Equine - Sports Therapy Esme Whinwray

06/09/2026

TEAM BUILDING AT THE FACILITY

Today we brought together our Original Crew and our new crew for a team-building catch-up at the Equine Research & Learning Facility.

It was a chance to spend time together away from an actual dissection day - going over bones from previous cases, revisiting findings and sharing what we know of the backgrounds and stories of these horses.

There is something pretty special about getting a group of people together who are all there for the same reason - to learn from the horses themselves.
We compared different cases and looked again at some of the incredible changes and adaptations held within the bones.

The bones don't lie.

A really valuable afternoon with a pretty awesome bunch of humans, brought together by some very special horses.

As always, we remain incredibly grateful for these horses, their sacrifice and the stories they allow us to share - all with the hope of improving understanding and creating better outcomes for the horses of the future.

20/08/2026

The Truth - 🩵

Cherish the Small Moments with Your Horse

"What if we asked the old horse in Heaven about the best moments of his life? Do you think he would talk about the ribbons he won or the points he earned? No.
He would talk about the hours you spent grazing him and playing with his mane.
He would talk about your kind hands.
He would talk about the sound of your car when you pulled up to the barn, knowing you had a bag of carrots for him. He would talk about the laughter of the child who trotted for the first time on him.
He would talk about how their little hands gave such gentle pets on his nose. He would talk about the times you came out in the middle of a snow storm to make sure he was okay.
He would talk about the time you stayed up all night with him when he was sick and scared and confused.
He would talk about the times you cried on his shoulder, and while he didn’t know why, he understood.
He would talk about galloping through green pastures and playing with his friends.
He would talk about naps in the sun.

And finally, he would talk about when he was hurting so much in this earthly existence, you set him free.
He knows the decision literally broke your heart in half, but his pain was over and he will greet you again when it is time.

Cherish the small moments with your horses. They are what he remembers."

Words source: Gigi Nutter

Picture credit: Simply Horses

19/08/2026

Equine Research and Learning Facility
Miss V , Rising 4 yr old, TB, Mare

Nature continues to blow us away with what we see at the facility.
The body is an amazing piece of art and functionality. Even in injury and damage of any level, it is incredible how the body adjusts and repairs itself to continue to be able to function.
Miss V had a history from the age of two - in her short period in the racing industry she had several significant crash incidents to the ground sustaining many blows to the head and body.

Becks, Sarah and myself did a work-up with her pre dissection to document her earth side symptoms.
She was a wonderful little mare. She had a really sweet side to her, but she was also incredibly explosive.
You wanted to help her, but at the same time she was so unpredictable and explosive that we considered it dangerous to ask much of her - and not through any fault of her own. She was not aggressive but was reactive to a nervous system that took little to trigger a pain reaction.

Video included - Disclaimer ! If swearing offends you - i'm about to offend you 😊

Miss V – Dissection Findings
• Abdominal oblique: Tear involving the aponeurosis of the abdominal oblique musculature.
• Ischial region: Significant abnormal/damaged tissue adjacent to the ischium, with changes consistent with previous soft-tissue trauma and fascial disruption.
• Fascia: Areas of fascial tearing and disruption consistent with previous trauma.
• Nearside ribs 6–8 / thoracic region: Significant osseous proliferation (bony growth) involving and bridging the region of ribs 6, 7 and 8, with involvement of the adjacent facet joint. An encapsulated pocket of synovial fluid was also identified. The extent of remodelling was suggestive of significant previous trauma, with possible historical rib fracture(s).
• Costal cartilage: Associated scar tissue/fibrotic change was present along the underlying aspect of the costal cartilage, consistent with previous tissue injury and repair.
• Caudal rib: Fracture of the most caudal (last) rib.
• Lungs: Pulmonary changes consistent with pneumonia, with associated areas of haemorrhage.
• Knee/carpus: Evidence of previous periarticular haemorrhage around the carpal joint, with arthritic/degenerative changes identified within the joint.
• Distal limb: Arthritic changes involving the distal limb/fetlock region, with bruising noted around the sesamoid structures.
• Masseter: Changes involving the masseteric aponeurosis.
• Eye: Cotton-wool-type lesion identified within the OS (left) eye.
• Nasal region: Suspected previous fracture/traumatic damage involving the caudal nasal cartilage.
• Frontal bone/skull: Areas of abnormality involving the frontal bone, including bruising and changes suggestive of previous trauma with possible focal necrosis.
• Kissing spine
• Lumbar vertebral fusion or vertebral ankylosis.
• Pelvis: Crack/fissure identified within the right p***c region of the pelvis.
• Cervical spine: Evidence of a previous fracture involving the caudal cervical region.
• C2–C3: Markedly reduced/absent normal intervertebral mobility and flexion at C2–C3.
• Stomach: Gastric contents measured at pH 4.2 at the time of examination.
• Gastric ulceration in the healing stage.

