The horses hoof operates like a diaphragm. It has the highest network of blood supply of any mammal. When a horse steps and weights the hoof, it expands a vacuum which draws blood into the hoof. This provides nutrients to the structures as the horse releases weight from the hoof. The blood is then pushed back up the leg. Taking this into consideration, a horseshoe is applied to the hoof in a resting position with the least amount of blood flow. What this does is then restrict that expanding motion permanently. Which means that the nerves and supporting structures do not get the blood flow and nutrients that they need for optimal health. This means that cells cannot get ATP for nerve function…………. Essentially the horses hoof then has less feeling. This is why horses become “sound “when shoes are applied. If a horse is not sound, Barefoot, they will not be sound with a shoe on. Proper blood supply is necessary to keep the structures healthy, including the coffin bone. When blood supply is restricted, it can deteriorate or demineralize the coffin bone. An unbalanced trim can also add to this, by placing uneven pressure in certain areas. . Structures have a higher chance of being damaged, and not repairing properly, because of the lack of blood flow. (C) Connie Friesen, Equine Osteopath EDO (c)

Let’s Talk Structure & Function The hind end plays a critical role in engagement, power, and performance — and lately, the hip has been coming up more and more in conversations with clients. Let’s break down what’s really going on in there, and what we’re feeling when we sense a lack of engagement. ⸻ Structure of the Equine Hip: The pelvis is made up of three bones: the ilium, ischium, and pubis — together, they form the os coxae. At the bottom of the pelvis sits the hip joint — a true ball-and-socket joint between the acetabulum of the pelvis and the head of the femur. Behind that, we have the sacroiliac joint (SI) — the point where the lumbar spine connects to the pelvis. While the SI joint doesn’t have direct muscular attachments, it’s heavily influenced by surrounding muscles like the gluteus medius, semitendinosus, and biceps femoris. Below the hip joint sits the stifle (the horse’s version of our knee), which works closely with the hock. For efficient movement, these two joints must flex and extend in sync. ⸻ Function in Engagement: The gluteus medius is a major powerhouse — it helps lift the spine and initiate engagement by stabilizing and influencing movement through the SI joint, sacrum, hocks, and stifles. Once that chain is in motion, the semitendinosus steps in to pull the sacrum downward (ventrally), using the hocks and stifles to drive motion forward. ⸻ Where It Goes Wrong: When there’s loss of mobility in the somatic, visceral, or craniosacral systems — especially affecting the lumbar spine — hind end engagement starts to fall apart. You might notice: • Decreased articulation in the hocks and stifles • Overdeveloped hamstring muscles • Tightness in the psoas • Wide or narrow hock stance • Development of a hunter’s bump • Signs of back pain or uneven muscle development (glutes, quads, hamstrings) These are all red flags pointing to potential osteopathic dysfunction. ⸻ Peeling Back the Layers What we see as poor performance or lack of drive often has multiple layers. It’s not just about weakness — it’s about compensation, imbalance, and deeper dysfunction in the body’s structure and systems.

I want to create a group that help owners and professionals discover and understand osteopathy, and how the body is connected. My goal is to get questions from member and answer the osteopathic connections and provide as much information as I can so you can better understand your horse.

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