Canada’s Only National Horse Magazine DISPLAY UNTIL SEPTEMBER 15, 2020
Cleaning hooves regularly will help control fungus and bacteria.
10 THINGS You Might Not Know About
HORSE HOOVES
We have all heard the saying “No hoof, no horse.” Hoof care is a vital part of ensuring horse health, but the best ways to keep hooves healthy are often hotly debated. We worked with UC Davis veterinary hospital farrier Shane Westman, APF-I, to share ten things you might not know about horse hooves. 1 It’s never just a trim. The trim is where it all begins. Your farrier is assessing your horse’s conformation (hoof/pastern axis, heel angle/length, digital axis, palmar/plantar angle, centre 10
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of rotation, dorso-palmar/ plantar balance, hairline) and trimming to keep everything in proper alignment. 2 Horses in hard work aren’t the only ones that need shoes. A shoe is anything that covers the foot for protection (boots are shoes). Shoes can be used for a variety of purposes, including protection, traction, support, and therapeutic applications. A farrier can use shoes to manipulate the forces acting on a hoof, positively or negatively. Shoes can move the weight load around, and leverage can be reduced or
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added to ease stress on tissue or to change movement. 3 Wild horses have many of the same hoof problems as domestic horses. Research on feral horse hooves identified abnormalities similar to those seen in domestic horses, including long toes, medial/ lateral imbalances, dorsal and quarter flare, laminar rings, cartilage changes, frog abnormalities, and contracted and underrun heels. In one study, more than 75 percent of specimens from the Equus fossil record (~1-3 million years old — i.e. well before domestication) exhibited pathology consistent with chronic laminitis. 4 White hooves are not softer and do not have more problems than black hooves. A comparative study of horseshoe fixation versus hoof colour concluded that colour did not appear to have
a strong effect on the resistance to nail extraction, and hence shoe fixation. Other studies found that hoof pigmentation had no detectable effect on hoof wall stiffness/elasticity, moisture content, or hoof hardness. 5 Hooves may grow slower in the winter, but not because of the weather. Hoof growth is dependent on many factors including genetics, nutrition, environment, regular professional hoof care, proper weight management, and regular movement/exercise that can be impacted by seasonal changes (for example, colder weather and shorter days may mean less exercise). 6 An eight-week trimming/ shoeing cycle may not be ideal. Hoof care cycles depend on a number of factors. There is no one set rule that works for all horses and all
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK/MARIAIT
HOOF CARE
7 Horses do not get thrush from standing on wet ground. Thrush is a fungal (Fusobacterium necrophorum) infection of the frog, and may spread to the white line, sole, and sensitive layers of the hoof. The hoof is under constant assault from anaerobic bacteria and fungi, but balanced, healthy hooves have a natural cleaning mechanism. The presence of urine and feces seems to be a causative factor for thrush. Hot shoeing can kill bacteria and fungi between the shoe and the hoof, and regular cleaning and topical treatments can help keep bacterial and fungal invaders
at bay. The best way to avoid thrush is to clean your horse’s feet regularly. 8 Hot fitting a shoe does not hurt the horse. The hoof is an amazing insulator and can sustain extremes of cold and heat. Heating the shoe makes the metal softer and easier for the farrier to fit to the hoof. Hot fitting kills microbes and can help dry the hoof, making for stronger-holding nails. 9 Flared hooves usually indicate underlying issues. Flared hooves do not cause problems; they are the result of problems. The flaring is a sign of uneven load, and it is important to figure out the underlying cause. Removing the flare does not solve the problem; it just removes the evidence. 10 Overrunning water troughs so horses stand in wet ground will not moisturize their hooves. There is 100 percent relative hydration inside the
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK/SERGEY GRANEV
situations. Studies show that visiting the farrier every five to six weeks is an optimal schedule to maintain proper balance, especially for horses in work. However, it is important to talk with your farrier to come up with the best schedule for your horse.
Allowing the horse to stand in water or on wet ground will not moisturize the hooves; rather, it may actually dry them out.
hoof, where the blood supply is located. Moisture drops from the inside to the outside of the hoof, all the way to two percent at the outer hoof wall, which is almost impermeable. The hoof actually gets its moisture from the blood supply, not the external environment. Standing in water might
actually dry out the hoof, having the opposite effect of the one intended. One study found that moisture content in the hoof remains at about 30 percent, regardless of the environment. b Printed with the kind permission of UC Davis Center for Equine Health and UC Davis veterinary hospital farrier Shane Westman.
