Delta Equine Center

02/04/2024

Equine Cranial Pain, it's not about my toes

Late one Saturday evening several years ago, with my wine glass filled nearly to the rim, I finally had a moment to breathe. The solitude allowed my body to declare where and how sore certain members of the aging body were. The week’s schedule contained horses who required bodywork starting early on Monday and didn’t end until Saturday night. There was no time to listen to my body. Only when I was seated in the recliner did I realize the number of toes that throbbed. An examination revealed that three toenails on the right foot would fall off, and two toes on the left were red and swollen. Feeling sorry for myself, I quickly concluded that the most logical solution moving forward was the purchase of steel-toed shoes. After another sip of wine, despite my toes still throbbing, I chuckled and acknowledged, “It’s not about my toes.”

As horses communicate with us, do we make it about ourselves? Do we muddy the lines of communication and miss the message delivered? Do we experience frustration and pain (accidents) because we fail or refuse to listen? How much additional stress and pain is placed upon the horse because we ignore what message is delivered?

While reflecting on each horse I worked with, I remembered what Tik Maynard wrote concerning horsemanship in the book In The Middle Are The Horsemen. “Horsemanship is more than riding. More than horse care. It is not about doing flying changes or learning to braid, although it may include these things. Horsemanship is an almost indefinable ability to understand and be aware of horses.” (96)

If I didn’t or refused to “understand and be aware of horses,” it would have been easy on that Saturday to blame the horses for my toes. We all know the words we hear them all the time. “You have to get after that horse; he doesn’t respect you.” “The problem is you haven’t set clear boundaries.” “Don’t be afraid to show her who’s the boss.” “You let them get away with it today and tomorrow; they will be worse.” The problem with these pithy responses that have developed into horsemanship logic is twofold. First, it fails to step back and ask, what is the horse trying to tell me? In other words, asking the simple question, why? Why are these horses stepping on my toes? Second, it assumes that a horse thinks and processes in the same manner as humans. A must-read for anyone who desires to improve their “ability to understand and be aware of horses” is Dr. Stephen Peters and Martin Black’s book, Evidence-Based Horsemanship. Dr. Peters writes, “The horse lacks the cognitive capability of having such thoughts as, ‘I know what this person wants me to do but today I don’t feel like it,’ or ‘I’ll pull a fast one on this guy and have a good chuckle at his expense’”. (33)

The first horse, a coal-black Friesen that stepped toward my body and landed on my right foot, resulted from my hand being too heavy on their poll. My fingers were too tight. I needed to soften. But as I softened and increased the gap between my fingers and the horse’s head, thereby creating less pressure, she continued to press against me. She continued to step closer. I remember I dropped my arm and moved away to give her space, and she followed my movement. Another sip of the dry red wine enabled the conversation with the owner to burst forth. I had asked, “Is this her usual behavior or something new?” Sounding apologetic, she responded, “She normally isn’t like this. She is so good about boundaries. But since she hit her head, it has been a challenge to keep her off of me.”

As that week progressed, I realized that my feet moved more quickly away from the foreleg of horses whenever I anticipated they were about to step to the side. Of the horses that stepped on my toes, all had significant stress/pain in the cranial region. Since that Saturday evening given over to critical reflection, I have documented horses that step toward my body during bodywork and horses, in general, in multiple settings that struggle with “boundaries.” I have also included horses that owners describe as loving and affectionate, as demonstrated by placing their heads on the owner’s shoulders. (I direct you to Peters and Black’s book.) To lift another quote from Maynard’s book, “The only truths I knew were that all horses had similarities and that every horse is unique.” I am not suggesting every boundary issue is rooted in cranial pain or pain from another location, but a clear pattern has emerged. In addition, observing horses in a pasture or paddock setting reveals a physical closeness between the horse experiencing cranial issues and the horse pressed against or upon which the head rests. As suggested in other posts, this may explain buddy or barn sour issues. These horses with cranial issues find momentary release, perhaps even comfort in the closeness.

Pain for horses, similar to humans, when not addressed, when cries for assistance are ignored or dismissed, can result in behaviors outside the norm and may cause pain to the toes. Behaviors that no one, including horses, should be required to demonstrate to be heard. The place to begin is obvious HORSEMANSHIP, “the ability to understand and be aware of horses.”

