Growing and riding
Here is a real quick one today!
Growth plates are the soft ends of bone from which the bone grows. Until they are fused, the bone is still growing.
Now horse breeds all mature at different speeds but for the most part none of those breeds have fused growth plates on their back before the age of three and a half years.
3 and a half years!!
This means that before the age 3&1/2 the horse’s back bones are still growing and can be damaged by unnatural pressure.
What is unnatural pressure on the back of a horse?
Pretty much anything greater or more prolonged than a bit of licking from another horse or brief roughhousing.
What is more prolonged pressure on a horse’s back than the above?
Tack – driving harness; saddle; lightweight pad – all these things put pressure on the very place where the spine develops last.
The nearest comparison I can think of is asking a toddler human to carry a rucksack filled with all the camping gear for an adult and then ask that same toddler not only to walk but maybe run or jump over a puddle.
It is my belief that we very seriously need to look at some of our equestrian sports and what we do to our horses in terms of their bodies and minds. If we honestly love horses, should we be condoning the sports which saddle them before their bones have grown?
Should we who love horses condone the feeding of grain not because the horse needs it but because the sport requires it due to a grass belly requiring time for digestion which we do not have within the sport.
Should we, who love horses, condone the imprisoning of horses in small square boxes where they can learn to pace and weave to relieve the stress of not being able to express their natural herd behaviours.
Should we, who love horses, condone the use of whips and sticks to enforce speed within sports.
Should we, who love horses do this? Do we?
Kissing spines can be conformational but it is more commonly seen in breeds where they are started quite young and not allowed the opportunity to grow during the process.
The rate of ulcers within our domestic horses appears to have shot up exponentially. Possibly due to a combination of stress or miss-feeding.
The stress behaviours that have been excluded as far as possible from many zoos and are recognised as signs of an animal’s anxiety are regularly seen in large stables.
This isn’t a helpful or tip-filled post, I know. I started looking again at the horse’s back and the development and then I began to think of the number of bad backs I have seen and wondered how many started even before the horse had reached maturity
Exercises to improve the hind end – #jumping #dressage #rehabilitationafterrest
Do you have a horse who is ‘heavy in the hand,’ seems to be ‘going downhill,’ or that struggles to make the bigger fences when jumping? Here are a few exercises to get you started!
One of the key components to a healthy body is the hind quarters, or hind end of the horse. This massive “spring box” is essentially the horse’s primary source of propulsion. There are a few simple exercises that can benefit most horses that need to develop good jumping muscles or seem weak in the hind end.
1. The more supple and flexible the horse is, the easier it will be for him to build correct muscles. Stretching movements that lengthen the hind limbs create more reach, and, therefore, more strength. When the horse becomes supple, he will relax in his work, which alleviates tension, allowing him to stretch evenly and in balance. Any in-hand exercises should be achieved slowly in a calm manner. Try turning the horse so the back legs cross. After the horse is warm (after exercise) ask him to stand with one hind stretched forward while you are grooming that side then the other while you are grooming the other side. Another example would be a classical exercise with the whip (or other pointer – I use a stick with a sponge on the end that my horse has understood as a target in games before). If you want to teach the horse to stretch and lengthen his stride with his hind legs as he walks. You could use your pointer (whip) to touch the horse’s hind leg gently as he prepares to lift his hoof from the ground. This way he focuses on the leg you are touching as he strides. The end result would be that the horse discovers that he can stretch that leg further than before when he was just moving forward in general without paying attention to that specific body part. I use this touch to show the horse which part of the body specifically I want them to focus on. It has to be achieved calmly and gently and only after a horse is used to the pointy arm extender (whip, pointer, stick, bit of tree) you will use. This extender should never, under any circumstances be a tool for hitting the horse or the results will be the opposite of your intention and they will shorten the stride away from the ‘nasty hurty pointy thing!’
2. A quality rein-back that is slow and precise will build strength in the hind end. I prefer to back my horse straight up small inclines when possible. A few even steps backwards uphill during regular sessions will improve muscle tone in his Gluteus Superficialis and Biceps Femoris muscles. This exercise can be done under saddle or in-hand. Avoid pulling on the reins to back your horse, as this causes his back to drop and restricts his hind end. Instead, try using a rope around the base of his neck that you can lift to help him move more correctly. The half-halt, well done, offers a similar effect during movement, asking your horse to engage his motor at the back more before continuing forwards.
3. Riding over raised poles (cavaletti) is helpful for developing strength in the horse that has weak stifles or hocks. The slow action of lifting the hind legs up and over the pole will strengthen the Tensor muscle as well as the Long Digital Extensor. Both muscle groups are responsible for the stability of the stifle. Small jumps can also be of benefit, as the horse rocks his weight back onto his hind end in preparation to take off at the jump. The action of jumping is more important than jumping great heights, as a small jump can be easier to land in balance.
4. Many horses enjoy “Gluteal stretches.” This exercise is usually simple for the horse, as they just stand and let their human do most of the work. The goal is to create a stretch that opens up the horse’s pelvic angles, accessing the iliopsoas and gluteal muscles. Stand behind your horse (carefully!) and place your hands a few inches to either side of the base of the tail. Slowly rub your fingers (for some you may need to use your nails at least until you have learned exactly where but begin with the tips of your fingers and gradually increase the pressure) down the muscle repeatedly, increasing pressure each time until you begin to notice a response. You should see your horse’s lower back lift and his pelvis tilt slightly. This massage-type movement is great to do (after he is warm) before and after riding. You can also stretch using the tail after exercise or a nice warming massage. I hold the tail up and wiggle just a little before I start to help the horse be ready for a slow and strong stretch straight back. Most horses naturally tilt their pelvis to make the most of this, but some do the opposite, dipping the back. If yours is one of the latter, I’d advise stopping this stretch and getting a bodyworker to have a look at him first.
5. Leg lifting is another exercise that does not involve a lot of movement, therefore, can be utilized with horses who are on stall rest, are coming back into work, or just as an additional way to strengthen the hind end. Standing still with your horse against the rail; ask him to lift one hind leg by gently reaching towards the leg and touching it with your pointer or whip. During the learning phase your horse may try to move away from the pointer, so be sure that they are confident about being touched, and assure them that you do not need them to move forward. Once he begins to understand that all you want is for him to lift his hind leg, it becomes fairly easy to request the leg lift for longer periods of time. Engaging the limb in a raised flexion strengthens the opposite leg holding the horse up in weight bearing mode, as well as strengthening the lifted leg which accesses muscles within the entire leg.
Equine Bodywork på svenska
Vad göra jag mest för behandling av hästar utan ridlektion eller mark-arbetet med övningar, eller kosttillskott och matning råd, samma rådet om hästens miljö för åretrunt träningen?