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HEALTH
Recognizing & Managing the
PHOTO COURTESY OF DR. KIRBY PENTTILA, BURWASH EQUINE SERVICES
Club Foot in Horses
By Dr. Kirby Penttila, Burwash Equine Services
P
odiatry in equine veterinary practice is gaining increasing attention. We continue to learn more about the function and biomechanics of the horse’s foot, and develop new and innovative strategies to alter those biomechanics and mitigate problems that lead to lameness in the foot. To achieve a successful outcome, equine podiatry requires a team approach and great cooperation between the owner, the veterinarian, and the farrier. Although a relatively small part of the horse’s body, the foot plays a very important role in soundness. It is simply amazing to consider all of the functions that are occurring in this structure in order to support a horse’s size and
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weight. It can be even more overwhelming when we start to consider how small changes to the biomechanics of the foot can change the function of the foot, and result in lameness issues for the horse down the road. One of the most common hoof deformities, which develops as a result of a change in the healthy balance and biomechanics in the horse’s foot, is the club foot.
What Is Club Foot? Many horses have what are known as “mismatched feet” (Figure 1). This occurs when the horse has a higher or more upright hoof angle on one foot and a low hoof capsule angle on the opposite foot. We’ll explore later on how this differs
from feet that are defined as “club feet.” Factors that contribute to the development of mismatched feet include the influence of genetics, developmental factors, abnormal exercise or loading of the feet, and pain. If you have ever watched foals or young horses graze, you will likely have noticed that most foals have longer legs than necks, and as such often need to stagger their forelimbs when they put their head down to graze. Many foals and young horses have a tendency to stand with the same limb out in front of them and the same limb underneath them, which creates an increased load on the heel of the limb in front and an increased load on the toe of the foot behind. This difference in load
PHOTO COURTESY OF DR. KIRBY PENTTILA, BURWASH EQUINE SERVICES
can affect the horse’s foot growth and predispose them to mismatched feet. These horses can be recognized by the disparity in the toe angles (one steeper, one lower), heel height (one high, one low), the size of the hooves, the direction of hoof wall growth, and the difference in the hoof pastern axis (the alignment of the three bones of the digit – the coffin bone, the short pastern bone, and the long pastern bone). This disparity in hoof angles is very common in the horse population, with about a third of sound competition horses affected. It may contribute to poor performance, subtle lameness concerns, and a decreased forward phase of stride on the upright foot. The upright foot tends to land toe first, resulting in bruising at the front of the foot and poor sole growth under the tip of the coffin bone. As a result of the decreased forward phase of stride in the upright foot, the foot with the low angle gets overloaded, which increases stresses on the navicular bone and the deep digital flexor tendon. This foot also has a longer distance from the centre of articulation to the toe, increasing the amount of force it takes to rotate the coffin joint and move the foot forward, which increases the
FIGURE 1
An excellent example of mismatched feet. Note the low heel on the left foot and the high heel on the right foot.
chance that this foot will develop lesions in the soft tissues of the management of horses with true club foot. When we contrast mismatched feet with what we refer to as club foot, we make the differentiation based on the severity of the deformity and the underlying reason for development. Club foot is one of the most common deformities in the horse world. Horses affected with club foot
develop a flexural deformity of the coffin joint, due to a shortening of the musculotendinous unit that starts high up in the limb and inserts on the coffin bone in the foot, resulting in an upright conformation of the foot. The muscle belly that controls the deep digital flexor tendon is located high in the limb above the knee at the back of leg. In horses that develop a club foot, the flexor muscle fibres have an abnormal
FOAL CARE
TASTY TREATS
HOOF CARE
HYDRATION
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Equine Joint Disease By Diane Gibbard It is estimated that a staggering 60 percent of all equine lameness is due to arthritis and joint disease. One of the biggest challenges is that some arthritic horses might not show signs of lameness when there is damage and inflammation in the joint; therefore, proper prevention and early diagnosis is key to managing the progression of joint disease. There are many potential causes of equine arthritis. The everyday wear-and-tear of repetitive and excessive force on a joint may wear down the supporting tissues. Weightbearing joints, including the knee, hock, fetlock, pastern, and coffin joints are more prone to be arthritic since they endure the majority of the concussive forces. Poor conformation may exacerbate this, placing additional strain on joints. A physical injury can trigger inflammation, and other types of injuries, such as a bacterial infection (septic arthritis) or a joint fracture, will stimulate an inflammatory response. 22
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Prevention — What Can You Do? Look for pain, swelling, heat, and loss of function. Signs of pain such as lameness or soreness upon palpation of the joint may indicate inflammation in a joint. Swelling: Acute swelling (sudden onset) occurs as a result of blood vessel dilation and the movement of fluid into the joint to help repair damaged tissues. This type of swelling is often soft to touch and the horse may be sore upon palpation. Chronic swelling, or long term swelling, of an inflamed joint may feel harder due to the production of new bone as a result of the chronic inflammatory process. Heat: When a joint becomes inflamed, the temperature might rise as much as one degree Celsius above resting body Learn about basic joint anatomy and spot problems early by checking the horse’s legs for pain, swelling, heat, and new lumps, using the opposite limb for comparison.