10/17/2023

Give your horse and yourself a gift

The gift you can give your horse is very simple. So simple that we frequently ignore and/or take it for granted. The gift? Breathing.
For a host of reasons many horses struggle to breathe correctly. Their diaphragm has become restricted, consequently their breath is shallow and rapid. The effects upon the body, to name just a few are, lack of oxygen inhaled and removal of carbon dioxide by exhaling, fascia tightening, organs not receiving nutrients, muscle stress and tension not released, on and on…
The sharing of this gift with your horse starts with you. By breathing correctly you can influence your horse’s breathing pattern. Before you even approach your horse, check your breathing pattern. Exaggerate your breathing, both inhaling and exhaling and with volume. Many horses, as you get close, will stick out their nose and inhale your breath. Don’t be surprised if they exhale and spray you with saliva as they expand their diaphragm. Obviously, always be careful!
Breathing with your horse is not only something you do as you approach the horse, groom the horse, saddle the horse, but also as you ride. A horse that is breathing correctly is less likely to be distracted, less likely to take flight. A horse that is in flight/fight mode will listen and look to you and will follow your lead, your breathing.
For those horses that struggle to inhale and exhale correctly you can physically help them. You may do this from either side of the horse. I’ll describe it from the horse’s left side. With your right hand reach up and place a finger or two, very lightly, on the midline of the horse’s back, roughly at the start of their hind quarters. Technically, you are in the area of the last thoracic vertebrae and the lumbar, (the top of the diaphragm is attached in this area). Think about the end of your saddle and move slightly further back. Place your left hand under your horse along the midline, slightly behind where the cinch would be placed (the bottom of the diaphragm is attached in this area). Relax, breathe deeply and invite your horse to follow your lead. For those horses that continue to struggle, slowly lift the fingers of your right hand and slowly lower the fingers of the left hand. Imagine that you are pulling the diaphragm to expand. You will be amazed how quickly they will slow their breathing and begin to breathe more deeply. Some horses may also shake their head in response, snort, yawn, etc… and settle into a more even pattern of breathing.
It's a simple gift that will relax your horse, and you, and have innumerable benefits for your horse and YOU!

05/03/2023

The current accepted philosophy is that horses crib or windsuck out of boredom. My work with horses, including those at Royal Blessing Rescue has taught me that it is out of pain and not only boredom that leads a horse to crib and eventually windsuck. The cribbing/windsucking is the horse's attempt to block the pain. Which becomes an addictive behavior. The good news is that this doesn't have to be a life long behavior; it can be addressed and eliminated. Deal with the pain, locate the source, address it and the horse don't need to continue cribbing or wind sucking.
I'd be happy to discuss the work I have done with horses and share stories of "success".

04/26/2023

MN Horse Expo
I am available Thurs. afternoon and evening for equine bodywork on any horses that may be tense or stressed from trailering to the fairground or may be struggling with a new environment. Similarly, I am available Friday thru Sunday for any horses that may be performing at the expo. I will be in the Livestock building booths 701,703, 705. You may bring your horse there or I can come to you for both pre event work and recovery work.

I also look forward to speaking with anyone who might be having issues or problems with their horse. If you determine that bodywork might help your horse we can book appointments.

If you're interested in learning more about Delta Equine Bodywork and how it differs from equine chiropractor work, or equine massage, I welcome the opportunity to explain the differences as well as describe how these techniques compliment each other.

I work with all horses, but I specialize in working with horses that are described as having an attitude, have "behavioral" problems, or have experienced trauma.

Let's hope for a warm and sunny expo!
See you soon,
doug

03/21/2023

Conductor of A Symphony of Motion

A musical conductor serves as the messenger of the musical piece to be performed. They appreciate the possibility and the potential of the composer's creation and therefore are entrusted with the task of bringing that to fruition.

A good conductor, a good messenger begins by listening to the musicians. By observing musicians, And then, and only then does one ask probing questions. They simultaneously value and respect each musician, each instructment, each part of the composition, realizing that all, all contribute to the whole. And then, and only then, does the conductor deliver the message. Then, and only then, does the conductor establish the tempo and maintain the dynamics of the music.

At Delta Equine Bodywork, A Symphony of Motion, I understand that my responsibility is to be a conductor, a good messenger. And the horse is the musician complete with all the parts that contribute to the symphony of motion. Together, working in harmony, respecting and valuing one another, we create music, a symphony of motion.

