Dynamic Unity

11/28/2023

09/21/2023

Curious Nonchalance

At all levels, from the training level to the Grand Prix, there is a curious lack of concern about chronic fetlock dorsiflexion. Excessive downward rotation of the fetlocks is potentially damaging and in most instances, the kinematics abnormality can be corrected. The lesions commonly related to excessive fetlock dorsiflexion affect the pastern plantar ligament, the straight sesamoidian ligament, and the deep digital flexor tendon. Chronic dorsiflexion also stresses the lower leg structures and can engender arthritis development.
When Ronda considered the purchase of her horse, the fetlocks' dorsiflexion was a concern. A veterinary exam confirmed pathology on the left hind leg and right front leg’s structures and the vet expressed concerns for the horse’s future. Analyzing the horse’s movement and Ronda riding the horse, we felt that the thoracic spine dysfunction was likely the dysfunction delaying the upward translation of the fetlock, and knowing that we could recreate proper kinematics of the hind and front limb, Ronda decided to go forward with the purchase.
The three pictures of the upper line, show the dorsiflexions of the horse shortly after his arrival. It was bad at the trot as well as at the canter. The three pictures of the lower line, show the horse one year and a half later. The kinematics abnormality is fully corrected and the horse’s soundness is now safe. Usually, the Passage and the Piaffe engender greater dorsiflexion than the collected trot. Ronda is very pleased that even at the Passage and Piaffe, the horse’s dorsi and palmar flexions are in the safe norm.
It took a year to correct the thoracic spine dysfunction that delayed the fetlocks’ upward translation. This type of dysfunction shows locally but involves the whole physique and at every level, muscles, tendons, fascia, aponeurosis, nerves, bones, and even cells. “Mechanoresponsiveness is actually a fundamental feature of all living tissues” (Christopher S. Chen and Donald E. Ingber. Tensegrity and mechanoregulation: from skeleton to cytoskeleton, 1999) This type of dysfunction cannot be corrected with the usual approaches, shoeing, saddle fitting, therapies, and drugs; the problem is created by an education failing to develop and coordinate the horse’s physique efficiently for the athletic demand of the performance and needs to be corrected by an education preparing and coordinating the horse’s physique for the athletic demand of superior performances. It is not enough to know how to ask for the movement or even how to make the horse do it. Talented horses perform high-level movement despite athletic dysfunction. Soon or late pathology cuts their career and often their life short. Our task as a rider is to soundly understand the performances’ athletic demand and from this knowledge, we can educate and coordinate the horse’s physique for the effort.
Indeed, some horses don’t have the coordination for Tempi one, but like chronic fetlock dorsiflexion, the reason is often a training approach focusing on making the horse do it instead of teaching the horse how to do it right. I have a nice horse right now in rehabilitation, who cannot execute tempi one. With forceful riding, the horse executes tempi two. The horse executes the flying change from left to right in good form but has difficulties executing the right to left. He was asked to perform the right-to-left flying change without adequate education and the horse found a compromise protecting his physical dysfunction. The discrepancy between right and left flying changes hamper the horse’s ability to perform tempi one. I don’t practice tempi one or even tempi two right now, I create the body coordination allowing the practice of the single change right to left in a correct form. The horse progresses regularly and when both flying changes will be almost symmetrical, I will ask for the tempi one.
The Science of Motion’s Master 2 program studies the athletic demand of high-level movements, Passage, Piaffe, Tempi One, and Canter Pirouette. Understanding the athletic demand allows preparing and coordinating the horse's physique for the effort. Paraphrasing Aldous Huxley, some horses are like humans, not very intelligent, dread responsibility, and desire nothing better than to be told what to do. Better horses are usually like better humans; they willingly participate in the performances and expect respect for their style. They don’t like to be ruled but need our knowledge. A true leader does not impose his knowledge; a true leader respects his partner's talent and gift. The horse expresses his difficulties. Based on our understanding of the performance’s athletic demand, we can identify the source and provide efficient solutions.