PHOTO: ISTOCK/ANNAELIZABETHPHOTOGRAPHY
Diagnosis & Treatment of
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK/BRASTOCK
HEALTH
PHOTO: CANSTOCK/KAPAI
Weightbearing joints that sustain the majority of concussive forces are more prone to arthritis and joint disease. Conformation abnormalities can worsen the effect.
Visual Exam: Inflammation in the joint might be visible from the outside due to swelling. Noticing and identifying any swelling at an early stage might help in the early diagnosis of joint disease. Palpation: Palpating, or feeling, your horse’s joint is an easy method to identify potential inflammation. Familiarize yourself with basic joint anatomy and know what is normal, and which lumps should and shouldn’t be there. You may also use the opposite leg of your horse for comparison. When you are feeling your horse’s leg, check for any signs of heat, swelling, pain, and reduced range of motion. If you suspect any signs of inflammation, speak to your vet. Veterinarians have a wide range of diagnostic tools at their disposal.
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK/OSETRIK
temperature, which can be useful as a diagnostic tool given the appropriate equipment (our hands are likely not sensitive enough to notice this small change in temperature).
The most commonly used diagnostic tool to help pinpoint joint-related lameness is the X-ray.
Diagnosis — What can your veterinarian do? It is important to work closely with your veterinarian to properly diagnose and design an appropriate treatment program for your horse. Here are a few diagnostic tools that vets use to help in the diagnosis of joint disease.
During a clinical examination, your vet might perform any number of tests, including flexion test and nerve blocks (anesthetic blocks) to help pinpoint any joint-related lameness. Other tools described below are used alone or in conjunction to help in the diagnosis of the joint disease. SUMMER 2020
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PHOTO: ISTOCK/MAGBUG
HEALTH
Good quality hay is the foundation of a balanced diet for horses of all ages. Horse owners are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of the nutritional components of the hay they feed.
Does It Make Sense for You This Year? By Shelagh Niblock, PAS 28
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PHOTO: ISTOCK/ALEXA KHRUSCHEVA
Hay Testing with NIRS A
ccurate laboratory analysis is the backbone of efficient ration planning for many horse owners today. Whether you have an elite competition horse or a senior who is essentially a pet, horse owners are becoming increasingly aware that informed forage buying decisions can make a significant difference in the
health and performance of their horse. Easily accessible forage analysis options are more common than they were even ten years ago, but maneuvering your way around them can be confusing. When choosing a lab to analyse your hay, always choose one that specializes in forage and provides the following nutrients as part of their
analysis package: crude protein (CP), acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), water soluble carbohydrate (WSC), and ethanol soluble carbohydrate (ESC). Once you find the lab, they will generally have an easy-to-follow directory of the different forage analysis packages from which to choose.
What are you testing for? One of the more important nutrients you will be looking for is protein, and if you have an overweight horse, or a horse with the metabolic conditions — insulin resistance or Pars Pituitary Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID or Cushing’s Disease) — you may also be looking for the “sugar” or water soluble and ethanol soluble carbohydrate (WSC and ESC respectively) values. You might also need trace mineral analysis including copper, iron, manganese, or zinc values. Alternatively, if you have a horse afflicted with Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP), you will most definitely be looking for a total potassium percentage in the hay you are considering buying. Your analysis objectives should dictate whether you choose a lab that utilizes wet chemistry methodology or, alternatively, a lab that
utilizes Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) methodology.
