Latest Articles
-
Backing Up: Build Strength, Flexion And The Ability To Collect
Backing up is a low-impact exercise that can be done in-hand or under saddle. Practiced with quality and consistency it can improve your horse’s posture, core strength, balance, topline flexion and ability to collect. Encouraging your horse to back up slowly and in a controlled manner engages the muscles responsible for decelerating and managing backward Read more
-
20 Handy Facts About Lameness
1. A lameness can stem from many sources, including musculoskeletal problems, hoof issues, joint inflammation, tendon or ligament injuries, and neurological conditions. 2. A forelimb lameness is identified by looking for the head nod. The head will go up when the lame limb hits the ground and down when the sound limb hits the ground. Read more
-
The Incredible Horse – 20 Interesting Facts About Horses
1. Horses can smell both happiness and fear through chemosignaling, and will respond emotionally according to the odor. This highlights their remarkable emotional intelligence, evident in their ability to not just sense but also interpret and respond to human emotions. 2. At racing speeds 38 mph, the hoof hits the ground approximately 150 times a Read more
-
The Incredible Adaptations of Yakutian Horses
Did you know that there is a breed of horses that can survive in temperatures that reach -94F (-70C)??? A uniquely hardy horse breed can survive in one of the coldest places on earth, the Yakut region of Northern Siberia. Thick winter coats, round bodies, and short limbs, help Yakutian horses cope with their frosty Read more
-
Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis (DSLD) / Equine Systemic Proteoglycan Accumulation (ESPA) in Horses
Degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis (DSLD), also known as equine systemic proteoglycan accumulation (ESPA), is a complex condition affecting the connective tissue in horses. Initially thought to be a result of overwork or aging, DSLD is now recognized as hereditary and can affect horses of all ages, including foals. Recent research has prompted the consideration of Read more
-
Equine Sports Massage For Fox-Hunters
Equine Massage is a holistic bodywork technique designed to improve the overall well-being and performance of your horse. It differs from chiropractic work by specifically targeting muscles, fascia, and skin. It combines a detailed understanding of anatomy, physiology, muscular kinetics, and the specific physical demands of the client’s sport. Done well, massage can be used Read more
-
What is Epimuscular Myofascial Force Transmission?
Epimuscular myofascial force transmission describes how mechanical forces are transmitted between muscles through the connective tissue structures known as fascia, which form a dense, fibrous network surrounding and permeating muscles and other structures within the body. Fascia provides structural support and helps maintain the integrity of muscle groups. Within this fascial network, myofascial connections or Read more
-
The Surprising Truth: Insights from Research on Flexibility and Perception
I once read a study by researchers attempting to find a correlation between the feeling of being stiff and its relationship to the body actually being physically “stiff”. Surprisingly, they found zero correlation between the two. In fact, the people who reported feeling stiff were actually more flexible than those who didn’t. The study concluded Read more
-
Serpentine Exercise: Using Footing to Enhance Self-Awareness and Symmetry of Movement
Are you interested in improving your horse’s proprioception and symmetry of movement/ambidexterity? Walking a serpentine pattern across different types of footing, such as grass, packed dirt, and sand, can stimulate your horse’s proprioception and kinesthesia —their sense of their body’s position and movement in space—and help them develop a heightened awareness of their movement patterns. Read more