Latest Articles
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8 Ways To Decrease The Risk Of Lower Leg Injuries
1. Balanced feet. Ask your vet and farrier to work together to help you create the best plan for your horse and then stay on schedule. 2. Warm-up. A 15 minute walk prior to any other warm up has been shown to significantly decrease lower leg injuries. 3. Cross train on other surfaces. Walking on… Read more
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A Study On DMEs And Gymnastic Training
A study by the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science (2015) found that dynamic mobilization exercises (DMEs) and gymnastic training (GYM) in therapy horses can improve stride quality and increase epaxial muscle size in these horses. Gymnastic training and mobilization exercises in therapy horses Horses were were divided into 3 groups (sedentary, DMEs only and DMEs… Read more
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Bodywork Is Not A Spectator Sport
There are quite a few bodywork videos going around currently that showcase the “wow factor” of a particular maneuver or technique. In my opinion, these videos are more about the featured person’s salesmanship skills and less about their horsemanship or bodywork skills. In fact, I’m concerned about how those horses’ bodies feel in the days… Read more
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Carrot Stretches After Riding
When you ride your horse its muscles work hard to support you and perform whatever tasks you ask of it. You can help keep your horses muscles healthy and limber by asking your horse to do simple stretches at the end of your session. (Video in the comments) Baited Stretches, often called Carrot Stretches, target… Read more
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Walking Improves Gut Motility
Walking around the pasture can help improve a horse’s gut motility in several ways. Firstly, low key physical activity such as walking stimulates the movement of the muscles in the horse’s digestive tract, helping to promote gut motility and prevent constipation. The rhythmic movement of the legs and the contraction and relaxation of the abdominal… Read more
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The Pain Gate Theory
The pain gate theory, also known as the gate control theory of pain, was first proposed in 1965. This theory suggests that pain is not solely determined by the extent of tissue damage or perceived injury, but also by the interaction between two types of nerve fibers – A-delta fibers and C fibers – and… Read more
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Everything You Need To Know About Electrolytes
Electrolytes are essential minerals involved in regulating your horse’s fluid balance, nerve and muscle function, and other important physiological processes. If your horse is training, competing or living in hot and humid conditions it may require more electrolytes than if it were less active or in cooler environments. Some of the most important electrolytes for… Read more
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26 Interesting Facts About A Horse’s Heart:
Horses can hear the heartbeats of their nearby companions, up to several feet away. In the wild, horses will synchronize their heartbeats to the other horses in the herd in order to sense danger more quickly. Recent studies have shown that they use those tactics in domesticated life as well, modulating their heartbeats to match… Read more
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Understanding Biotensegrity
Biotensegrity is the structural concept of harmony between compression and tension. Biological structures (muscles, bones, fascia, ligaments, tendons, rigid and elastic cell membranes) are made strong by the balance of tensioned and compressed parts. The word “Biotensegrity” was created out of a combination of the following 3 words; Tight or painful muscles and fascia affect… Read more