NIRS or Wet Chemistry? What’s the difference?
Traditionally, laboratory analysis was completed in a lab using a combination of heat and reagents to determine the nutrient composition of a forage sample. This is called wet chemistry, and it is still the gold standard for accuracy in laboratory results. While wet chemistry methods are still widely practised today, another method of laboratory analysis has gained in popularity over the last 25 years due to its speed and efficiency. NIRS or Near Infrared Spectroscopy is a laboratory analysis methodology that utilizes near infrared light and the spectra reflected back when it is directed at an unknown test sample. The unique spectra “fingerprint” generated by the test material can be used to predict the nutritional components of the sample. The spectra of the unknown sample is compared to a data set of spectra from known samples, and similarities are compared using computer software. The “calibration set” used to predict the nutritional components of the unknown
sample is constructed through the use of data derived through wet chemistry methods, mathematical calculations, statistics, and computer software designed for this purpose. NIRS is inexpensive to run because it requires no specialized reagents. It is also environmentally friendly and fast. Typically, a hay analysis completed using wet chemistry methodology will take at least a week, while the same forage sample could be analysed using NIRS in about one hour. NIRS is very accurate in predicting nutrients such as protein, but it is less accurate than wet chemistry at predicting nutrients such as fat content. If you want an analysis of your hay sample that includes trace minerals such as copper, zinc, manganese, or iron, NIRS is not an acceptable analytical method to use, and your forage sample must be analyzed using wet chemistry methods. Macro minerals such as calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, and potassium are often reported on a hay analysis done using NIRS methodology. The results can be considered reasonably accurate because of the association these minerals have in the plant with the organic components of cellulose and
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STABLE HYGIENE
THE “NEW NORMAL”
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK/KONSTANTIN TRONIN
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t will be critically important to maintain physical distancing as barns prepare to reopen with a new “normal” for the upcoming months. The maintenance of six feet physical distance will need to be strictly enforced, as well as many new cleaning protocols. Recommendations First and foremost, follow all current local, provincial, and federal recommendations when reopening your stable to the public. Below are some suggestions to help modify your barn’s biosecurity plan: 1. Set up an area at the entrance and exit for everyone to wash their hands and to scrub and disinfect boots. 2. Consider a drop-off area so riding students can go directly to their lesson horse in the arena. 3. Continue to adhere to physical distancing, staying six feet apart from others. Many factors will need to be well thought out including spacing out areas used to prepare horses for riding, maintaining distance during riding activities, and limiting the number of riders and spectators. Requiring people to wear cloth masks when unable to maintain six feet of distance is not unreasonable. 4. Stock your first aid kit with disposable masks and gloves, and ensure first aiders are aware of COVID-19-related first aid protocols. Discuss with your local public health authorities to determine best practices.
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5. Create a cleaning and disinfection schedule to execute multiple times a day for common areas and frequently touched items such as doorknobs, light switches, horse stalls (including stall door latches), tack rooms, wash stalls, hoses, sprayers, bathing and grooming equipment, cross-ties, pitch forks, brooms, shovels, wheelbarrows, and tack. Have clear guidelines for disinfection of different items and who is responsible. 6. Consider setting up outdoor grooming stalls if practical, or only allowing tacking up in the horse stalls rather than sharing cross-ties and asking riders to wipe down the areas they touched with disinfectant. Clean tack and grooming supplies after each use. 7. Use outdoor rings whenever possible. 8. Create a schedule for lessons and boarders, and limit the number of people allowed on the property at one time. Keep a sign-in list. 9. Modify your Biosecurity Plan following the six steps
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outlined in the National Farm and Facility Level Biosecurity Standard for the Equine Sector. 10. Self-screening should continue to be adhered to and anyone exhibiting any signs compatible with COVID-19 should not be allowed on the property. It is important to always practice good general stable biosecurity practices, such as wearing clean clothes to the barn and cleaning and disinfecting boots — if visiting more than one barn in a day, do this for each facility. Remember to bring clean riding gloves for each visit too. “It’s an easy-to-kill virus. Pretty much any disinfectant will do it, as will time and/or sunlight. The virus will likely only survive a couple days on surfaces, often less,” says Dr. Scott Weese, infection control expert. “The main risk isn’t the environment, it’s people. If they have this virus on tack, that was put there by an infected person who poses more risk.