Jag har arbetat som Hästterapeut och hästmassör i Norrland under namnet Fyra Fötter sedan 2017 innan jag var i Storbritannien och arbetat sedan 1989 med hästmassör och stretchning, samt häst psykologi och träning. Jag utgår ifrån Sidensjö i Örnsköldsvik kommun. Jag är utbildat som natural horsemanship lärare, häst psykolog, biomekanisk ridlärare, ryttares kroppskontroll och behandling, och har tävlat i endurance till guld nivå samt ridklubb nivå på dressyr, Welsh ponny utställning, western trial, barrel racing, cutting och hoppning. Jag har haft andra äldsta häst i Storbritannien som fylldes 53år innan hon dog och lärt mig otroligt mycket om hur man håller på bygger och håller en häst så frisk och aktiva som möjligt till deras sista dagar. När jag komm till Sverige för att lära liten om hur det går att rida här och det var vackert Norrland, jag tog en lång rida från Trehörningsjö till Jokkmokk med en tält på min arabisk sto Ayesha. Det var faktiskt super roligt! Men nu min tid är given att behandla och hjälpa hästar och tränare, ägare och ryttare här i Övik. Tänkte bara berätta en del om mina behandlingar- terapier idag!
Hästmassage
Tanken med min hästmassage har hela tiden varit att ge hästarna de bästa förutsättningarna genom naturligt underhåll och naturlig läkning. Min hästmassage är både läkande och förebyggande och målet är att hästen ska kunna röra sig och fungera oavsett hästens ändamål.
När hästen undersökts och man hittat var spänningarna sitter, är det dags för behandling. Hästmassören masserar då de området eller områden mer specifikt för att släppa spänningar i muskulaturen. Jag kan ofta sluta en massage med stretching om din häst behöver.
Alla hästar reagerar olika på massage.
- Hästen kan bli trött, eller i andra fall pigg.
- Träningsvärkssymptom kan dyka upp efter behandling. Det kan sitta i cirka 2-3 dagar och då är det viktigt att hästen får behandling för behandling relativt snart igen.
- Om hästen inte är van vid massage bör du inte ha träning eller tävling planerad tävling dagarna efter.
- Hästen dricker gärna efter massagen och bör ha tillgång till vatten direkt efter.
Ki-Equine behandling
Ki Equine är en serie av mjuka vibrerande rörelser över hästens mjuka vävnad som lättar upp muskelspänningar och följer kinesiska meridianen. Om man gör detta regelbundet märker man i ett tidigt stadium förändringar i hästens kropp. Den är en form av equinebodywork och jag ’lyssna’ mycket till hästens behöv och går med dem isåfall deras process tider. Man använder fingrarna på vissa speciella punkter och arbetar vid musklernas ursprung och fästen, mer sällan direkt på musklerna. Jag jobbar utifrån ett etablerat mönster inom flera terapier och använder akupunktur punkter även utan naglar. Jag kan också nångång använder akupunktur med laser eller (seldon med dryneedling eller koppar).
Små rörelsen går till så att jag kan mjukt drar tillbaka huden så långt den medger, sedan lägger jag ett lätt gradvis ökande tryck rakt ner mot muskeln. Rörelsen avslutas med att man med ett bibehållet tryck för handen tvärs över muskeln. Vibrationerna som då skapas hjälper till att lösa upp spänningar. Jag kan nångång hålla en ’tigger punkt’ var hästen håller spänning och lösa knutar efter när vätska floder och blodcirkulation ökar.
Ki Equine Bodywork funkar bäst när hästen kan vara lös i en box eller små uteplats så få dem plats och tiden att både processa effekter och visa vad dem behöver. Men det är också möjligt att använder när en ägare håller med grimskaft.
Ki Equine Bodywork är en holistisk behandling och kan händer i samband med en ridlektion eller markarbet för hästen.
Laser behandling
Medicinsk laser för häst – Minska smärta och ömhet, främja och påskynda läkning. Jag har haft min laser och laser utbildning sedan 2015 och använder den maskin med dem flesta hästar inom rehabilitation. Lasern arbetar, smärtlindrar och läker på cellnivå och påverkar cellkemi för bättre funktion. Direkta fördelar med medicinsk laserbehandling:
• Läker på cellnivå
• Återställer och ökar ämnesomsättning i cellen
• Antiinflammatorisk
• Smärtlindrande
• Ökar celldelning
• Stärker och hjälper immunförsvaret
• Hjälper lymfsystemet att transportera bort slaggprodukter
Forskning på medicinsk laser har genomförts i mer än 40 år och de goda resultaten är dokumenterade.
Jag använder mig av medicinsklaser utrustning från Thor. Främst använder jag en laser som är en framtagen för professionellt bruk. Jag har erfarenhet av flera laser produkter men har valt att främst använda Thor eftersom den har fördelen att vara enkel att transportera, är batteridriven och effektiv. Detta medför att jag exempelvis kan behandla hästar oavsett om de står i box, boxgång eller i hagen.
För mig handlar det om att laserbehandla hästen i den miljön där hästen känner sig mest bekväm och en miljö där både jag och hästen kopplar av.
THOR laser är en professionell medicinsk laserutrustning, framtagen för att vara lättanvänd och transportabel. Enkel att ta med sig ut i fält, till patient, eller på kliniken. Den har ett inbyggt uppladdningsbart batteri men kan även användas när den är inkopplad till ett eluttag (så kan jag behöver låna liten el om jag har behandlat fler om en dag)!
Djupvågsmassage
Som Hästterapeut använder jag djupvågsbehandling som en små del av min hästterapi. Djupvågsbehandling för häst är en friskvårdsbehandling för hästens muskulatur, nervsystem och bindväv (fascia)
Djupvågsbehandling – En behandlingsform som är effektiv och skonsam, för människor , hundar och flera hästar.
Jag använder en Atlas Balans M1 maskin på hästar.
Atlasbalans M1 för djur är ett kraftfullt och skonsamt sätt att öka hästens rörlighet och avslappning.
De harmoniska pulseringar som maskinen genererar fortplantas genom hästens bindvävsstrukturer både djupt och brett vilket minskar spänningar, ökar cirkulationen och flödet av vätska i kroppen.
M1 används av hundratals professionella hästbehandlare som behandlar tusentals hästar varje månad. Bland de hästar som får regelbunden behandling finns elithästar inom trav och det amerikanska landslaget i hästhoppning.
Kinesiotape
Lika mycket som vi människor kan känna både stöd, avlastning och förstärkning med kinesiotape så kan våra hästar känna det. Att avlasta tillfälliga besvär under läkning och rehabilitering för hästar ger samma sköna känsla som det gör för oss människor. Det ger hästen en känsla av att ”dra” hästen mot rätt hållning och det ger stöd. Hästen kan på ett normalt sätt belasta leder och muskulatur med hjälp av tejpen och undviker stillastående och minskar därmed risken för sekundära smärtor och spänningar. Kinesiotape för Hästar underlättar hästens naturliga läkning och hjälper till med att manipulera hästens mjukdelar vilket släpper spänningar och ger hästen stöd. Tejpen ökar stödet för muskler och leder utan att påverka hästens naturliga rörelser. Jag använder främst tejpning som ett verktyg för att minska problem för hästen mellan behandlingar. Kinesiotape för hästar är perforerad och kan andas så att fukt inte bildas mellan tejp och hästens hud och päls. Stretchen i tejpen och klistrets mönstring gör att hästen, precis som vi människor, upplever en masserande känsla och att huden känns något upplyft. När vi minskar friktion mellan hudlager och muskler så ökar möjligheten för vätska att röra sig vilket drastiskt minskar inflammationer genom minskad värme, smärta och svullnad. Utöver detta så normaliseras eller ökas blodflödet och lymfkörtlarnas möjlighet att göra sig av med slaggprodukter som tillkommit på grund av inflammation
Tejpning av hästar tar bort trycket av från skadade och svullna muskler vilket underlättar läkningsprocessen för hästen.
