EH Equine Acupuncture

16/08/2024

𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭: 𝗧𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐤𝐮𝐥𝐥

Notice the holes in the bones, these are call foramen and are where nerves emerge to serve the muscles and superficial structures of the lips and nostrils.

09/08/2024

02/07/2024

TUESDAY TIP - Fitness 🐎

Well toned, supple muscles can stretch and contract freely. To avoid injury, it's important your horse is fit for the work he does.

✅ TRAIN REGULARLY. Shorter, more intense exercise several times a week increases muscular condtion more effectively than a longer period once a week.

✅ TRAIN APPROPRIATELY. For activities that require strength or power - such as jumping, few repetitions performed at higher intensity are effective. For disciplines that require less power but more stamina - such as dressage or endurance, less intense exercise, with a greater number of repetitions are appropriate.

✅ VARY HIS WORK. The same type of exercise shouldn't be done every day. Plan a varied exercise programme for your horse that includes hacking, schooling, hill work, pole work and fast work. This variety will activate more muscle groups and allows tissues time to recover.

02/07/2024

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089373431829

04/06/2024

Tuesday tip - Backing up

This low-impact exercise with no moment of suspension can be done in-hand and ridden. You horse should move his limbs in diagonal pairs.

Executed correctly with relaxation, impulsion and with the head lowered, the movement increases the throacic vertebral rotation, encourages core recruitment of the abdominals , thoracic sling and hip flexors. It also contributes to back mobility, the ability to collect and good posture.

This exercise requires your horse to carry more weight on his hindquarters, and maintain increased hindlimb, lumbosacral and back joint flexion throughout the stride cycle.

For maximum benefit ask your horse to back up in-hand daily. Start with 1 or 2 steps and progress to 20 steps. The aim is good quality, long, marching steps.

24/05/2024

Friday Fact - The Lymphatic System

Essential for strong immunity, the lymphatic system protects the body against bacteria and disease.

The lymphatic system consists of lymph, lymph vessels, lymph nodes and bone marrow.

20/05/2024

🐴❤️

As we start a new year, it's often a time to set goals. If you would like to improve your horse's all-round way of going and ensure he is comfortable, happy and healthy I have some advice and tips for you to try over the next 12 months.

20/04/2024

FRIDAY FACT - How your horse bends

They can bend in a number of ways.
🐴 Using his neck
🐴 Using his back
🐴 Engaging his muscles
🐴 Moving his ribs
🐴 Employing his tail
🐴 The sliding function of the scapula
🐴 The action of the thoracic sling
🐴 By abduction and adduction
🐴 By leaning in
-
Want to know more about how your horse bends and exercises you can do to improve his suppleness and balance?
-
You need to watch our on-demand recorded webinar BENDING BIOMECHANICS available in the Horses Inside Out Academy
-

13/04/2024

𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁 - 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀

Muscles control every aspect of movement - both internal and external. They form the largest tissue mass in the horse's body.

There are various types of muscles performing a wide variety of tasks all working in a similar way. Electrical impulses instruct the fibres to contract and shorten, then relax and lengthen.

There are 3 types of muscle:
𝟭. 𝗦𝗺𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗲 - This is an involuntary muscle which functions automatically. It surrounds and is found in all internal tissues and organs. Smooth muscle responds to stimuli from the autonomic nervous system. It is responsible for pushing food through the digestive system and for the physical control of the bladder and bowel. It is also found in the vascualr and reproductive systems.

𝟮. 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗰 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗲 - A highly specialised, strong, thick muscle that is fatigue resistant. Beating around 100,000 times a day throughout the horse's lifetime. This muscle co-ordinates the propulsion of blood in and out of the heart.

𝟯. 𝗦𝗸𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗲 - There are over 700 different skeletal muscles in the horse. The brain sends a signal to the muscles via nerves which then convert chemical energy into movement.
The function of skeletal muscle is to:
🐎 Support the skeleton and create movement
🐎 Maintain joint stability and posture
🐎 Control range of movement
🐎 Protect the skeleton and internal organs from trauma
🐎 Contribute to thermoregulation by shivering

30/03/2024

15 Interesting Facts About Your Horse’s Muscles

1. Up to 70% of muscle fibers do not span the complete distance between insertion and origin; however, as the endomysium (the thin layer of connective tissue or fascia that surrounds each individual muscle fiber within a muscle) of adjacent fibers are structurally connected, they can still transmit force.

