Managing the Aging Equine Athlete: Keeping Experience in the Game

Is it a Training Issue or a Medical Issue?

When performance changes show up, it’s not always easy to know where the problem is coming from. Is it a training limitation, a communication issue, fatigue, weakness—or an underlying medical concern? And how do you start telling the difference? In this episode of The Soundness Check, Dr. Michelle Correia and Dr. Rachel Buchholz unpack how they evaluate performance or behavior changes in sport horses. They discuss the subtle signs that can point toward a medical issue, as well as the situations where training, workload, or communication may be contributing to the problem instead. Because not every change in behavior under saddle requires medical intervention—but involving your team early when something changes can make all the difference in catching issues before they become bigger problems.

From Image to Insight- Getting the Most Out of Diagnostic Imaging

In the Season 2 premiere of The Soundness Check, Dr. Michelle Correia and Dr. Rachel Buchholz dive into best practices around diagnostic imaging in the sport horse, including when imaging is helpful, how to avoid over-interpreting findings, and why clinical context matters just as much as the image itself. Sponsored by Hallmarq Standing Equine MRI [https://hallmarq.net/us/products/standing-equine-mri/], this episode explores how advanced imaging fits into modern sports medicine and how riders, trainers, and owners can get the most out of the diagnostic process. Because imaging should support decision-making—not replace it.

Hidden Causes of Poor Performance in the Equine Athlete

Not every performance problem in the ring comes from a musculoskeletal issue! In the Season 1 finale of The Soundness Check, Dr. Michelle Correia (horse + human physio) and Dr. Rachel Buchholz (equine sports medicine vet) dig into the hidden factors that quietly impact performance — from GI dysfunction and respiratory limitations to neurological or systemic muscle issues. They discuss how these subtle signs can show up as small performance changes, why they’re easy to miss, and how to start investigating what’s really going on beneath the surface. Because understanding performance means looking beyond the obvious — and sometimes, what you can’t see is what matters most. If you have any follow up questions OR an episode topic request for next season- let us know! You can contact us here: Dr. Michelle Correia [https://www.instagram.com/stablebodypt/] and Dr. Rachel Buchholz [https://www.instagram.com/doctorrachelb/]

Managing the Aging Equine Athlete: Keeping Experience in the Game

Just because a horse is aging doesn’t mean their athletic career is over. But keeping senior athletes performing well takes a different approach. In this episode of The Soundness Check, Dr. Michelle Correia (horse + human physio) and Dr. Rachel Buchholz (equine sports medicine vet) talk about what it takes to keep aging horses sound, strong, and happy in their work. From managing joint health and medical histories- to adjusting conditioning programs and expectations- they share insights on how to support horses through each stage of their athletic lifespan. Because aging is inevitable—but decline doesn’t have to be.

Therapies That Work (And Some That Don't) - Sorting Fact From Trend

In today's world there’s no shortage of tools marketed to help horses recover and perform better. But what does the science actually say? In this episode of The Soundness Check, Dr. Michelle Correia (horse + human physio) and Dr. Rachel Buchholz (equine sports medicine vet) unpack the complex world of at-home and owner-accessible modalities. They discuss why equine research can be challenging, what evidence we do have, and how to think critically about when and how to use different options. It’s not about dismissing any tools—it’s about understanding where they fit, what they can (and can’t) do, and how to make informed choices for both horse and rider.