Ultraljud
Ultraljudsterapi är en vanlig form av fysioterapi. Inom medern terapi använder man sig av frekvenserna 1 och 3 MHz.
Ultraljudet appliceras med kontinuerligt eller pulserande mode med varierande intermittens faktorer.
Beroende på parametrarna så alstras antingen en termisk effekt (värmealstring på reflekterande materia som ben och leder)
eller så stimuleras vävnaden av mikromassage.
Effekterna som uppnås är:
Hyperemi
Ökad metabolisk funktionalitet
Ökad elasticitet av bindvävsstrukturen
Smärtlindring
Muskulär avslappning
Förbättrad läkningskraft
Ultraljud reflekteras av luft och därför används kontaktgel för god transmission av ljudvågor mellan omvandlaren och vävnaden.
Alternativt kan behandlingen utföras under vattnet.
Vad är Ultraljud?
Ultraljudet är ljudvågor där tonhöjden bestäms av frekvensen = antal svängningar per sekund. Ultraljudet tränger in i muskeln,
absorberas och ombildas till värme när det passerar genom mjuk vävnad.
Värmen gör att blodgenomströmningen ökar och därigenom syretillförseln.
Ultraljudet kan tränga in upp till 30 cm vilket gör att metoden kan användas på sällen där en ”vanlig” massör inte kan komma åt
då en människa endast med hjälp av “handkraft” ej kan komma åt så djupt liggande muskler.
Effekter av ultraljudsbehandling
Genom forskning har man konstaterat att massage på djur ger en lugnande effekt.
Massagen ökar också aktivitet i hjärnan samt stärker musklernas förmåga att ta upp näring och att öka motståndskraften hos djuret.
I jämförelse mellan obehandlade muskler och de som genomgått en massagebehandling kan man konstatera att en skadad muskel som
blivit behandlad i samband med läkningen blir betydligt smidigare.
Hästen har ca 700 tvärstrimmiga muskler, de flesta finns parvis på båda sidor av kroppen.
Ca 60 % av hästens totala vikt är muskler och på vissa ställen finns upp till fem lager muskler på samma ställe.
En muskel har två faser en uppbyggnadsfas och en nerbrytningsfas.
Nedbrytningsfasen kommer i och med att muskeln arbetar eller anspänns.
Uppbyggnaden sker när muskeln är relaxerad, i vila.
Det är därför viktigt att hästen får vila efter träning för att återhämta sig.
Genom att hjälpa spända muskler att slappna av genom ultraljudsbehandling sker återhämtningen lättare och uppbyggnadsprocessen förbättras.
En häst kan reagera på många olika sätt om den t.ex. har ont i ryggen.
En ridhäst kan omotiverat vägra framför ett hinder och en travhäst galopperar omotiverat i ett lopp.
Det finns många orsaker till detta och överansträngning i ryggmusklerna är mycket vanligt.
Ultraljudsbehandlingen värmer muskeln genom mikromassage inifrån och ut vilket släpper på kramper och ökar genomblödningen i muskeln.
Detta ger muskeln nytt syre som hjälper muskeln att prestera maximalt.
I samband men den ökande blodgenomströmningen utlöses hormoner i kroppen sk oxytocin, som verkar lugnande
men också endorfiner, som har en smärtstillande effekt.
Fördelarna med behandlingen är många och kan avhjälpa många olika problem tex.
• Muskelspänningar
• Problem som uppstått pga fel anpassad utrustning tex sadeltryck*
• Ryggproblem
• Koordinationssvårigheter
• Stela leder
• Gallor
• Återhämtning efter träning och tävling
*Ultraljudsbehandling kan aldrig ersätta rätt anpassad utrustning men är ett mkt bra komplement.
Hästen känner oftast ingenting under behandlingen vilket gör att de flesta hästar, även de som vid ”vanlig” handmassage
spänner sig, brukar kunna slappna av och vara mottaglig för behandling.
Det finns några tillfällen då man ej bör behandla sin häst.
Detta kan tex röra sig om feber, dräktighet, akuta frakturskador, infektioner eller om den bär på någon smittsam sjukdom.
Hur ofta
Hur ofta man bör behandla sin häst med ultraljud är individuellt från fall till fall.
Har man inget specifikt problem kan det räcka med att behandla ca 1 gång per månad. För maximal återhämtning och
muskeluppbyggnad även efter hård träning och tävling för att relaxera musklerna.
Har man en häst med ett visst problem t ex ländryggssmärta eller stela bogar bör man i första läget behandla hästen
under några dagar i rad och sedan återgår man till underhållsbehandling.
PEMF
PULSERANDE ELEKTROMAGNETISKA FÄLT (PEMF)
Fenomenet magnetism upptäcktes redan under antiken. Enligt legenden ska en grekisk fåraherde vid namn Magnés upptäckt att spikarna i hans skor drogs till berget han stod på när han var ute och vallade sina får. Berget var rikt på magnetit (Fe3O4) vilket är ett naturligt magnetiskt mineral.
Sedan dess upptäckt har den mystiska magnetismen använts inom läkekonsten, ofta som ett komplement till konventionell behandling. Behandling med magnetism har ofta betraktats med skepsis.
I modern tid har pulserande elektromagnetiska fält (PEMF) föreslagits som behandlingsmetod vid flera olika tillstånd och besvär. Styrkan hos magneter mäts i Gauss eller Tesla (1 Gauss = 100 mikroTs). Ju starkare magneten är desto djupare kan magnetfältet penetrera vävnaden. Vid denna typ av behandling ställer man även in frekvensen (Hz) av de pulserande elektromagnetiska fälten.
En möjlig positiv effekt av PEMF har visats vid svårläkta frakturer, venösa bensår och vid försämrad arteriell genomblödning.
De biologiska mekanismerna bakom en eventuell behandlingseffekt är okända. PEMF har även föreslagits vid behandling av smärta.
Behandlingsmetoden är sällsynt i Sverige. I detta faktablad fokuserar vi på PEMF som behandling vid smärtsam käkfunktionsstörning.
PEMF har föreslagits som en behandling av:
• Käkledssmärta (artralgi)
• Myofasciell smärta
• Vid veterinär råd kan vara en behandling att styrka ben efter frakturen
Kontraindikationer som brukar nämnas är:
• Pacemaker och andra elektroniska implantat (kan påverkas negativt av PEMF stimulering)
• Graviditet
• Dialyspatienter
• Patienter som de senaste sex månaderna haft slaganfall (stroke), hjärtinfarkt eller genomgått hjärtoperation ska inte behandlas.
Någon egentlig konsensus på området finns inte. Behandlingen som ges utarbetas individuellt utifrån patientens besvär. Det finns därför inga tydliga generella behandlingsrekommendationer. En mängd olika typer av PEMF-apparatur finns på marknaden. PEMF ges exempelvis via specialdesignade mattor, kuddar, slangar, plattor och handstycken som appliceras över/runt det område som ska behandlas.
Behandling ges under ca 30-60 min beroende på tillstånd.
Intensiv behandling rekommenderas för visa kondition eller skada. Det är därför inte ovanligt att behandlingen sker varje dag under en period. Vid vissa besvär rekommenderas även två behandlingar per dag. Efter att en tydlig effekt uppnåtts brukar man rekommendera uppföljning med mera gles behandlingsbesök.
