I think we need to say it more often.
Your horse is allowed to have one side that looks a little different from the other. To have a preferred direction, to rest a hind leg, to stand unevenly sometimes, or to even have conformational quirks that influence how he or she moves.
Your horse is allowed to have movement patterns that don't look exactly like the ones in anatomy or biomechanics diagrams. Their body has developed and adapted to the life they have lived, the work they have done, and the conformation they were given.
Somewhere along the way, our increased awareness of equine biomechanics seems to have created an expectation of biomechanical perfection. And that realization is not always in the best interest of our horses.
Now, don't get me wrong. I absolutely think we should be paying attention to how horses stand and move. We should be learning to recognize asymmetries, understand movement patterns, and identify changes that may indicate a problem because it is an important part of being a knowledgeable horse person and a competent equine professional. But there is a difference between understanding biomechanics and expecting every horse to fit a theoretical picture of perfect movement.
Open social media, and you'll quickly discover an enormous list of things you're apparently supposed to be watching for.
One hip is higher, the sternum isn't centered, one shoulder is larger, the toe or toes point outward, the tail hangs slightly to one side, the horse stands base narrow, one side bends more easily, or a particular muscle looks larger.
Individually, many of these observations can be useful. But somewhere between noticing a difference and explaining what it means, we seem to have developed a habit of assuming that every difference indicates dysfunction.
When a horse stands unevenly, we start looking for a pelvic problem. We notice asymmetrical muscle development and assume one side is compensating. We see a horse that bends more easily in one direction, and suddenly we're trying to figure out what needs to be released, corrected, or strengthened.
Maybe there is a problem that needs to be addressed, but maybe there isn't.
The observation itself doesn't tell us enough to know.
As I've discussed in Observation Is Not Diagnosis, observation is only the beginning of the assessment process. We need context. We need to understand what is normal for that horse, consider the influences on its movement, and gather enough information to determine whether what we're seeing warrants further investigation.
When every observation becomes a potential warning sign, horses begin to look less like living animals and more like collections of things that need fixing.
As a bodyworker, observation is incredibly important to me. I want to know how a horse stands. I want to look at muscle development and weight distribution. I want to watch movement, notice asymmetries, and consider how the different parts of the body work together.
But noticing something and deciding what it means are two completely different things. If I notice that one hip appears higher than the other, I don't necessarily need to immediately ask, What's wrong with the pelvis?
Maybe I just notice it and then gather more information.
How are the feet positioned? What happens when the horse moves? Does the difference look the same from another angle? Is it consistent? What do I feel when I palpate? Is there a functional limitation? Does this observation connect with anything else I'm finding?
Or does the horse move one foot six inches, shift his weight, and suddenly everything looks different?
As bodyworkers, we need to be able to recognize an observation without immediately attaching an explanation to it. As horse owners, we need to recognize that our horses are not, and never will be, perfect. The goal isn't to correct every asymmetry or difference, but to work with qualified professionals to understand what actually needs to be addressed and determine the best way to support the horse.
We cannot assume that every difference is a dysfunction simply because we can identify it.
The goal is to gather information, recognize patterns, and ask better questions. Not to find something wrong with every horse we look at.
This is an important distinction for both horse owners and equine professionals to understand.
Asymmetry does not automatically mean something is wrong.
Bodies are not perfectly symmetrical. Horses aren't perfectly symmetrical, and neither are human athletes.
Conformation influences how a horse stands and moves, training influences movement, previous injuries may influence how the horse organizes movement (even after the original injury has resolved), and strength, habitual movement patterns, and adaptations all play a role.
As we discussed in Compensation Isn't the Problem: It's the Body Solving One, the body is constantly adapting to meet the demands placed on it.
Sometimes those adaptations are responses to a problem, sometimes they are effective strategies that allow the horse to function, and sometimes a difference is simply part of that individual horse.
That doesn't mean every asymmetry is harmless or that we should ignore meaningful differences. It means we need to understand what we're looking at before deciding what to do about it.
Think about an asymmetry you've noticed in your own body. Does one shoulder sit a little differently? Do you find one direction easier to turn? Do you naturally favor one side when performing a particular task?
Those differences don't automatically mean you have a problem that needs correcting. The same principle applies to horses.
We need to stop treating symmetry as the ultimate measure of correct function. A horse can be asymmetrical and function very well. Another horse may have a seemingly minor asymmetry that is new, worsening, or associated with discomfort and a change in performance.
The appearance alone doesn't tell us the whole story. The individual horse matters more than our expectation of perfect symmetry.
