Resilient Equine

09/07/2024

A pull back always needs investigation, it can have whole body ramifications and set your horse up for lifelong problems.
Starting at the poll, the kgs of pressure exerted over the top of a complex area of muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves, is Enormous! Several tons of pressure, even if your horse is tied to the inevitable baling twine, immense pressure is still exerted before that twine breaks.
The neck and thoracic sling are stretched and twisted into unnatural positions.
The ribs are pulled out of position by the tortion of the supra spinous ligament, and the thoracic spine.
The fascia and muscles of the back and core are strained.
The lumbar sacral and sacroiliac joints are forced into damaging positions, the stifles, hocks and feltocks can be twisted and compressed. Muscles and connective tissues beneath the scapula can be torn, the pectorals are also at risk. The shoulder and elbow joints can be strained.
Moving back to the poll, the connections from there to the jaw, tmj and hyoid can be strained causing pain and dental imbalance.
Often, after a pull back, the horse will become one-sided, reluctant to bend to one side, tense in the poll and jaw, and unable to engage from behind as well as they could before.
Avoid pull backs as much as is humanly possible but if it happens, get your horse thoroughly checked over as soon as you can. This will help prevent scar tissue and neural patterning from changing your horse forever.

09/06/2024

Did you realise that your horses kidneys move?
That with each breath, they move approximately the length of a vertebral segment?
That in a single day, with your horse breathing normally, they will move on average 1.6km?

Why? Because they are connected to the diaphragm (as well as other things) via fascia and ligaments.
Look where they are located.. right under the back of your saddle. Poor saddle fit, unbalanced riders (any rider really but unbalanced is worse) will put pressure on this area and because where they are innervated from this can cause the restriction.

A classic sign of kidney restriction is the fidgety horse, that won't stand still. They are reactive and sore to pressure over the tops of the last ribs and it's firm, no give.
Combine that with restrictions at TH 15, 16, 17 and 18, and a change in pelvis angle.. and you will have issue with movement and attitude.

That sore back may have nothing to do with the muscles....
Something else to think about....

Photo: Merck Veterinary Manual (not motivated enough to draw my own tonight sorry).

08/22/2024

08/10/2024

I call this the “whomp” and I feel it on so many horses!

𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐩 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝?

EDIT: Please see additional information from Dr. Haussler in the comment section, in answer to your questions.

Every now and then, a Member of this community will ask Dr. Haussler a question - we like to share his answers with all of you.

"The funicular portion of the nuchal ligament passes over the C2 spinous process and is normally anchored by loose connective tissue to the bone below. As the horse’s head flexes and extends, that portion of the ligament must lengthen and shorten. It will normally stay in place along the midline (no “flipping” back and forth), also because there is a slight concavity on the top of the C2 spinous process.

However, with repetitive use, that soft tissue connection can break down. With atlantooccipital flexion, the nuchal ligament is stretched. With added lateral bending, that portion of the ligament is less anchored down and can displace off the spinous process and “pop” to one side or the other.

As with any displaced ligament or tendon, less tension and increased stabilization is required to help keep the structure in place. Otherwise, it displaces more often, and due to repeated local trauma, a bursa forms and fills with fluid, resulting in bursitis."

Image credit: Ivana Ruddock-Lange | Equine Anatomy in Layers

08/07/2024

🙃

Please don't give them worms.

They aren't birds LOL LOL LOL

08/04/2024

LOVE the turquoise!!! I’m a sucker for a giveaway like this 😂 Plus Turtle Mountain Flax is the best!

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And of course, sample sizes of our flax & H pellets.

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"How do I get this fun bundle of stuff?"
2️⃣ simple steps to enter:
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08/02/2024

“Upper level horses have the best care and the best farriers in the world.”

07/29/2024

07/28/2024

07/26/2024

07/24/2024

Professionals losing their temper with the horse
We have all done it right 🤔

Erm nope, never, and the day I do is the day I quit my job because what example am I setting for others and more importantly what example am I setting for the horse

Having a bad day, don't take it out on the horse
Horse not doing what you want then explain it better
Car pulled out on you unless the horse was driving the other car it has nothing to do with the energy you bring to your work

If the professional can't keep their integrity intact then how do we justify asking the owner to keep theirs

If any professional laid a bad hand on my horses the only boot they would feel was mine as I kicked them off the yard, why do we allow people to do this and pay them for basically taking their bad day out on our horses.
They continue to do so because we as the owners don't stop it and often its the horses that don't answer back who get treated the worse

Change can only come when you say stop, and I will always say if they do it in public then alot worse goes on behind closed doors where the scrutiny Is not so keen

Horses are not here for us to abuse, horses are not here to make us feel superior

Will it ever get better when winning trumps welfare
Horses have no voice and some of us will glady speak up

Photo credit Pinterest

07/24/2024

"Brutality begins where knowledge ends. Ignorance and compulsion appear simultaneously." ~ Charles de Kunffy

No matter what level of riding we think we are at or how much success we think we have gathered... the quest for knowledge is never-ending. Always be learning. Always be asking questions. Always be seeking a deeper understanding.

