Physio4animals

01/12/2024

When your patient settles into his chosen position for some lumbar mobilisations, and then falls asleep with his entire head weight resting on his nose and leg!! That can’t be comfortable Big Fella 🤷‍♀️🤩

30/11/2024

26/11/2024

Very clearly explained. Thank you for taking the time to summarise 🙏🏻

There are many training scales used in equestrian sport from the Spanish ORBIT scale, to the French and German scales. Typically these comprise of Rhythm, Relaxation, Connection, Impulsion, Straightness and Collection or some variation thereof. Thank you Centaur Biomechanics for yet another super lecture. Here is a brief summary of rhythm during walk, trot and canter and a few training suggestions.

RHYTHM
WALK
~ A four-beat rhythm where each footfall should occur independently of one another and in lateral sequence.

~ There are four types of walk- collected, medium, extended and free.

~ There is no moment of suspension at walk.

TROT
~ a two beat gait in diagonal pairs- or is this so? Research has shown this is not always the case. The right hind may land fractionally before the left fore (this is desirable due to hindlimb push off, lower vertical forces and energy expenditure, but consider the soft tissue strain), if the forelimb lands first this is undesirable as it acts more as a breaking mechanism.

~ There are four types of trot: collected, working, medium and extended

~ There is a moment of suspension during trot, if a horse does not have a moment of suspension there is a locomotor dysfunction.

~ Suspension in medium and extended trot is 2 times that of collected and working trot. Consider this affect on your horse’s soft tissue structures when riding- there is far more strain with medium and extended trot, perhaps do these in short bursts.

CANTER
~ An asymmetrical three-beat gait.

~ Four types of canter: collected, working, medium and extended.

~ Did you know during collected canter there is NOT a moment of suspension? There is some belief that this is due to ‘modern dressage’ however due to new technology the analysis of old classical dressage video footage shows the same! So dare I say it but collected canter may be 4 beat!

FROM A TRAINING PERSPECTIVE
How can you use your horse’s gait purposefully for training?
There is more rotational movement during both walk and canter which is great for suppling horses HOWEVER a minimum TEN minutes walk warm up is required for every horse (every ride!!) to increase joint lubrication, thereby minimising injury.
Trot is great for strengthening horses and stabilising the upper body as it has the least axial rotation.

Also consider- if your horse starts to go behind the vertical (behind the bit) during training is this simply fatigue of the dorsal (topline) musculature and pole muscles?
Altering rein length throughout your ride will train muscles in various lengths, this will aid in enhanced strength, reduce fatigue and a better self carriage.

There are so many ways we can use our horse’s natural movement to aid in their training and we as riders need to be specific about what our goals are.
All Creatures Physiotherapy

16/11/2024

Please complete the survey if you are interested in having your voice heard about sport horse welfare.

🌟 Have Your Say on Horse Welfare! 🌟

The Sporthorse Welfare Foundation (SWF) has launched a new survey to explore equestrians' views on horse welfare across all levels - from leisure riders to industry professionals. 🐴

By taking part, you'll help shape research-backed policies and ensure horses in sport and leisure enjoy the best care possible.

👉 Click here to take the survey > https://uwe.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2bC0fCx8gcKGH6S

Your voice matters - join us in creating a welfare-focused future for horses!

Read more about the SWF, their work, and previous study here > https://askanimalweb.com/equestrian-industry-survey-explores-key-views-on-horse-welfare/

15/11/2024

Back to work today. I loved my day at the vet show yesterday, but I love my day job much much more… 🤗

14/11/2024

A great day at London Excel at the London Vet Show representing ACPAT on a trade stand. Bumped into 3 of my favourite people from my days at Fitzpatrick Referrals, and my friend and brilliant physio (and president of RAMP!) Jo Paul. A long but very worthwhile day.

09/11/2024

If you have time, please complete
Happy Weekend. X

This is a short, anonymous poll with one question only! You will see everyone's answers once you have given yours.For more information visit https://askanimalweb.com/

13/10/2024

A lovely few hours this afternoon, spent at Flemish Farm, Windsor Great Park, watching the Annual Inspection of the Light Cavalry, Honourable Artillery Company, followed by a private tour around the stables, meeting the horses and learning about the history.
I was spoiled with a champagne picnic whilst surrounded in equestrian military tradition.
Thank you to Team-Hill Equestrian, for their very generous gift. Xx

10/10/2024

No sedation
No stress
Just calm quiet horsemanship for the first time in more than 5 years…
Love it ❤️

09/10/2024

A very Happy Good Morning from our beautiful miracle dog, Baby K. It melts my heart every time I get these messages from her owner and every time I see her.
I hope her face makes you smile 😊

04/10/2024

Another great visual 👍🏻

01/10/2024

Love this… I could talk “fascia” all day long, but Horses Inside Out do it much more concisely than I !!!
Enjoy 😃

In this blog, I thought it would be good to share with you a snippet of what is included in the seminar, and perhaps it will whet your appet

26/09/2024

Another interesting read 👍🏻

**𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗗 𝗜𝗡 𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗩𝗘𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗥𝗬 𝗝𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗟**

𝗡𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲’𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘁

MacKechnie-Guire, R*, Williams, J.M., Nixon, J., Fisher, M., Fisher, D., Walker, V., Murray, R., Clayton, H.M

𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 (read without a subscription):
https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/evj.14420

For the past four years, we have investigated the pressures beneath different nosebands when adjusted from 2.0 to 0.0 finger tightness (0.0 finger adjustment so that the noseband was touching but not compressing the skin).

Poor noseband adjustment could create high pressures that may risk pain or tissue damage. This study is a step forward in providing quantitative data relating to pressures associated with noseband type and fit when adjusted to various tightness’s.

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀:

🐴No significant difference between noseband pressures when the noseband was adjusted from 2.0 to 1.5 finger tightness.

🐴Noseband pressures were highest on the mandible vs. the lateral aspect of the nasal bones.

🐴No differences were found in noseband pressures between the cavesson, flash or Swedish (crank) noseband types at 2.0 to 0.5 finger tightness.

🐴The Drop noseband had the lowest absolute nasal pressures (mandible pressures not measured) and significantly lower values than the other nosebands. We need to be mindful of the position of the traditional drop. More work needed.

🐴Noseband pressures were lower when ridden in trot, compared with when chewing a treat.

🐴Noseband pressures were cyclical (rise and fall) and not continuous – changing during the stride and the chewing cycle of the horse.

As always, this is a team effort. Thank you to our research assistants, riders, owners and horses.. Thank you to our funders, World Horse Welfare, British Equestrian, Canadian Sport Horse Association, The Worshipful Company of Saddlers and Hartpury University.

NB image taken from pilot testing and was not included in the main study. All noseband types are described in detail in the manuscript.

08/09/2024

Yoga for dogs?
Here the beautiful Baby K (whom many of you have followed,) demonstrates….🤔

The Squirrel Pose!!! 🤩🤣

05/09/2024

More interesting research and subsequent discussion…

04/09/2024