Why Bodywork is Essential for Young Horses in Training - And Why "Wanting Compensation" misses the mark.

Recently, I overheard a conversation in a barn about a young horse just starting into re-training. Someone remarked they heard that in a young horse, you want compensations during training so they can carry themselves right.

That phrase stuck with me, because it reflects a misunderstanding that shows up often with young horses: compensation isn’t something a horse needs/wants to do the job— it’s something a horse resorts to.

Young horses are still learning their bodies and a young horse in training is navigating a lot all at once:

• A body that is still developing

• New physical demands

• New expectations and pressure

• New ways of balancing a rider or equipment

Their nervous system and musculoskeletal system are being asked to coordinate in ways never asked before. When that system is overwhelmed, uneven, or uncomfortable, the horse doesn’t always “misbehave” but it adapts in many ways that can cause the root of a lifetime of problems

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Those adaptations are what we often label as compensation.

First of all, what is compensation? - Compensation is when muscle imbalances occur when one muscle or muscle group is stronger, tighter, or more dominant than its opposing group. This creates unequal tension around joints and alters natural movement patterns.

Why Compensation Is the Wrong Starting Point

When we approach a young horse assuming they need to compensate, we skip over the most important question:

What is the horse trying to protect?

Compensation patterns develop because:

• A muscle group is overloaded

• A joint doesn’t have full, comfortable range of motion

• Balance is difficult or unclear

• The nervous system is under stress

Correcting the outward behavior without addressing the root cause and physical reality often leads to:

• Stronger, more ingrained compensation patterns

• Increased tension

• Confusion for the horse

• Shortened longevity

Especially in young horses, early compensation can quietly become “normal,” even though it’s built on restriction or discomfort.

Why Bodywork Is Especially Important During Training

Bodywork during training isn’t about “fixing problems.” It’s about supporting the bodys learning process.

For young horses, bodywork can:

• Help release tension before it becomes habitual

• Support symmetry as strength is developing

• Improve body awareness and proprioception

• Give the nervous system a chance to reset

• Make training feel clearer and less overwhelming

When a horse feels better in their body, learning becomes easier — not because the horse is being forced into correctness, but because movement becomes more accessible.

The foundation we build our horses on matters. And they will thank us in their later years for taking care to start them right.