07/22/2024

This - a million times over. They aren't 'acting out'.

07/22/2024

No grass means no vitamin E which is a crucial component to equine nutrition! Favorite most cost-effective option is "Emcelle" from Custom Equine Nutrition, LLC! Linked in comments

Fresh pasture provides an abundance of vitamin E but hay is devoid of vitamins after harvesting.

My horses have always been on VE supplementation during the winter & since moving to Arizona they have been on it full time.

However as of late I’m learning it’s not enough. 😖

The NRC recommends a daily intake of about 1000 IU per day for the average horse in light work, although many experts insist this should be higher.

I typically provide 2-3000 IU to my horses depending on their workload however after my best boy Prowler displaying odd and unusual behavior, off to the vet we went.

Over the last few months he has been becoming unpredictable, overreacting at the smallest thing, feeling out of control even at a trot & exploding for no reason (the latter resulted in bucking me off very badly).

After cervical xrays, ultrasounds, THO & hyoid scopes, the vet came up with nothing. But she agreed something was “wrong” as Prowler seemed to have vision impairment & failed his baseline neuro exam.

We started with running blood work for EPM which came back negative, so her next idea was testing for Vitamin E through which we uncovered he is dangerously low in this essential piece of nutrition. 🏥

Symptoms of VE deficiency that look like other common problems:
🩺Eye & vision changes aka: becoming spooky, reactive or nervous
🩺Muscle pain & stiffness: we often reach for the magnesium here
🩺Dry/damaged coat: more omegas are typically toted as the answer
🩺Neurological problems: often we reach for trial treatment of EPM & Lyme.

Untreated - vitamin E deficiency can cause severe issues including permanent vision problems as well as equine motor neuron disease and equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (this is fatal).

Although we finally have a direction of Prowler’s problems, now begs the question if we found it soon enough. For me, as the ever advocate of prehab & prevention, it feels like I’ve failed my horses once again by having to learn the hard way.

He’s now on 10,000IU of natural VE per day and we will retest in 3 months 🙏 Natural VE is also the key, with liquid form being more bioavailable than powder, but both are better than synthetic. If you do feed a powder it is essential to feed an oil alongside it for optimal absorption.

Running testing for vitamin E will become a regular part of my veterinary workups for all my horses - how about you?

07/22/2024

Anyone else a twine freak?

One time I found a young mare choking on a piece of twine that had been mixed into her hay accidentally. I just happened to be walking by and noticed that she was off in the distance not eating. She was making some jerks with her nose and then I saw a small bit of twine dangling out of her mouth. I ran over and slowly began to carefully pull it out. Felt like it was never going to end. It was really chewed up but came out all in one piece. She was VERY appreciative.

That all being said - I cannot stand the orange colored ones 😅.

07/18/2024

Combinations of spirals and springs gift horses with the ability to borrow mobility from other junctions and joints within their body.

While this is a crucial component for their biomechanical capabilities it can also become quietly detrimental when imbalance occurs.

It is always fun to think about the comparable parts from horse to human and vice versa but the reality is that they are having a completely different experience from us.

Equine compensatory patterns develop for numerous reasons.

We know this.

It can happen due to training, saddle fit and rider biomechanics.

Hoof sensitivities, inflammation and asymmetry.
Dental issues.
Internal issues.

Here are some important things to consider with compensations…

- They likely developed for a reason.

- This means that necessary compensations exist.

- They can become unnecessary when the root issue has been resolved but the compensation become a default movement pattern by neurologically replacing patterns designed for optimal mobility.

- Compensations can pile up.

-De-compensations are a thing.

- So, if we take away the ability to compensate, while they still need it, what is going to happen?

When looking at horses with sore feet, laminitis or founder, they have often changed their ‘balance’ accordingly to seek moments of relief.

It is not uncommon for bodyworkers to find issues before they rear their head.

Same thing with hoof care providers.

One of my hoof care teachers tells a story about a particular mare who always wore her hind feet perfectly - for years - one time she came out to trim and noticed the hind hooves had completely changed. The owner had just recently gotten a new saddle that supposedly fit. The horse showed no signs of discomfort, only this new imbalance in her hooves. They switched back to her old saddle and by the next trim, hind feet went back her normal.

Now, what would have happened if the hoof care provider had just ignored that change in the horses baseline normal and leveled the hooves?

Would that have altered the horses ability to compensate for the ill-fitting saddle?

What would have spiraled quietly from there?

Some thoughts for your Wednesday evening ~

07/17/2024

07/16/2024

The Houston Mounted Police Patrol Unit has been gaining global attention recently and is being acknowledged as a leader in the natural horse movement.

The Houston Mounted Police Patrol Unit has been gaining global attention recently for its leadership in the natural horse movement. After transitioning to barefoot years ago, the Unit has now also opted to go bitless.