Sometimes, the solution demands reeducating a simpler movement. Often, the reeducation of one single flying change is necessary for the ex*****on of the tempi one. The concept is often resumed to the simplistic formula, “returning to the basics.” Returning to the basics is useless if the basics teaches a wrong canter departure or single flying change. Only a sound experience and knowledge of the higher level movements’ athletic demand permit one to teach from day one, body coordination preparing the horse for higher performances. The Science of Motion course Master 2 explains the physical demand of tempi one for instance and backtracks all the way to the education of canter departure explaining which system opens the door to tempi one or, to the contrary hampers the horse’s ability to execute years later the tempi one. It needs to be clear that some horses can’t execute tempi one but many horses could if their talent was not marred by inappropriate riding and training techniques.

Humans accept to be ruled if the theory does not conflict with their cherished beliefs. Equines don’t protect cherished beliefs but they protect familiar patterns. They are willing to explore a different approach if the approach alleviates physical discomfort or pain and eases the ex*****on of the performance.

This morning, I worked with Ebba Camitz in Sweden through a video lesson. The subject was the education of Passage and Piaffe. Ebba’s horse is notorious for his strong opinions and intense physical reactions. The focus was not on the moves but instead on coordinating the horse’s physique for the effort. We took many breaks, discussed Ebba’s feelings, and my visual observations and the horse explored a clean Passage, and from the Passage came close to the Piaffe. Ebba observed how calm and concentrated her horse was all the way. We discussed this phenomenon. When horses are respected and the challenge is about more efficient use of their physique, they participate actively in the work and are capable of sophisticated mental processing.

Jean Luc

09/07/2023

Highly recommend this course for anyone interested in learning more about Science Of Motion or how to begin the paradigm shift- this is a great way to start!

“Simple 2024” Starts January 2nd 2024
The simple 2023 format was successful. We duplicate it with improvements in 2024 for new members.
Biomechnaics was useful as it permitted us to understand how the horse’s body parts effectively function. The missing link is how the many parts articulate together. Linear and mechanical thinking don’t work. Biotensegrity offers a better explanation. The concept of closed kinematic chains for instance explains how movement in one body region such as the foot leads to movement at a distant body location such as the opposite shoulder. Experience constantly faces situations unexplained by mechanical thinking.
What are close kinematics chains, how they function, and how they influence our riding and the horses’ reactions, are comprehensively explained in the “Simple” course.
The illustration shows in fat red lines elements of the hind legs muscles, tendons, and ligaments that compose one of the close kinematic chains ensuring efficient function of the horse physique. There are numerous close kinematics chains through the whole horse’s physique. The knowledge is useful as it allows us to better coordinate the horse’s physique for the effort and better understand the horse’s reactions.
Jean Luc
Join us for 2024.
https://www.scienceofmotion.com/documents/simple24.html

09/05/2023

“Simple 2024”

Simple 2024 starts January 2nd 2024. Ongoing equine research goes in a direction that revolutionizes our understanding of the horse body's function. Biotensegrity is quietly supplanting mechanical thinking offering greater efficiency through easier equitation.
Instead of perpetuating the one muscle one movement ideology, the practical application of actual knowledge demonstrates that efficiency and therefore soundness, as well as excellence, are the outcome of whole-body coordination. “In a mechanical system, the parts shape the whole, while in an organic system the whole shapes the parts.” (John Sharkey)

Dressage judges consider allowing rising trot at higher level dressage tests because riders cannot sit the trot. The Science of Motion’s “Simple” course starts with the study of the neutral seat. The seat taught in academic equitation does not permit sitting comfortably or extravagant movers. Relaxation of the rider’s back and shifts of the rider’s weight hamper the horse’s ability to harmonize the work of the fascia, and consequently the work of the muscles. Muscles and fascia don’t develop at the same speed and in response to the same work. Muscles do well with repetitive patterns, such as in the gym. Fascia demands a simultaneous and large diversity of stimuli. If shoulder in is reduced to a horse traveling on three tracks and crossing the forelegs, only a few muscles are stimulated and eventually developed. The Science of Motion Simple course explains how the horse’s whole physique needs to be coordinated to have fascia and muscles benefit from the shoulder in. The rider’s neutral seat is a prerequisite.
The “Simple” forum encourages questions and sending videos for analysis. There is no stupid question.
The Science of Motion “Simple 2024” program starts on January 2nd, 2024. The course lasts 12 months and is offered for a $50.00 monthly payment.
Register now.
https://www.scienceofmotion.com/documents/simple24.html

08/21/2023

Price is USD... Shipping extra

08/15/2023

I highly recommend anyone thinking of starting their SOM journey to try out the monthly course "Simple" that Jean Luc Cornille offers, it's a wonderful place to start

08/05/2023

Great news for anyone interested in payment options!

