Quality Equine Massage

06/07/2023

06/06/2023

Masterson massage is offering a new course light to the core....nothing new I have always said it's the touch that's does so much

05/13/2023

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

04/07/2023

02/12/2023

𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗧

The 18 thoracic vertebrae are comparatively rigid and inflexible. It’s this strength and rigidity of the spine in this area that allows us to ride our horses.

The spinous processes of the thoracic vertebrae are longest at the withers. These provide bony attachment areas and leverage for the muscles, acting as a fulcrum for the nuchal and supraspinous ligaments that influence the position of the head and neck.

18 pairs of ribs attach to the 18 thoracic vertebrae via synovial joints.

The first 8 pairs of ribs house and protect the heart and lungs, are known as true ribs. They join on to the sternum and allow the chest cavity to expand and deflate as your horse breathes.

The other 10 pairs of ribs are known as false ribs – each pair attaches by a ligament and cartilage connection not to the sternum but to the pair of ribs in front.

The ribs also contribute to bend – coming closer together on the inside and further apart on the outside of the bend.

02/10/2023

𝑩𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒅
Everyone likes to talk about the harm caused when a horse is ridden behind the vertical... but have you ever wondered why?

One (of the many) problems with a BTV position is that encourages incorrect flexion in the neck. In a healthy horse, the head will flex up and down at the first cervical vertebrae. This bone is known as the atlas or C1.

In an effort to avoid excessive pressure caused by a harsh bit, rider or gadgets (especially draw reins) many horses will begin flexing at the 3rd vertebrae (C3). "Broken at the 3rd" creates incorrect movement throughout the body and will quickly lead to pain and damage. Once a horse begins moving in this manner, it is extremely hard for them to unlearn and they may continue this harmful posture even when at or above the vertical.

02/06/2023

Did you know that a horse that hasn't been how to properly support and carry the weight of a rider will instinctually hollow their back away from the weight of the rider? Many riding horses spend their entire careers going around with hollow backs, even upper level competition horses.

Carrying weight with a hollow back is, at best, uncomfortable for the horse, and in many cases is actually quite painful. Many horses tolerate this discomfort because they don't know any alternative. Other horses develop behavioral problems and become labeled as bad horses.

For a horse to remain healthy and comfortable in his work he must be taught how to support the weight of a rider with first a neutral back and then later on with a lifted back. This is a process that takes time, as you can't rush muscle development.

I've found that the best way to teach a horse to lift his back is on the ground first, through classical in hand work. Without the extra weight of the rider, it is easier for the horse to learn how to lift his back and it is easier for him to develop the strength that he needs in order to maintain a lifted back for an extended amount of time.

Once the horse has and understanding of this healthier posture and has developed some strength, it will be much easier for him to accomplish the same thing with a rider on his back.

The horse will then feel more comfortable and have an easier time performing his job. He will be less prone to injuries and behavioral problems and he will be able to continue doing his job for much longer than if he never learned to move in a healthy way.

As stewards of our horses, we owe it to them to give them the best lives possible. That includes taking the time to teach them how to move in a way that is healthy and comfortable for them.

Want to learn more about the horse's back and how you can teach him a healthy posture? We invite you to join our Virtual Classroom where we have an entire course on teaching your horse to move in a healthier way through the use of In Hand Work.

Learn more and sign up here- https://tuskeydressage.com/register/virtual-classroom/

02/04/2023

02/04/2023

11/25/2022

The thoracic sling is one of my favorite topics to explain. It is a fascinating and genius apparatus that is essential for balance control in the horse.

10/26/2022

Did you know that your horses' organs and muscles are directly connected by fascia?

Elbrond and Shultz recently dissected deep myofascial lines within the horse, and these have provided some deeper understanding into the organ-muscle (viscero-somatic) connections in the horse.