One of the things I want bodyworkers in particular to understand is that the body doesn't always organize movement in the way we might expect it to on paper.
The horse's body is constantly responding to the demands placed on it. It adapts to conformation, training, workload, and experience. Sometimes those adaptations allow the horse to function effectively despite a limitation. Sometimes they create additional demands on other tissues over time.
As professionals, we need to understand that distinction.
A compensatory pattern may be an effective short-term strategy that becomes problematic when the horse has to rely on it for an extended period of time. Alternatively, a movement difference may not represent a compensatory pattern at all, and we cannot know simply by looking at an asymmetry.
This is why I am cautious about the tendency to label every difference as compensation and every compensation as something that needs to be eliminated. If we assume that the body should look symmetrical, we may start trying to correct patterns without understanding why they exist or whether they are actually causing a problem. And if we immediately try to eliminate an adaptation, we risk overlooking the reason the body developed that strategy in the first place.
Our job isn't to force every horse toward an idealized version of movement.
It's to understand the horse in front of us, recognize when something may warrant further investigation, and make thoughtful decisions about how to proceed within our scope of practice.
When you notice something about your horse's posture, musculature, or movement, one of the first questions I want you to ask is:
Is this new?
Has the horse always stood this way? Has the asymmetry changed? Is it becoming more pronounced? Is there discomfort associated with it? Has performance changed? Are several things changing together?
Knowing what is normal for that individual horse is incredibly valuable.
A horse who has always preferred one direction presents a different situation from a horse who suddenly begins resisting that direction. A familiar posture is different from a new change in weight distribution. A long-standing conformational difference is different from an asymmetry that appears alongside lameness or a decline in performance.
None of these observations gives us a definitive answer on its own. But they help us determine what questions to ask next.
This is also why regular observation matters. We should know how our horses normally stand, move, and respond to their work. We should notice changes over time rather than constantly comparing them to an external ideal.
And when a change is new, persistent, or associated with discomfort or altered performance, we need to take it seriously. Veterinary evaluation may be necessary to determine what is happening.
The point isn't to dismiss differences because a horse has always had them. It's to understand the significance of a finding in the context of that horse's history and current function.
Your horse's normal is an important part of understanding your horse.
This is something I think bodyworkers, in particular, need to remember.
As practitioners, we develop the ability to recognize differences in tissue quality, muscle development, posture, and movement. We may feel areas of increased tension or notice that one side of the body feels different from the other. But just because I can feel something doesn't mean I need to change it.
A difference in tissue feel doesn't automatically make that tissue dysfunctional. Increased tension doesn't tell me what caused it. And identifying a possible compensatory pattern doesn't mean I should immediately try to eliminate it.
I need to consider what I've observed before palpation, what I'm feeling, how those findings relate to the horse's movement, and whether the information I have actually supports an intervention.
Sometimes I may decide to provide bodywork. Sometimes I may want to document a finding and monitor it. Sometimes I need more information or input from another professional.
And sometimes I leave it alone.
Knowing when not to intervene is just as important as knowing how to perform a technique.
But this doesn't mean we should never make changes. Sometimes a finding does point to something that needs to be addressed. The question is not only what needs to change? It's also is this the right time to make that change, and do we have the right conditions in place to support it?
When I teach bodyworkers, I want them to understand that being able to identify a difference is only one part of professional competence. They also need to develop the judgment to determine what that difference might mean, what additional information they need, and whether it is appropriate for them to act on it.
For example, consider the horse's current workload and schedule. Is the horse in the off-season, or are they in the middle of a busy competition season? Is there time for recovery and adaptation after an intervention or a change in their program? Does the horse's workload allow for that recovery, or are we asking the body to adapt while continuing to meet the same demands?
We also need to consider whether the horse has the training and conditioning necessary to support the change. If we're trying to improve how a horse moves or develops strength in a particular area, does the horse have an appropriate training program to build the muscle and coordination needed to maintain that change? Or are we trying to change something without giving the horse the opportunity to develop the capacity to support it?
And what about the horse's environment? Does it support the change we're trying to make? Does the horse have appropriate opportunities for movement, rest, and recovery? Do the workload, footing, tack, riding, and overall management allow the horse to make and sustain the change, or might those same conditions continue to reinforce the pattern we're trying to address?
These are important questions because an intervention doesn't happen in isolation. We can identify something that would benefit from change and still make a poor decision about how or when to address it.
Sometimes the appropriate next step is to act now. Sometimes it is to adjust the horse's workload, build a better conditioning plan, allow time for recovery, or involve another professional before proceeding. And sometimes we need to recognize that the conditions aren't right for the change we're considering.