For more extensive findings, explanations, videos and photos
Becks Nairn Patreon page !

On the tools :
* Becks Nairn
* Kerry Helm
* Myself - Esme Whinwray

We also had Kat, Courtney and Emily who come for the hands on learning experience.

To our fabulous sponsors and contributions.
The Facility would not exist with out these people
We are grateful 🙏
For the horses of the future

Equi Ed Ireland
Main Equine Researched Nutrition
Esme Whinwray & Shane Gadsby
Dr Ruth McManus
Emma Kay
Paula Doherty
Pat & Tony Whinwray
Jacqui Muller - in loving memory of Pony
Jervis Whinwray - RIP brother x
Wren Abbott
Clare Porter
Jan Hibberd - loving memory of Nuke
Jan Hibberd - loving memory of Hugo
Vivant Equi NZ
Gretchen Davis

For Miss V - we learn. we share. we improve. we do better ! 🩷 I hope her story helps people understand that because they get back up and shake it off does not conclude there ok.

Knowledge is power

13/08/2026

EQUINE RESEARCH AND LEARNING FACILITY

A long time in the making !

We’re incredibly proud to see the establishment of the Etica Equine Charitable Trust, created by Becks, Kerry and the international team to provide a legitimate charitable pathway for funding vital equine research.

One of the first major focuses is the Pelvic Collapse Study - taking the observations and questions raised through years of hands-on anatomical research and moving them towards structured, meaningful research.

Having a charitable trust behind this work opens the door for funding, collaboration and, ultimately, a greater understanding of what is happening within our horses.

What started with questions, observations and a determination to learn is continuing to grow into something pretty special.

Join the Fb page, make a $20 donation, buy the singlet. For the horses - present and future.

A huge milestone for equine research here in New Zealand.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JZFx24pgK/

The Power of Independent Research in Animal Welfare

05/08/2026

Equine Research and Learning Facility
Is offering a unique opportunity to be part of the team.
If you are seriously interested and can commit to the role.
Pm the Equine Research Fb page directly.

Knowledge is power

UPDATE: Thank you everyone for your messages.
Role is filled at this stage 😊

We're Looking for a Hands-On New Team Member

As our Equine Research & Learning Facility continues to grow, we're looking for someone to step into the role of Dissection Preparation & Facility Support.

This role is a vital part of what we do and involves:

• Preparing the facility before each dissection day.
• Maintaining a high standard of cleanliness and organisation throughout the day.
• Lead the final clean-up once the day is complete.

In return, you'll gain an incredible opportunity to be involved in the learning process from start to finish. The knowledge shared throughout these days is truly life changing.

We're looking for someone who:
⭐ Has an eye for detail.
⭐ Is naturally organised and efficient.
⭐ Works well as part of a team.
⭐ Understands the importance of maintaining exceptionally high standards of cleanliness and professionalism.
⭐ Is happy to get stuck in and help wherever needed.

These learning opportunities are truly priceless. You'll be surrounded by passionate people who are committed to advancing equine knowledge while playing an important behind-the-scenes role that helps make every dissection day possible.

This is a voluntary, unpaid position.

Because of the time, training and trust invested in this role, we're looking for someone who can commit to being part of the team for a minimum of 12 months.

We hold approximately ten dissections each year at the facility. This is physically demanding, hands-on work, so a good level of fitness is essential. At times it's dirty, smelly and challenging, but the learning, conversations, friendships, and shared respect for the horses and the work we do make it an incredibly rewarding experience.

If you're someone who values learning, enjoys being part of a dedicated team, and isn't afraid of hard work, we'd love to hear from you.

