09/08/2023
I was talking with a friend yesterday, about the modern sport horse, and hypermobility. It seems like breeding, especially the modern sport horse, has brought in a pile of hypermobility. Does it make for flashy movement? Yes. Does it come with huge risks? Absolutely. As a human facing the detriments of hypermobility every day, I can say without a doubt, breeding hypermobility into horses is not an ethical decision.
No, it's not just looks. Hypermobility is so much more. It's pain every day. It's dislocations every day. It's deciding to not do something because we know it will ruin our joints. Hypermobility is extreme exhaustion. A person with hypermobility has to subconsciously engage many more muscles, build higher muscle tone, and endurance just to make it thru the day. We as humans can decide when to rest, but sport horses these days face punishment if they dare say no. And then we wonder why our horses break down.
Not to mention, hypermobility involves so much more wearand tear on the body. Did you know that I, a 24 year old woman, physically have the body of the average 55 year old woman? Every risk I take, I pay for.
Before you decide to breed your horse, consider hypermobility and the effects of flashy movement. If you ride a modern sport horse, please PLEASE consider these points I've given! ❤️