09/11/2023
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Editing to preface this post with wise words from Caroline Larrouilh of ProudHorse Connections and Georgia Lillie of Wolbunya Equine:
"Read, think, agree or disagree, do more research, take an anatomy course or read a book...all food for thought!"
"FACT: You need to be aware of this information; how you act upon it is entirely up to you."
I was holding off sharing this one until I could write a longer piece, but with too many other things to do, the time never arrived. I'm sharing it anyway, in the hope it encourages others to learn and decide how they can apply these things in a way that works for them.
The post was inspired by the mare these bones belong to, who demonstrated how late even an average size horse can have open growth plates through the base of the neck. Just shy of her eighth birthday, she had caudal physes still open to varying degrees, all the way from C5-T3.
Along with several others in my bone library (and another post in its own right) she also demonstrated how asymmetry and crookedness can impact upon the lasting shape of the bone by warping the plates during closure. Asymmetry breeds further asymmetry.
Read the poster however it applies in your world and take what you wish; just keep it civil, please! These statements are not intended to be read any particular way; they are meant to make you think about how you can best preserve your horse's soundness in a way that works for both of you.
For the best full length piece out there on the topic of skeletal maturity in horses, please read Dr Bennett's "Ranger" Piece - the link is below, and you will find a wealth of free resources on anatomy on the www.equinestudies.org home page!
"All horses of all breeds mature skeletally at the same rate... No horse on earth, of any breed, at any time, is or has ever been mature before the age of six (plus or minus six months)."
~ Dr Deb Bennett, "Ranger" Piece
(Timing & Rate of Skeletal Maturity in Horses)
www.equinestudies.org/ranger_2008/ranger_piece_2008_pdf1.pdf
"Bones don’t move muscles; muscles move bones.
And if things are not moving properly, muscles will CHANGE bones."
~ The Secret Life Of Bones: Reflections on training, injury, and the equine skeleton as dynamic, living tissue
http://www.foundationsofsoundness.com/secret-life-of-bones/
Further reading:
Low Heel/High Heel Syndrome
http://www.drkerryridgway.com/articles/article-hl-heel.php
Ridgway/Mendez Clinic Report
http://www.foundationsofsoundness.com/ridgwaymendez-clinic-report-integrative-medicine-intuitive-training-accessing-the-mindbody-connection-through-the-fascia/
The Congenitally Crooked Neck
http://www.foundationsofsoundness.com/congenitally-crooked-neck
