Relaxed Equine Performance - Equine Bodywork Warwickshire

03/01/2022

Useful tips from Areion Academy. I usually keep all my first aid stuff together - having a separate tub to grab makes more sense 👍

A step by step guide to poulticing a hoof!

20/08/2021

Is your fly veil giving your horse a headache?

CENTAUR BIOMECHANICS - BLOG SERIES

FLY VEILS > EQUINE COMFORT AND PERFORMANCE.

During ridden exercise, an equine fly veil (from here on referred to as a bonnet), can be used for multiple reasons; to prevent fly’s and bugs entering the ear space and causing irritation to the horse, in some cases they are used to reduce the external noises and sometimes just for fashion! Whilst there is a paucity of evidence on the effect that bonnets have on the horse from a psychological perspective, previously we have looked at the pressure distribution beneath a bonnet and its effect on equine locomotion.

Bonnets come in all shapes and sizes, varying materials, and some can feature a braided trim. The braiding can vary in thickness and can provide a mechanism (due to weight), to stabilise and prevent the front of the bonnet flapping up during locomotion, especially when jumping. In addition, riders can express themselves in terms of colour preferences. In our pilot study, we used a pressure mat to quantify the pressure distribution beneath a headpiece with and without a bonnet, in addition we also quantified limb kinematics in elite dressage horses.

When using a bonnet, as a function of the braiding running beneath the headpiece, in the region of the TMJ, resulted in areas of high pressures. From our previous blog season, we discussed the effect that headpiece design can have on head pressures and locomotion (1). In brief; in trot peak pressures beneath the headpiece occur soon after midstance (75% of stance) for both diagonal support phases. The magnitude of pressure is directly influenced by the fit and design of the headpiece (and attachment and fit of the browband). Meaning that every time the horse loads its limbs (every stride), wearing a headpiece and/or browband which is incorrectly fitted could cause areas of high pressure beneath the headpiece, every stride (1). The magnitude of pressures are further influenced by the fit and design of a bonnet, particularly those that feature a braided trim running beneath the headpiece. Previously we have demonstrated the effect that headpiece pressures induced by headpiece design, in the TMJ region, can have on equine locomotion (see previous blog) (1). A similar pattern, altered limb kinematics was observed in horses who had localised pressures in the TMJ region as a result of the braiding from the bonnet (2).

The findings of which highlight the importance of correct bridle fit but also, when using a bonnet, it is important to consider the fit and design of the bonnet and the effect that it may have on bridle fit, and consequently equine comfort and performance.

Some key points:

🟢Ensure that there is no braiding running beneath the headpiece.
🟢Ensure that the bonnet fits the horses’ ears – the horses ear can move 180 degrees using 10 different muscles, if the bonnet is too small it can restrict ear movement.
🟢Check if the bonnet has raised the headpiece, which can alter the height of the bit in the oral cavity.

In swimming, swimmers have been reported to suffer from supraorbital neuralgia (pain above the eye) headaches (3), this is thought to be due to the tightness of the goggles. Although we cannot confirm this is the case in horses, cautiously applying similar principles, we should not underestimate the effect that a bonnet which creates localised pressures, which are of a magnitude to cause discomfort can have on equine welfare, comfort, and performance. Horses will develop a locomotor strategy to compensate and alleviate any discomfort, therefore correct fit of the equipment here bonnet, but also bridle and saddle etc is essential.


Hope this blog is of interest. Please share to raise awareness on the importance fo correct tack fit.

Kind Regards

Dr Russell MacKechnie-Guire

Www.centaurbiomechanics.co.uk

Previous blogs http://www.centaurbiomechanics.co.uk/blog/




1. Murray R, Guire R, Fisher M, Fairfax V. A Bridle Designed to Avoid Peak Pressure Locations Under the Headpiece and Noseband Is Associated With More Uniform Pressure and Increased Carpal and Tarsal Flexion, Compared With the Horse's Usual Bridle. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 2015;35(11-12):947-55.
2. data from 2015 - unpublished
3. O'Brien J. C. J. Swimmer's headache, or supraorbital neuralgia. . Proceedings (Baylor University Medical Center). 2004;17(4: 418–9.

18/08/2021

...“One thing we’ve found with other neurodegenerative conditions is that the horse may not be getting enough antioxidants and, specifically, vitamin E. Maybe we need to pay more attention to that in tall breeds of horses.”...

Through a series of groundbreaking studies aided by selfless horse owners, a researcher is beginning to understand this rare but devastating neurological condition.

23/07/2021

It can be so easy to add supplement after supplement to your horse's feed and you can end up going down a rabbit hole of stress and micromanagement. I know I've been there myself. If you are supplementing for a specific reason, such as ulcers - make sure you are addressing the root cause - as explained below by The Osteopathic Vet. Otherwise it's like taking paracetemol because your feet hurt from wearing too tight shoes, rather then buying bigger shoes!

14/07/2021

Bladder Meridian. Searching for and releasing tension along this line is a simple, relationship building exercise you can do with your horse. It's something I teach my clients to use in between sessions 👍

Why Wednesday ~ Why is the Bladder Meridian so important?

🔹The bladder meridian is a major acupuncture meridian to which all the other meridians connect, and it balances the entire meridian system.
🔹It runs over or near the main junctions of the horse where you will work. It serves as an initial "fact-finding" tool as well as getting first releases.
🔹It is easy to reach while allowing you to watch the horses responses.
🔹It has a calming effect.
🔹The goal of this technique is to bypass the horse's survival-defense response and connect directly with the part of the horse's nervous system that holds and releases tension.
🔹The most important reason to begin working on the bladder meridian is because it establishes the interaction of Touch and Response between you and the horse. At the same time, it calms the horse and prepares him for the bodywork to follow.

