Shockwave therapy (ESWT) is a non-invasive treatment that supports healing in tendons, ligaments, bone interfaces, and certain chronic pain conditions. Learn how it works, when it helps, and why it’s most effective as part of a structured rehab plan.

DSMD (idiopathic hopping) is a commonly missed cause of front-end pain in horses, linked to dysfunction of the scapular and thoracic sling rather than the lower limb. Learn the signs, why it’s often overlooked, and when veterinary evaluation matters.

At the walk, healthy horses rely on passive neck motion to support balance and efficient movement. The characteristic figure-8 pattern of the head and neck coordinates with the forelimbs, reveal­ing important clues about biomechanics, soundness, and compensation.

Spooky or resistant behavior under saddle is often an early sign of pain, not a training problem. Facial expression and performance changes can reveal underlying biomechanical dysfunction long before visible lameness appears.

Performance lameness does not always present as a clear head-nod or limp. In many sport horses, discomfort in the neck, back, or pelvis shows up first as subtle performance decline rather than obvious limb lameness.

Dr. Beth Byles, DVM, founded Kinetic Equine Medicine to address complex performance and lameness cases through a whole-horse, biomechanics-driven approach focused on the neck, back, and pelvis.

Kinetic Equine Medicine now offers on-site digital radiography, including comprehensive neck and back imaging to support accurate evaluation of complex performance and body lameness cases.

The multifidus muscle is one of the horse’s most important spinal stabilizers, providing core strength and postural control. When it weakens due to pain or inactivity, the horse loses stability and may develop chronic back pain or conditions like kissing spine. This article explains the multifidus’ role in equine biomechanics and how targeted rehabilitation at Kinetic Equine Medicine in Monroe, Washington restores balance, strength, and performance.

When pain persists beyond tissue healing, the nervous system itself may be driving discomfort. Central sensitization and neuropathic pain help explain exaggerated reactions, inconsistent movement, and behavior changes in horses.

Some horses continue to show pain, tension, or behavior changes long after an injury has healed. Peripheral sensitization helps explain why normal touch or movement can become painful—and how early intervention can break the cycle.

ECVM diagnosis relies on clinical exams and imaging of the lower neck. While radiographs are common, advanced imaging like CT can be limited by access and risk.

ECVM often shows up as subtle performance changes, behavioral resistance, or intermittent pain. Recognizing these patterns is key—but diagnosis requires veterinary evaluation and imaging.