2. During an isometric contraction, muscle fibers temporarily stiffen without undergoing a significant change in length, resulting in the generation of strength without movement. Isometric contractions are essential for maintaining posture and creating stability.

3. Muscles develop a lasting molecular “memory” of past resistance exercises that helps them bounce back from long periods of inactivity.

Read the rest of the article here -
https://koperequine.com/15-interesting-facts-about-your-horses-muscles/

T-Shirts, posters, and mugs designed by us!

Check them out at - https://koper-equine.myspreadshop.com/all

Thank you everyone for your support, we so appreciate it!

24/02/2024

𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁 - The Tongue 👅

The 𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗲 is the most sensitive part of your horse's mouth and the most prone to injury.

This very large muscle extends from its tip, which you can see, to the hyoid apparatus and its attachment to the ramus of the mandible at the back.

The tongue is vital for swallowing and influencing the hyoid apparatus

Like any other muscle, restriction or tension within it can induce a muscular chain reaction.

The sensitivity of the tongue is a crucial consideration when fitting a bit. An ill-fitting or harsh bit or excessive pressure on the bit from your hands can cause pain and discomfort. In some cases it can result in tension throughout the body and poor performance.

13/01/2024

𝗪𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘆?

Spending plenty of time in walk, particularly at the beginning of a session, is really beneficial for loosening up the joints, back and muscles. This is particularly important at the moment if your horse's turnout is restricted and because it's turned so cold.❄️ ⛄️

Here are some simple things you can do in walk that have lots of benefits. 👇
1. To encourage relaxation and confidence ride lots of free and extended walk on a long rein.
2. Ride regular transitions between medium and free walk on a long rein.
3. Riding lateral work exercises such as leg-yield and shoulder-in will help to improve concentration and coordination.
4. Walking over poles will improve coordination and regularity.
5. Gradually introduce a few steps of collected walk once an even, consistent medium walk is established.

12/01/2024

FRIDAY FACTS - Bone

🦴 Bone is living tissue with nerves and blood vessels that contain porteins and minerals, such as calcium and phosphorus.

🦴 Bone is the second hardest substance in your horse's body after tooth enamel. 🦷

🦴 A bone consists of a hard outer cortex, encasing a spongy cavity.

🦴 The surface of the bone is covered by the periosteum - a tough protective membrane, which provides the attachment of ligaments and tendons.

Discover more about equine anatomy at www.horsesinsideout.com

03/11/2023

𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁 - 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀

Core stability provides the strength and co-ordination for control, balance, posture and carrying weight. It can improve self carriage, enhance performance and reduce the risk of injury.

Core muscles include:
🐎 The thoracic sling
🐎 Abdominal muscles
🐎 Pelvic stabilisers
🐎 Deep ventral muscles

Ridden exercises to strengthen your horse's core focus on engagement of the hindlimbs to lighten the forehand. These include frequent transitions and half halts that encourage your horse to collect and push from behind.

Hill work and pole work using raised trot and canter poles are also valuable exercises.

In-hand exercises to strengthen the core include carrot stretches, backing up, walking over raised poles and back lifts.

We have some great on demand recorded webinars that will help you understand more about your horse's core and how to improve it:

𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀
https://www.horsesinsideout.com/webinar-pilates

𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
https://www.horsesinsideout.com/webinar-posture

𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
https://www.horsesinsideout.com/webinar-misconceptions

18/10/2023

𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐩 - 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬

A great exercise to incorporate into your schooling warm up or try it when you're out hacking.

Ask your horse for lateral flexion in his neck to one side, then ride straight, then ask for lateral flexion to the other side, then straight.

Pick a number of steps for each, for example, 10 steps with left lateral flexion - 10 steps straight - 10 steps with right lateral flexion.

As you ask for the flexion your horse needs to maintain his rhythm, balance, and impulsion. If he struggles reduce the number of steps you ask for.

Try this exercise in walk first. Once you’re both happy and confident try it in trot and even canter.

Lateral flexion in the neck is good for:

✅ Core stability and balance

✅ Coordination and proprioception

✅ Developing straightness and symmetry

✅ Forelimb movement and expression

✅ Reducing tension and restriction in the neck muscles

✅ Muscular strength, control and suppleness

✅ Neck joint flexibility

For more exercises to do while you're out hacking?
Read our blog 👇
https://www.horsesinsideout.com/post/make-your-hacking-count

03/10/2023

𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗶𝗽 - 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 (𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀)

Walking your horse in-hand or ridden over a series of walk poles that are raised at alternate ends will help improve:
🐴 Focus
🐴 Spatial awareness
🐴 Hoof/brain coordination

Increase:
🔹 Joint flexion
🔹 Back rotation

Encourage:
🐴 The back to lift
🐴 Recruitment of the core muscles

01/09/2023

𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐓 - 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐜 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐞

The 𝟏𝟖 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐜 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐞 are comparatively rigid and inflexible. It’s this strength and rigidity of the spine in this area that allows us to ride our horses.

