Holistic Horse

15/08/2024

Bones of limbs and sacrum - an adult horse and stillborn foal.
It is incredible how those immature bones look! Sometimes their shape is not even close to what it will look in years and look at those growth plates!
(Note - not to scale)

28/04/2024

Understand Horses contributors, Rosa Verwijs and Justine Harrison, have consulted with The British Horse Society Horse Care & Welfare team to produce a useful new guide explaining what stress is, what causes it, how it can impact the horse, how to recognise signs of stress and what you can do to reduce it.

ℹ️ You can find the guide on the BHS website here 👉 bhs.org.uk/horse-care-and-welfare/behaviour/equine-stress

16/03/2024

Anyone for Tea? ☕🌿

Our first herbal tasting takes place in Week 3. 🌟 This year we are asking everyone to forage for their own Ground Ivy. And later in the season we provide a blind tasting sample for everyone to trial. Its all very hush hush at AB HQ while we order in the herbs and prepare. 🌿🌸

The medicinal benefits to ground Ivy are many and they are one of the first spring herbs to really take a hold and flower. 🌼

Ground Ivy is a member of the lamiacea family or mint family and is often confused with similar looking flowers like henbit and dead nettle. So this one is a also a little bit of a challenge⏰🌱

Ground ivy AKA Glechoma hederacea, is a creeping perennial herb that is known for its aromatic qualities. When crushed or bruised, ground ivy releases a pleasant minty aroma that can have a calming effect on the senses. This aromatic herb contains bioactive compounds such as flavonoids (e.g., rutin, quercetin), tannins, and essential oils (e.g., pulegone, menthone), which contribute to its medicinal properties. Ground ivy is traditionally used for its anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and expectorant properties, making it a popular choice in herbal medicine for supporting respiratory health and its going to be a fantastic herb for our plant tasting session.

If you would like to join us you can do so here.

https://www.animalbotanical.co.uk/HerbalShenanigans1 . 🍵🌿

06/08/2023

Reposting this diagram, as there’s a few posts around at the moment about lunging to encourage a horse to be supple… 🫣

From this super diagram from Gail William’s book, you can really appreciate how limited the lateral flexion ability of the thoroacolumbar and sacral portion of the spinal column is very restricted. So when we’re asking a horse to lunge, and they’re not strong enough in their core and gluteal muscles, the likelihood that they will overflex through their neck in compensation and fall in through the shoulder is high. Will constantly straining the body in circles whilst the weak muscles aren’t able to switch on make this any better? Not likely.

This is where specific groundwork patterns and exercises come into play in order to develop the correct muscles, so that when a horse executes a turn they are prepared in their body to do so in good balance without detriment to joints.

This leads me onto why lunging is classically not good for an arthritic horse. The repetitive strain on joints isn’t good, but (especially in chronic cases) compensatory muscle patterns create the development of negative postural muscles which mean that a horse isn’t able to engage the correct ones during lunging, leading to almost a double negative effect on pathological joints.

In these cases, consider a groundwork programme that includes low intensity mobilisation exercises at the guidance of your veterinary physiotherapist to develop key postural muscles for positive posture and engagement. I talk about this more in the groundwork programme I’ve produced on the website via the online shop. Link here: https://vetphysiophyle.co.uk/product/stage-1-groundwork-programme-e-book/

30/06/2023

23/06/2023

https://www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/p/healing-the-environment-healing-the-people

💛 Rewild an outdoor therapy space on a barren plot of land to encourage reconnection, relationships and well-being through nature and nurture

07/06/2023

02/06/2023

19/05/2023

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.

