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Why muscular balance matters

Symmetry is never perfect. The question is whether the asymmetry is changing.

Written by Katie Salmon

Every horse has a degree of natural asymmetry, just as every rider does. Small differences between left and right are normal and not in themselves a concern.

What is worth noticing is change: an asymmetry that becomes more marked, appears suddenly, or arrives alongside a change in behaviour or performance.

Regular observation — and, where it helps, a regular set of hands — makes that change easier to spot early.

This article is general information for horse owners. It is not advice about any individual horse, and it does not diagnose or replace veterinary assessment.

Equine therapy supports, and does not replace, veterinary diagnosis or treatment. If you have a concern about your horse's health, speak with your vet.

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Questions about your own horse?

These notes are general information for horse owners. For anything specific to your horse, an individual assessment is the place to start.