Om du är intresserad att lära mera om mina behandling och andra tjänster du kan kontakta mig på emejl fyrafotter@yahoo.com, på sms 0761086181 eller på facebook eller Instagram
Om du är intresserad att utbilda inom häst fysioterapeut och behandling- här finns en länk till svenskafysioterapiskolan https://www.fysioterapiskolan.se/certifierad-hästfysioterapeut
Get your horse fit part 3 – the plan!
What kind of level of work is your horse used to and where do you want to be? (This is helpful when determining which food your horse should be eating too)!
Classification of work
None
. Stands in a field and occasionally goes for a walk
Please note this horse does not need feeding other than potentially mineral block or light hay or haylage balancer
Light – Low
. 1-3 hours per week
. Up to 15 mins trot
. Up to 5 mins canter
. Going for a ride in the countryside with hill work
. Occasional schooling
Light – Medium
. 3-7 hours per week
. Up to 25 mins trot
. Up to 10 mins canter
. Occasional jump
. Going for a ride in the countryside with hill work
. Occasional schooling
. Low level dressage
. Low level Riding Club/Pony Club
. Occasional showing
Light – Hard
. 5-7 hours per week
. Up to 30 mins trot
. Up to 12 mins canter
. Up to 3 mins poles/jumping.
. Faster ride in the countryside with hill work
. Regular schooling
. Low to mid-level dressage
. Low level show jumping
. Riding Club/Pony Club
. Regular showing
. Short sessions on the gallops
Medium
. 5-7 hours per week
. Up to 30 mins trot
. Up to 15 mins canter
. Up to 10 mins poles, jumping, fast work
. High level dressage (Advanced plus)
. Riding club/ Pony club
. Medium level show jumping (Newcomers plus)
. Low-medium level eventing (up to intermediate)
Hard
. 5-9 hours per week
. As medium, plus up to 1 hour extra over the week of speed work;
. increase in galloping and jumping duration
. High level eventing or racing
. Endurance rides over 80km (50 miles).
Fitness can be built in phases and the skills required for all fitness built on the building blocks as below
First stage
Proprioception
Second
Third
Controlled movement built on; balance and flexibility
Strength
Fourth
Stamina
Fifth
Now train for specific skills or competition
The Four Phases of Fitness – your fitness program
Please note this is a general snapshot of how process goals for training phases might work and all horses are individuals. If you have any concerns about progressing to the next phase, keep your horse at the current phase until you are satisfied they are coping. If your horse has been off due to an injury, continue to follow or seek advice from your vet and or rehabilitation professional for their rehabilitation back into work.
PREPHASE (exercises that can and should be practiced throughout all the phases)
Proprioception training to increase body awareness and give the foundation for good movement
One example of proprioception training would be walking slowly over gradually more uneven surfaces
Introduce carrot stretching and massage to large muscle groups after training to show the horse how he can recover from the aches and pains of training
PHASE 1 Slow & Steady (Weeks 1-5)
• Hardening off- gradual controlled exercise to strengthen the soft tissue.
• Prepares the muscles, tendons and ligaments with a range of balance and flexibility exercises
• Introduce basic stretching and stroking massage; cold hosing legs after exercise
An example would be marching in hand up hills
PHASE 2 Strength & Stamina (Weeks 5-8) – continue the first phases but add in the following goals
• Improve basic fitness and strength
• Suppling and developing muscle
• Develop balance and self-carriage
• Introduce regular bodywork techniques to stretch and recover muscles after training sessions
You might work on weight carrying or longer distance work. For arena work you might bend more or use different cavaletti formations to proved a challenge to both strength and flexibility
PHASE 3 Schooling & Speed (again you would continue to include many exercises and activities from the previous phases
• Develop the efficiency of the heart and lungs (faster and longer work with interval training)
• Longer training sessions or more cross training with different disciplines offering the challenge areas your ‘normal’ training in your discipline would not necessarily include
• Interval training means high intensity exercise for short bursts
• More bodywork with massage and stretching after exercise
Monitor your progress by looking at the same parameters you used to start the program – condition, heartbeat, breathing and time taken to return to your baseline; gait analysis of how your horse is moving. From this weekly monitoring you can adjust the balance of your program to suit your individual horse’s needs
Please remember to include your horse’s own choices in this. A horse knows much better how he is feeling day to day than his trainer can gauge so ‘go with your horse’ and ease off if it seems the training is a bit tough for the body, offer new exercises and cross training if it seems he’s getting a bit tired or bored in training and ask for help, selecting your coaches from not only those who re good in their field as competitors but those who will listen to your needs and those of your horse. If you are going to use coaches, make sure you are also coachable! Remember you don’t have to have one person to help you with all aspects but you can use a team around your horse to get to the level you and your horse are looking for.
If you would like to work with me as part of your team, on a plan for fitness for your horse or if you would like to join one of the Happy Healthy Horses training courses let me know!
Getting fit part 2
In part one I looked at what kind of measurements you need before you start your fitness training and their are a few other considerations you might want to think about!
Age & Experience: If working with a younger horse consider how established they are in their work and their level of development with regards to the exercises you introduce through your fitness programme. Putting young joints, bones and muscles under excessive stress and strain too soon can lead to debilitating problems later on in life. Consider that the growth plates (the spongy cartilaginous ends to the bones from which the bones grow) need to be fused before taking stress and the last ones to fuse are the back where we want to place weight! Please don’t put stress on infuses growth-plates if you want your horse’s skeleton to last him into old age!
Facilities: What is your goal for getting your horse fit, for example are you hoping to complete a prelim dressage test or a 10-mile fun ride? Consider the facilities you will need to achieve this for example, an arena, or safe tracks and walkways for ‘road work’ which can be so important for muscles, joints and hooves . Think i’m about what is available in your area and consider if your trailer or lorry needs servicing and checking and whether you need to teach your horse to load happily first!
Time of year: Be prepared for setbacks in your programme due to the weather as this may affect facility access. If your horse suffers with allergies or is a head shaker, the time of year will be a really important consideration when devising a fitness programme.
Length of time out of work: The longer your horse has been rested the longer it will take to bring them back to the desired level of fitness.
Set your goals; A goal is simply something you are trying to accomplish; it is the object or aim of an action. Although goals can function at an unconscious level, the process of goal setting represents the deliberate establishment and refinement of goals and the evaluation of goal progress. The concept of goals and the practice of goal setting are well known and established within settings where performance enhancement is the objective. It is important to understand goals because they have such a broad function in terms of affecting the thoughts and behaviors of those to whom participation, productivity, and performance are important.
There are three broad goal types: outcome goals, performance goals, and process goals.
An outcome goal might be achieving a certain height in jumping, score in dressage or time relative to distance in endurance. An outcome also might be that you and your horse take a 6km walk around the block or even that your horse enters the trailer or lorry and stands quietly. Knowing what outcome you will achieve can help in setting up your plan of how to get there. Outcomes are better set that are clearly described and not too vague like ‘we will do some rides out in the countryside!’
