Equicore Concepts LLC

04/11/2024

We sensed that a laugh is just what the doctor ordered this week. 🇺🇸

28/10/2024

QUIZ TIME ⏰ What type of muscle fibers make up the multifidus muscle of the horse’s spine? Swipe to learn, and then head to our newest blog for more amazing tips on understanding equine muscle fiber types! Link in bio!

21/10/2024

This is why we TRAIN. Here are *just* 8 ways that your horse’s body adapts to better do their job! The body is truly phenomenal. Training and conditioning your horse in a well-balanced program (with the Equiband Pro System 2-3 times/week 😉) causes an entire cascade of physiological changes to make your horse more effective as an athlete.

Some of these changes are visible (i.e. muscles getting larger and more toned), but many of these changes are not visible to the naked eye (e.g. enzyme activity, neuromuscular coordination, etc.).

Trust that the body is improving everyday. Because it really is! 🧡

07/10/2024

DID YOU KNOW? Every horse’s muscles are composed of three different muscle fiber types. Think of muscle like a piece of clothing you would wear. The muscle is made up of different fiber types, except in the body these fibers are not nylon, polyester, or cotton. In the body, these fibers are known as Type I, Type IIA, and Type IIX.

Each horse, just like each piece of clothing, is made up of a different percentage of each muscle fiber type, based on their genetics and their training program.

The kicker is that our clothing tells us upfront that it is 80% cotton, 15% polyester, and 5% nylon. Too bad our horses don’t come with a manual, right?

We will introduce to you how you can train each muscle fiber type and how each adapts to exercise in the coming weeks, but for now, let’s just introduce ourselves to these fibers!

💪TYPE I: These are the trusty, ‘slow twitch’ muscle fibers, extremely important for everyday movement, maintenance, and posture. Multifidus is a Type I stabiliser of the spinal column! These fibers are highly oxidative, and are active in sustainable, low intensity exercise and endurance. Think: daily hacks, easy trail rides, normal conditioning like the exercise walker, water treadmill, etc.

💪💪TYPE IIA: These fibers are the intermediaries. They are classified as ‘fast twitch,’ but still have many oxidative properties, making them important fibers for activities that require both endurance and power. Think: sports such as dressage, jumping, eventing, etc.

💪💪💪TYPE IIX: These fibers are all about the power in short, high intensity bursts. These muscle fibres fire in quarter horse racing, barrel racing, and short sprints.

Save this for later, and look for our next post on muscle fibers 😉

30/09/2024

Do it like the PROS and TRACK YOUR PROGRESS📈

Something we don’t talk about nearly enough, is the practice of journaling your rides. What better time to start than the last 100 days of 2024?

⭐A few tips⭐

Record your data from the Equestic SaddleClip, now available on the Equicore website! This bluetooth-linked motion sensor clip tracks time spent and tempo in each gait and in each direction, transitions, and symmetry of movement (including push-off and landing forces)⏰

If you use your phone’s journal capabilities (new on the iPhone!), add a photo to your entries 📸

HAVE FUN! This is a no-pressure exercise that can be very fun and useful to review over time. It is challenging to observe progress from day to day, but when you look back at the end of 2024, you will be amazed.💪

29/09/2024

We give a warm welcome to our newest Australia distributor for the Equiband system: Dr Raquel Butler, from Integrated Veterinary Therapeutics!

Dr Butler has a wealth of knowledge in both clinical and rehab fields of equine care, specialising in movement retraining. She is also a lead instructor for Equinology INC Australia/New Zealand.

Welcome to the team, Dr Butler!

23/09/2024

The importance of FASCIA ➡️ This connective tissue encases all muscles, soft tissues, joint capsules and joints. It truly connects everything to everything!

The reason it is so important is because fascia, which is highly innervated, plays a key function in balance, stability, posture, and overall health of the musculoskeletal system.

Fascia adapts continuously, both to movement and to injury. So how can we support the fascial system?

1- We can encourage our horses’ ability to move, both in a natural and a training environment. As they were meant to! 💜

2- We can train with the Equiband Pro System! This system facilitates symmetrical movement and core strength, which supports optimal fascial function.

16/09/2024

The Equiband Pro system: the ONLY researched resistance band on the equine market, with independent peer-reviewed studies. We are committed to the science of the horse. It's what we love!

09/09/2024

MUSCLE MONDAY: Longissimus Dorsi ➡️

Longissimus Dorsi (LD) is the longest superficial muscle of the back! LD is divided into multiple compartments, and attaches to the vertebrae of the thoracic and lumbar spines.

The thoracic segment of the LD is the largest of the epaxial muscles, and is responsible for spinal and trunk stability. Together with re**us abdominis and transversus, the oblique trunk muscles, and the deeper psoas complex, LD helps provide a stable structure to facilitate the horse's movement.

LD is responsible for :

✅ Spinal extension and support

✅ Contributing to core activation and postural stability (static and dynamic!)