A change that may be beneficial in theory isn't automatically the right change to make right now.
We also need to ask whether our intervention is actually moving the horse toward a solution. Are we addressing something meaningful, or are we creating additional demands for the horse without addressing the underlying issue? Are we making a change that the horse can realistically maintain, or are we setting them up to return to the same pattern because nothing else has changed?
That takes more than learning techniques. It requires anatomy, biomechanics, palpation skills, movement observation, critical thinking, and an understanding of professional scope. It also requires knowing when to collaborate with a veterinarian, trainer, farrier, saddle fitter, or another qualified professional.
And it requires being comfortable with the possibility that the best decision may be to wait, change the plan, or do nothing at all.
I think we need to take a step back and consider what we're actually trying to accomplish when we assess and work with horses.
Are we trying to make every horse look symmetrical? Are we trying to eliminate every difference in muscle development, posture, or movement? Are we assuming that if we can identify something that looks different, we should be able to correct it?
Or are we trying to help the horse function comfortably and successfully in the body he has?
Those are two very different goals.
Our understanding of equine biomechanics should help us better recognize meaningful problems, understand how the body functions, and make informed decisions about the horses in our care. It shouldn't create an endless list of imperfections that we feel obligated to correct.
There is a difference between recognizing a problem and looking for one. There is a difference between identifying an asymmetry and deciding it is dysfunctional. And there is a difference between helping a horse function more comfortably and trying to make him fit a picture of biomechanical perfection.
Even when a change is needed, we need to think beyond the change itself. What will it require from the horse? Does the horse have the time, training, recovery, and environmental support to adapt? Can we make the change in a way that helps the horse succeed, or are we asking for something the horse isn't currently prepared to maintain?
Sometimes the right decision is to address a problem now. Other times, we may need to adjust the workload, improve conditioning, allow for recovery, or coordinate with other professionals first. Recognizing that a change would be beneficial doesn't automatically mean making it immediately, under the current circumstances, is the best decision.
Your horse doesn't know that one shoulder isn't quite as symmetrical as someone thinks it should be. He isn't comparing his pelvis to another horse's pelvis. He's simply living in his body.
Our responsibility is to understand that body as well as we can, recognize when something warrants attention, and avoid making assumptions that aren't supported by what we know.
Your horse is allowed to be asymmetrical. Your horse is allowed to have preferences. Your horse is allowed to adapt. Your horse is allowed to have a body shaped by his conformation, history, and experiences.
Your horse is allowed to be an individual.
And yes, your horse is allowed to be imperfect.
Because the goal was never perfection. The goal is a horse who can function comfortably and successfully in the body he has, with the support and conditions necessary to maintain that function over time.
For horse owners, this starts with learning what is normal for your horse and paying attention to meaningful changes. Ask questions when you notice something different, and work with qualified professionals who are willing to explain what they're observing, what they know, and what they still need to understand.
When a professional recommends a change, it's reasonable to ask why it is needed, what the change is intended to accomplish, and what you can do to support the horse through the process. Consider whether the timing, workload, training, and environment make sense for your horse right now. A good plan should account for the individual horse, not just the finding that prompted the recommendation.
For bodyworkers, it means continuing to develop the skills that allow you to assess thoughtfully rather than simply identify differences. Learn to connect your observations to what you feel and what you see in movement. Understand your scope of practice, recognize when further evaluation is warranted, and consider whether an intervention is appropriate for the horse's current circumstances. Sometimes that means providing bodywork. Sometimes it means collaborating with another professional, recommending a change to the plan, or waiting until the horse is better prepared to support the change.
At Equine Kneads Academy, I believe education should prepare bodyworkers for the reality of working with individual horses. That means more than learning anatomy or mastering a collection of techniques. It means developing the critical thinking, assessment skills, and professional judgment necessary to make responsible decisions about the horses in your care.
If you're ready to build that foundation and become a more knowledgeable, thoughtful equine bodyworker, explore our programs to learn more.
And the next time you notice something asymmetrical about a horse, take a moment before deciding it needs to be fixed. Ask yourself what you're actually observing, whether it is meaningful, and what else you need to know. If a change is needed, ask whether the horse is ready for it and whether you can provide the conditions that will help the change succeed.
Sometimes the most valuable thing we can do for a horse is recognize a problem that needs attention. Sometimes it's recognizing that a difference is simply a difference. And sometimes it's understanding that a change may be needed, but the best way to help the horse is to be thoughtful about when and how we make it.
We need to be able to tell the difference.