Episode #177: Is Their Thoracic Sling Primed?
Join me for this episode of the Starline Equine Bodywork Podcast where we look at the thoracic sling. This is the horse’s built-in shock absorber and suspension bridge.
It is a powerful muscular-fascial hammock made of the serratus ventralis, pectorals, subclavius, trapezius, rhomboids, and longissimus that lifts the thorax between the front legs and carries 60–65 percent of the rider’s weight.
When the sling is weak, tight, or restricted, horses often compensate with a high head carriage, hollow back, short forelimb stride, tripping, or forelimb lameness.
Tune in to learn simple five-minute range-of-motion and strength tests you can run on level ground, plus owner-safe bodywork techniques that directly free and strengthen the sling.
You’ll also pick up daily groundwork homework that builds lasting support, clear ways to tell whether the problem sits in the sling itself, the withers, or the neck-shoulder junction, and a green-light checklist to confirm your horse is truly ready before you add collected work, lateral movements, or jumping.
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Please note: The ideas expressed in this podcast are opinions only, and are not substitutes for proper veterinary care, veterinary medicine and other forms of bodywork. The opinions are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic in nature.