Please send us a private message telling us a little about yourself and why you'd like to be involved.

26/07/2026

At a time we see negativity in the horse market - lets give credit to the ones doing the right thing.

So pleasing to see owners starting their horses later.

Emily from Solid Foundation Equestrian in North Canterbury has a few young horses for sale on behalf of owners who have chosen to give their young stock a a better chance and have given them extra time to develop and lightly started as 5 yr or rising 5 yr old.

If you're in the market for a well-bred performance horse for an assorted range of disciplines and want something started later in life, please support these owners and as encouragement for more breeders to do the same.

Personally, I would no longer look at horses that have been started early. I've seen the physical consequences, and the heartbreak for unsuspecting new owners who are left with unsound horses and the incredibly hard decisions to make with horses that are still under 10 years old.

Please leave a comment in support of these breeders and owners who allow their horses that extra time.

Better yet, if you're in the market for a young horse, check out Solid Foundation Equestrian for her sale on behalf selection.
I visited last week and fell in love 🦄

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BxeLKXu8g/

Horse training with a balance of Natural Horsemanship and English Riding with an emphasis on building trust and connection leading to a strong partnership.

13/07/2026

Positive Energy Output with
Main Equine Researched Nutrition

Positive Energy Output

A healthy horse should have the capacity to produce energy. Our aim shouldn't be to remove that energy, but to build the physical and mental foundations that allow it to be expressed in balance.

Good Nutrition
Full Belly
Regular Hoof Care
Dental Attention
Bodywork
Excerise

These are the foundations that create a horse capable of positive energy output.

Yet somewhere along the way, I wonder if we've started viewing any increase in energy as something that needs to be suppressed.

Of course, not every fresh horse is a healthy horse! Pain, ulcers, anxiety, poor training, genetics, environmental stress and many other factors can all create behaviours that need investigation.
They should never be ignored.

But when we've done our homework- our horse is healthy, comfortable and feeling well - isnt it actually okay for them to have a little sparkle?

Have we become so focused on creating a quiet horse that we've forgotten a horse feeling bright, playful and energetic can actually be a sign that the foundations of good health is in place.

MAIN Equine Researched Nutrition
Mindfully designed to creating natural balance

Healthy mind - Healthy body - Healthy output

Photo: Jake - Having a sparkle ✨️
Short lived expression of enthusiasm going into canter trans after 8 weeks off.

05/07/2026

Bone Bruising - Show Jumping

Following Becks' recent post showing what bone bruising actually looks like inside a joint, I couldn't help but bring that information here for a conversation I've wanted to have for quite some time.

Show jumping and show hunter are where my heart lies. I love these disciplines. But over the past few years, I've found myself becoming increasingly uncomfortable watching what has become normal.

Training days where horses jump round after round after round - 6 rounds at a training day. Competition weekends where some horses complete multiple classes (12 rounds) over 3 days. Warm-up fences, six training rounds, then another weekend of competition... and we wonder why we are seeing so many horses needing joint injections, anti-inflammatories, ongoing maintenance and behavior changes.

Every single landing places enormous forces through the limbs and joints.

The difficult truth is this...

Joint injections, pain relief, icing, compression boots and rehabilitation all have their place. They can help manage pain and inflammation. But they DON'T stop the damage caused by the physical forces being placed on the joint every time that horse leaves the ground and lands again.

Some time ago, we did a private dissection on a horse we referred to as "The horse who jumped a million jumps." I've seen first-hand and often - the cumulative changes that repetitive concussion can create. Once you've seen it, it's hard to unsee... and hard to keep your thoughts to yourself.

Has multiple rounds in a day become accepted as the norm?

Pony Club rules back in my day were a maximum of 3 rounds at any one event. Competitions were usually one day - the day after the A&P Show, or a one-day Pony Club event. These days, it seems normal to compete over multiple days with virtually unlimited rounds.

☆ Is this acceptable?

☆ Do we need governing bodies to step in with guidelines or rulings? Is this becoming a welfare issue?

☆ Or does this ultimately lie with owners, riders and parents to set boundaries, based on understanding what that horse or pony who stops at a jump might actually be trying to tell you?

Thoughts?