Measures to keep high risk (sick, exposed) people out are critical. Beyond that, things like minimizing crossover of tack and surfaces, and cleaning/ disinfecting are useful, but are very much plan B. “Leather doesn’t tolerate a lot of disinfectants. There are likely some household disinfectants with claims that they are safe on surfaces like that, and those should still be effective since this virus is wimpy. Otherwise, wiping off the disinfectant after the appropriate contact time (varies with product, usually two to fifteen minutes) can help reduce damage. “Given the susceptibility of this virus, even soap and water can be effective. So, for routine situations where increased control is desirable, washing with a leather-safe soap would be reasonable. If there’s real concern about an item, then a disinfectant would be appropriate, or the items could just be left alone for a few days.” b Published with the kind permission of Equine Guelph.
HEALTH
When Accidents Happen…
+
Equine Emergency First Aid
PHOTO: ISTOCK/ALINA555
By Margaret Evans
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A
PHOTO COURTESY OF JUDY TODD
lmost every owner will have to deal with an equine “It had been raining, and the homemade bridge across emergency sooner or later. A horse’s natural curiosity, the road from my property, which we cross regularly, felt a trail ride mishap, or turnout with herd mates can lead to a bit slippery under Zulu’s shod feet,” recalls Judy Todd, all kinds of cuts, bruises, kicks, an Abbotsford, BC-based and bites. Scrapes, stone bruises, physiotherapist with a punctures, sprains, or sores can specialty in hippotherapy. happen suddenly, and more “Before I had a chance to serious conditions such as warn my friend to dismount abscesses, colic, or bacterial and lead my second horse infections can flare up with Bo across, his hoof boots no warning. turned into a pair of skates While the advice of a and he did a macabre kind veterinarian may be necessary, of tap dance before he many minor health conditions went down, one back leg can be dealt on site with hanging off the bridge, his adequate knowledge and first front legs struggling to get aid equipment. But to take full a purchase. With my friend advantage of on-hand solutions, and I pulling on the saddle certain protocols should be in and any part of him we place to help you and anyone could access, he finally else caring for your horse. managed to pull himself BE PREPARED up, only to get caught under the wood railing and With some advance planning pushed back down again. and basic knowledge of first aid, “This time his left leg you’ll be better equipped to handle a horse health was caught underneath the emergency when it happens. bridge while his right was Emergency contact half off. At that point he information, such as the phone gave up the struggle and numbers and email addresses took a breather, so I for the vet and farrier, should be phoned home for ropes, posted in the barn and saved on blankets, and mats for a your phone. Maintain a health better grip, and tried to record of your horse’s imagine who might have a vaccinations, dewormings, past backhoe handy, but before injuries and incidents, and any I got through, he started up allergic reactions, and have it his efforts again. We got his readily available, along with a left leg unhooked, and slid record of his normal vital signs. The fateful bridge seen through Bo’s ears. him forward on his belly Know how to use all the until he was able to medications and washes, and struggle up without getting caught under the railing. practice bandaging before you need to do it in an emergency. “Amazingly, he was able to weight-bear and had Make sure you have access to a truck and trailer that is accumulated only minor-looking cuts and grazes. The accessible on short notice. Teach your horse to load quietly and safely in a trailer; in the middle of an emergency is not the time girth was shredded, and we had damaged the stirrup bars for a trailer loading lesson. from all our pulling. Unwilling to lead him back over the Keep your first aid kits for the barn, trailer, and trail rides bridge (which was also damaged), we elected to lead both well-stocked and easily accessible. horses to the nearest road where my husband met us with the trailer, first aid kit, and blanket. His vital signs were good, and I addressed the skin abrasions before encouraging him to hobble up the ramp. “His rehab was extensive, and it involved hip and pelvis musculoskeletal trauma from his efforts to get up, but he made a full recovery over a few months. Had he not been small, calm, and trusting, he could have panicked himself right off the bridge, and the outcome would not have had a happy ending!”
