Celeris Equine - Bodywork for Horses

02/06/2024

12/05/2024

What can your horse see?

Like us, horses have the senses of vision, hearing, taste, smell and touch. A horse’s vision is adapted to their needs as both prey animals and grazers. From a scientific or veterinary perspective, vision has been studied more than any of the other senses. Horses have a nearly panoramic field of v...

06/11/2023

**THURSDAY RESEARCH MEME**

Todays meme relates to the changes in back shape and saddle fit.

The horses back shape (posture) can alter with exercise (if ridden in a correctly fitted saddle), training, seasons etc. Important that the fit of the saddle is checked regularly to reduce the risk of back related dysfunction.

As an example - a saddle that is fitted on day 1, after 90 days of correct training and management (resulting in an improved top line) , will the saddle still be in balance and a optimal fit??

Or a saddle which was “made to measure” for a young horse, will it still fit the same as when the horse has matured??

The horses back is a dynamic platform where it’s movement and shape is influenced by multiple factors. The fit of the saddle must be checked regularly throughout the horses ridden career regardless of what it’s purpose is - hacking or sporting.

🤓

www.centaurbiomechanics.co.uk/blog/

25/10/2023

As this post explains, please don’t assume that kissing spines is the only source of back pain in a horse. It could be a pain source, but there may be much more pathology going on. Please read.

21/10/2023

🍁When farriers carve pumpkins 🍁
Photo and work of Schneider

・・・

20/04/2023

This.

** THURSDAY RESEARCH MEME**

Todays research meme relates to circular locomotion. When on a circle, the inside limbs take a shorter stride than the outside limbs, coupled with the need for the horse to generate forces to turn the body, circular locomotion creates asymmetric forces on the limbs and asymmetric movement patterns.

Lunging is popular, however consideration should be given to circle induced asymmetries and the effect that lunge exercise and techniques (circle size, training aids, surface, time spent on each rein etc) may have on the horse🤓

For more information www.centaurbiomechanics.co.uk/blog/

03/04/2023

Balance Alignment

When we consider how both the rider and horse must fit together, one key element is the Balance Alignment, which is the alignment of the equine & human sternum. It's important to remember that this is not the only thing we look at, and Balance Alignment is only one of MANY different factors we look at for overall fit.

We see a lot of posts talking about girths, rider position, and leg position, but the simple fact of the matter is that leg position is influenced by rider position, which is influenced by seat balance, which must be aligned with the horse. Girthing has zero to do with leg position, and everything to do with billet alignment to the balance point of the horse, which is located at the sternum. Leg position is the result of stirrup bar placement in relation to the balance point of the saddle, which is determined by rider s*x and more than a dozen other rider measurements.

Back to Balance Alignment, is achieved by ensuring the alignment of the rider's sternum is as close to the position of the horse's sternum (visualized by finding where the underside profile goes from flat, to curved, also known as the girth groove by some). Without balance alignment, the rider is effectively placed behind the movement of the horse and constantly feels the need to "catch up". Additionally, many saddles have incorrect stirrup bar placement, so in addition to sitting too far back, the leg gets pulled forward, putting a ton of additional strain on the rider and the horse. The added concussion from the rider directly impacts the gaits and prevents fluid movement through the back as the horse must consistently brace against the impact of the rider. Sitting in alignment with the horse allows the rider to be placed in the quietest part of the back, moving with the horse as opposed to against. When searching for a saddle, the lowest part of the seat should be about 5" from the balance point of the horse.

That said, as mentioned, Balance Alignment is not everything, but still an important piece to overall rider and horse fit.

Shown in photo:
Red Line - Rider sternum
Yellow Line - Balance point of the horse

29/03/2023

Figuring out when horses switched from being a food source to a riding partner for lifestyle resource for ancient European/Eurasian people has been hard for anthropologists to determine. Genetic information from horses suggests when domestication can be distinguished, but what about the in between time? Lack of horse skeletons in the areas had made the link difficult but scientists recently began re-examining the human skeletons for signs of stress from riding is giving some new info.