The mounted unit herd was previously managed in a very traditional manner, however, the officers soon realized that they were frequently faced with hoof issues and other ailments that could be attributed to the use of metal shoes. Metal shoes on asphalt create concussive force that travels through the hoof and up the leg of the horse. In 1984, the Swiss Cavalry at the University of Zurich conducted a study on the effects of metal shoeing. The research revealed that the impact force on a shod hoof on hard ground is 10-33 times greater than that of an unshod hoof. The vibration caused by the shoe in the hoof is approximately 800 hz, a level that is high enough to cause damage to living tissue.

The metallic footwear was impeding the natural flexibility of the hoof under pressure, consequently reducing essential blood flow to the hoof and lower limb.

As a result of these challenges, the unit concluded that it was worth trying something different. In 2004, they decided to experiment by allowing one horse to go barefoot. The outcome was extremely positive, leading them to transition their entire herd (40 horses) to barefoot. They observed a significant improvement in the health of their horses, resulting in a 50% reduction in vet bills. Moreover, they noticed enhanced traction on slippery surfaces, contributing to a sense of safety for both the officers and horses during patrols. It is difficult to dispute the benefits of these changes! Furthermore, the force has recently made the decision to transition to Bitless equipment, which has been met with great success.

07/12/2024

The problem with softening the horse too much in the bridle before stabilizing the hind end is not only a biomechanics problem but a safety problem.

I just got done riding a new horse for the first time. Based on the weak hind end and bulging in the neck in the wrong spots, I had a good feeling he would break behind the vertical quite frequently.

When the horse breaks behind the vertical, it drops the back and negates correct use of the hind end. Over time, the horse becomes weak and wobbly while simultaneously developing painful arthritis and fusions.

So, that's the basics of the biomechanics problem.

The safety aspect is that a horse that is too light in the bridle and breaks behind upon first contact does not have the correct relationship with the contact. I believe the reins should connect to the feet and aid in correct flexion and bend.

When the horse evades the bit, you've got nothing. Sorry pal- this ain't a safe place to be.

This is why often horses that are taught this require a lot of holding together by riders that are used to riding in such a way.

And if you want to improve the horses relationship with contact, then be prepared for a long haul of conditioning and riding with little rein.

It can be done, but it should be done with knowledgeable riding with no time constraints. It's a whole thang.

Edit to add:
This photo is NOT mine. I'm grateful it was created and my favorite part is the "ah thank you!" Because of how freely forward the horse is 🙂
https://www.instagram.com/anjakyart?igsh=MXNnN21uZm13cDRlYQ==

07/12/2024

So, how to be an equestrian professional these days without pi***ng ANYBODY off?

How to be a horse person, period, without triggering other individuals, groups, communities or constructs?

How to exist, without causing any conflict, creating enemies or detractors, or being controversial.

I actually have the answer guys! I found it. I have actually figured out how to be the perfect equestrian professional/horse person. More than this, I have created a free resource that teaches you how to do this. This is not a lead generation exercise. I actually want to share with you EXACTLY how you can achieve this level of perfection too.

I recorded a podcast, and it is perfect. It is my best work yet. It is guaranteed to teach you a lot of really great information, but it is also guaranteed to annoy nobody, upset nobody, and hurt nobody. It is so perfect, that everything in the equestrian industry will like it. It is actually, the perfect pod for EVERYONE!

It is also not too long. My podcasts regularly go so deep and detailed that they run over 1-2 hours and I have an upcoming episode with Gillian Larson the long distance rider which went over 3 hours. Which is really imperfect of me because people are busy and nobody has time for that anyway. So, it is really offensive and incorrect of me to hide good information, hide good conversations inside containers that require patience and concentration. I am worried that maybe it was ableist of me to do that? But maybe it is problematic for me to say that out loud. Again, I apologise. Damnit... this was going so well. Please ignore the last paragraph. Because someone wrote me recently, on my private phone number, someone I do not know, that my podcasts and posts should be constructed so folks with attentions span awareness can enjoy and engage too. That I should know better and I am alienating folks with attention and learning difficulties. I am so so so sorry. Ignore the last paragraph, I am not supposed to say that out loud.

Anyway...

So I made this perfect pod short, at 39 minutes in total. But the entire point of the podcast is primarily made in the first 5 minutes. I hope you have a spare 5 minutes, if you don't, please forgive me for being imperfect. I am sorry that I created something you want but don't have time for.

If you want to come and learn how to be perfect, come and listen to the perfect podcast. Linked below.

07/11/2024

I. love. this.

I saw this quote yesterday and realized how true it is for all things equine.

Often, the more we know, the more we realize we don't know. In the beginning of our learning, everything can seem straight forward and like it has a clear cut solution. It can be tempting to fall into the trap of thinking we have all the answers and that we know how to approach every situation.

But soon, we meet horses that don't fit the mold.

It's those cases that don't fit the mold that push us to grow and learn, and open our eyes to the fact that there is no foolproof method or approach that works for every single horse. It sure can keep us humble.

The horse is our ultimate teacher!

07/10/2024

This all depends on whether you are ready and willing to hear the message, transcend the ego and think from different perspectives.

"When you change the way you look at things,
the things you look at change."

07/08/2024