EH Equine Acupuncture

05/11/2024

Tuesday Tip.....Turn About the Forehand 🐴💪

Just three circles each way every day in-hand will improve your horse's ridden suppleness, bend and hindlimb adduction.

Turn about the forehand is a four-beat lateral turning exercise that you do in walk. As the forelimbs turn on a small circle, the hindlimbs adduct and abduct to step around in a 180-degree arc on a larger circle until your horse is facing the opposite direction.

Want more practical in-hand exercises to transform your horse's way of going?

Order The Complete Pilates for Horse Programme which gives you everything you need to confidently start using these hugely powerful and effective exercises that will make a real difference to your horse’s comfort, performance and well-being.

The product is linked in the image - find out more

13/10/2024

Working your horse over poles in-hand is a fabulous tool that helps improve your horse's performance, health, and harmony with their handler

06/10/2024

Polework is such a powerful training aid – even simple exercise, when done correctly will improve a horse’s way of going. There are so benefits of using polework, but most of all they encourage the horse to think for himself and to make changes to his posture or way of going naturally – there....

28/09/2024

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.

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

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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
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Want to know more about how your horse bends and exercises you can do to improve his suppleness and balance?
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You need to watch our on-demand recorded webinar BENDING BIOMECHANICS available in the Horses Inside Out Academy
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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/

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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.