Wear and tear on human skeletons traces activity back 5000 years

22/03/2023

To Buck Davidson’s daughter Ellie, the Breyer horses in the stable she shares with her older sister, Aubrey, are all the same. She refers to all model and real-life horses by the name “Prize” and treats them alike, including the bay horse wit...

11/03/2023

You've all probably heard something about Dr. Sue Dyson's work on The 24 Behaviors of the Ridden Horse in Pain by now. If you haven't it's a super interesting list of behaviors, if 8 or more of those behaviors are displayed the horse is definitely in pain. You can now download an easy-to-understand field guide of the behaviors to your phone through this link! This could be very helpful for anyone on the ground watching you ride! the sticky part is that you still have to call a vet or saddle fitter to find the pain.

24/02/2023

Folks in the seattle area, or who care about horses at a rescue that has been helping horses for many years, Serenity Equine Rescue & Rehabilitation is short on money and greatly needs help. If you can help, please do.

Serenity Equine Rescue is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing of horses who have s

19/02/2023

This is exciting! A way to measure brain activity in horses that make it possible to conclude mental health in pasture versus stall etc!

// Article Recommendation 🐴

Researchers have created a new, mobile device that detects brain waves in horses and can help them detect their feelings, which could eventually be used with other species.

Already producing interesting results, Cousillas and Hausberger teamed up with Rennes ethologist Mathilde Stomp to take EEG recordings of 18 horses. Half lived in individual stalls in a classic, confined stable, whereas the other half roamed with herds on open pastures.

The two groups had very different EEG profiles. Horses in stables showed an average of 2.5 times more right-hemisphere "gamma" waves than those in open fields. In people, such waves are often a sign of anxiety, distraction, or depression. The horses that spent most of their time out in the open, meanwhile, showed twice as many left-hemisphere "theta" waves on average—generally a sign of a calm and attentive mind, the team reports this month in Applied Animal Behaviour Science. "What's really exciting about these results is that they give us a rare measure of ‘happiness,' so to speak," Hausberger says.

The headband has been called a "real breakthrough" by Katherine Houpt, a veterinary behaviourist at Cornell University who was not involved in the project but highlighted the benefits of getting into animals' minds with objectivity and less guesswork.

It's an exciting step in the world of equitation science and bettering the welfare of horses.

Read the full article here: https://www.science.org/content/article/how-horse-feeling-new-mobile-brain-wave-reader-could-tell

13/02/2023

If you have had a bodyworker or saddle fitter point out your horse"s asymmetries or handedness, THIS could be a good investment for some learning time!

25% off for 3 days only!

14/01/2023

A fantastic opportunity to access some of the great materials offered by Elemental Acupressure. They are offering free Five Element Theory materials - Five Elements being one of the ways to approach Traditional Chinese Medicine such as accupressure point selection. The post explains it much better but to inspire you to read it, I will some it up as each individual (human or animal) has a dominant element. Reading through their free resource can help you understand each element, which may give you further insight into yourself and others. Check it out!

What is Five Element Theory and why should I care about it?
*** FREE 5E Resource : https://elementalacupressure.com/5e-relationship/ ***

At Elemental Acupressure we are such big fans of Five Element Theory from Classical Chinese Medicine we named our whole SCHOOL after the Elements. So what ARE they?

The Five Elements are 5 archetypal patterns found throughout nature. They describe the temperament, health, illness, herd/pack relations, learning style, performance and the very basic nature of all living beings.

The Five Types are named after natural forces: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. We are all a unique blend of ALL FIVE TYPES. Some animals will be predominantly Fire with lesser characteristics of the other Types. Others will show predominantly Metal, and so on.

We tend to call an animal by their most obvious Type. For example, a Wood Dog will display mostly Wood Element behavior and less of behavior of the other four Elements. An Earth Horse will usually have mostly Earth health issues and less of health issues associated with the other Elements.

When we know the associated patterns in health, behavior, learning style and performance, we can adjust our lifestyle choices for our animal to match their Type’s needs. This gives you a short cut to solutions in all aspects of your animal’s care! This insight can be a GAME CHANGER no matter WHAT you do with animals.

If you are an animal caretaker, knowing your own animal’s Elemental Type allows you to make great choices and gives you confidence that those choices are right for your animal.