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07/22/2023

Repeating the same thing and hoping to find the horse who will offer a different result.
When I was 16, I had the opportunity to participate in a three weeks stage at Saumur. At this time, the Cadre Noir was a military institution that organized a few stages for civilians. It was a theoretical course by a young captain who later became Colonel in charge of the Military School in Paris. The subject of the theory was Shoulder In, and the young Ecuyer deviated from traditional thinking, focusing on the dynamic bending of the horse’s thoracic spine versus the silhouette of the movement. I was too young and uneducated to have an opinion, but I liked his thought. Every other seventeen students turned angry and started a group action asking to have the Ecuyer replaced. They argued about terminology without understanding that the Man invited them to understand the Shoulder In’s athletic demand. They did not have a shadow of the Ecuyer’s knowledge, skill, and experience but argued on rules and terminology. It was the first time I witnessed “how much riders rather fit the horse to the little they know than explore new knowledge. Nothing has changed; more than half a century later, ”Ultracrepidarians” give opinions on subjects they know nothing about and become angry if anyone suggests a better way.
The French school teaches the rein effects. There are theoretically five reins effects. The opening one is where the rider turns his inside hand around his elbow toward the inside of the circle pulling the horse’s nose toward the inside of the turn. The horse is then supposed to “naturally follow the direction of his nose” and bend the neck to the right. The theory pretends that the horse will also bend the thoracic spine. The second rein effect is an action of the inside hand applying pressure with the rein on the base of the neck to push the shoulders sideways. I never found any value in these reins effects. They taught riders to pull on the horses’ mouths and use their hands constantly. The steeple chase horses did not “naturally follow the direction of their nose” if I applied an “opening rein.” Indeed, most often, they escaped the other way.
I was surprised that for the other seventeen group members, the equitation was about applying the reins’ effects and the horse’s obedience to the reins’ effects. The young Ecuyer advised opening reins to bend the neck and, hopefully, the thoracic spine. While the students expected the rein effect pushing of the base of the neck to move the horse’s shoulders sideways, the Man advised them to keep using the opening rein as the horse moved on Shoulder in. In their mechanical thinking, the horse would move in a circle. They asked angrily how the horse would move sideways. The Ecuyers answered, “You ask it with your body,” but their metric thinking could not accept it. Riding was, in their mind, an equation, opening rein + pressuring rein = Shoulder in. I was blown away and angry by the evolution of the situation. I wanted to know what was in Ecuyer’s mind, experience, feeling, and evolution. A more classical teacher replaced him, and the Ultracrepidarians were satisfied.
Nothing has changed. It takes about five years to know the basics of the whole equitation, and many spend the next seventy-five years repeating the same thing and hoping to find the horse who will offer a different result. Decades later, I met the Ecuyer. He was now a colonel and the riding Master at the Paris Military School and we have had numerous productive conversations where we analyzed the teaching of our ancestors in the light of actual knowledge.
Jean Luc

07/06/2023

Macel Demo saddles available for demo rides in Ontario, pm or email me to book your ride.

www.dynamicunity.ca
[email protected]

