The Equine Functional Posture Podcast

By Dr. Raquel Butler & Sophie VandenbergHealth & Fitness Education Kids & Family Pets & Animals

The Equine Functional Posture Podcast episodes

November 01Episode 110: Windsucking: Habit, Pain or Coping Mechanism?
Let's look beyond the 'vice of windsucking'. Today we explore the causes, physical effects and management of windsucking and crib-biting in horses.
Raquel shares her experience managing her own windsucking horse, Moonie, over the past 12 years, including the challenges of identifying stressors, managing physical discomfort and finding a balance that supports his wellbeing.
We discuss:
What windsucking is and how it differs from crib-biting
Why stereotypic behaviours develop, including the roles of stress, weaning, gastrointestinal discomfort and management
The potential effects on the jaw, hyoid, neck, diaphragm and overall biomechanics
How preventing stereotypic behaviours may influence stress and learning
The welfare concerns surrounding windsucking collars
Practical ways to support a windsucking horse through environmental management, bodywork and reducing stress

To Learn more about Dr Raquel visit:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IntegratedVetherapeutics
Website: https://integratedvettherapeutics.mykajabi.com/about
To learn more about Sophie Vandenberg:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091267906532
Have any questions? Email us at: [email protected]
36 min
October 25Episode 109: Pole Work - Research & Application
The Equine Functional Course is now open for Enrolment - Closes 2nd Nov 2026
https://www.integratedvettherapeutics.com/efp
Pole Work: What Does the Research Tell Us About Equine Biomechanics?
Pole work is commonly recommended for training and rehabilitation, but how do we know whether it's actually benefiting the horse?
In this episode, Dr Raquel Butler and Sophie Vandenberg explore the research behind pole work and how changes in pole height, spacing and gait influence limb movement, spinal motion and muscle activation.
We discuss:
What research tells us about ground poles versus raised poles.
How pole spacing influences spinal extension and limb movement.
Differences between walking and trotting over poles.
Why greater muscle activation doesn't necessarily mean better function.
How to assess your horse's physical and emotional responses to pole exercises.
Discover why effective pole work isn't simply about increasing the challenge, but understanding how your individual horse responds to each exercise.
57 min
October 18Episode 108: The Missing Piece: Equine Posture Transformations
Understanding Your Horse: The Value of Functional Posture Education
What if you could recognise the smaller signs that your horse is struggling, understand why, and feel confident knowing what to do next?
In this episode Dr Raquel Butler and Sophie Vandenberg explore how understanding the relationships between posture, movement, balance and behaviour can change the way we care for our horses - and share a few incredible transformations when these principles are applied to everyday horse management.
Through real experiences from Equine Functional Posture course participants, we discuss:
Recognising subtle changes in posture, movement and behaviour.
Examples of horses (of all ages!) showing improvements in balance, limb control, posture and willingness to engage.
How physical stability and discomfort may influence behaviour and training.
Why individual assessment matters more than simply following a collection of exercises.
Developing the skills to make informed decisions about training, rehabilitation and professional care.
The Equine Functional Course is now open for Enrolment - Closes 2nd Nov 2026
https://www.integratedvettherapeutics.com/efp
58 min
October 11Episode 107 - The Neurological Examination
Episode 107 - The Neurological Examination
A horse can pass a lameness assessment and still show signs that warrant a neurological examination.
In this episode, Dr. Raquel Butler and Sophie Vandenberg explain how an equine neurological examination differs from a musculoskeletal assessment. They explore the tests veterinarians use to assess sensation, coordination, balance, limb awareness and nervous-system function, alongside signs that may indicate the need for further investigation.
We discuss:
Why a neurological examination is different from a lameness or musculoskeletal assessment
How cranial nerves, skin sensitivity and limb placement are assessed
What stability tests can reveal while the horse is standing and moving
