The Equine Functional Posture Podcast

Dr. Raquel Butler & Sophie Vandenberg

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. 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 Join our community of proactive horse people exploring the world of equine functional posture - our next course begins November 2024!! To view the course visit: https://integratedvettherapeutics.mykajabi.com/store Have any questions? Email us at: equinefunctionalposture@gmail.com

  1. 7 hrs ago

    Episode 92: Un-Bridled Conversations- Horse Wellbeing and Biomechanics

    Un-Bridled Conversations- Horse Wellbeing and Biomechanics  In this episode, we explore bridleless and bitless riding as more than just an impressive training goal. We discuss what changes when the horse is no longer connected through the mouth, and how this can reveal important information about posture, balance, expression and comfort. We reflect on recent bridleless competition footage, the positive reception it received, and what it showed us about collection, jumping technique, stride regularity and self-carriage without relying on the bit. In this episode, we unpack: Why bitless and bridleless riding deserve a place as valid riding and competition options What a horse’s expression can tell us about comfort, pressure and conflict How the head, neck and mouth can influence stride length, rhythm and hind-end function Why bridleless riding still needs thoughtful, peaceful training foundations How removing the bridle can reveal a horse’s true neutral posture Anatomical considerations when using neck ropes or bridle-less aids.  To learn more about Dr Raquel Butler visit: Facebook: Integrated Veterinary TherapeuticsWebsite: 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: equinefunctionalposture@gmail.com

    39 min
  2. Episode 91: Who's responsibility is your horse's posture?

    Jun 21

    Episode 91: Who's responsibility is your horse's posture?

    Master the essential, proven, science-based tools to understand posture, movement and behaviour from the inside out - so you can create real, lasting change without overwhelm, pressure or confusion.  Enrol now and transform how you support your horse’s body, balance and wellbeing: Equine Functional Posture Course    WHO's responsibility is your horse's posture? Your horse’s posture is not something that can be fully outsourced. While your vet, bodyworker, trainer, hoof care provider and saddle fitter all play important roles, the daily observations and small consistent inputs from the owner are often what create lasting change. In this episode, we unpack: Why the horse owner’s role is irreplaceable in postural change How behaviour, posture and movement are forms of communication What parts of your horse’s progress cannot be outsourced Why bodywork creates opportunity, but the owner helps maintain change How daily exercises, warm-ups and observations support the “positive posture bank” How the Equine Functional Posture Course helps owners recognise, support and advocate for their horse   To learn more about Dr Raquel Butler visit: Facebook: Integrated Veterinary TherapeuticsWebsite: 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: equinefunctionalposture@gmail.com

    40 min
  3. Episode 90: Activations: Waking Up Better Movement

    Jun 14

    Episode 90: Activations: Waking Up Better Movement

    Master the essential, proven, science-based tools to understand posture, movement and behaviour from the inside out - so you can create real, lasting change without overwhelm, pressure or confusion.  Enrol now and transform how you support your horse’s body, balance and wellbeing: Equine Functional Posture Course    Activations: Waking Up Better Movement Activations are one of the ways we can help prepare the horse’s body for better posture, stability and movement. They are not just exercises to “switch muscles on”, but a way to improve awareness, motor control and the quality of muscle recruitment before and during work. In this episode, we unpack: What activations are and why they matter in postural rehabilitation How we carry out activations with specificity to target specific muscles How activations prime nerves and muscles for co-ordination and balance The difference between true activation and bracing Why rest, release and time under tension are so important Examples of activations including tail shifts, belly lifts and carrot stretches How activations fit into the bigger picture of assessment, exercise and reassessment   To learn more about Dr Raquel Butler visit: Facebook: Integrated Veterinary TherapeuticsWebsite: 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: equinefunctionalposture@gmail.com

    57 min

  4. Jun 7

    Episode 89: Collaborative Rehab; Conversations With Your Veterinarian

    Discover The Hidden Physical Issues Behind 5 Common “Behavioural” Problems And How To Solve Them - Without More Pressure, Treatments Or Training Techniques   Register for my FREE Online Masterclass - Sunday June 14th  https://www.integratedvettherapeutics.com/registrationpbmc   Collaborative Rehab; Conversations with Your Veterinarian! Today we are empowering you with the skills to create better conversations with your vet around rehabilitation, especially once a diagnosis has been made. We explore why a rest alone is not the same as rehab, how controlled loading and functional posture can support healing, and how owners can respectfully advocate for a more collaborative recovery plan. In this episode, we explore Questions you can ask your vet to guide the rehab conversation respectfully  How being proactive and taking responsibility as an owner allows your vet to help you the best they can How rest can reduce strength, stability and core function Why rehabilitation is about more than just walking the horse What therapeutic tools, exercises and knowledge you can access to have an excellent recovery journey When it may be appropriate to seek a second opinion or a vet with rehab experience   To learn more about Dr Raquel Butler visit: Facebook: Integrated Veterinary TherapeuticsWebsite: 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: equinefunctionalposture@gmail.com