07/05/2023

Evolution from Biomechanics to Biotensegrity
I promoted biomechanics as knowing how the horse’s physique functions helped me to understand what the horse told me or tried to tell me. The studies were great in analyzing the horse’s body parts. However, the more I advanced in my knowledge, the more I saw an issue with the practical application. In traditional anatomy, muscles are described as single units with an origin, insertion, function, and internal relation and are either agonistic or antagonistic. At this point, science could be integrated into traditional beliefs. Compartmental fascia serves to connect muscular and non‐muscular tissues. Myofascial force transmission through these connections influences shock absorption, energy storage and recoil, and consequently locomotion.
An entire dimension exists that is not influenced by our aids. Indeed, a large part of the horse’s athletic performance is coordinated by the horse’s mental processing and physical intelligence and is most often disturbed by our gestures. Obedience to the rider’s aids is a theory of the past created when understanding the horse’s body function was elementary. In a trait of genial clairvoyance, Etienne Beudant wrote to prepare the horse’s physique for the movement, request, and let the horse execute. We need to go further and assist the horse in his research. The horse’s umwelt protects against morphological flaws, muscle imbalances, or other issues. The horse willingly coordinates his physique for the effort but protects his actual defect. The outcome is resistance or difficulties that we interpret as disobedience.
We often trigger the horse’s reflex protection as our physique does not function as our ancestors believe. In steady movements such as bicycling, the muscle fibers actively change in length, while the tendons and aponeuroses scarcely grow longer. The fascial elements remain quite passive. By contrast, in oscillatory movement with an elastic spring, the muscle fibers change a little while the fascial elements function elastically. We might not be aware of this elastic energy, but the horse feels it. We are told to swing our lumbar spine to follow the horse’s movement, and we create forces disturbing the horse’s motion and balance control. We have an energy interaction with the horse that is unknown and not considered in traditional equitation. Horses cannot achieve subtle coordination of their back muscles and consequent balance control because of excessive motion of our vertebral column and resultant force production.
The solution is not contracting our back muscles as we must move harmoniously with the horse. The solution is realizing that the movements of the horse’s thoracolumbar spine are limited and that the main function of the horse’s back muscles is to protect the thoracolumbar column from an amplitude of movements that would overwhelm the structure capacity. Science uses the term stiffening not as a protective reflex contraction, as the word stiffening is interpreted in equestrian literature, but as supple resistance. We need to use our vertebral column in the same supple resistance and reduce the amplitude of our movements using all our vertebral columns, including our thoracic and cervical vertebrae. We cannot figure out the proper use of our spine as long as we think of large movements. The equestrian language misleads us in talking about relaxation. We need to function at the level of subtle nuances in muscle tone, biotensegrity.
We cannot figure out proper body function in an unmounted situation. There is no stereotype. It is a subtle interaction of forces, a constantly changing dynamic relationship between the horse and the rider. I have taught biomechanics and biotensegrity and observed for both the rider and the horse a much greater “feeling at home” with the biotensegrity approach. Horses feel liberated from the oppressive rider’s actions. They feel respected as the tone of the conversation is at their natural refinement. Riders discover their intuition and talent. Riders uncomfortable with the equitation of domination and gestures discover that a bad system cultivated their insecurity and guilt.
Join the biotensegrity movement. Contact the Science of Motion’s Biotensegrity movement. [email protected], Jean Luc at [email protected]
Jean Luc

06/22/2023

A step-by-step approach to managing equine asthma

06/16/2023

https://www.scienceofmotion.com/reasons_why_we_do_not_use_sidereins.html
Reasons why we do not use side reins
Jean Luc Cornille October 2013

Whatever his body angle, a chicken controls balance maintaining his head and neck perfectly vertical. Hence, stabilizing the horse head and neck with side reins is a chicken theory. The horse instead, controls balance moving his head and neck.

Recently, we had an interesting discussion on a forum involving the use of side reins. It was about a deadly accident due to the use of the system and side reins proponents get offended affirming their faith in the system. Enthrallingly, not a single side reins’ believer ever addressed the effects of side reins. Their only references were, “everybody does it” or “my trainer uses it.” The statement was then followed by a long anthology of the trainer, like if emphasizing the trainer’s value would prove the validity of side reins.

It was of course the usual catch phrases, “engaging the hind legs,” “muscling the back”, “ putting the horse on the bit,” etc., but these stereotypes are part of an equestrian language that is repeated over and over without any understanding of the underlining biomechanics factors. Whatever it is about selling alternative bending of the neck, touching the limbs with one or two whips, lowering the neck, or rushing the horse on the forehand, the same phrases as used promising results that never go beyond the rider’s wish.

