Stronger at the top
MEET THE EXPERT
GILLIAN TABOR is a chartered physiotherapist who has been working as an ACPAT veterinary physiotherapist for over 15 years in her own practice in Devon.
She specialises in physio for horses and riders, with the focus on competition horses.
MEET THE EXPERT
DR DAVID MARLIN is a scientific and equine consultant with more than 25 years’ experience in physiology and biochemistry. His main areas include exercise physiology, nutrition, fitness and training. He has worked as a consultant for British equestrian teams since 1994.
THE TOPLINE IS the group of muscles that run along a horse’s spine from the top of the neck to the wither area, down the back and loin, and over the top of the hip into the croup region (see diagram, page 36).
“The purpose of the muscles around the spine are to hold it firm when the horse is generating force through his hindquarters,” explains ACPAT veterinary physiotherapist Gillian Tabor. “As prey animals, to be successful in running away from a lion, the horse has to be able to transmit force from his