19/05/2023

We love this helpful and handy chart from AARV member clinic River Canine Rehabilitation out of Missouri where AARV member Kara Amstutz, DVM, CCRT, CVPP practices. Any way in which owners can understand the different types of tissue injuries that require different average healing times helps everyone on an animals rehabilitation journey! 🐾👏👩‍⚕️

19/05/2023

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

19/05/2023

🐴 𝙃𝙄𝙉𝘿𝙇𝙄𝙈𝘽 𝙍𝙀𝙏𝙍𝘼𝘾𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 𝙎𝙏𝙍𝙀𝙏𝘾𝙃 - 𝙆𝙚𝙮 𝘼𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙘𝙡𝙚 𝙂𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥𝙨 🐴

• Longissimus dorsi (lumbar portion)
• Tensor Fascia Lata
• Quadriceps Femoris
• Bicep Femoris
• Gluteals
• Gracilis

For more detailed information on the theory of stretching, and a guide detailing how to stretch your horse correctly, have a look at the Stretch Your Horse e-book available through the online shop on the website! Link here - https://vetphysiophyle.co.uk/product/stretch/ 🤍

14/05/2023

Your horses back needs to be strong enough to carry you and your saddle.
It's important to understand how we can strengthen the back and keep it flexible. Why flexible? Because it needs to be able to work with independent limb movement.
If you can see a loss of muscle in your horse's back it's time to look at ways you can increase and strengthen this area. Because what you can see ( the superficial or top muscles) will signify a loss in the deeper muscle too.
Things we can do.....
Feeding for muscle development, if you have a stressy or veteran horse feeds like Baileys Ease and Excel can help (lysine is your friend).
In hand pole work, to create spinal movement. Stretches.
Ridden work, hill work provided your horse is fit enough and ridden school lateral work.
Consider your saddle fit, it's definitely worth getting it checked minimum twice a year. But if you're on a plan for muscle development every 12-14 weeks is good.
Remember no back, no horse.

09/05/2023

Why do our massage students need the full anatomy and physiology modules? Here is one example 📝

🎓 Muscles, Joints and Synovial Fluid. How is this all linked?

Equine massage is a form of therapy that involves applying various massage techniques to a horse's body to help promote relaxation, improve circulation, and reduce muscle tension. Synovial joint fluid, is a clear, viscous fluid that lubricates and nourishes the joints of horses.

Massage can help improve the circulation of synovial joint fluid, which can in turn help improve joint function and reduce the risk of injury or arthritis. During a massage, the pressure applied to the horse's muscles and soft tissues helps stimulate blood flow, which can increase the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the joints.

In addition, massage can help reduce muscle tension and improve flexibility, which can also help improve joint function. When the muscles around a joint are relaxed and flexible, they are less likely to pull or strain the joint, which can help reduce the risk of injury.

To summarise, while massage alone cannot cure joint problems or arthritis, it can be a helpful adjunct therapy in combination with other treatments. It can help improve joint function, reduce the risk of injury, and promote overall relaxation and well-being for the horse.


www.equinemassagecareers.co.uk
[email protected]

01/05/2023

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

01/05/2023

🐴 𝙃𝙄𝙉𝘿𝙇𝙄𝙈𝘽 𝙋𝙍𝙊𝙏𝙍𝘼𝘾𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 - 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙠𝙚𝙮 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙘𝙡𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 🐴

Lots of requests for some more in this series, so here is another one!

When the hindlimb is brought forwards into a protraction stretch, the following are some key muscle groups are stretched:

• Hamstring muscle group — semitendinosus, semimembranosus, gracilis
• Bicep femoris
• Gluteals - superficial and accessory
• Longissimus dorsi - lumbar portion

For more information on additional muscles effected, how to conduct this stretch effectively for your horse, and in what instance this stretch is appropriate… I have a How to Stretch your Horse digital download available on my shop: https://vetphysiophyle.co.uk/product/stretch/ 🤍

18/03/2023

Stretching
We stretch the muscles of the horse to increase flexibility and range of movement and stave off injury.
Muscles contain stretch receptors that are able to record and remember changes in the length of the muscle. Stretch receptors become accustomed to the new muscle length and strength.
Stretching has also been found to increase serotonin levels, which may reduce stress.
We use minimal force to initiate the stretch and gravity to assist in the stretch.
This forelimb protraction stretch works the shoulder neck and back and can also have an impact on the core and lumbosacral region
Contraindications to stretching include
Pain, muscle damage, bleeding or bruising, bone injuries, undiagnosed lameness, skin problems, and hyperflexion of the joints.

