What is Structural Integration?

As we all know, horses are amazing creatures! They can connect with humans like no other species. They can perform amazing athletic feats, but they also have an incredible ability to compensate.

With each movement, your horse may be compensating for something, and you don’t even know it. It may be an injury, a saddle that doesn’t fit quite right, a shoe that feels off, or all of the above. The bottom line is that your horse will still take that jump, execute that side-pass, or cut that calf and you’ll be none he wiser. Eventually you may notice a short stride, or a little less bend, but your horse is still there for you.

Fascial Web

Fascial Web

 

This compensation can build up over time and create chronic structural “holding patterns” or adhesions. These adhesions are based in the connective tissue or fasia. The fascial system is like a giant non-linear web that surrounds muscles, groups of muscles, blood vessels, and nerves, binding some structures together, while permitting others to slide smoothly over each other.

The Equine Natural Movement Series works to systematically unwrap these adhesions and gently guide the horse back to a more naturally balanced relationship with gravity. This helps to break the cycle of “restriction – compensation – imbalance”, and allows the horse to regain a more natural movement and grace.