Members of the Science of Motion’s course, (IHTC), opposed pertinent observations, proposing better solutions and it was interesting to see how members of the IHTC were comfortable with the evolution of knowledge, while by contrast, side reins proponents were afraid of new knowledge becoming aggressive when they were technically cornered. It was obvious that while many people use side-reins, very few truly understand or even know how the system effects or more exactly affects the horses’ physique. My trainer uses them,” might be sufficient for riders who select their training technique based on faith rather than on facts. The problem with all these restrictive systems, side reins, draw reins, shambon, gogue, etc., is that they theorize a reaction omitting a fundamental fact. A horse does not work a muscle imbalance, reflex contraction or morphological flaw, but instead, protects it. Whatever the system applied, a horse deals with neck posture protecting his actual muscles imbalance, weaknesses, morphological flaw or other issue.

It is understandable that marketing strategies theorize effects that may sell their products. It is the rider’s duty to differentiate marketing strategy and reality. There are, for instance, 21 pairs of muscles that can move the horse head. Hence, there are at the least 21 reasons why the horse reaction might not be the one promised by the advertising. The horse can adapt to the restriction of the side reins bending the neck, twisting the neck, lowering the trunk between the shoulder blades, bending or twisting the thoracic spine, arching the thoracic vertebrae and so on. Side reins proponents will tell you that “this is because the side reins are not properly adjusted.” Truly, this is a preposterous form of denial. Such denial was easy to defend when knowledge of the equine physiology was at its infancy. With todays’ knowledge a much better analysis of the horses’ reaction can be made. Here are the reasons why we do not use side reins.

The combined head and neck segment executes characteristic oscillations at the walk, trot, or canter that are closely linked to the movement patterns of the limbs. The main muscles creating neck movements are the upper neck muscles, the splenius and the semispinalis capitis. The splenius covers the whole length of the neck. The muscle inserts at the level of T3, T5 and is attached at the other end on


(Drawing from Michael A Simmons. [email protected]).

the nuchal crest behind the skull. During locomotion, the splenius exhibits bilateral activity during each forelimb stance. At the trot, the head and neck are at their lowest position in the oscillation cycle half way through the support phase of each forelimb. The splenius decelerates the downward oscillation of the head and neck that is pulled down to earth by the attraction of gravity. At impact of each front leg, the splenius contracts, resisting accelerations of gravity that are created by impact forces. At the walk, splenius activation commences before the head reaches its lower position and continue until after the head has begun rising. When, up and down oscillation of the head and neck are restricted by the use of side reins, the horse will likely compensate for the restricted oscillation of his neck leaning on the bit. Often, horses use the support of the side reins leaning on the bit instead of coordinating their upper neck muscles. Click Link Read on https://www.scienceofmotion.com/reasons_why_we_do_not_use_sidereins.html

