Harris Park Warmbloods

31/08/2026

There’s no muscles below the hocks and knees…..

What I have learnt through this work and collaboration with other dissectors is that the horses never read the anatomy books. Mother Nature doesn’t care for what we think we know and I continue to be humbled by the horses body. The best thing we can do for the horses is put ego aside to work together for the horses.

There is so much political BS that goes on in the background that’s not in service to the horse. Why these muscle fibres are there we can’t say, this is a gross observation over the weekend on my 170th dissection. This variation was already on my radar because I had a conversation months ago with another dissector who found the same variation in a horse. Although this a minor muscle it had its own connective tissue above and below the fibres.
Shibumi Equestrian Centre

31/08/2026

The Overuse of Previcox / Equioxx in Horses
(And Why “Better Than Bute” Isn’t the Standard We Should Be Using)

Previcox and Equioxx are both forms of firocoxib, a COX‑2 selective NSAID commonly prescribed for pain and inflammation in horses. COX‑2 selective means the drug targets the inflammation‑producing COX‑2 enzyme while sparing more of the COX‑1 enzyme that protects the stomach and kidneys, however they still reduce the protective prostaglandins that keep the gut lining healthy- and are not "ulcer free".

These drugs are often described as “safer than bute.”
But here’s the truth: bute is well‑known to cause significant gastric and hindgut ulceration when used long‑term in a high percentage of horses, so being “better than bute” is not exactly a meaningful measure of safety.

The FDA‑approved Equioxx label clearly states: not for use beyond 14 days.
Yet in my practice, I see horses on it for months… even years.

NSAIDs are not preventative, they do not heal anything.
Long‑term use can come with real consequences.

In both human and vet medicine, it’s well‑established that chronic NSAID use can contribute to:

• gastric ulcers
• colitis
• kidney stress or damage
• reduced blood flow to the digestive tract
• hindgut irritation
• systemic inflammation over time

So while owners are trying to reduce mild to moderate MSK discomfort, they’re often doing it at the cost of the digestive system, which ultimately drives more inflammation long‑term.

Pain is communication.
Masking it without understanding the root cause often leads to bigger problems long term.

To be clear, this post is not stating that NSAIDS should not be used, medications absolutely have their place. However many owners are unaware of the long term side effects. Risks and benefits should always be considered. For those who take this post as denying seniors horses comfort- it is not that. Unfortunately I see many young and middle aged horses on long term NSAIDS. I like to ask "at what cost"?
And the answer will be different for everyone!

If you want to read more- head to my blog!

https://kcequinewellness.ca/blogs/equine-wellness/lets-stop-overusing-previcox-equioxx-for-horses

If long term medication is not for you, and you're looking for a holistic approach to help your horse heal naturally head to my website to book your consult now.

Apply for your consultation today:
https://kcequinewellness.ca/pages/holistic-nutrition

Follow KC Equine Wellness on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/kcequinewellness

Check out my blog:
https://kcequinewellness.ca/blogs/equine-wellness

30/08/2026

“Safety is much more than the absence of threat. Safety is the presence of connection.”
—Dr. Stephen Porges

For horses, safety is more than simply having nothing frightening happening in the moment.

A horse can stand quietly while still being watchful, guarded, braced, or prepared to react. The absence of movement is not necessarily relaxation, and compliance is not the same thing as feeling secure. A horse may tolerate what is happening without yet feeling safe within it.

Feeling safe involves the nervous system continually gathering information from the environment, the people nearby, other horses, and what is happening to the body. Over time, repeated experiences help shape an expectation of what is likely to happen next.

Connection can be an important part of that. Horses are social animals. Familiar companions, calm and predictable interactions, clear handling, appropriate touch, the opportunity to understand what is being asked, and experiences in which their responses are noticed and respected can all contribute to a growing sense of, “I know what is happening. I have some control here. I will be okay.”

That distinction matters in everyday handling, training, veterinary care, farrier work, and bodywork.

A horse that is worried about having its body manipulated, for example, may find massage an easier place to begin than a technique involving quicker or more unfamiliar movements. Thoughtful bodywork can give the horse repeated experiences of touch and movement that remain within what they can comfortably process. The horse can investigate, respond, move if needed, and gradually learn that contact with a person does not always predict discomfort, restraint, or loss of control.

Perhaps most importantly, safety is not something we can simply declare on the horse’s behalf. We cannot tell a horse, “You are safe,” and expect the nervous system to agree.

We create experiences from which the horse can gradually reach that conclusion for itself.

And when enough of those experiences begin to accumulate, the expectation can shift from “I’m worried about what is going to happen to me” toward “I know this. I’m okay with this. I will be okay here now.”

https://koperequine.com/how-your-nervous-system-influences-your-horse/

30/08/2026

Owners are often told they shouldn't be responsible for their horse's hoofcare. That owners learning to trim is irresponsible, and their standard of work will not be as good as professional farriers or trimmers. What we have learned in Hoof Builders is that the reality is often the opposite. Owners come to us because they have run out of options, their horse isn't thriving (sometimes they are only barely surviving), and they want to see if they can do it themselves. Nothing about the journey they undertake is easy, but that doesn't mean they can't be successful.

We don't believe in gatekeeping knowledge, using fancy terminology for the sake of looking smart, or insisting on having a huge range of expensive tools and equipment. The only minimum requirements for Hoof Building are a rasp and a loop knife, the physical ability to pick up and hold a hoof, and the willingness to struggle through learning something new.

This is an excerpt from some feedback given by David in our Hoof Builders Facebook group:

“Struggling is a good word for trimming horses' feet. I do a lot of that myself. Some horses stand nice and have difficult feet, some have easy feet but don’t stand good, and some don’t stand good and have difficult feet.

Learning to trim properly is challenging. Especially the frogs. Personally, I think that’s why so many horses have hoof problems. A lot of professionals are having the same problems.

I have the most success making trimming easier for someone when I can show them how to hold the foot and use the tools in person. That’s how I learn best too.

In the meantime, just pick one foot to trim. Don’t think about the other three or make it a project to get a horse trimmed.

Get a brand new rasp and sharpen your knife really good.

Go out to your horse and clear your mind.

Picture the back of the frog and how you’re going to smooth those dead lumps off with the rough side of your rasp. Then take a few light strokes to get the rasp flowing and gradually press harder as you feel you’re in a rhythm. Finish with the fine side. Don’t forget to breathe or your strokes get short and choppy.

If you start to struggle, put the foot down and pet the horse. When you’re ready again, pick up the foot and do some more. When you get that done, put the foot down and pet the horse.

If you’re still in the mood, then pick the foot back up and smooth down the inside edges of the central sulcus the same way.

Do another foot the next day.

It’ll all come together over time."

30/08/2026

‘The challenge of a championship held on grass sifted out all but the very best riders,’ says William Funnell

30/08/2026

Walking away with a medal is surely the easiest way to define success on the championship stage. The proof is there around your neck, or glowing on the leaderboard for all to see.

'I put in the work. I built the partnership with my horse. I made the right calls on course.'

And all of that is true. But, sometimes, a rider’s success isn’t accurately captured by the result next to their name. Peder Fredricson’s performance at the 2026 FEI World Championships is one example.

In the heat of battle, with the world watching in real time, Sweden’s anchor kept calm and carried on—for his team and his horse.

At every turn, Fredricson was the partner Alcapone des Carmille could believe in. The kind he could trust to get him through the challenges of the day, time and time again...

➡ Continue reading Nina Fedrizzi's story on Horse Network! ⬇
📷 ©IMAGO / Bildbyran

30/08/2026

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30/08/2026