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1H1D96rvkP/

01/07/2026

Let's chat about compromised horse bodies.

I know I talk a lot on this page about what we find in our dissections. But I also feel there is a gap to fill between sharing our findings and helping people navigate 'What now' .

Here's my personal view.

This morning I was chatting with a trainer friend after someone commented on a video of a horse with a swishy tail, saying, "I hope it's not kissing spine."

It got me thinking about the many discussions we've had around kissing spine and what that diagnosis could mean.

▪︎ My personal opinion is that kissing spine isn't automatically a death sentence or a retirement sentence. It is about understanding the individual horse, recognising their limitations, and then working within those limitations.

Personally, I believe many horses are more comfortable emotionally & physically when they remain appropriately fit and conditioned than if they are simply retired to a paddock and loosing muscle strength that help support their body. The thoracic sling, abdominal muscles and the rest of the musculoskeletal system all play an important role in supporting the skeleton. If that strength is lost, posture can deteriorate, implying an increase in discomfort.

Of course, there are also horses where retirement is absolutely the right decision for their long-term welfare.

• For me, the key is finding what each horse is comfortably capable of. That looks different for every horse. It depends on history, the degree of compromise, the individual horse, rider weight, and what you're asking them to do.
A hack in straight lines is very different from jumping, dressage or other disciplines.

I say this as someone who rides a horse with a compromised body. It took me time to learn where his limits were. He's comfortable hacking for 40 minutes to an hour, but schooling is best kept to around 20 minutes. We focus on short, quality sessions rather than quantity. He's now 19 years old, in fab condition, and still enjoys his work.

For us, it's all about not pushing past the point where muscle fatigue starts and begins to overload the ligaments and joints. That's where I feel we can get ourselves into trouble. Building strength progressively is my top tip.

Someone riding a horse with a swishy tail - Its a process to learn their limits and understand the behavior. As long as the person is listening, understands the history and is working towards management, its a win for the horse in my view.

Some horses with remarkably compromised bodies continue to do amazing things. Im often suprised at what can be achieved under good, consistent management.

We just need to:
• Listen to the horse.
• Watch the signs.
• Learn where their limit is.
• Have the discipline to stay within it.

26/06/2026

The Equine Documentalist -

The people this work has attracted, the conversations it has opened, and the calibre of those now willing to use their voices and platforms to speak for the horse... these were conversations we hoped one day might happen.
A vision that is now becoming reality.

Watching Becks' unwavering commitment take this from curious paddock dissections to international recognition, travel, and respected conversations has been something pretty special. Her friendship and partnership with Dr Carol Shwetz feels like one of those rare collaborations that was simply meant to be. Together, they are helping take this information to audiences where it can no longer be ignored.

To our team at the facility... to the sponsors who believed in this work and provided the funding to help establish the facility... to the incredible women who turn up, roll up their sleeves, and do the hard work behind the scenes... and to everyone who recognised the importance of asking more of ourselves for the sake of the horse...

This is a moment to be proud of.
Every one of you has played a part in giving horses a voice.

This podcast, these conversations, and the launch of the charitable trust are the start of bigger things. They are another longterm step towards changing how we understand, manage, and advocate for horses.

To the horses who have taught us so much, both in life and in death...

We will continue to listen.

We will continue to learn.

And we will continue to speak on your behalf.

Thank you to everyone who joined Dr Carol Shwetz and myself live last night for the Clinical Expressions of Early Training and Performance Demands on the Young Horse webinar. The responses we got for this make it clear that this is a topic a lot of people have been quietly sitting with for a while.

If you registered and couldn't make the live session, or want to go back through it again, the recording is now available in The Equine Education Hub. And if you missed it, you can still register and catch the recording, which included some questions and answers with Dr. Shwetz and Becks Nairn.

Given everything we covered, the pelvic findings, the skeletal maturation timelines, the early hoof development, and what that constrains further up the body, this is one worth watching properly rather than half-listening to in the background.

A huge thank you to Dr. Shwetz for such a comprehensive presentation and to you and Becks Nairns for the work you're doing together to really bring this to the attention of the equine community, and to all of you who joined us. We hope you enjoyed it.

Head to The Equine Education Hub to watch it now.

https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/courses/younghorse