A performance goal is more about steps in the way to an outcome goal. In order to ride a 10 mile fun race (outcome goal), I must first establish fitness to ride 2 miles at a 50/50 mix of walk and trot with a reasonable recovery rate of 2-5 minutes after – this is a performance goal as it relates specifically to your horse and you and how you are both performing just now.
A process goal is more broken down than performance so if I want to ride my extremely fat pony 2 miles with at least half of that being at a trot I must first get him fit at a walk so a process goal might be to ensure he walks at least for half of his day and the method for achieving that might be a list of;
– slowly change feeding so he must move from place to place to gain his daily ration, placing hay in small nets at a distance from each other up a hill and with fencing that keeps him moving from area to area,
– walk in hand( March might be a fairer description ) every day for 10 minutes on the first day increasing by five minutes a day until he walks in hand for at least half an hour daily and three times a week walks for an hour
– Ride pony three times a week in walk instead of in hand work after first in hand walking week
And so on…..
Process goals are helpful because they list what you will do to get to the performance goal you are seeking and to eventually achieve to outcome you started with.
Psychological research in sports psychology and coaching has shown that using a combination of goals is more likely to get you to your chosen outcome than simply writing an outcome then ploughing in not really knowing if you are or are not on the right track . This is because the nature of these different type of goals offers very different levels of influence from ‘outside.’ The benefit of performance goals (compared to outcome goals at least) lies in the fact that they are more controllable and flexible than outcome goals; they do not rely on the performance of others to be achieved. However, the achievement of performance goals may still be influenced by external factors, such as environmental conditions, luck, officiating, or even natural fluctuations in personal performance levels. Process goals, conversely, are almost entirely under the control of the individual (in this case you and to some extent your horse) and so there is no reason why external factors should disrupt their achievement. Process goals can be altered day to day, but it is useful at least to know what they are and possibly (if you are the kind of person where it helps) to write them down. Keeping notes of your process goals in a journal after you have written your overarching outcome and your performance goals or markers towards that outcome, allows you not only to get a feel for your progress and what is/is not working, but to reuse good ideas in the future and recall which ones were less successful for future training.
Outcome goals are usually longer term – 6 weeks away for example is a jumping competition that you and your horse will (goal 1) enter and (goal 2) win. in order for this to occur there are a number of performance goals you may set along the way relating to height and speed. These goals are by their nature time limited and shorter term as they are steps on the way to the larger outcomes.
You may notice that you are faster over certain jumps or turning one way or another during your training so your goal in one training session might be to add in a number of turns tho your weaker side or to work in the combinations that are less easy and these would be process goals that might be set with your coach in a particular lesson so very short term in time.
So here is a space for thinking; what might a goal be for you and your horse to achieve in the next six weeks…….
What is the first performance goal you need to put in place for the coming week towards that outcome? ………
What process goals need to happen today to allow this…….?
So here is an example for an older and unfit horse.
In six weeks I and my horse will ride up to the picnic place and I will eat a picnic while my horse eats some hay.
Performance goals
For me- clear diary space for my horse and me on a regular basis appropriate to his training needs and mine
For my horse- catch the horse and groom him, checking for any issues, tack up and take for a twenty minute walk in hand under tack (ie wearing a saddle maybe with saddle bags since I will need those to carry my picnic
Process goals
I find my horse has lost a shoe -I must book the farrier
And so on….
Please note Before you embark on any fitness program, make sure that each of your horses is sound and ready to ride. Is he healthy? Is he shod or trimmed appropriately? Get clearance from your veterinarian if your horse is recovering from an injury.
In terms of fitness performance and process goals, any equine fitness program will start slowly with walking and maybe some trotting, then gradually increase either distance or speed, but never both at the same time.
Keep track of what you are doing by timekeeping (a fitness watch can help) during each ride and keeping a journal of the work so you can be methodical in how you change it. In other words, make each ride count. Even the slow work can build muscle for your horse. Look for hills and go up slowly (try it for yourself, walking uphill at different speeds – slowly can build a considerable amount of strength)!
Each week, either make your rides a little longer or increase the time at the faster gaits. Think of yourself as a fitness coach, just like any personal trainer. You probably will have to encourage your out-of-shape horse to push and stretch just a little harder, but never so much that he may injure himself. Unless you are very fit from some other sport or are used to doing a lot of riding, a good program should make you work hard, too.
The specific times that you spend at each gait and the rate that you increase it will need to be customized to each horse
Remember to stretch while you are both warm! Both rider and horse need to stretch correctly to help recovery of muscles after exercise. Learning the correct way for you and your horse to stretch is essential to avoid over straining and to build the flexibility that the athletic jobs orfriding a horse and being ridden by a human respectively require!
In part three I will look at some examples of training programs you might want to use.
A fitness plan for the year – let’s get a bit technical!
As spring is firmly knocking on the door even here in the north of the north, with longer days and the whiff of warmth in the air, we usually begin to get ready in earnest for the new year of competitions and shows with our horses and ponies.
Even for those of us who do not intend to compete but will wander the lanes and hills for picnic rides, it is good to fitten up both horse and rider.
So where do we begin?
If you go to a personal trainer or gym, you will expect certain markers and goals to begin with. Knowing your weight, height, resting heart rate, resting breathing rate, recovery time (the time it takes your heart and breathing to go back to normal after strenuous exercise) and so on. You will usually set a goal – to run a 5k – to be able to walk to the kitchen without puffing – the goal doesn’t matter but it is good to know where you are starting from and where you are heading!
So now let’s think of a pony or horse who has been comfortably accommodated all winter, doing relatively little (perhaps the odd ride or wander, or even a few lessons). There is a difference in fitness levels clearly between a puissance athlete and my relatively fat (sorry Teddy) Welsh section a, but the principles around fitness for life are similar to fitness for a particular sport. I can’t take dear old Teddy and expect him to take me straight out on a sled tour if he has done precious little for 6 months; I must work progressively to get him fit, taking time at each stage to ensure that he doesn’t become overworked and so suffer (or be at bigger risk from suffering) injury from his training.
Level of fitness: Consider both your horse’s and your own current level of fitness. Give yourself time, and where needed have easier days, or a few days off to give yourself and your horse time to recover. Hammering the same exercises over and over again in the hope of building fitness is not the way forward (see my blog on cross-training) but pacing yourself and your horse can lead to much faster development and greater endurance in the long run (even more so if you have an older horse). Do you know how to take your horse’s pulse and respiration? Or how to assess their weight? It is useful to have a baseline of how your horse moves in walk and trot at least on both reins (a film is a great place to start).
Let’s think about heart rate first! It is handy to have a rough idea of what is a normal range and to be honest the easiest way to take the heart rate or pulse is with a stethoscope though you can take the pulse across the artery on the lower jaw. Stethoscopes can be acquired cheaply from pharmacies or sports departments. So below are the approximate ranges for a resting horse. Breed, age, what is happening around all alter these so it is a good idea to have a few goes at checking. We know that the resting heart rate raises when a horse is wearing a saddle, is different in different situations and with different people!
Adult Horse: 28 to 48 beats per minute. It might be interesting to know that a neonatal Foal: 70 to 110 beats per minute. (And you can hear sometimes a murmur in first two days post-foaling so don’t be immediately alarmed but keep a note.)