✅ Lateral flexion of the trunk

👉Fun fact: longssimus dorsi attaches most cranially in the lower neck of the horse. If LD is in constant contraction/spinal extension, this will affect not only the back, but the neck, too! Watch out for hollow-backed and -necked horses! Suboptimal saddle fit is one of the many factors that can adversely affect LD function.

A 2021 study showed that therapeutic exercises, such as ground pole work and use of the Equiband Pro System, can increase muscle activation of LD, and significantly increase activity in the re**us abdominus.

Given that these muscles work together, and that everything in the body is connected, we must take these results seriously so that specific training modalities, such as use of the Equiband Pro system, can aid the development of your horse's strength and stability!

The more you know...😉

26/08/2024

Designed intentionally FOR horses and their people BY horses and their people. 💜🧡

19/08/2024

Unpopular Fact: Dynamic stability is one of the most underrated traits of top-level performance horses. We don’t talk about it enough in the horse training world. We are advocating to make ‘dynamic stability’ a buzzword! 😂 💪

05/08/2024

🧡SUMMER LOVE💜

The equestrian lifestyle is a team sport. We have the greatest group of horse people following this account, so let’s share the love!

Tell us where you and your horse train with your Equiband Pro system! Comment below, then watch comments to find a new barn buddy in your area!

You can even share your Equiband training programs with one another and keep each other accountable on the conditioning journey 🙌

29/07/2024

‘Driving from behind’ is a term used in training circles that has to do with the horse engaging their hindquarters to drive forward with power and propulsion.

The alternative is a horse that works ‘on the forehand,’ which is a less efficient and weaker pattern of movement, where the horse’s weight is carried more on the front limbs.

In order to ‘drive from behind’, the horse must engage their core FIRST, using their abdominal and oblique muscles, to support the spine of the back with symmetrical stability.

Think about it this way: if you got on all fours, and got into the yoga “cow” position where you are stretched out with a hollow back, you would not be able to move forward very comfortably or effectively, no matter how much you pushed with your legs.🐄

However, if you got into the yoga “cat” position with a rounded back and engaged core, you would be able to move forward much more effectively and comfortably.🐈

Perhaps this is why it is rare to see cows running, but we see wild cats easily out-run many animals?🤔

To promote your horse’s ‘driving from behind,’ the Equiband Pro System is an excellent training tool! The Equiband system is proven to strengthen the core and stabilise the spine in movement, so that the horse can engage its hind limbs efficiently in forward propulsion. In other words, the Equiband system helps to get the key movement muscles on the same page of functional STRENGTH.💪

That is just what says too:

“I love using the Equiband to ensure my horses are working the correct muscles and driving from behind! I place a big importance on strong horses and this product helps me to achieve just that!”

Let’s give her and her unicorn a clap! They look awesome!🦄👏

16/07/2024

Dr Michelle Anderson, PT, has launched a great new series on all aspects of equine health care & rehab.
Here is a clip about the Equiband system.
Bonus: each invited speaker is asked to nominate a charity of his/her choice. Join me in supporting the Rooster Run Foundation!

This is the Sport Horse Rehab Podcast. In this episode, Nicole Rombach explains what the Equiband System is and how it can help your horse.Her choice of char...

10/07/2024

We have a winner! Congratulations to Carson and her horse on their new Equiband Pro System. We can’t wait to hear about your journey.💪

And thank you to everyone for your support of this giveaway! We appreciate you being in our little corner of the equine industry.💜

01/07/2024

We’re giving away an Equiband Pro System to celebrate the first half of 2024 with a bang!💥

To ENTER:

👍Like this post
🫶Follow us
✌️Tag 2 of your best barn pals!

➕Additional entry on our Instagram page

Sweepstakes ends July 7th at 5 AM EST. Winner will be announced on our Facebook and Instagram pages on July 9th. View the official rules here: https://bit.ly/m/Equiband

*Entries from USA only, must be 18 and older to enter.*

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram.

24/06/2024

Ever wonder if the human health buzzwords “mind-body training” and “nervous system regulation” apply to horses?

We asked Equicore co-founder and world-renowned equine therapist Dr. Nicole Rombach for her thoughts, and in short, the answer is ...

YES!

Training and conditioning is as much about motor control and developing efficient muscle activation as it is about building strength.

Applying exercises that target both strength AND motor control is 🔥 for your horse’s performance.

You can read more on our most recent blog through the link in our bio.

And tell us, what exercises are you going to try with your horse this week? 👇

17/06/2024

BEFORE & AFTER ➡️

“This is JJ, an 8 year old OTTB. I have used the Equicore bands ever since my vet, Dr Kerri Belsito from Circle Back Farm in Colorado, highly recommended them. We use them in both flatwork and cavaletti, and it has helped JJ learn to work underneath himself and push from his hindquarters over his top line! We are rehabbing from an injury right now and are incorporating the bands in our rehab plan. I’m excited for his future career in eventing, and using the Equicore Pro System has been a huge help in getting him fit!”

When we look at these photos, we see a more developed, more balanced, and more physically confident horse.

Great work to and JJ! We are so grateful to be on this journey with you!🧡

Try your Equiband today through the link in our bio ➡️