As the conductor I use my eyes, ears, and hands, to see, to hear, and to feel the horse and all the parts there within. Parts that are moving fluidly, parts that are restricted, and parts that are screaming out in pain. I begin by observing the outside of the horse to determine what might be happening on the inside. And then I measure the inside of the horse to determine if it aligns with the outside.

The outside factors to monitor and observe include, but are not limited to, such things as conformation, hooves, gait, head position, tail position, turning, backing, swelling, cuts, and breathing. I use my eyes and ears to measure the horse’s breathing pattern and then my hands. A shallow and quick or rapid breathing pattern may signal that the horse is tense, nervous, preparing to take flight, or it may be the result of their inability to expand the diaphragm. If it is my first encounter with a horse I will exaggerate the volume of my breathing and inhale more deeply. If the latter is the source of the issue, with the proper placement of my hands and my fingertips gently gracing the horse’s hair I can assist them in expanding the diaphragm and slowing the rhythm. Every musician, regardless of the music they create, will agree that proper breathing technique is vital to their success. The same is true when working with a horse.

Measuring the inside begins with palpation. By increasing the amount of pressure to various parts of the horse’s body one can determine if an area is sensitive and if so, the level of reaction. A reaction generally implies pain or irritation and is viewed as a recent issue. If any area doesn’t yield a response during palpation but does hinder movement or creates a response during the bodywork session it is considered a restriction, possibly the result of an older issue. This distinction between reaction and restriction is critical to understanding what the symphony of motion may look like both in the short term and the long term.
Another factor when measuring the inside of the horse is to determine if an issue is surface or deeper. A surface issue may be the result of new tack, new rider, change in performance, being kicked, etc…and by addressing these issues together with the bodywork motion can be restored more quickly. Deeper issues are those that may have existed for an extended period of time or literally originate deeper within the body of the horse. This could be the result of tack, riding, performance, or an injury and how it healed. What brought about these deeper issues may never be known which can be a source of frustration for an owner, but as the conductor, the message is about the here and now. Finally, measuring the inside also has to consider the possibility that the source of irritation, the lack of performance, is related to unhealthy organs, disease, illness, etc… Such measuring of these factors requires a Veterinarian. Because of the complexity of the inside of the horse, I work with Farriers, Chiropractors, Veterinarians, and Trainers.

As a conductor, striving to co-create with the horse a graceful, fluid, picturesque symphony of motion, I am continually collecting information, data if you will, to problem solve, to make all the pieces fit and work in harmony. I must distinguish between symptoms and causes. Is the pain, the irritation, the restriction the source of the issue or the symptom, the result of an issue located somewhere else in the body? It’s quite common to hear the owner of the horse say something to the effect, “She was just fine yesterday. She did great on the trail, (in the arena, sorting cattle, jumping, gaming, etc…) and now today she’s lame, sore on her right front.” Is the source located in the right front area or (to mention one possibility)is the lameness the result of the horse compensating, altering the natural gait and balance to avoid discomfort in the left hind quarter which places additional weight and unnatural movement on the right shoulder and the horse is stiff on the right front?

A good conductor, one who listens to the musicians is able to deliver the proper message and thereby leads by following. By being attuned to the horse, by acknowledging what the horse is communicating, I am able to lead the bodywork session by following the horse. The subtle and not so subtle messages delivered by the horse inform where I need to go next with the session and if the message I am delivering is working. Working in such a manner that I am creating space for the horse to make “music”, make a symphony of motion. The uniqueness of this bodywork is that in unison; I and the horse work together. I bring the horse’s attention to a specific area of their body and ask if there is an issue in the location. Depending on the area and the response to my asking, I may increase the space between my hand and the horse’s body enabling the horse to experience less pressure and therefore release the tension, restriction, or I may lightly touch the horse’s body, assisting in working the muscle in the area. This method demands patience on the part of the conductor and trust that the horse knows what they need.

03/15/2023

I will be in central Florida, Ocala and Fort McCoy areas, March 30-April 3. March 31 I am conducting a Delta Equine Bodywork clinic in Fort McCoy. If you wish to register let me know. I am also available to schedule appointments for equine bodywork and teaching you how you can continue to work with your horse.. If you have any questions about what Delta Equine Bodywork includes or questions in general, feel free to contact me.

11/30/2022

Sat. Dec. 3rd 11-3 at the Willmar Community Center I will be doing a book signing. In addition, you may preview my next 4 books. Plan to stop by and we can discuss books, horses, or life. Who knows, you may become a character featured in a future book.

03/06/2022