KM Equine Services

📚🐴 LESS THAN 15 COPIES LEFT!

Our Musculoskeletal Equine Anatomy Book has been flying off the shelves, and we're now down to fewer than 15 copies in stock!

Once they're gone, we won't be restocking until December!

Whether you're a horse owner, student, therapist or simply love learning more about equine anatomy, this book is a fantastic addition to your bookshelf.

🎁 So grab your copy while you can, or get it added to your Christmas wish list! 🎄

📖 Created by KM Equine Services & Wolds Equine Sports Massage Approved Courses.

🛒 Available now at www.kmequine.co.uk/s/shop

📚 Discover EquiLibrary!

Authors: Add your equestrian books to EquiLibrary and share your work with more readers.

Readers: Explore the book store and take your next read wherever you go. Read within our e-reader, or download your book directly from your account onto your device.

Whether you’re here to share a book or find one, come and explore EquiLibrary! 🐴📖

🔗 www.equilibrary.co.uk

Social media can be an incredible place for the horse world. We can share knowledge, learn from other professionals, discover new research and, ultimately, improve the lives of our horses.

But sometimes, it can also feel like an ongoing series of 'Desperate Horsewives' or 'The Only Way is Equine'. 😂

Bits, bridles, saddles, feeding, feet, training, therapy… there are few subjects that won’t eventually descend into opinions at dawn.

The important thing is that, whatever our profession, discipline or experience, we should all be striving for excellent standards of equine welfare.

And that means being prepared to keep learning.

Science and research continue to give us a greater understanding of the horse, from anatomy and biomechanics to behaviour, pain, equipment and performance. That knowledge gives us the opportunity to improve, develop and sometimes change what we do.

Doing something differently today from how we did it 10, 20 or 30 years ago isn’t necessarily an admission that we were “wrong”. It can simply mean that we know more now, so we can do better.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with discussion, questioning practices or professionals having different approaches. That’s how industries develop. But there’s a big difference between healthy professional debate and trying to score points against somebody from behind a screen.

Especially when we’re discussing something as individual as horses.

Different horse. Different anatomy. Different history. Different rider. Different circumstances.

We don’t all have to agree. We can ask questions. We should challenge outdated thinking when evidence and welfare call for it.

But we can do it with a little more curiosity, a little less certainty, and remember that there’s a real person on the other side of the screen.

Ultimately, we should all be working towards the same thing:

Better knowledge. Better practice. Better welfare for the horse. 🐴

And perhaps a few fewer episodes of Desperate Horsewives along the way.

📅 Update on remaining KM Equine Services appointments for 2026

⚠️ Why you shouldn’t lead or lunge with the lead rope through the bit rings and under the chin

I see it often: the rope is passed through one bit ring, underneath the horse’s chin, and through to the opposite bit ring.

It might seem like it gives you a little more control, but it can completely change the action of the bit inside the horse’s mouth. When pressure is applied, the bit rings are drawn down and towards each other. This can cause the mouthpiece to collapse around the tongue, creating pressure it wasn’t designed to produce.

The severity depends on the mouthpiece, bit design and amount of force applied. The consequences can range from discomfort and bruising to serious injury - including splitting or severing of the tongue.

🐴 What can you use instead?

For leading: An appropriately fitted underhalter beneath the bridle gives you a separate place to attach the lead rope. Clipping to the noseband may also be an option, provided it is suitable and securely fitted.
If leading from the bit is necessary: A bit coupling is a better option than passing the rope through both rings and under the chin.
For lunging: Use an appropriately fitted lunge cavesson, with the lunge line attached to the cavesson rather than threaded through the bit rings.

⚠️ And NEVER tie your horse up by the bit. If they pull back or startle, considerable force can be transferred directly to sensitive structures in the mouth, which can cause severe damage to the tongue and bars.

How we attach and use our equipment matters. Small changes can make a big difference to our horses’ comfort and welfare.