The heart can be heard using a stethoscope placed between the 2nd to 5th intercostal space. Horses have four heart sounds, and the full cycle sounds like “Bah-lub-dub-ah” (as opposed to “lub-dub”). In some horses, all four heart sounds can be detected, while in others only two or three heart sounds can be heard (“lub-dub” or “bah-lub-dub”). The individual heart sounds are usually not all heard at the same location as their points of maximal intensity vary.
In order to take your horse’s heart rate, stand on the horse’s left side. Place a stethoscope on the horse’s chest, tucked just under the elbow. Count the number of full beats for 15 seconds, then multiply the number by 4.
Please note;
If a horse’s heart rate is elevated at rest, an equine veterinarian should be consulted.
If any abnormal heart sounds are heard, such as any murmurs or abnormal rhythms (arrhythmia), an equine veterinarian should be consulted.
It is good to get used to how your horses heart sounds – changes can then be heard and you can have confidence in ringing the vet – learn all this on your healthy horse and you will have the skills to notice changes if they happen in the future! But for now we will focus on getting a baseline for your horse’s fitness.
We don’t all have access to a stethoscope and (for example when training long distance) you may want to have a quick guide as to your horse’s fitness while out on a ride so it is useful to have practice at taking the pulse!
The pulse can be felt at other peripheral (ie away from the heart) locations on the horse. These places where you could take your horses pulse include:
- The facial (mandibular) artery that crosses the lower border of the jawbone (i find this the easiest on most of mine except my very furry highland pony in the depths of a Swedish winter when all arteries and blood supply of any sort are hidden under a huge shag pile carpet on his face! )
- Stand slightly to the side of the horse’s head and cup your hand with your first two fingers along the inside of the jawbone, just below the heavy muscles of the cheek.
- Feel along the inside of the jawbone until you consistently feel the pulse beat.
- Count the beats for 15 seconds, then multiply by 4 for beats per minute.
- The transverse facial artery near the eye
- Using two fingers, find the pulsing artery just below the facial crest.
- Count the beats for 15 seconds, then multiply by 4 for beats per minute.
- The radial artery at the back inside of the front knee
- Crouch facing the limb, then place your hand around the back of the knee with the pads of your fingers pressing on the radial artery. (Anatomically, taking the pulse here is just like taking your pulse at the wrist.)
- Once your fingers locate the strong, consistent pulse beat, count the beats for 15 seconds and multiply by 4 for the beats per minute.
- The digital artery, located below the fetlock at the inside of the ankle
- Crouch facing the limb and locate the digital artery with the pads of your fingers. The pulse may be best found on the inside or outside branch of the digital artery.
- Place the pads of your fingers on the artery and count the beats for 15 seconds, then multiply by 4 for the beats per minute.
- This can also be helpful when dealing with a lame horse. Increased or bouncing digital pulses can indicate a problem in the foot or limb.
Next check the breathing of your horse!
Adult Horse: resting 8 to 20 breaths per minute
Neonatal Foal: resting 20 to 40 breaths per minute
Horses’ respiratory rates can be taken by either watching their sides move in and out with each breath, or feeling the air go in and out of their nostrils (I do so for 15 seconds and multiply by four and I find it more accurate to feel the breathing provided they are calm, used to it and you don’t come so near the muzzle that you tickle their whiskers!
Have a look at how your horse breathes when resting and after exercise. Get used to how he holds his chest and stomach. Remember the thoracic sling of muscles and fascia that are so essential to how he uses his back to carry you and free up his legs is also the sling that effectively holds all his vital organs in place and allows him to breathe while moving. Again getting used to exactly how your horse looks before and after exercise is going to help you train his fitness and identify if a veterinarian is required because something is clearly wrong!
I basically giving you licence to stand and look at your horse for one or two minutes at different times throughout the day and night so you know how he holds himself – it’s not just a lovely thing to do but it can be vital in identifying health issues!
Next area to consider is his or her condition when turned away: If you are bringing your horse back into work following some time off, consider their condition when turned away. For example, were they turned away sound? Are you bringing them back from an injury?
Obviously a competitively fit horse that has rested a while will have a base level of fitness that will be quicker to access than an injured or just layer off horse who hasn’t needed or had the chance to do much other than stand in a field for a year or two. Andy Murray the British tennis player came back from a hip operation rather quicker than most of us would manage as he had a good base fitness and it is not so different for our equine partners.
Consider your horse’s weight. Decide if his condition or weight is healthy and make a plan to help him or her get to a healthy weight safely. Below are some methods for assessing your horse’s weight
- Weighbridge
This is the only truly accurate method to measure a horse’s weight, for most people it is not an option, but if you can use one it is worth it. You can then be totally accurate with wormer and feed calculations. One way is to weigh your trailer empty then add in your horse. The difference is what your horse weighs. - Weigh-tape
In the absence of a weighbridge, a weigh-tape is an essential tool to keep in your tack box. They are cheap to buy and used regularly will help you monitor weight gain and loss, and to be more accurate with feeding and medication. The weigh-tape is used around the horse’s girth, where a roller would normally fit.
Remember to follow the instructions carefully, use the same make of tape and keep a record of the readings.
(If more than one person is using the tape, make sure you are using it in the same way, at the same time of day and in the same place each time.) - The formula
Slightly more accurate than a weigh-tape is a calculation where you measure your horse with a tape measure (in inches), and work out the weight using a formula.
The formula was developed at Texas University and it is a much better assessment than a weight ape but a little more fiddly to achieve.
The calculation: (heartgirth x heartgirth) x body length ÷ by 330. This gives the weight of the horse in pounds (lbs).
The heartgirth measurement: Take a measuring tape and measure all the way around the horse’s girth from the highest point of the wither going to just behind the elbows.
The body length: Measure from the point of shoulder in a straight line around to the point of buttock on one side.The result is in pounds (lbs). You can divide this by 2.2 to get kilograms.
- Body scoring
However accurate the weight measurements are they cannot tell you if that weight is right for your horse. For that you need to score the body condition;
The Henneke horse body condition scoring system is a numerical scale used to evaluate the amount of fat on a horse’s body. It was developed in the early 1980s by Don Henneke at Texas A&M University with the goal of creating a universal scale to assess horses’ bodyweight, and was first published in 1983. It is widely accepted and because it has been adapted to offer us pictures of how each area appears horse owners can easily assess their horses in terms of condition and keep a note over time and in relation to feeding and exercise changes.
Six parts of a horse are checked in this system—the neck, withers (where the neck ends and the back begins), shoulder, ribs, loin, and tailhead. When using the Henneke system, you should always make physical contact with these parts, and the kind of touch you use is important. Simply stroking the animal lightly won’t provide an accurate idea of the horse’s condition; you have to apply pressure to each part in turn.
The pressure you apply should be much like that of a massage; if you press a horse’s side with your hand, you’ll be able to feel the fat covering his ribs, and get an idea of how much fat is present. Likewise, when checking the withers, feel all around the area, as if you were squeezing firm clay. It is possible to be firm and gentle at the same time, and both traits are necessary to properly score a horse.
After pressing each part of the horse with your hands to feel for body fat. You then assign each area of the body the numerical score that corresponds with the horse’s condition. When a horse has a long haircoat it is imperative that you use your hands to feel the horse. The horse’s long haircoat will hide the protrusion of bones, all except in the most extreme cases. The scores from each area are then totaled and divided by 6. The resulting number is the horse’s rating on the Henneke Body Scoring Condition Chart.