12/03/2023

The Nuchal Ligament

The equine nuchal ligament is a long and large energy storing elastic band, that behaves like a tendon. It's key role is to support the head and neck.

Clinical signs that the nuchal ligament may be painful

· Resistance to lower the head

· Unwillingness to flex the head and neck when ridden

· Poor poll flexion

CT scan is the best way to diagnose lesions within the nuchal ligament

Working the horse in straight lines, to strengthen the muscles supporting the ligament. Whilst in the stable the poll can be flexed gently from side to side and up and down. The use of electrotherapies such as PMFT, LASER, therapeutic ultrasound, and shockwave can help manage pain, and inflammation and support the quality of healing

In a canine, the nuchal ligament supports and stabilizes the head when running long distances and using its nose to track the scent of prey. It is much shorter than in the equine terminating at the 1st and 2nd thoracic vertebrae.

Felines do not have a nuchal ligament; they have a flexible spine, that is less tightly connected, and they are sprinters that do not graze or rely on lowering their head to ground level for long periods of time.

10/03/2023

Central Pattern Generators (CPGs), what are they and why are they important to the VP.

CPGs are a cluster of nerves in the spinal column. They are like switches, they arrange the gaits so that they automatically work without having to think about each movement. The front talks to the back and the back gives feedback.
Decisions on movement are made in the front and the gaits are programmed in diagonal pairing. For example, the left fore communicates with the right hind.

Foals are born with imprinted gaits that enable them to quickly flee predation soon after birth.
Riding and training horses can highlight a difficulty with one diagonal pair when applying a leg aid and a poor response to a rein aid with another diagonal pair.

Why are they important to the VP? If the gaits are arranged in a pattern but the pattern is disrupted through lameness or restriction the VP has specific exercises to reintroduce and reinforce correct patterning.

08/03/2023

22/02/2023

29/01/2023

14/01/2023

Did you know that horses can get caught in neurological loops of compensation?

Compensations are usually a response from the nervous system to pain or discomfort to protect itself from physical damage. This can lead to a change in the signal transmission in the body.
The change in signal transmission changes muscles and fascia tension. Muscles and fascia tension will change skeletal alignment.
This changes the neurological loop and the cycle of pain or compensation continues (Clifford 2022).

On top of this the compensations will often have affected hoof morphology due to changes in how its loaded.
The hoof as a neuro-sensory organ itself, can then have negative influence on this neurological loop.

The horse is a neuro-bio-tensegrity, muscle tone is important for “switching on” the tension within the body and pain, discomfort and proprioception can affect posture by changes in this innervation.

https://www.theequinedocumentalist.com/post/neuro-bio-tensegrity-the-push-puppet-effect

Dr Clifford took us through the compensations that occur right from birth, how they can be recognised and what we can change.

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

And recently I discussed with Celeste Leilani Lazaris the Neuro-hoof balance- posture relationships.

https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/courses/nerve-impingement-hoof-balance

The image below shows how changes in hoof balance directly affect limb position, however limb position directly affects hoof balance, creating either a positive or negative neurological loop.

09/01/2023

13/12/2022

10/12/2022

How is the hoof and nerve pain linked?

The link between hoof balance and neuropathy is complexed but important, and research into how nerve disfunction affects horse health and performance is still in its infancy. But is proving to be under-diagnosed and far more relevant than its given credit for.

Celeste presents her pioneering clinical experience on nerve impingement and we make logical links to hoof balance. I also delve into my research linking poor hind hoof balance with lumbo-sacral-iliac region pain and nerve dysfunction!

Don't miss this one folks. Recording..

https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/courses/nerve-impingement-hoof-balance

09/12/2022

Could nerve pain be the cause of many behavioural issues in our horses?