The Deep Ventral Myofascial Line (DVL) spans from the insertion of the profound flexor tendon in the hindlimb to the base of the cranium and oral part of the cavities of the head. It includes the profound, hypaxial myofascial structures, the ventral coccygeal muscles, the psoas muscles, the diaphragm, the longus colli/capitis muscles and the ventral capital muscles. The inner lining of the pelvic, abdominal and thoracic cavities with all the organs, vessels and nerves are also included. The line is closely connected to the autonomic nervous system by the vagus nerve, the pelvic nerves, the sympathetic trunk and several of the prevertebral nerves and ganglia (Elbrond and Shultz 2021).

So, all of this creates a whole new dimension of possible compensations within the horse, creating changes in static and dynamic posture. Even the organs now become part of a larger tensegrity where the position, orientation and contraction in and around every body part can affect every other.

Join us in an upcoming webinar with Dr Neidhart as she takes on a journey into these connections and how they help inform applied neurology (acupuncture).

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

10/08/2022

𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁

The 𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗲 is a very large muscle that extends from its tip, which you can see, to the hyoid apparatus and its attacement to the ramus of the mandible at the back.

It is the most sensitive part of your horse's mouth and the most prone to injury.

The tongue is vital for swallowing and influencing the hyoid apparatus

Like any other muscle, restriction or tension within it can induce a muscular chain reaction.

The sensitivity of the tongue is a very important consideration when fitting a bit. An ill-fitting or harsh bit or excessive pressure on the bit from your hands can cause pain and discomfort. In some cases it can result in tension throughout the body and poor performance.

Gillian Higgins

09/18/2022

The equine thoracic sling is a hot topic at the moment, but what exactly is it and what is all the fuss really about?

Unlike us humans; horses (and many other quadrupeds) lack any bony attachment (collar bone) between the forelegs and the thorax (body). Instead, the thorax is suspended between the forelimbs by a ‘sling’ of muscles, known as the ‘thoracic sling’. Exactly which muscles should be included under this term is an area of some debate. In future articles I will take a more detailed look at the most commonly discussed structures; how they should function to aid efficient and healthy locomotion, and how disfunction may be impacting our horses.

The thoracic sling is made up of various muscle groups, these include:
• Muscles of the chest including deep and superficial pectoral muscles
• Muscles of the shoulder including omotransversarius, subscapularis and subclavian
• Muscles of the ribs including ventral Serratus and latissimus dorsi
• Muscles of the wither and upper neck including rhomboid and trapezius
• Muscles of the lower neck including the brachiocephalic and sternomandibular

When conditioned effectively these muscles enable the horse to elevate the thorax (body) independently within the shoulder girdle. This much coveted phenomenon can make the difference between a horse who appears croup high / ‘on the forehand’, and one who floats effortlessly with their withers and back raised, and freedom through the shoulders.

While for some horses this may seem to come naturally, conditioning of the thoracic sling requires regular activation of the correct muscles. Many horses develop poor or weak posture from a young age, this may be due to conformational weaknesses or injury; but I believe that lack of active engagement of the thoracic sling muscles in daily movement is also a significant factor.

Modern management practices often leave horses stood for prolonged periods in stables or small paddocks, with limited variation of terrane and forage. This can result in horses who no longer use their bodies as nature intended; to balance up and down hills, stretch to reach browse nor walk for vast distances in search of food.

Over time muscles which are not regularly used will weaken and atrophy, resulting in overall postural changes and reduced performance. It is therefore essential that we assess the impact modern husbandry may be having on the development of our horses, and consider the implementation of environmental enrichment where ever possible; as these can have a greatly beneficial impact on long term movement patterns and postural development.

The muscles of the thoracic sling enable the forelimbs to move inwards or outwards from the body, shifting the centre of mass or balance from one forelimb to the other. This allows the horse to turn and manoeuvre efficiently at speed and when effectively conditioned, enables the horse to perform lateral movements from a basic leg yield, to the canter half-pass and pirouette.