Why head elevation, tight circles, slopes and obstacles challenge coordination
Signs to observe including stumbling, falling, unusual limb placement and unpredictable behaviour
Why results must be considered together and rider and practitioner safety must come first
To learn more about Dr Raquel Butler visit:
Facebook: Integrated Veterinary Therapeutics
Website: https://www.integratedvettherapeutics.com.au
To learn more about Sophie Vandenberg:
Facebook: Equine Posturelate - Sophie Vandenberg
Have any questions or topics you'd love us to cover?
Email us at: [email protected]
33 min
October 04Episode 106 - Pre-purchase Exams - Are They Worth It?
Episode 107 - Pre-Purchase Exams: Are They Worth It?
A pre-purchase examination can reduce risk and provide valuable information, but it cannot guarantee a horse's future soundness or suitability.
In this episode, Dr. Raquel Butler and Sophie Vandenberg explore what equine pre-purchase examinations can and cannot tell us. They discuss the standard stages of a veterinary examination, choosing radiographs and optional diagnostics, understanding fitness for purpose, and combining veterinary findings with observation, history and informed decision-making.
We discuss:
Why the horse's intended purpose should guide the examination
What is included in a standard two-stage or five-stage vet check
How to choose radiographs and understand the importance of different views
Confidentiality, risk assessment, optional diagnostics and independent veterinary opinions
What a standard examination may not reveal about soft tissue, posture and neurological function
Why history, repeated viewings, educated observation and trusting your concerns still matter
To learn more about Dr Raquel Butler visit:
Facebook: Integrated Veterinary Therapeutics
Website: https://www.integratedvettherapeutics.com.au
To learn more about Sophie Vandenberg:
Facebook: Equine Posturelate - Sophie Vandenberg
Have any questions or topics you'd love us to cover?
Email us at: [email protected]
42 min
September 27Episode 105 - Post Colic Surgery Rehabilitation
Episode 105 - Post Colic Surgery Rehabilitation
Returning to performance after colic surgery does not necessarily mean that a horse's core function has fully recovered.
In this episode, Dr. Raquel Butler and Sophie Vandenberg discuss rehabilitation following colic surgery, including how abdominal surgery can affect core strength, posture, breathing and movement. They outline a staged approach that begins with wound management and gut health, then progresses through stability, functional activation, strength and a carefully assessed return to riding.
We discuss:
Why return to performance is not a complete measure of recovery
How scar tissue and internal adhesions may influence comfort and function
Early priorities including wound management, circulation, gut health, hoof balance and breathing
How feeding posture can support balance and gentle abdominal activity
The difference between true core activation and abdominal bracing as exercises progress
What to assess before returning a horse to riding or normal paddock activity
To learn more about Dr Raquel Butler visit:
Facebook: Integrated Veterinary Therapeutics
Website: https://www.integratedvettherapeutics.com.au
To learn more about Sophie Vandenberg:
Facebook: Equine Posturelate - Sophie Vandenberg
Have any questions or topics you'd love us to cover?
Email us at: [email protected]
43 min
September 20Episode 104 - Equine Functional Posture Clinic: Insights and Breakthroughs
Sometimes the most powerful change comes from doing less, waiting longer and observing more carefully.
This episode is a reflective discussion about a recent two-day equine posture clinic hosted by Dr Raquel involving five very different horses. Differing levels of balance, stability, communication and mental engagement shaped each horse's response, and we explain why the same exercise may need to look completely different for each individual horse.
We discuss:
Why doing less and allowing time to process can create meaningful change
How balance and stability can influence focus, behaviour and willingness
Why the handler's body position, softness and intention affect the horse's movement
How exercises, poles, aids and rewards can be adapted to the individual horse
What five contrasting horses revealed about lameness, forelimb instability, posture, bracing and mental disengagement
Why stopping, refusing or looking away can be considered valuable communication rather than disobedience
To learn more about Dr Raquel Butler visit:
