Equine Massage WA

Looking at dates for the next Gidge pole clinic would we prefer 8th or 9th August?

It’s polework day at Ael Y Bryn Equestrian and here’s what we are playing with today 💕💕

Lenny in his first 1.15m at WASJA Winter Championships.

Thank you TinCan Imagery for capturing this memory 📸

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Proudly representing Off the Track WA

🐴 Only horse people have normalised standing around watching their horse wee and poo… and honestly, sometimes it’s one of the most useful assessments you’ll ever do.

One of the few times we get to see a horse completely uninfluenced by us is during urination. No rider. No rein contact. No saddle. No pressure. Just the horse choosing how it wants to stand.

That makes it a surprisingly valuable opportunity to observe:

✔️ Weight distribution
✔️ Balance and symmetry
✔️ Preferred limb positioning
✔️ Head and neck posture
✔️ Pelvic comfort and stability
✔️ General relaxation

But before everyone panics because their horse always wees with the right hind forward…

🚨 One stance does NOT equal a diagnosis.

Current evidence does not support the idea that a particular urination stance automatically means a specific injury, pathology or lameness.

A horse may consistently:
• Place the right hind forward
• Place the left hind forward
• Stand slightly wider behind
• Lower the head significantly
• Shift weight onto one forelimb

…and be completely comfortable and sound.

What matters far more is:

📌 Consistency
📌 Changes over time
📌 New asymmetries
📌 Reluctance to urinate
📌 Signs of discomfort, tension or instability

The goal isn’t to diagnose your horse from one wee.

The goal is to learn what YOUR horse normally does.

Because when you know their normal, you are much more likely to notice when something changes.

Things worth observing include:

🔍 Which hind limb tends to come forward (if either)
🔍 Whether they consistently stand wide or narrow behind
🔍 Whether they comfortably extend through the pelvis and hindquarters
🔍 Whether they appear stiff or reluctant to adopt their usual stance
🔍 Whether the head and neck remain relaxed
🔍 Whether the stance changes from day to day

Many horses develop habitual patterns and preferred positions that are entirely normal for them. The important question is not:

❌ “Is this stance right or wrong?”

It’s:

✅ “Is this normal for my horse?”

As with all postural observations, look for patterns rather than one-off moments.

If you notice a sudden change in your horse’s normal urination posture, difficulty urinating, signs of pain, repeated asymmetry that is worsening, or any concerns about their comfort, that’s when you should investigate 🔬

Because sometimes the most honest assessment of a horse is the one they’re giving you when they think nobody is watching. 👀🐴💦

Still spots available this Friday afternoon in Gidgegannup

https://square.link/u/xWbugJSl

https://square.link/u/xWbugJSl - Tickets 🎟️

✨ Friday Pole Work Sessions – Limited Spots Available! ✨

Looking for a fun, structured way to improve your horse’s strength, balance and way of going?

We still have a few spots available this Friday at our beautiful arena in Mount Helena. Enjoy a relaxed training environment, excellent footing, easy parking, and our fully lit arena for evening sessions.

🐴 3:00 pm – Groundwork to Saddle (3 spots available)
🐴 5:00 pm – Walk & Trot Pole Work (2 spots available)
🐴 6:00 pm – Trot & Canter Pole Work (3 spots available)

Each session is designed to improve posture, core strength, coordination, balance, straightness and overall athletic development. Exercises are tailored to suit individual horses while working within a supportive small-group environment.

Whether you’re bringing a young horse, a horse returning to work, a rehabilitation case, or you’re looking to further develop strength and performance, there’s a session to suit.

📍 99 Reen Road, Gidgegannup
💡 Under lights
🚗 Easy parking
📅 Book via the link and make sure you select the correct session.

Spots are limited and often fill quickly, so grab your place before they’re gone!

“Rupert saying what we’re all thinking before coffee.”☕️