Katja Porenta 8/31/23 training Katja Porenta 8/31/23

What are the goals of retraining horses?

Teaching good movement can be a daunting task. Breaking it down into smaller goals will help us stay on the right path and train in a systematic way.

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Can I work my horse after a bodywork session?
equine bodywork Katja Porenta 8/24/23 equine bodywork Katja Porenta 8/24/23

Can I work my horse after a bodywork session?

Most bodyworkers will recommend a break from work following a bodywork session, but this does not mean the horse should be kept in a stall.

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Things to keep in mind when coming back from in injury
whole horse rehabilitation Katja Porenta 8/17/23 whole horse rehabilitation Katja Porenta 8/17/23

Things to keep in mind when coming back from in injury

Coming back from in injury can be scary, so here are some things to keep in mind to reduce the risk of re-injury.

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What's the deal with different bodywork modalities?
equine bodywork Katja Porenta 8/10/23 equine bodywork Katja Porenta 8/10/23

What's the deal with different bodywork modalities?

There are so many bodywork modalities out there it can be hard to choose the right one. Here are some things to consider.

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5 ways to improve posture
checklist, posture Katja Porenta 8/3/23 checklist, posture Katja Porenta 8/3/23

5 ways to improve posture

Here are five ways to improve the horse’s posture when we are not training him. The pther 23 hours matter too!

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Why we need to be very, very careful with horses' necks
horse training, functional anatomy Katja Porenta 7/27/23 horse training, functional anatomy Katja Porenta 7/27/23

Why we need to be very, very careful with horses' necks

The neck of the modern horse is a sensitive structure that can be damaged by improper riding. We need to be very careful not to create dysfunction in the neck.

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Big movement is not a blessing, it's a disability
horse training Katja Porenta 7/20/23 horse training Katja Porenta 7/20/23

Big movement is not a blessing, it's a disability

Most modern sports horses are hypermobile, meaning that their joints have an excessive range of motion. While big movement might seem impressive, it can cause a lot of issues down the road.

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Vikings and temple dancers
horse training, functional anatomy Katja Porenta 7/13/23 horse training, functional anatomy Katja Porenta 7/13/23

Vikings and temple dancers

In terms of connective tissue properties, horses can be either temple dancers or vikings. Knowing what type of horse you are dealing with, can help you make better training decisions.

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Having trouble developing topline?
checklist Katja Porenta 7/6/23 checklist Katja Porenta 7/6/23

Having trouble developing topline?

There are many reasons why a horse might have problems developing a good topline. Here are some of the more common ones.

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Restore function first, strengthen second
horse training Katja Porenta 6/29/23 horse training Katja Porenta 6/29/23

Restore function first, strengthen second

Strengthening exercises, especially those targeting the core, have become very popular. While we do need to strengthen our horses if we want them to carry us, it is important to…

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Why cavaletti in walk is pure gold
horse training Katja Porenta 6/22/23 horse training Katja Porenta 6/22/23

Why cavaletti in walk is pure gold

Working over cavaletti can be very beneficial or very harmful, depending on how it’s done. Using the cavaletti in walk can be a wonderful exercise for horses in re-training.

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Sometimes it's not your fault
husbandry Katja Porenta 6/15/23 husbandry Katja Porenta 6/15/23

Sometimes it's not your fault

A lot of issues in the modern horse are caused by the way we keep and own them, but not everything is our fault. Some common issues can be seen in foals and predate our training.

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Girthiness is never normal 
equine bodywork, whole horse rehabilitation Katja Porenta 6/8/23 equine bodywork, whole horse rehabilitation Katja Porenta 6/8/23

Girthiness is never normal 

Unfortunately, girthy horses are very common in the equine industry. While we might be used to the sight of a horse pinning his ears while the girth is fastened, this is far from normal. There is always a reason behind girth aversion, and we owe it to the horse to find it.

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KATJA PORENTA EEBW

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info@thefunctionalhorse.com