Facebook: Integrated Veterinary Therapeutics
Website: https://www.integratedvettherapeutics.com.au
To learn more about Sophie Vandenberg:
Facebook: Equine Functional Therapy
Have any questions or topics you'd love us to cover?
Email us at: [email protected]
54 min
September 14Episode 103 - Guest: Sharon May Davis - Grading ECVM (Equine Complex Vertebral Malformation
Episode 103 - Guest: Sharon May Davis - Grading ECVM (Equine Complex Vertebral Malformation
ECVM is more than simply identifying an anatomical variation in the lower cervical spine.
In this episode, Dr. Raquel Butler and Sophie Vandenberg are joined by Dr. Sharon May-Davis PhD to explore the history, research and grading of Equine Complex Vertebral Malformation (ECVM), and what different presentations may mean for the individual horse.
We discuss:
How ECVM was first identified and how the research has developed
How the C6 grading system works and why Grade 4 horses may require further support and investigation
The difference between unilateral and bilateral ECVM presentations clinically
How changes to the longus colli may influence cervical stability, posture and movement
Early signs to observe including tripping, toe dragging, hypersensitivity and unusual behaviour
Why early investigation, appropriate management and responsible breeding decisions matter
To learn more about Dr Raquel Butler visit:
Facebook: Integrated Veterinary Therapeutics
Website: https://www.integratedvettherapeutics.com.au
To learn more about Sophie Vandenberg:
Facebook: Equine Posturelate – Sophie Vandenberg
Have any questions or topics you’d love us to cover?
Email us at: [email protected]
51 min
September 06Episode 102: Equine Pain Part 2- Understanding Pain: More Than Just Tissue Damage
Pain management in horses is rarely about finding one single treatment.
In this episode, we explore how pain can be managed more holistically, why different types of pain may respond differently to treatment, and how movement, environment and daily management can all influence comfort and recovery.
We discuss:
Why pain management needs to be individualised to the horse
Why a “bute trial” cannot always rule pain in or out
The role of movement, rehabilitation and functional posture in reducing discomfort
How environment, nutrition, sleep and recovery can influence pain
Why behaviour can be an important form of communication
How small, positive changes can support comfort, confidence and quality of life
To learn more about Dr Raquel Butler visit:
Facebook: Integrated Veterinary Therapeutics
Website: https://www.integratedvettherapeutics.com.au
To learn more about Sophie Vandenberg:
Facebook: Equine Posturelate – Sophie Vandenberg
Have any questions or topics you’d love us to cover?
Email us at: [email protected]
45 min
August 30Episode 101: Equine Pain Part 1- Understanding Pain: More Than Just Tissue Damage
Pain in horses is not simply a direct measure of tissue damage.
In this episode, we explore what pain actually is, how the nervous system contributes to the pain experience, and why persistent pain can become much more complex than simply finding an injured structure.
We discuss:
Acute pain versus persistent or chronic pain
Why pain can continue after tissues have healed
How previous experiences can influence future pain responses
Central sensitisation and an increasingly sensitive nervous system
The biological, psychological, social, environmental and lifestyle factors that can influence pain
How pain may appear through changes in behaviour, posture, movement and facial expression
To learn more about Dr Raquel Butler visit:
Facebook: Integrated Veterinary Therapeutics
Website: https://www.integratedvettherapeutics.com.au
To learn more about Sophie Vandenberg:
Facebook: Equine Posturelate – Sophie Vandenberg
Have any questions or topics you’d love us to cover?
Email us at: [email protected]
47 min

About The Equine Functional Posture Podcast

From the publisher's feed

This podcast is created by Dr. Raquel Butler from Integrated Veterinary Therapeutics and Sophie Vandenberg from Equine Posturelate. Dr. Raquel is a Biomechanical Medicine Veterinarian and Educator. Sophie is an Equine Science graduate and has studied Equine Osteopathy. This podcast is your ultimate source for insights into the influences of functional posture on biomechanics, health and overall well-being of horses . Tune in each week as we discuss practical tips, delve into expert interviews and explore the latest research in the impact of static and dynamic posture on your horse journey.