Story et al. (2021) have suggested that much of the dangerous behaviour we see in our horses may actually originate from chronic axial skeleton, neurological pain. The study described the medical histories and clinical presentations of horses presented for performance limitations and dangerous behaviour and judged many to be related to difficult to deal with, issues with the central nervous system.
Another interesting finding in the study, was that no horse presented with any more than subtle, but present, lameness noted in a straight line, however presented with various severities of behavioural issues! Once again expressing the relevance of behavioural ethograms and recognition of behaviour as an indication of pain! And as the study suggested, dangerous behaviour noted in these horses was more likely due to the presence of neuropathic pain rather than due to “bad” behaviour or poor training!

When combined with other recent research, such Quiney et al. (2022) who found nerve damage in 26% percent of horses presenting with lumbo-sacral-iliac region pain, it is clear to see that we are only just starting to recognise and quantify neuropathy in the performance horse. This statement is also supported by Emond et al. (2016) who stated that neuropathy may be an underdiagnosed cause of pain and discomfort.

It is logical to suggest that anything creating locomotory issues in the horse, could lead to damage of the underlying neurological system. One that comes to mind, connected with the hoof, which creates torque issues at centres close to nerve plexi, is high-low hooves!

Join Celeste-Leilani Lazaris and I as we delve into neuropathy and its connection to the hoof...

https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/courses/nerve-impingement-hoof-balance

07/12/2022

Could nerve damage be responsible for Lumbosacral region pain? Loss of distal limb sensation? Poor limb flexion?

Quiney et al. (2021) found that 26% of horses that presented with lumbosacral region pain had damage to the sciatic or obturator nerves, stating that neural pain may play an important role in some horses. The paper described that It is probable that lumbosacral region pain can be caused by osseous or soft tissue pathology, or both. Furthermore, it has been suggested that sacroiliac joint region pain in humans can be neuropathic in origin. Impingement or damage of the sciatic could of course be resultant of regional inflammation.

The study mentioned alteration of load transfer or torque through the sacroiliac joints, which may occur as a result of asymmetry, may contribute to the development of degenerative changes of the sacroiliac joints, however it could be reasonable to suggest altered static biomechanics (posture) due to hoof balance could create the same changes in load transfer and dysfunction in the region. And once again, vice versa.

Damage or impingement to the sciatic nerve can create loss of sensation in distal limb (below stifle), Motor loss and poor limb flexion and pain. Some features of lumbosacral region pain in horses, as suggested by Quiney et al., may be considered consistent with neuropathic pain, such as episodic shooting forwards (sudden increase in anxiety and rapid transient acceleration), as if experiencing paroxysmal pain, and bucking and kicking out and a lack of response to systemic analgesics.

Join myself and Celeste-Leilani Lazaris , an expert on equine nerve impingement and its treatment, for a joint webinar on nerve impingent and its connection to the hoof and posture.

https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/courses/nerve-impingement-hoof-balance

I also delve into the findings of my recent research suggesting links between hind hoof balance and sacroiliac region pain and sciatic dysfunction. Which you can read here..

https://www.theequinedocumentalist.com/post/negative-plantar-angles-and-pathology-along-the-dorsal-myofascial-line

16/11/2022

Did you know that the brain and tail are directly connected by fascia?

The Deep dorsal line is an important proprioceptive structure that encapsulates the spinal column and brain via the dura matter.
There is a direct link between the muscles of the poll, another important area of proprioception area, and the dura matter (myodural bridge). This deep line then extends all the way along the spine to the tail.
Abnormal cranial function and its related tension may place great stress on this line, while dysfunction along this line could logically create issues with head carriage and topline.
The dura matter has connections with major nerves like the trigeminal nerve and vagus nerve which is a major player in the autonomic system and therefore establishing connections between the dura matter and the viscera.

The interconnectivity of the body is so complexed and never ending it just gob smacks me! A problem in the tail affecting visceral function, via myofascial line influence on the connective tissue surrounding the brain, maybe!?

Join me and Ve-Ma-Therapy Dr Martina Neidhart as she discusses these kind of connections within the body, this saturday! at this link...

https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/courses/Applied-neurology-viscerosomatic-posture