06/08/2023

Caesar on Biotensegrity

I was giving a clinic in Rhode Island, and a man asked if I could look at his horse. I was impressed by the quality of the horse, but he was lame, both front legs, worse on the right front. It was no swelling or heat. I asked if he had taken X-rays and ultrasounds. At the end of his rope, the man told me, “For one year, my horse has been lame. I have spent a fortune on vet exams and xrays, scans, physiotherapies, corrective shoeing; you name it. Four vets, three farriers, and three physiotherapists took care of him, and all I get is a lame horse with ‘some’ issue in the lower part of the deep digital flexor tendon but no lesion. I am fed up. I have no other horse to ride and have spent a fortune. He is scheduled to be put to sleep Monday. “
I told him I was sorry for what he and the horse had to endure, but I didn’t see the point of having me look at him if he had decided to put the horse to sleep. The man responded. “I heard that you have a different approach. If you think you can fix him, I give it to you.” I asked for the vet reports, and the man gave me a thick folder with all the reports.
I looked at the reports during my lunch break, and I noticed that the four vets, the farriers, and the different therapists situated the problem in the deep digital flexor tendon below the fetlock, but they could not find a lesion justifying the gravity of the lameness. The X-rays did not show distal sesamoid bone activity. I remembered a conversation with Dr. Elizabeth Uhl where she talked about the navicular apparatus. She explored the thought that the soft tissues surrounding the navicular `bone could be the cause of pain. Elizabeth added that there were a large number of sensors in this area. I elaborated on the hypothesis, thinking the problem might be in the numerous soft tissues of the navicular apparatus. If the hypothesis was correct, maybe I could identify and correct the source of the weight and aberrant kinematics loading the forelegs. It was Saturday. I met the man at the end of the last lesson and told him what I had in mind. I told him that I did not know if I could restore soundness, but if he were ready to go through with his offer, I would purchase Caesar for ten dollars, which is legally a safer way to conclude such a transaction, and I would arrange for the transportation as quickly as possible. We shake hands, and this is how Caesar becomes my horse.
Later. Elizabeth Uhl and all posted in the Veterinary Surgery Journal, “The Equine Navicular Apparatus as a Premier Enthesis Organ: Authors: Michelle L. Osborn MA, Ph.D.; Jean Luc Cornille, SOM, Uriel Blas-Machado DVM, Ph.D., DACVP; Elizabeth W. Uhl DVM, Ph.D., DACVP”
At the time of this event, the study was at the level of thoughts, hypotheses, some facts, and experiences. The complexity of the fascial tissues present in the navicular apparatus suggested that the best I could do was reduce the load on the forelegs and correct the direction, frequency, and intensity of the forces loading the lower legs by correcting the thoracolumbar dysfunction. Then, follow Caesar progresses and combines intuition and knowledge to go further if possible. Caesar had a problem with inverted rotation and could not convert the hind legs’ thrust into upward forces. As a result, the forces loading the forelegs were too intense and acting in the wrong direction and frequency.
I started the rehabilitation in hand. I had to use the double bridle as Caesar had learned to push heavily on the bit. Caesar picked up my body tensegrity and nuances in muscle tone in a matter of weeks. He could control his balance and slow down the walk when he adjusted his back muscles to my body tone. As the load on the forelegs diminished, the lameness was less intense, and it was possible to feel the problem in the direction, intensity, and frequency of the forces loading the forelegs from the back down to the hoof. The aberrant loading resulted from muscle imbalance and lack of coordination of the thoracic spine muscles. As the whole coordination of Ceasar’s back muscles improved, it became possible to identify the source and guide Caesar’s mental processing and physical intelligence toward greater efficiency.
In about two months, Caesar becomes practically sound in hand at the walk and the trot. I could then further refine his body coordination riding him. I was already questioning the value of the “correct aids.” Advanced research studies explained that the horse coordinated close kinematics chains and muscle synergies for the efficiency of the performance independently of the rider’s suggestion. I believed in the horse’s willingness, but Caesar went further. Looking at him when his previous owner told me that he planned to put the horse to sleep, the first thought that crossed my mind was that this horse did not want to die. Working with him, I realized that Caesar wanted to be sound. He took the initiative to explore beyond what I think I could ask. He also resisted more than usual when he felt my demands were counterproductive. I learned to respect his thoughts and explore a different solution. He taught me important lessons about Biotensegrity. I created situations likely to direct his mental processing in the right direction, and he did the processing.
Sometimes as I felt that he did not process in the right direction, I made adjustments that he resisted with surprising intensity. He acted as if I disturbed his research. Caesar taught me that while he aimed in the right direction, he had to take steps that did not fit my logic, and I should have the intellectual modesty and respect to let him do it. This was a crucial lesson. The horse orchestrates muscle synergies, fascial connections, close kinematics chains that are out of our control, and true knowledge. We might have an expectation or opinion that does not match what the horse needs to do to perform well at this moment. If we don’t have the intellectual modesty to understand that and let the horse do it, the horse tries to compromise with our demand and cannot figure out an efficient solution.
This was a critical evolution. Once I considered that in contradiction with the whole equestrian psychology, the horse has the capacity and willingness to communicate with us at this level of partnership, I realized that the horse owns a significant part of the successes and soundness. Everybody praises the horse for their success, but it is simply a political stunt, as the training is based on submission. I realized my previous horse had done that, too, even if I could not understand how much. Biomechanics is an intermediary stage that is unfortunately misused to serve the concept of obedience. Biotensegrity is the next step. Caesar has been a supreme teacher.
Jean Luc