Learn more about how to release tension with your horse by reading the Beyond Horse Massage book today, https://bit.ly/3skTMMe

10/07/2021

It's not always about the clock, but the changes that are made for that individual. Sometimes profound internal changes happen without it looking like much has been done on the outside. Knowing when to stop can be a test of confidence, but it's an important part of the job as demonstrated by Wharfedale Equine Therapy and Training

10/07/2021

Have you been hearing more about ECVM recently? This is the genetic abnormality of the 6th / 7th cervical vertebra in the neck. It can also involve the first and second ribs, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae.

👇This is a good website to learn all about ECVM and lists experts in the field if you are at all concerned your horse might be affected

Welcome to this informative website about ECVM. On this website you can learn more about what ECVM stands for and how to register your horse into the database to help research! 

30/06/2021

This did make me laugh 🤣

Er...
Yep

28/06/2021

It's not just about money in the bank for me. I want my clients to be able to identify root causes and end the cycle. My goal is to achieve a state where I'm there for pre-hab, not re-hab

The Vicious Circle.

We all understand the importance of maintaining good health, and the same applies to our equine partners.
With the availability of alternative therapies and treatments, our horses are receiving better care than some of their owners/riders.

But, are you undoing the work of your equine body workers?
We often call out chiropractors or massage therapists as a reaction to something - altered gait, muscular tension and improper development, atrophy, etc. But, how often do we consider that the culprit could be the saddle itself?

It's a common occurrence for a body workers to treat their equine patient only to have that same, ill-fitting tack placed back on the horse to undo the treatment.

It is so important for everyone - not just riders, owners and trainers, but also vets, massage therapists, chiropractors and all equine professionals to understand the effects a badly fitted saddle could have to better serve their clients and their four legged patients.

If you were to wear a shoe that gave you blisters, go to the doctor to get the blisters treated, would it make sense to go right back to wearing that shoe?

Too often we only look at the symptom and not the cause, and our horses are the ones who suffer for it.

17/06/2021

What's inside a foot?

I was asked for a labelled photo, so here it is. Again it is very simplistic but it is the essence of what we are looking at.
And look how each part (not bone) is not blocks of static unmovable wood. Each part moves, has elasticity, connective tissue, and works together as a unit. One part fails and we are in big trouble. You can almost imagine this all moving inside the foot, very very tiny movements but it really does.

07/06/2021

It connects everything and effects everything

What can studying the fascia reveal?

The fascia is an interconnected web that can transmit fascial force , it can contract both dynamically and statically affecting body posture and balance. knowing about the myofascial Web and how it connects throughout the body, can help to outline its effects on locomotion and posture and reveal lines of influence and relationships.

The myofascial kinetic lines found by Elbrond and Shultz provide an anatomical foundation for an improved understanding of locomotion. It helps us to consider the whole body in a holistic way. Up until recently we have largely looked at the action of single muscles and compartmentalised the body.
As we understand further the interconnection of the fascial web we can begin to conceive how a biomechanical problem in one region, could easily spread to another part of the body, even how the hoof can affect something as far as the poll and vice versa.

Further reading..

https://www.theequinedocumentalist.com/post/myofascial-trains-kinetic-chains-and-antalgic-posture-their-farriery-relevance

Webinars on the subject…

https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/courses/horseriderconnection

https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/courses/myofascialkinetic

29/05/2021

❤️ this video, giving a feel for what tensegrity might look like in a moving body from cat shanti yoga

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2pdbcA-8bI

Yoga goals Calisthenics I love yoga Yoga lovers Yoga progress

16/05/2021

Why is your horse difficult to shoe?
Is it a sign of pain?

Similar to Dysons ethogram, Mannsman et al. (2011) suggested a pain ethogram for the shoeing process. The study expressed that the behaviours can be the result of bad training, improper handling, or the recall of past pain/punishment but its findings correlated with Dyson and concluded that pain must be considered first!

When shoeing horses we can be asking them to make unnatural body compensations to facilitate our work. The image below shows how shoeing the hinds can affect all the way along the dorsal myofascial line. Horses presenting with pathology along that line will struggle. A common "behaviour" can be hopping around, also snatching or slamming the leg down. Something I have experienced often in horses presenting with negative plantar angles. However, often these horses can have great feet and we are experiencing the effects of higher pain.

Very often the amount of difficulty can be proportionate to how poor the feet are, as they improve with remedial farriery the signs of pain reduce.
In the meantime simple considerations can be made. A horse with very thin soles or pr*****ed frogs, leave the opposite shoe on and do one foot at a time, for example.

As farriers we are well placed to note these "behaviours" as possible early signs of otherwise unrecognised discomfort, or even reactions to obvious poor hoof conformation. Not label the horse as "bad"!

In my experience, and supported by Mannsman et al. (2011) these behaviours desist with the improvement of the feet or higher issues.
Horses, in general, are genuine animals. Recognising pain in the horse is an obligation for anyone working with them and mentioning shoeing observations can be the first step in saving horses from unrecognised higher issues.

Further reading at this link..
https://www.theequinedocumentalist.com/post/recognising-pain-in-the-horse

10/05/2021

When you take your work home with you 😉