The Girth Bank

02/03/2024

Our last post on high-low conformations got a lot of discussion. So let's take a deeper dive into how this conformation can effect the biomechanics of a horse!

In our last high-low conformation post we discussed how high-low hooves are functionally the same as having a sub-clinical lameness! Importantly we must remember that horses are quadrupeds, these asymmetries create imbalanced propulsion and have to be compensated for in order to maintain intended speed and direction.

In this conformation The lower hoof has increased breaking forces and increased transition time between braking and propulsion, the high hoof has a higher net propulsive force. This has to be compensated for by hind propulsive adaptation to keep the animal in a straight line and at a steady state. The low foot also exerts more vertical force.

These effects on biomechanics create a ripple effect through the entire musculoskeletal system, potentially leading to orthopedic issues from lots of torque through the entire trunk, interventions that increase symmetry and balance, from the whole care team, become important. These horses can be managed, but need appropriate trimming and/or shoeing combined with bodywork and riding to keep these horses sound.

Which is why we are enjoying our educational collaboration with the London College of Animal Osteopathy - LCAO! If you're interested in furthering your osteopathy education follow this link:

http://www.animalosteopathycollege.com/.../international...?

For more reading on this topic: https://www.theequinedocumentalist.com/.../high-low-hoof…

High-low conformation affects a significant proportion of the sport horse population that we discussed in our last webinar discussing the most common changes in the modern day sport horse. If you missed the webinar live you can still watch the recording!

https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/.../modern-sport…

02/03/2024

03/02/2024

🖤 The Free Space Girth 🖤

Now in stock for TRIAL or BUY!

04/09/2023

Saddle Twisting

When the cantle of the saddle falls out of alignment with the spine, thus losing the ability to remain parallel with the spine, the saddle is considered to be twisting. While there are a few different factors that can cause twisting such as a twisted tree from the saddle being used on several horses, improper use of billets, irregular compaction of flocking again from the saddle being used on multiple horses to severe asymmetry in the feet, most of the time we see a saddle twisting it's caused by asymmetry in the shoulder.

With over 260,000 horses measured over several decades, the majority of horses had shown as having different sizes and placements of the shoulder. Regardless of how far back you attempt to place the saddle, the movement in the back will ALWAYS cause the saddle to shift forward and sit against the rear edge of the scapula, which requires enough room to be able to slide underneath the tree points without causing them to shift. A saddle that doesn't allow both shoulders enough room to move will constantly be kicked backwards AND sideways by the larger shoulder, resulting in the REAR of the saddle twisting to one side and most times having the panel come in contact with the spine.

The nerves around the spine don't always cause a negative behavioral reaction in the horse, but they will ALWAYS drop away from the pressure and tighten the back to try and create stability that the twisting saddle is fighting against.

20/08/2023

“Lame”
To this day, if a horse was not labeled as lame it was considered sound enough to ride, or sometimes serviceably sound, despite the fact that the absence of head-bobbing lameness is not enough for a horse to be sound.
The equine community and industry as a whole needs to do away with the term “lame” as an all-encompassing term to identify pain and/or injury in the horse, oftentimes ignoring compensatory posture and movement unless accompanied by a severe asymmetry in the gait (head bobbing) or posture (non-weight bearing).
What then, instead of lame, do we need to use to identify a horse who is incapable of carrying itself properly?
Using a single descriptor may end up back in the same spot we are now, instead, we should be separating the different facets of care and identifying if there is a problem in those respective fields.
Is the horse standing correctly, can they even stand square, are they camped under or out behind?
Does the horse have physical signs of compensation such as hunters bump, uneven muscling, tightness, or severe asymmetry?
Is the horse able to be put together under saddle and carry themselves? Are they able to engage, even briefly? Are they showing symptoms of pain when ridden/through transitions/in certain directions/while being tacked up/during mounting/etc.?
Does the horse show aversion to the bridle, saddle, girth, holding their foot up for cleaning/farrier, grooming?
All of these can be indicators of discomfort somewhere in the body, either internally or caused by external stimuli (saddle, girth, bridle, bit, having to have their leg up for the farrier, the list goes on).
A horse who is “sound” but displays these behaviors, patterns, and aversions is not entirely sound and requires additional support work. Many of these horses may also need a break from riding to fully recover, something all too many equestrians are not willing to accept because of their own self-imposed goals and aspirations of competition or whatnot.

Join us this September as we delve into creating true soundness, which begins by understanding the complexities of lameness.

Partners in Soundness is the first event of its kind to bring together speakers from various practices and modalities to create soundness in the equine athlete.

https://saddlefit4lifeacademy.com/partners-in-soundness-event/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ap_8uct30u71c


Cashel Farms: Equestrian, Horse Riding

15/07/2023

13/07/2023

11/05/2023

Equivalent to taking a shoestring and tying it around your rib cage, offset girths while they're marketed as being able to help horses with forward girth grooves, actually fail to properly distribute the tension across the body and show localized pressure, with sometimes zero contact in the offset portion. That means a 4" wide girth may only exert pressure across a 1" width, leaving the rest hanging there.

Using a simple ballpoint pen, you can run the pen tip just along the edge of your girth, lying it flat against the horse so as to not poke them) to check the tension. We typically find offset girths have a large gap on one side, while being so tight on the opposite side we cannot even slide the pen underneath.

Also, to clarify, anatomical or shaped =/= offset.

03/05/2023

“SUDDENLY”

“My horse is suddenly girthy. I know you were just here recently, but can you come check my saddle?”

“The saddle you fit last month is suddenly sliding around. Something is wrong; I need you to come back out.”

When I get called out to assess a saddle I’ve seen recently that I know is a good fit, the FIRST question I ask is, “WHAT CHANGED?”

More often than not, a new “kinder” anatomic girth was purchased.

When a girth does not fit the horse’s shape, it gaps (usually between the front legs), and a couple things occur:
1. The gap REDUCES the surface area of the girth. Instead of being 9cm wide, the girth is now 3cm wide. This decreases the stability of the saddle, resulting in saddle slip.
2. The gap moves all the pressure to be focused in the small area it does touch, causing discomfort for the horse. If it gaps in front, the pressure is moved closer to the sensitive cartilage of the xiphoid process.

The vast majority of horses go well in a simple straight girth.

Don’t overcomplicate things.