Remember your own fitness too – your heart and respiration, weight and flexibility will affect your horse’s capacity to carry you. Hard as it seems sometimes for horse owners but we need to take care of our own health and fitness……if nothing else for our horse’s sake!
So now you have an idea whether your horse is in the peak of fitness; smoothe muscle, with little fat, can return to a resting pulse in just a minute or two and breathes slowly with a reasonably slow resting pulse or whether you have a couch potato in your paddock! What next? Well there was too much for one blog so this is a cliff hanger! More on Thursday!!
Myofascial release technique – not the same as massage but how can it help your horse?
(Muscle Fascia Release) is used for the release of fascia (connective tissue) which has become stuck, hardened and dehydrated. Fascia is a three dimensional web that surrounds every bone, muscle, nerve, organ and vessel down to the cellular level from head to toe. Restrictions can develop in fascia from trauma, poor posture and repetitive training. These restrictions can create pain, swelling, misalignments, poor muscular biomechanics, decreased range of motion, decreased strength and lameness.
Restrictions in the fascial system can put up to 2000lbs of pressure per square inch onto bones, ligaments, muscles and organs causing the structures to misalign or become constricted resulting in ineffective muscle usage, poor circulation, build up of toxins, strain and eventually trauma/injury.
Myofascial release (MFR) can be used as a main modality during a session as it is effective at facilitating the body’s innate healing to realign bony structures and release deep seated tension and trauma or it may be part of a number of techniques a therapist uses.
Muscular release is a hands-on technique that uses slow, sustained pressure without sliding on the skin, therefore no oil is used. It is a very different sensation to massage. As the stuck, hardened and dehydrated fascia is released the individual horse, dog or human may sense slight pain, prickling, heat and stretch sensations. This is nothing to worry about and is essential to the healing process. Sometimes horses will tend to nip or scratch themselves where the discomfort is.
As the fascia is connected throughout the entire body, the animal may react and change other parts of the body from where pressure is placed. Sometimes the therapist will appear to be working in a completely different place from where you thought the problem was with your horse. This is not just due to compensatory movement patterns but because fascia links in chains throughout the body and other areas may need release for the identified restriction to ‘leave.’
Are you interested in learning more about manual techniques for helping horses or even training in equine bodywork techniques? Contact me for more information on courses for both horse owners and professionals online and in person!
Which therapy will help my horse
There are many different types of equine therapies, but which is the best for your horse? Here we will outline the benefits of using PEMF, Cold Laser Therapy, Massage Therapy and ultrasound on horses. There are also forms of bodywork that release tight fascia with small amounts of pressure in specific spots or that offer energetic healing or skeletal corrections. Acupuncture, acupressure and cupping are further examples of well tried and tested therapies but this article focuses more on some machine based therapies that are well known in the field of equine bodywork, sports physiotherapy and veterinary rehabilitation therapy.
PEMF (PULSED ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD)
PEMF is short for Pulsed Electromagnetic Field therapy. PEMF consists of the device creating an electromagnetic field within tubes that look like hoses and helps the horse recover on a cellular level. Electromagnetic field therapy targets the cell chemistry, effectively kicking a cell into action, rejuvenating the body by oxygenating the red blood cells, and is particularly useful as it can be targeted towards the areas that are inflamed or injured. Having nutrient-rich blood go to the cells that need it should stimulate quicker recovery. PEMF covers and stimulates a wide area and is typically used more for a whole-body therapy although it can be successfully targeted by a trained professional to build or help the healing process in particular tissues.
What is PEMF currently used for?
As part of the overall holistic approach to equine therapy, PEMF therapy for horses is beneficial for alleviating numerous cell-related injuries. It has beneficial effects in minimising the effects and even reducing the likelihood of tendon and ligament damage and also works with soreness of the back, the stifle, the hock, and the shoulders. They also work to alleviate non-union fractures, stone bruises, and stimulate wounds that are not healing as they should.
This therapy is usually offered by a trained veterinary rehabilitation therapist or equine bodyworker such as a physiotherapist and it is essential that they program the machine both for safety and to target the particular tissue that requires help.
THE BENEFITS OF PEMF THERAPY
• Owners and trainers can see improvement after one or two PEMF sessions, giving the owner more confidence in the horse’s rehab.
• It is beneficial for the entire system, not just the localized problem. Even if you are treating a horse for a very specific injury, such as a tendon problem, the whole system is being treated.
• Looking at it from a holistic perspective, other factors that you may have concerns about, such as box rest anxiety, are improved completely by incorporating PEMF therapy.
• PEMF is a healthy alternative to drugs or sedatives. As many trainers are looking for natural approaches to treat ailments, PEMF therapy is a safe, drug-free, and non-invasive treatment.
• There are some great results in animals with longer standing problems and depending on the PEMF machine this can be targeted even for arthritic conditions (all PEMF machines are not made equal so a professional trained in their use should be able to help guide therapy)
COLD LASER THERAPY
Cold Lasers are better suited for targeting specific areas of the body like injuries and acupressure points. Cold laser therapy, also called LLLT (Low Level Laser Therapy), has been used for decades to stimulate healing and provide pain relief in many animals including humans and dogs!
Cold laser therapy for horses has been the topic of numerous clinical studies over the years and works by directing a non-invasive source of energy, in this case, a low temperature and low laser, to the source of pain, injury, or inflammation.
The LLLT stimulates healing as the laser works to penetrate deep into the cells of horses, known as the mitochondria. When the mitochondria are stimulated, this facilitates greater cell energy and communication between the cells, resulting in greater growth.
Cold laser can also be used to deliver acupuncture point effects and may offer a noninvasive option for delivering acupuncture to your horse.
What ailments are generally treated with cold laser?
Cold lasers are a common treatment in horses with a variety of injuries. For example, if a horse experiences pain from trotting, walking, galloping, leaping, or other specialized movements, this can further exacerbate the pain and could be a signpost of arthritis, degeneration of the cartilage, as well as other joint problems or deformities caused by old injuries, age, or neglect.
Cold laser therapy has been used to treat equines with a variety of ailments including back pain, osteoarthritis, muscle pain, repetitive motion stress syndrome, tendon, and ligament injuries, and has also proven beneficial to aid post-operative healing. Cold laser therapy should be performed by a trained person and in most countries this would be under referral from a veterinary surgeon.
What might the benefits be of cold laser?
• Cold Laser Therapy (LLLT) primary benefit is it greatly reduces inflammation and pain. Depending on the injury of the horse in question, the reduction of inflammation will improve the horse’s quality of life. Because it promotes quicker tissue repair, this is an ideal choice for horses with open wounds, and also improves arthritic conditions in horses because of its ability to ease pain and inflammation.
• It can stimulate the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is the network of tissues that work together to move lymph into the bloodstream. This can help the horse to remove toxins from its system, greatly simulating recovery and healing.
• Cold laser therapy is also a very mobile treatment. Rather than taking a horse for treatment, it is easy to purchase cold laser therapy devices, which will reduce the stress of traveling to another location. What’s more, the procedure is quick and painless, • and the horses are usually unaware of any treatment being performed.
Let’s look at massage therapy!
Though this might be regarded more as a manual therapy ( ie one that the therapist delivers using his or her body – mostly arms and hands), there are increasing numbers of massage guns and devices offering the owner a range of price points and the therapists some interesting options in terms of affecting fascia and therefore a wider range of tissues.
