Fuerst Horsemanship LLC

Helping horse owners better understand movement, comfort, and performance through practical, hands-on education.

These two-day clinics are designed to provide participants with the knowledge and skills to confidently support their horse’s wellness between professional appointments. Through a combination of classroom discussion, demonstrations, and hands-on practice, attendees will learn how to recognize movement limitations, improve mobility, and implement effective corrective exercises tailored to their horse’s needs.

Whether your goal is to support a performance horse, maintain a senior partner, or simply deepen your understanding of equine biomechanics, this clinic offers valuable tools you can immediately apply at home.

🔹 Hands-on instruction with your horse
🔹 Individualized guidance and feedback
🔹 Take-home exercises and educational materials
🔹 Open discussion and Q&A opportunities

I am currently scheduling clinics for anyone interested in expanding their knowledge of equine wellness and movement.

For hosting information, available dates, or registration details, please contact:

P: 269.251.2278
E: [email protected]

I look forward to helping you build a stronger, healthier, and more comfortable horse through education and practical application.

A recent study from the University of Tennessee provided strong support for something trainers, movement specialists, and bodyworkers have observed for years:

Ground poles significantly increase activation of important postural and core muscles in horses.

What the Study Found

Walking over ground poles increased activity in:

• Longissimus dorsi — a major topline and spinal support muscle
• Abdominal muscles — critical for core stability and support of the spine

Even at the walk, poles require the horse to:

• Lift the limbs higher
• Stabilize the trunk more actively
• Organize posture and balance with greater precision
• Continuously adjust limb placement and timing

At the trot, researchers also found increased activation of the abdominal muscles.

Trotting over poles requires greater dynamic stabilization, and the increased limb elevation demands more coordinated control of the trunk, pelvis, and spine.

What This Means

These findings support the long-standing use of cavaletti and ground poles as a low-impact way to:

• Strengthen the topline
• Improve abdominal engagement
• Support spinal stability
• Enhance proprioception and coordination
• Encourage improved posture and self-carriage
• Develop better movement organization through the whole body

One of the most important aspects of pole work is that it influences both sides of the postural system:

• The dorsal chain — including the longissimus muscles along the back
• The ventral chain — including the abdominal support system

This balance is essential for efficient movement, force transfer, and development of a healthy, functional topline.

But pole work is not only muscular.

It is neurological.

Each pole creates a movement problem the horse must solve in real time.

The horse has to:

• Judge distance
• Adjust stride length
• Control timing
• Stabilize the trunk
• Organize the limbs in space
• Adapt moment-to-moment to changing demands

That process requires attention, coordination, body awareness, and ongoing nervous system regulation.

In many horses, poles appear to improve focus not simply because the horse is “behaving,” but because the nervous system is becoming more engaged and organized around the task.

Pole work may also influence neurological tone — the background level of muscular and nervous system readiness that affects posture, movement quality, stiffness, and coordination.

For some horses, this can help reduce excessive bracing and improve adaptability through the body.
For others, it can help improve postural engagement and overall organization.

Why It Matters

Regular pole work can benefit many types of horses:

• Young horses developing coordination and posture
• Performance horses improving strength, agility, movement quality, and limb awareness
• Horses rebuilding core control and stability after periods of weakness or reduced work
• Older horses maintaining mobility, coordination, and movement confidence

Importantly, many of these benefits occur even at the walk, making poles accessible to horses across a wide range of ages, disciplines, and fitness levels.

Rather than simply “making horses pick up their feet,” poles appear to challenge the nervous system, postural system, sensory system, and muscular system together — encouraging the horse to organize movement with greater control, awareness, and adaptability.

https://koperequine.com/step-by-step-the-benefits-of-walk-poles-for-horses/

I’m Breanna Fuerst - owner of Fuerst Horsemanship LLC located near Howell, MI.

I don’t believe in:
❌ Forcing horses into submission
❌ Training over pain or tension
❌ Slapping a saddle on an unprepared body

I do believe in:
✔️ Building horses correctly—from the inside out
✔️ Proper conditioning that supports longevity
✔️ Bodywork, stretching, and massage as part of training—not an afterthought
✔️ Teaching owners how to actually understand and care for their horse

Because most “bad behavior”?
It’s not attitude.

It’s a body that’s tight, sore, weak, or compensating…
mixed with confusion and miscommunication.

That’s where everything changes.

I combine horsemanship, correct conditioning, and equine bodywork to help horses:
• Move better
• Feel better
• Perform better
• And actually want to work with you

Whether you’re dealing with resistance, stiffness, behavioral issues, or just want to do right by your horse long-term—this is the foundation most people skip.

I do take on a limited number of horses/clients at a time, so if you’ve been looking for help or even just have questions, feel free to reach out or message me.

Otherwise, follow along—I share a lot of education you can start using with your own horse right away 🐴✨