Holistic Horseworks Talks with April Love

Addressing Horse Bucking Problems: Arthritis, Sore Feet, Body Misalignment, and Pain

April Love

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Have a horse that improves after treatment, only for the bucking, soreness, or resistance to come back?

In this episode of Holistic Horseworks Live, Linda shares the story of Ritz, a 15-year-old gelding who had been progressing well in dressage before he suddenly began bucking. A veterinary evaluation revealed end-stage arthritis in his right hock from an old injury, and treatment helped for a while, but the problems kept returning. Ritz became defensive about being mounted, developed sore feet and thin soles, and continued showing Linda that something still did not feel right.

🍏 IN THIS EPISODE

April Love evaluates Ritz from head to hoof and explains how several problems may be working together rather than existing separately. She points out first-rib misalignment, overdeveloped shoulder muscles, hip and psoas compensation, uneven hoof loading, contracted heels, thin soles, cranial compression, and TMJ imbalance, while showing how discomfort in one area can change the way a horse stands, moves, carries a rider, and loads his feet.

April also discusses why recurring bucking or mounting resistance can be worth investigating as a possible sign of discomfort, what hoof shape can reveal about problems higher in the body, how cranial and poll trauma can affect movement and chewing, and why addressing the whole horse may help when individual treatments only provide temporary improvement.

If your horse keeps bucking, resists being saddled or mounted, struggles with recurring lameness, has sore or uneven feet, or seems to develop one problem after another, Ritz’s story offers a closer look at what your horse may be trying to tell you.

🐴 WANT TO LEARN HOW TO ASSESS AND SUPPORT YOUR OWN HORSE?

Explore April’s Level 1 Equine Musculoskeletal Unwinding Home Study Program and learn how to look beyond the obvious symptom to assess your horse from nose to tail.

Learn more: https://holistichorseworks.com/best-online-horse-bodywork-course/

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