Another equine therapy treatment you may consider is massage therapy. Everybody benefits from massage to recover from training and competing and by the same notion, additionally it can help your horse. There are many different types of equine therapy, covering a wide variety of practices equine massage therapy also called movements or manipulations comprises a number of approaches to stimulate a variety of healing components. These can include nerve stroking, compression, tapotement and petrissage.
What ailments or injuries do we generally use massage to treat?
Massage therapy for horses can treat a number of physical ailments. If your horse is displaying any discomfort or pain signs, such as shaking its head, being reluctant to canter on one lead, carrying the tail to one side, and various girthing issues, massage therapy could help as part of a wider program of bodywork, veterinary care and retraining.
If your horse is getting older, you may find your horse is experiencing signs of tightness, muscle fatigue, and inflammation. If your horse is experiencing any problems with muscle recovery or a lack of suppleness, massage used in combination with skeletal mobilization can increase the range of motion, resulting in less tension in the poll, and helping the horse move more freely.
Massage can also work with psychological issues. If your horse is experiencing any symptoms of being ill-treated, appears timid, or shies away from aggression, a session of massage therapy can release endorphins and help the horse to relax, making them feel calmer. Because a massage can influence the autonomic nervous system and move from a stressed state in the sympathetic nervous system to the parasympathetic nervous system, this will help the horse go into a more relaxed state. This is commonly known as the “relaxation response.”
What might the benefits be?
Anybody who has experienced a massage will know just how immediate that sensation of calm is, and equine massage therapy is one practice that serves as a preventative measure.
• Massage therapy can help to balance and maintain the musculoskeletal system which can stimulate the body to heal itself naturally. As even the smallest injury in a horse could take up to 90 days to become apparent, regular equine massage therapy is one of the best methods to enhance performance, prevent problems, and provide due care and attention to the horse.
• Equine massage therapy is a practice that aids recovery. It reduces fluid and swelling in the soft tissues, and massaging optimizes the conditions so the body can communicate with itself on a cellular level to work together to stimulate healing.
• It can also help to pinpoint problem areas. As vets cannot always spend a lot of time diagnosing problems, equine massage can help to identify an issue quickly, not least because the owner or trainer is engaging with the horse closer than usual.
Deep wave massage using a percussive machine…
Deep wave massage therapy is delivered by a machine instead of the hands of the therapist. Swedish fascia vibes makes a machine well known in the field of fascial vibration and it is the most common form of electric driven machine in the Nordic countries. Broadly the ‘djup våg maskin’ offers a percussive vibration intended to stimulate blood flow, aiding in post exercise recovery and causing muscle relaxation. Extreme care should be undertaken if using a percussive machine (especially one not designed for equine use) that only the muscles are stimulated and vibrated and that only for so long as to result in a good effect and not cause further injury. The results of vibrational massage in sports training can be excellent when properly applied as the fluid flow increase in both the blood supply to the muscles and synovial fluid in the joints can increase. Some machines are specifically designed to vibrate fascia and to influence the fluid flow while others are designed just to increase muscular blood flow.
In my experience percussive massage can either offer a comfortable improvement after sports training or can potentially exacerbate other hidden injuries and, for this reason, it should be undertaken by trained person who looks at the whole horse and not just at the area of apparent stiffness.
What are the effects of therapeutic ultrasound?
Therapeutic ultrasound is very different in effect but not delivery from the ultrasound you might have if pregnant or for the veterinarian to look at a soft tissue injury. It is possibly one of the oldest ‘innovative’ electrical treatments in the physiotherapy toolkit!
What are the effects of equine ultrasound and why should it be considered for horses?
I find it to offer rapid and good results in injury rehabilitation and I often combine it with loaning a pre-set PEMF device to an owner.
Generally it’s effects are;
• Increase Circulation
• Improved Blood Flow in post Tie-Up (Exertional Rhabdomyolysis)
• Wound Healing
• Increase Contractility of Muscle Fibers (to increase Range of Motion)
• Decrease Scar Tissue Formation
• Decreased Pain and Muscle Spasm
• Accelerated Wound Healing
• Decrease Inflammation and Edema
• Decrease Tendon and Ligament inflammation
How does it work?
In brief;
Therapeutic ultrasound is the use of sound waves which are passed through tissue creating certain physiological effects.
There are three primary benefits to ultrasound. The first is the speeding up of the healing process from the increase in blood flow in the treated area. The second is the decrease in pain from the reduction of swelling and edema. The third is the gentle massage of muscles tendons and/ or ligaments in the treated area because no strain is added and any scar tissue is softened. These three benefits are achieved by two main effects of therapeutic ultrasound. The two types of effects are: thermal and non thermal effects. Thermal effects are due to the absorption of the sound waves. Non thermal effects are from cavitation, microstreaming and acoustic streaming. Cavitational effects result from the vibration of the tissue causing microscopic bubbles to form, which transmit the vibrations in a way that directly stimulates cell membranes. This physical stimulation appears to enhance the cell-repair effects of the inflammatory response. Studies have proven that Ultrasound helps in enhancing the metabolic activities of cells. Thus, ultrasound treatment helps in tissue repair, especially in soft tissue injuries.
Again this is a therapy for a trained professional as it’s misuse can result in overheating tissues. It is usually provided by an equine veterinary rehabilitation therapist, veterinarian or physiotherapist.
For the owner or trainer who wants to help their horse in between professional treatments, there are a number of techniques and helpful devices available which I will look at in my next therapy based blog post!
Have you or your horse experienced any of these treatments? How did it go?
If you have any questions or thoughts, I’d love to hear from you!
Why I like the backup L shape exercise
You find this ridden exercise in competitions like handy pony, equitation and western trail. I really like the L shape back up for several reasons;
⁃ it increases body and limb awareness (proprioception) and coordination both of which shield our horses against injury
⁃ It builds partnership as we practice this slowly and carefully both on the ground and in the saddle
⁃ It helps us as horse handlers and riders to understand how the horse’s body moves (which bits truly bend and which do not)and how to help our horses when we will perform tricky manoeuvres both in the arena and out on a ride in the forest
⁃ It stimulates and strengthens the horse’s core muscles resulting in better engagement and better quality of movement
⁃ It helps to lift and stretch the back, stretching those important topline muscles
⁃ It increases strength in the hind limbs which aid in collection, speed or jumping
⁃ It improves flex ion in the hind limb (see above for how this helps!)
⁃ It stimulates the sacroiliac area (which is often stiff or uncomfortable in many of the riding and driving horses I see)
⁃ It is a relatively easy and quick exercise to do even on a day when you do not have enough time for riding – you don’t need equipment as the poles on the ground are a guideline for us and not for the horse – practice backing up and going off to one side and then the other on your walk back in from the field!
Remember slow precise movement is better than doing this quickly and backing up with the head lower or perpendicular to the ground stretches the back correctly while backing up with the nose in the air does not! You can use a treat to keep the head low in the beginning. Back up with as little pressure from the rope as needed but as much as is needed to create movement. Remember to release the pressure as soon as you feel (the first hint or suggestion) the horse is going to move. You may need to place your hand lightly on the horse’s chest in the beginning.
Happy Healthy Horses 