    43 min
  5. Episode 88: Healthy Head and Neck Posture

    May 31

    Episode 88: Healthy Head and Neck Posture

    Healthy Head and Neck Posture Head and neck position alone does not create self-carriage, collection, or correct biomechanics. Today we are discussing how the poll, jaw, neck muscles, cranial nerves, hyoid, nuchal ligament, back, and pelvis can all be affected when the head and neck are held in position rather than responding freely to whole-body posture. In this episode, we unpack: Why head position should be the result of whole-body organisation How thoracic sling, core, and hindlimb engagement support healthy flexion What can happen through the jaw, poll, throat latch, and upper neck when flexion is manufactured Why tension through the nuchal ligament can affect the back, neck, and hind end How fatigue can show up as heaviness, bracing, rushing, or loss of adjustability What owners can look for before, during, and after work Healthy head and neck posture is not about holding the horse in a shape. It is about supporting the body so the head and neck can become soft, adjustable, and free.  To learn more about Dr Raquel Butler visit: Facebook: Integrated Veterinary TherapeuticsWebsite: 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: equinefunctionalposture@gmail.com

    37 min
  6. Episode 87: Brain Breaks - The Pause Matters!

    May 24

    Episode 87: Brain Breaks - The Pause Matters!

    What if the most valuable part of your training session is not the exercise itself, but the pause that follows it? In this episode, we explore why brain breaks are such an important part of training, learning, emotional regulation, and postural change. A pause is never wasted time; it is the moment where the horse processes, integrates, softens, reorganises. You also have the opportunity to slow down and be present.  In this episode, we unpack: What a brain break can look like during groundwork, ridden work, or rehabilitation Why pauses help support nervous system regulation and learning The physical signs that a horse is processing and softening How fatigue, tension, and repetition can lead to bracing and compensation Why brain breaks can build confidence, curiosity, and emotional safety How to recognise when your horse needs more time, not more pressure To learn more about Dr Raquel Butler visit: Facebook: Integrated Veterinary TherapeuticsWebsite: 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: equinefunctionalposture@gmail.com

    51 min
  7. Episode 86: Abdominal Muscle Injuries

    May 17

    Episode 86: Abdominal Muscle Injuries

    Do you know how to recognise an abdominal muscle injury?? The horse’s abdominals are one of the most important support systems in the body. In this episode, we explore the anatomy and function of the abdominal muscles, how abdominal injuries can occur, and why these injuries are so commonly missed. We also discuss how abdominal dysfunction can influence posture, spinal stability, thoracic sling function, pelvic mechanics, and movement quality throughout the entire body. In this episode, we unpack: The role of the abdominal muscles in spinal support, posture, breathing, urination, defecation, and movement The four abdominal muscles and how their different fibre directions help stabilize and coordinate the body Common causes of abdominal injuries, including slips, falls, getting caught in fences, mud, float injuries, kicks, and compensation patterns Why abdominal injuries often do not present as obvious lameness, making them easy to overlook Signs of abdominal dysfunction, including shortened stride length, difficulty cantering, poor back lift, altered posture, instability, and difficulty picking up limbs for the farrier How abdominal injuries can influence the thoracic sling, pelvis, lumbar spine, multifidi, and whole-body biomechanics Why rehabilitation must focus on restoring whole-body function rather than just treating one isolated area This episode highlights how interconnected the horse’s body truly is and why understanding abdominal function can completely change the way you assess posture, movement, performance, and rehabilitation. It also reinforces the importance of observation, palpation, and recognising subtle compensations before they develop into larger problems. 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: equinefunctionalposture@gmail.com

    45 min
  8. Episode 85: Your Horse's Back - Pre and Post Work Checks

    May 10

    Episode 85: Your Horse's Back - Pre and Post Work Checks

    Do you know how to observe your horse's back to know whether the work you do is improving or detracting from your horse's back health?  Your horse’s back can give valuable clues about how they are coping with work, carrying a rider, and managing tension or fatigue through the body. This episode is about creating simple, purposeful checks you can use before and after riding. We also discuss causeso f back discomfort - so that if anything goes awry you can begin a process of elimination! In this episode, we unpack: Why the back can act as a window into whole-body function and compensation What to observe : we cover shape, comfort, texture/tone, function How back tension may relate to saddle fit, rider function, workload, fatigue, limb discomfort, or hoof balance Why knowing what is normal for your horse can help you pick up small changes earlier This episode is a practical guide to making your pre and post work observations more intentional, so you can recognise change earlier and have more useful conversations with the professionals supporting your horse. To learn more about Dr Raquel Butler visit: Facebook: Integrated Veterinary TherapeuticsWebsite: https://www.integratedvettherapeutics.com  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: equinefunctionalposture@gmail.com

    37 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

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. 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 Join our community of proactive horse people exploring the world of equine functional posture - our next course begins November 2024!! To view the course visit: https://integratedvettherapeutics.mykajabi.com/store Have any questions? Email us at: equinefunctionalposture@gmail.com

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Raquel Butler & Sophie Vandenberg
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    93
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Integrated Veterinary Therapeutics & Dr. Raquel Butler 2026
  • Show Website
    The Equine Functional Posture Podcast

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