The spinous processes of the thoracic vertebrae are longest at the withers. These provide bony attachment areas and leverage for the muscles, acting as a fulcrum for the nuchal and supraspinous ligaments that influence the position of the head and neck.

𝟏𝟖 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐬 attach to the 18 thoracic vertebrae via synovial joints.

The 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝟖 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐬 house and protect the heart and lungs, are known as true ribs. They join on to the sternum and allow the chest cavity to expand and deflate as your horse breathes.

The other 𝟏𝟎 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐬 – each pair attaches by a ligament and cartilage connection not to the sternum but to the pair of ribs in front.

The ribs also contribute to bend – coming closer together on the inside and further apart on the outside of the bend.

www.horsesinsideout.com

25/08/2023

FRIDAY FACT 🐴

The 7 neck (cervical) vertebrae make up the most flexible section of your horse’s spine.

They are arranged in an ‘S’ shape and sit much lower in the neck than you may think.

The cervical vertebrae also protect the oesophagus, trachea, main cervical nerves and blood vessels.

Discover more in our UNDERSTANDING YOUR HORSE'S NECK on-demand webinar available at the Horses Inside Out Academy (www.horsesinsideout.com/academy).

Learn how the position of your horse’s head and neck influences -
🐎 Back position
🐎 Outline
🐎 Movement
🐎 Performance
🐎 Comfort
🐎 Welfare
🐎 Way of going

15/06/2023

Of course there are a lot of people who think certain alternatives or complementary therapies are "quackery". I am not one of those people ...

The National Institutes of Health "officially" recognized acupuncture in 1997 - does that make you feel any better about it?

Some of us have known about energy, meridians, and points for years; and acupuncture is the basis of acupressure - just not using needles. Another use for these points is getting results with the "stickers" I use - aka light therapy patches. Yep, point & stick.

I use them with people and animals all the time, getting results that most thought weren't possible - a whole other option for pain and inflammation management to get better movement.

You can use them the same way I do - I show you how. FYI - they got me off the merry-go-round of pain pills and steroids. If you are curious about these types of complementary therapies and how they can help you and yours - come join our group - just comment "group" and I will get you in there.

If you are a little more serious about getting natural help - with the patches nothing enters the body and you just wear them - no wires, no drugs, no chemicals and no needles - comment "stickers" and we will chat about how they can help.

Image credit: Sheree King PhD

15/05/2023

All owners want their horses to be happy, healthy and sound. Recognising when your horse isn’t performing as he should is key to his welfare. We know that neck and back pain has a negative effect on equine performance, but they can go untreated as they can be tricky to diagnose. However, with acce...

05/05/2023

𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁 - 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀

The superficial muscles are located between the deep muscles and skin. They vary in size and shape, and are generally classified as movement muscles.

They are either:
𝗕𝘂𝗹𝗸𝘆 - examples include the superficial gluteal muscles, which are around 25cm thick in a 16hh horse. The triceps muscles, which are around 20cm thick. The masseter muscle that moves the jaw.

𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 - such as the abdominal oblique muscles, which span the entire abdomen and contribute to rib movement, bend and protraction of the hind limb.

The surface of these muscles can easily be felt for tension, heat and swelling. They can be influenced by complementary therapies, such as massage, active and passive stretches.

28/04/2023

𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁 - 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀

The function of deep muscles is posture and stability.
👉 They attach directly to bone
👉 Are located close to the joints
👉 Often have a number of points of origin and insertion
👉 Are often responsible for supporting individual joints - for example, the deep gluteal muscle only affects the hip joint
👉 Have a high number of nerve endings, which makes them more sensitive to postural alignment

23/04/2023

Your horse's health status might call for a low-starch diet. Learn which conditions benefit from low starch levels and how to make the change.

16/04/2023

Learn about reasons to use complementary therapies such as acupuncture and chiropractic for your horse and the research behind them.

11/03/2023

Coco having a big release after therapy

06/03/2023

Benny relaxed and unwinding with today’s acupuncture.