Equi-Study

Equine anatomy revision not sticking?

Muscle names, origins, insertions and functions don’t need to be overwhelming.

Our Equine Muscle Revision Flashcards are designed to help equine students and professionals revise efficiently and actually retain the information. If exams, assessments or revision are coming up, now’s a great time to add a tool you’ll keep using.

✔️ Muscle names
✔️ Origins & insertions
✔️ Functions explained clearly
✔️ Perfect for exam revision & practical work

A solid study tool that actually works!

Order yours now - https://www.equi-study.co.uk/category/all-products

Introducing the Official Yard Honours List – EquiStudy Edition ✨🐴

Every yard has its characters… but at Meadowbrook, they’re basically running their own government.
Here are the newly awarded titles for services to chaos, education, and emotional damage to poles:

• Spike – MBE (Member of the British Equine) 👑🐴
For 25 years of outstanding service in leadership, diplomacy, and telling everyone to get out of his way.

• Alf – OBE (Order of the Brooding Equine) 😤🎩
For contributions to dramatic sighing, silent judgement, and refusing to walk over poles because they are beneath him.

• Hermes – CBE (Chief Bridle Escapologist) 🔓🤦‍♂️
For exceptional commitment to proving that no headcollar, bridle, or restraint is ever truly secure.

• Fico – KBE (Knight of the Bouncy Equine) 💃🦄
For services to enthusiastic footwork, expressive forelegs, and turning every schooling session into a flamenco.

• Louis – QBE (Queen’s Bay Equine… even though he’s ginger) 🦾👁️‍🗨️
For continued bravery, resilience, and the ability to do endurance with one eye and more heart than most horses with two.

• Rocky – BSc(Hons) (Bachelor of Spookology) 👻📚
For his research into why that corner is terrifying on Mondays but fine on Tuesdays.

• Saskia – DBA (Dame of Beautiful Attitude) 💅👑
For service to being fabulous, demanding, and always having the final word.

• Heemy – PhD (Professional Hay Disappearance specialist) 🍽️🌾
For leading research in the rapid removal of forage and all associated snack-based studies.

🎶 “Jingle Horses” – Valley Farm Edition

Dashing through the yard 🏃‍♀️🐴
In a very chaotic way 🤪
Spike is in the lead 🍽️
Shouting “WHERE’S MY HAY?!” 😤🌾
Alf is close behind 😇
Judging everyone, of course 🙄
Oh what fun it is to run
With this dramatic herd of horse! 🎠✨

Oh—
🔔 Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Horses all the way! 🐴💨
Oh what fun it is to watch
The chaos every day—HEY! 🤣
🔔 Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Valley Farm’s a show 🎪
Louis prances like he’s king 👑
And Rocky says “HELL NO.” 😒

Hermes steals a rug 🧺😈
Dragging it around 💁‍♂️
Fico waves his paws 🐴👐
Two feet off the ground 🤸‍♂️
Saskia’s throwing shade 😑💅
Side-eye on repeat 👀
Heemy sparkles through the yard ✨
With fancy little feet 💃🐴

Oh—
🔔 Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Horses all the way! 🐎💨
Oh what fun it is to love
This chaos every day—HEY! 🎉
🔔 Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Valley Farm delights 🎄
What a herd, what a vibe,
Merry horsey nights! 🌙🐴❤️

🎨🧠 Anatomy models: complete! (And so am I… almost!)

Three hand-painted equine anatomy models are finally finished — each showing a different layer: superficial muscles, deep muscles, and skeletal anatomy. 💪🦴

They’ve been a true labour of love (and the tiniest paintbrushes known to humankind), but they’re fantastic learning tools — perfect for visualising structure and layering in a way textbooks just can’t show. 📚✨

The final step? Applying the protective lacquer… which, let’s just say, has left me slightly higher than a horse on spring grass. 🌾😵‍💫

Totally worth it though — they’re off to their new home soon, and I’m not sure whether to celebrate or sleep for a week! 🐴💫

Oh deer…

it looks like Equi-Study has gained a fawntastic new herd member! 🐴 + 🦌 = 🤔

We’re not sure if he’s here for anatomy class or just stag-gered in by mistake…
Either way, he’s definitely raising the bucks in brainpower! 🤓💪

🧠 Terminology Tuesday: Enthesis

Let’s get anatomical with one of those blink-and-you’ll-miss-it structures — the enthesis 👀

📍 Definition:
An enthesis is the specific point where a tendon, ligament, or joint capsule attaches to bone.

💥 Why it matters:
These attachment sites are under huge mechanical stress — they’re where soft tissue meets hard tissue, and that transition zone is crucial for force transfer during movement.