In addition, these muscles control the movement of the scapula; both forwards and back, up and down (as well as towards and away from the body), while maintaining the integrity of its connection at the wither, absorbing concussive forces from limb impact and (in the case of the thoracic serratus ventralis) storing and returning elastic energy to aid efficient movement. It is therefore of vital importance that the thoracic sling is able to work effectively; without restriction or discomfort.

Regular assessments from a qualified body worker can help pick up any tension or restrictions which may be occurring through the muscles of the thoracic sling. Addressing issues early on will reduce the risk of injury occurring, and enable the horse to build healthy posture and maintain long term soundness.

09/13/2022

09/07/2022

07/11/2022

06/17/2022

FRIDAY FACT

The 18 thoracic vertebrae are comparatively rigid and inflexible. It’s this strength and rigidity of the spine in this area that allows us to ride our horses.

The spinous processes of the thoracic vertebrae are longest at the withers. These provide bony attachment areas and leverage for the muscles, acting as a fulcrum for the nuchal and supraspinous ligaments that influence the position of the head and neck.

18 pairs of ribs attach to the 18 thoracic vertebrae via synovial joints.

The first 8 pairs of ribs house and protect the heart and lungs, are known as true ribs. They join on to the sternum and allow the chest cavity to expand and deflate as your horse breathes.

The other 10 pairs of ribs are known as false ribs – each pair attaches by a ligament and cartilage connection not to the sternum but to the pair of ribs in front.

The ribs also contribute to bend – coming closer together on the inside and further apart on the outside of the bend.

www.horsesinsideout.com

06/01/2022

Let’s talk about head-shy horses.

It’s still usually viewed as a behavioral problem that needs to be trained out.
While sometimes that may be the case, it certainly isn’t always.
At the very least, there are measures that can be taken to make the training process much easier.

Even if, let’s say, a horse endured physical abuse to their head at one point in time.
Maybe they were hit or handled roughly, maybe they were ridden in ill-fitting bridles, maybe they were worked in biomechanically incorrect postures for long periods of time (behind the vertical in particular), maybe they have a history of pulling back when tied, or even just pulled back once.

We may think of the emotional trauma that they likely still carry with them that keeps them from feeling safe in their own head, but what about the residual physical restrictions?
It’s something that’s often overlooked if there aren’t obvious signs of trauma.

Let’s also not forget that the birthing process itself can—and often does—create restrictions in the head and neck, if not the whole body.
This is why this work is so helpful for the youngsters!

Take a look at this simple sketch of the cranial nerves I snagged from google, which doesn’t even entirely show the intricacy of the these nerves.
This doesn’t show the veins and arteries that weave themselves throughout the head.
It doesn’t show the spinal cord having to make its way through the atlanto-occipital joint, aka the poll, without restriction.
It doesn’t show the fascia.
It doesn’t show the vital glands that live in the brain.
It doesn’t show the skull itself and all the bones it’s comprised of, including teeth.
Let’s remember, all of these components must have their own free motility in order to function properly.

Think of how our halters and bridles are hanging right on many of these tissues, across the most highly innervated areas in the body.
The nosebands that are often too tight.
The flash nosebands that have no business being on a horse at all, in my opinion.
The horrible posture that we commonly see horses ridden in, even in supposedly high levels, for extended periods of time.

There are so many reasons for horses to be head-shy that it’s amazing to me there aren’t more of them.

So you’ve got a head-shy horse?

This work is thorough in seeking restrictions, whether they’re physical, emotional or energetic. Usually there are all of these components involved.

There are lots of great modalities out there, though I do lean toward craniosacral therapy and indirect osteopathic techniques, as they address all of these tissues.

The restrictions are in the clear?

Proper education is incredibly important.
My go-to recommendations for this are without a doubt are Patrick King, Warwick Schiller, Amy Skinner and Justin Haefner, all of whom take into consideration the emotional and physical state of the horse as they develop them.

In the meantime, I just encourage you to consider the intricacies of the horse.