Know Your Horse’s Vital Signs
As the person responsible for the horse’s care and well-being, it’s important to know what is normal for your horse so you can quickly determine when he is not well. Start by recording your horse’s normal vital signs when he is healthy and calm, and store them where they are easily accessible. In the event of illness or injury to the horse, being able to check and report his vital signs to your veterinarian can help him to determine the horse’s condition. SUMMER 2020
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Riders are
ATHLETES Finding and Owning the Equestrian Athlete Identity
PHOTO: ISTOCK/FOTOKOSTIC
By Annika McGivern, BA Psychology, MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology
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After years of riding competitively and coaching, I believe that the human athletes in our sport do not generally think of themselves as athletes. We are riders, horse people, equestrians… but rarely athletes. Most horse people consider their horse to be the real athlete, and the majority of their nurturing is directed at their horse. Yet in theory, many would also acknowledge that to be successful, we must nurture both sides of the partnership equally. If, as most definitions suggest, an athlete is anyone trained in a sport that requires agility, strength, and stamina, then there is no question that riders are athletes, regardless of whether they compete. If you have the goal of improving your skill as a rider, you are an athlete. Accepting the athlete identity shifts our perspective. It does not make our horses any less important or lesser athletes themselves; instead it allows us to consider ourselves as equally important, in ways that significantly impact our well-being, our success as riders, and our horse’s experience when working with us. If we do not think of ourselves as athletes, we won’t treat ourselves like athletes. If we don’t see ourselves as an important element of the partnership, we won’t invest in ourselves by looking after our bodies and our minds with the same care and attention we give our horses. Because of this, equestrians often end up mentally and emotionally exhausted by their sport, which directly impacts performance ability. This exhaustion can
PHOTO: ISTOCK/MLENNY
At its core, equestrian sport is a partnership between horse and human. This relationship is unique, and it affects both the culture of the sport and our identity as athletes. Today, we are going to look closely at our equestrian athlete identity.
Just as you allow your horse some time off to rest and rejuvenate, prioritize your own well-being so both you and your horse can be at your best during your time together.
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How to Format Your Ride By Jec A. Ballou
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PHOTO: CLIX PHOTOGRAPHY
TRAINING
Most of us intend for our daily rides to improve our horse at some level, either by adding to his physical conditioning or progressing his training skills. But whether or not your horse actually makes these gains often comes down to the amount of time you spend on each phase of the ride. The format of your ride determines the outcome of physical improvement. For instance, if you spend too much, or too little, time on the warm-up phase, the horse will not make optimal muscle fibre recruitment and will likely fatigue quicker in your session, which diminishes the amount of productive training you can fit in. Likewise, spending too much time, or not enough, on the schooling phase can lead to tired or under-utilized muscles, but not necessarily stronger ones. A loosely-applied formula, as I offer below, can help you derive the most from your daily rides and your horse’s fitness. I should note that this formula applies regardless of whether you ride on trails or in an arena. Your daily ride should divide into three phases of more or less equal duration:
• Initial walking and warm-up: 33 percent • Schooling and conditioning: 33 percent • Flexibility and cooldown: 33 percent For simplicity, let’s look at how this breaks out for a one-hour ride, and then we will get more specific with the details. You would spend your first 10 minutes walking around, followed by a 10-minute warm-up. This walking and warm-up phase should take you one-third of the way through your hour. Now, you enter your 20-minute schooling or conditioning phase as I’ll explain below, which will bring you to two-thirds of the way through your hour. You will then spend the next 10 minutes on flexibility routines, followed by a 10-minute cooldown. That is how you structure a balanced session that prepares, works, and then adapts the body to gains. Now let’s clarify the specifics of what is included in each phase of your ride.
Walking Phase Joint fluids require 10 minutes of slow movement to decrease their viscosity and lubricate the joints well. This is the reason for the age-old wisdom to walk a horse for 10 minutes before doing anything else with him. Until the fluids have thinned out, warmed up, and spread throughout the joint, the concussive forces of movement will be absorbed by the cartilage, which wears down quickly. The first phase of your session every single day, whether you are working the horse from the ground, going for a trail ride, or schooling in the arena, should entail walking him around for 10 minutes uninterrupted.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JEC A. B ALLOU
Throughout your ride be mindful of which phase you are in, and focus on what the horse’s body needs from that phase.
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Rider POSTURE WHAT IS ACTUALLY INVOLVED?