🔥 When things go wrong:
Inflammation or degeneration at the enthesis is called enthesopathy, which can lead to pain, reduced range of motion, and compensatory muscle tension elsewhere.

💡 Therapist tip:
If you find consistent tension tracking down to a tendon or ligament insertion point, it might not just be the muscle — the enthesis could be irritated too.

We've been snowed in with flashcard orders recently and only have a few packs left in each edition - don't worry more are on the way soon but if you need urgent help with your equine anatomy revision then grab a pack now!!

Purchase online here - https://www.equi-study.co.uk/category/all-products

🎨 Anatomy in Action! 🇮🇪

We’re beginning the process of painting another set of our anatomical revision miniatures — this time heading off to a client in Ireland! ☘️

Each model is hand-painted with precision and care, bringing equine anatomy to life in a fun and memorable way — perfect for students and professionals alike 🐴🩻

✨ Want your own custom-painted revision miniature? Click the link below to order yours today 👇
🔗 https://www.equi-study.co.uk/store

Thank you to Rosca Horsemanship for the below post and to everyone who’s been loving our Equine Anatomy Revision Flashcards! 🐴💫

We’re so grateful for all the amazing feedback from students, fellow therapists, and riders using them to make studying anatomy easier, clearer, and a little more fun.

Last month I ordered these pretty snazzy equine anatomy; origin and insertion flash cards from Equi-Study who were generous enough to include a pack of their muscle function cards, which I was very thankful for!

Pocket-sized, concise and wipe-able (as we know, things seldom stay clean!), I purchased the cards to carry around with me to give my clients a little visual of muscles I may be working on during a bodywork session or that I may be explaining in regards to training, activation and posture.

A lovely little deck to have in your pocket, and thank you to Sarah for the surprise addition! 🤠

📚 Terminology Tuesday: Ataxic 🐴🧠

👉 Word: Ataxic
👉 Root: From “ataxia” — meaning “without order” (Greek).

🧠 Definition:
An ataxic horse shows incoordination or an unsteady, irregular gait, caused by a disruption in how the brain and body communicate.

💥 Common Signs:
• Unbalanced or wobbly movement
• Overreaching or dragging of limbs
• Difficulty turning or backing up
• Hind end swaying, especially on uneven ground

🧪 Why It Matters:
Ataxia isn’t a diagnosis — it’s a symptom of an underlying issue, often involving the nervous system.
Potential causes can include:
• Neurological disease (e.g. Equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy, Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis)
• Trauma or spinal cord compression (e.g. Cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy / Wobblers)
• Infectious or inflammatory conditions

🐎 In Practice:
If a horse presents with ataxia, it’s a red flag 🚩 and should always be investigated by a vet. Early recognition can make a big difference to safety, welfare, and prognosis.

🐴 Muscle Monday: External Abdominal Oblique 🐴✨

Today we’re taking a closer look at one of the most important core stabilisers in the horse’s body — the External Abdominal Oblique 💪

📍 Location:
This large, flat muscle lies on the lateral (side) of the abdomen. It originates from the lower ribs and thoracolumbar fascia, running diagonally downwards to insert along the linea alba and pelvic area.

⚡ Function:
• Supports the abdominal wall and internal organs 🫀
• Plays a major role in trunk flexion and lateral bending
• Assists in respiration, especially forced exhalation
• Helps stabilise the spine and pelvis during movement 🐎

🏋️ Why It Matters:
A strong, supple abdominal wall is crucial for:
• Engaging the horse’s core properly
• Supporting a lifted back and correct posture
• Improving balance and collection
• Reducing strain on the lumbar region

✨ Signs of weakness or tension:
• Hollowed back or dropped belly
• Difficulty engaging the hind end
• Resistance to lateral flexion
• Tight, reactive abdominal area on palpation

🧠 Top tip: Core activation exercises such as belly lifts, pole work, and correct long and low work can help strengthen and mobilise this muscle.

Today’s anatomical term is abduct — a word you’ll often hear when talking about limb movement. 🐴

📖 Definition:
To abduct means to move a limb away from the midline of the body.

👉 Example:
When your horse steps out to the side with their forelimb, they are abducting that limb.

🦴 Muscles involved:
The Deltoideus muscle (horse), among others, plays a role in abducting the forelimb — allowing freedom and reach through the shoulder.

⚡️ Why it matters:
Understanding directional terms like “abduct” helps you describe movement accurately — whether in training, therapy notes, or anatomical study.
Restricted abduction may show up as:
• Shortened lateral steps
• Difficulty with lateral movements
• Uneven stride patterns

✨ Quick Tip:
Encouraging gentle, controlled abduction through pole work or in-hand exercises can help improve flexibility and range of motion.