The Soundness Check

Overriding dorsal spinous processes—often referred to as "kissing spines"—can be an intimidating diagnosis for any horse owner. But what does it actually mean, and how does it influence performance? In this episode of The Soundness Check, Dr. Michelle Correia and Dr. Rachel Buchholz discuss what overriding dorsal spinous processes are, why imaging findings don't always tell the whole s...

Rehabilitation comes in many forms, but not all rehab plans are created equal. In this episode of The Soundness Check, Dr. Michelle Correia and Dr. Rachel Buchholz compare and contrast the human and equine rehabilitation worlds while discussing the green flags and red flags they look for in a rehab plan. From passive treatments and exercise selection to communication, progression, and measurable g...

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 ho...

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 , this episode explores how advanced imaging fits...

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...

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 an...

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 challengin...

Rest isn’t the absence of work—it’s a vital part of performance management. In this episode of  The Soundness Check , Dr. Michelle Correia (horse + human physio) and Dr. Rachel Buchholz (equine sports medicine vet) dive into what  intentional rest  really means for both horse and rider. We talk about how to strategically fit recovery into training, what rest really looks like for the competitive s...

Rehabilitation isn’t just about rest—it’s about rebuilding strength, resilience, and confidence in a way that lasts. In this episode of  The Soundness Check , Dr. Michelle Correia (horse + human physio) and Dr. Rachel Buchholz (equine sports medicine vet) break down what real rehabilitation should look like for both horses and riders. (spoiler: it should be PROGRESSIVE!) We dig into recovery timel...

Soreness and weakness can look the same—but the way you respond to them should be very different. In this episode of  The Soundness Check , Dr. Michelle Correia (horse + human physio) and Dr. Rachel Buchholz (equine sports medicine vet) explore how to tell the difference between weakness that requires targeted training and soreness that won’t improve by pushing through. We share how these issues s...

Most riders don’t have hours that they can spend in the gym—and that’s okay. But your strength, balance, and movement patterns still shape how your horse performs every single ride. In this episode of  The Soundness Check , Dr. Michelle Correia and Dr. Rachel Buchholz talk about why rider fitness is often overlooked, how it directly affects the horse, and simple, realistic ways to build strength a...

When we talk about a “sound” horse or rider, what do we actually mean? In this episode, Dr. Michelle Correia (horse + human physio) and Dr. Rachel Buchholz (equine sports medicine vet) break down the many layers of soundness—beyond just “not being lame.” From movement quality and performance capacity to recovery and resilience, we dig into how vets and physios define soundness differently, and why...

Welcome to  The Soundness Check ! In this introductory episode, hosts  Dr. Michelle Correia  (horse and human rehab specialist) and  Dr. Rachel Buchholz  (equine sports medicine veterinarian) share their backgrounds, why they started this podcast, and what you can expect from future episodes. We talk about our journeys in equestrian sports medicine, the gap we see between horse and rider care, and...