PHOTO: CLIX PHOTOGRAPHY
By Alexa Linton, Equine Sports Therapist
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Get ready for a summer of pleasant riding with one of our As a rider, it can be tricky to discern exactly how much influence our structural alignment is having on our horse and our riding. The conversation about posture can be a complex and even frustrating one. In part, this is because we innately know that what is happening in our bodies can’t help but influence our horses, given their sensitivity to changes in weight and pressure, and the near impossibility of a rider being posturally “in tune” with their horse at every moment. Posture, defined as the way someone holds their body while sitting or standing, often conjures visuals of pulling our shoulders back, standing tall, and taking on a near-military rigidness. Instead, we’re going to imagine it as a much more fluid concept, inclusive of freedom of movement, natural balance, and coordination. Ideally, in the saddle we will have a neutral pelvis supported on our seat bones, an aligned spine, the ability to take a full relaxed breath, and a sense of being supported by our skeletal structure without tension. Like our horses, most of us are carrying a variety of compensating and adapting postural patterns, dependent on environment, injuries or surgeries, stress levels, habitual movements, breathing patterns, and much more. The position and mobility of a structure tell a story of how functional that structure is. For our discussion today,
we are more concerned with the functional movement of a structure, as is your horse. For example, positionally, the left side of my pelvis is high at all the main landmarks. But, if my pelvis is mobile, allowing it to be neutral and spine-aligned, and letting my body move freely, my mare Diva is happy to be ridden and is balanced on each rein. If my pelvis loses mobility, disrupting my ability to move with my horse, I notice an immediate change and resistance in Diva. Like myself, many of us may have body asymmetries that affect the position and/or the mobility of our structures and our posture. Let’s take this example a little further by unpacking some of the reasons my positionally-asymmetrical pelvis might become limited in its mobility. First, I am prone to rigidity at the junction of the occiput and first cervical vertebrae, which causes my spine and pelvis to adapt to keep my eyes level and stay in a healthy relationship with gravity. With direct attachments in this region, the dural membranes running through the spine and attaching directly to the sacrum can restrict the mobility of my pelvis and my spine, especially when I am dehydrated or closer to my menstrual cycle. For riders who identify as women and have a cycle, or are in menopause, hormonal changes can have influences on your posture. In this same vein, I have chronic tension at the root of the mesentery, which anchors
Riders should be mindful of their posture and consistently work to improve it. Most riders carry a variety of compensating and adapting postural patterns that impact their posture in and out of the saddle.
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6 BIG BI-MONTHLY ISSUES per year Both Print and Digital editions Canada’s Equine Guide — Special Annual Award-Winning Content
subscriptions@horsejournals.com
29
th
ANNUAL
CELEBRATION OF HORSES
PHOTO
Contest
CELEBRATING CANADA’S BEAUTIFUL FOALS & FAVOURITE HORSES Winning photos will be featured in our Winter 2020 issue, and on HORSEJournals.com. Two Runners-Up per category will also be chosen.
AMATEUR CATEGORIES For Amateur Photographers Only n
Stable Stork
Beautiful babies of 2020 n
Love of Horses
Depicting the human-horse bond n
Horses on the Job
Performance, working, heritage n
Horses Being Horses
Humour, personality, action n
Winter Scenes
Sleigh rides, winter wonderland, dashing through the snow! n
At Liberty
Horses in action (playing, galloping, with no tack)
OPEN NEW CATEGORY FOR
PROFESSIONAL
ENTRY DEADLINE: October 10, 2020
OVER
$2,000 IN PRIZES
Six Amateur Category Winners Will Each Receive a Grand Prize...
$250 Gift Card for Online Shopping at
SummersideTack.ca
including products by Horseware Ireland, Back on Track, Weaver Leather, Shires Equestrian, Professional Choice and more! All Runners-Up will each receive an “I Love Horses” Tote Bag and a 1-year subscription to Canadian Horse Journal.
PHOTOGRAPHERS 1 WINNER & 2 RUNNERS UP
ANY EQUESTRIAN-THEMED IMAGE Winner will receive a Sponsored Profile about their photography business, published in Canadian Horse Journal and on HORSEJournals.com.
PHOTOS (2019 CONTEST WINNERS) — MAIN IMAGE: JOSEPHA BAUER / SMALLER IMAGES, L-R: MARILYN VANDER WEKKEN, RACHEL SDOUTZ, KELLIE GOROSH, AMBER BOND, SAIF PATEL
TO ENTER, VISIT
www.HORSEJournals.com/contests