If you care for animals professionally, the Five Elements (5E) can be even MORE useful!

**Trainers use the 5E to streamline training. When you know the learning style for the animal, you can go straight to what WORKS and reduce stress and frustration in the process.

**Competitors use the 5E to learn how their animals work best. When you know what motivates your animal you can make learning and competing FUN for your animal.

**Bodyworkers use the 5E for deep insight into their clients. When you know the 5E patterns a whole new world of solutions is unveiled! You start to see the body as MORE than just a set of muscles and see entire body PATTERNS that are successfully balanced with acupressure AND/OR your existing skills.

Vets, vet techs, osteopaths, chiropractors, hoof care specialists, riders, groomers… no matter WHAT your specialty is, the 5E give you both INSIGHT and SOLUTIONS because you see the PATTERNS that underlie all health and behavior. No more random sets of symptoms – you have ANSWERS!

Want to add Five Element insight to your animal care? Join our 5E courses or our entire 5E acupressure Certification Program. The Year of the Rabbit student group is starting in March and we’d love to have you join us!

In the meantime, want to get a first glimpse of 5E insight and wisdom? Go get our FREE 5E Resource that covers not only your ANIMAL’S 5E patterns but suggests how YOUR 5E Type gets along (or doesn’t) with each Type!

Get it here: https://elementalacupressure.com/5e-relationship/

11/01/2023

The reason any client of mine gets carrot exercises for homework is the strengthening - or maintaining strength- in the multifidus muscles of the spine, and postural muscles. Read here about how different lamenesses effect multifidi muscle strength.

https://thehorse.com/1119542/how-lameness-affects-horses-thoracolumbar-multifidus-muscles/?fbclid=IwAR04g1dZXq0swhZxds0iEYUxgOf3dFlZX2Tb5cyfuz4QYfncMVqXza2JiuM

Veterinarians might consider addressing axial skeleton adaptations when rehabbing horses with limb injuries.

08/11/2022

Whether you’re a new or experienced horse owner, brush up on your horse keeping skills with our annual Winter Horse Keeping Mini Course. Held online for an hour on Mondays at 6 PM (Pacific Time), this course will cover: Winterizing Your Horse Property (December 5, 2022): Get a jump on the mud a

31/10/2022

A Very important distinction to remember created by Sheree King from whose page I couldn’t share or hyperlink 😢 I told her I was going to post this.

11/08/2022

Wow

Say hello to your new FEI Dressage World Grand Prix Freestyle Champions, Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale. 👋It was written in the stars after their Grand Prix ...

30/06/2022

Have you been waiting longer than usual for an open appointment with your veterinarian or been unable to access after-hours services for your horse? The shortage of equine veterinarians in the U.S. is likely the cause. Many veterinary practices have too few horse doctors to service all their clients.

Why? Only about 6% of new veterinary graduates annually enter equine practice. After five years, 50% of these young veterinarians leave for small animal practice or quit veterinary medicine altogether. The primary reasons are the personal demands of the profession and equine practice’s lower starting salaries. Many new veterinarians begin their career with more than $200,000 in student loan debt, making an equine position with lower compensation often unthinkable. When financial concerns are combined with the always present demands of emergency coverage, many equine veterinarians choose to leave for a healthier way of life.

The good news is that the AAEP along with private veterinary practices and veterinary schools are addressing the pain points which have led to the current crisis. But the solution is complex and will require the support and collaboration of every person in the equine industry — including horse owners. As we work to improve the profession for current and future veterinarians, you have a huge role to play in the much-needed transformation of equine practice. Horse doctors look forward to working together with you for the good of the horse and the sustainability of veterinary care!

24/06/2022

Take a look at how these different frames effect a few basic elements of how your horse’s body functions. Which frame is your horse most often in when under saddle?

21/06/2022

Especially now that I am in Wyoming, I’m hoping my clients back in Washington are doing all those homework exercises I assigned to them!

🌟 Do your homework!
Has your physio given you baited stretches as part of your exercise plan?
Doing your homework will result in a better outcome for your horse.
Do you carry out your homework? 🤓✅💪🐴.