Is Your Horse Comfortable? Spotting the Subtle Signs
Is Your Horse Comfortable? Spotting the Subtle Signs
with Dr Sue Dyson, Sue Palmer, Dr James Cooling and Gillian Higgins
A curated mini-magazine to help you recognise subtle changes in comfort, posture, movement and behaviour before they become bigger problems.
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Description
Horses do not always announce discomfort with a dramatic limp or an unmistakable objection. Often, the earlier clues are quieter: a change in posture, muscle shape, way of going, expression, willingness, saddle area or the way they respond to ridden work.
This mini-magazine brings together five original Intelligent Horsemanship Magazine articles from leading equine professionals. It will help you look beyond one isolated sign and consider the whole horse: their movement, body, behaviour, tack, training, strength and comfort.
Inside, Dr Sue Dyson explores what a comfortable ridden horse should look like and why certain behaviours deserve a closer look. Sue Palmer shares practical ways for owners to spot subtle changes early. Dr James Cooling considers muscle atrophy and saddle fit, while Gillian Higgins offers a clear framework for assessing posture. Dr Sue Dyson also examines mouth opening in ridden horses, encouraging us to consider comfort, equipment, rider influence, strength and task difficulty together.
This is not a diagnostic tool, but it is an excellent place to start if you are thinking, “Something is not quite right.”
Included articles
- What Does Comfortable Look Like? by Dr Sue Dyson
IH Magazine, Spring & Summer 2025, pages 34–35 - Spotting the Subtle Signs by Sue Palmer
IH Magazine, Autumn & Winter 2025, page 44 - Muscle Atrophy and Saddle Fit: Recognising & Preventing Problems by Dr James Cooling
IH Magazine, Autumn & Winter 2025, pages 38–40 - A Practical 4-Part System for Assessing & Improving Your Horse’s Posture by Gillian Higgins
IH Magazine, Spring & Summer 2026, pages 23–25 - Dressage with the Horse in Mind: Bits, Nosebands & Mouth Opening by Dr Sue Dyson
IH Magazine, Spring & Summer 2026, pages 26–29
