EM Equine Sports Therapy

23/09/2024

Very interesting, yet not surprising! If the gut isn’t right, neither is the nervous system. It’s a domino effect leading to poor health and performance. Great work!

University of Surrey researchers recently found that a thoroughbred's gut bacteria composition at one-month-old may be a good indicator of its future performance.

Gut bacterial diversity at 28 days old was found to be predictive of future athletic performance, with higher bacterial diversity at one month positively associated with better racing performance.

Specifically, higher abundance of Anaeroplasmataceae bacteria was linked to higher official ratings, while increased levels of Bacillaceae at 28 days old were associated with better race placings.

Lower bacterial diversity at 28 days old was associated with increased health risks and foals with lower diversity had a significantly higher risk of developing respiratory disease later in life.

Interestingly, low diversity was also linked to increased risk of soft-tissue and orthopedic issues later in life.

The study also found that antibiotic use in the first month of life had long-term impacts:

- Foals treated with antibiotics in the first 28 days had significantly lower bacterial diversity at that age.

- These foals won significantly lower prize money in their racing careers.

- They also had a significantly higher rate of developing respiratory disease after 6 months of age.

The researchers believe these health impacts may be related to immunological priming in early life, though the exact reasons are not fully understood.

Work is currently underway to develop novel probiotics that will enhance the gut health of foals in early life and to investigate how antibiotics can be used whilst preserving gut health.

University of Surrey. "Bacterial gut diversity improves the athletic performance of racehorses." ScienceDaily, August 2024.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-64657-6

27/07/2024

Research is ignored because forces interactions, kinematics, and kinetics contradict the cultist of classical dressage. For them. it is not about the purity of the art and the horse's quality of life and soundness' it is about submitting horses and riders to what they have decided to believe. One after the other, you see exposed on video the brutality of renown riders. Brutality has always existed. the difference is that is is now filmed. The problem is that riding and training techniques are about exploiting the talent of extraordinary horses without developing and coordinating their physique for the athletic demands of the performance. Horses perform out of their talent with a dysfunctional physique. Horses endure pain until they revolt or pathology ends their active life. Less extraordinary, talented horses are forcefully trained. Brutality is the outcome of training techniques unable to develop and coordinate efficiently the horses' physique and the pressure to perform. We have a knowledge of the horse's physiology advanced enouhgh to prepare efficiently the horse's mind and physique for the athletic demand of modern performances. It demands respect, intelligence, and ethics that many riders have but the show ring does not reward quality. A skilled horse doing the tricks with a dysfunctional physique is rewarded, as well as a talented horse efficiently coordinated for the athletic demand of the performance and executing the move effortlessly and soundly. The show ring and, consequently, the social media influencers have an interest in keeping riders at a primitive level. I observe with the Science of Motion biotensegrity approach that when riders discover the pleasure of developing and coordinating the horse's physique for the athletic demand of the performance, riders shift their priorities. The show ring became a futile mascarade compared to the immense pleasure of educating the horse how to do it effortlessly and soundly at ease. Riders discover that the concept of obedience altered their intuition and talent as severely as their horse. Jean Luc

17/07/2024

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗠𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗪𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆?

At Pony Club, our horses participate in various activities, and it's essential to consider their well-being. As responsible owners, we need to be mindful of how much work is suitable for our horses. Researchers have studied the ideal weight-carrying capacity of horses to help us make informed decisions.

As outlined in Pony Club Australia's horse welfare policy, the combined weight of the rider and saddlery should not exceed 20% of the horse’s weight. For example, a 13.2hh pony weighing 400kg should not carry a rider weighing more than 80kg with gear.

𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲'𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁
If you're unsure of your horse's weight, you can estimate it using a tape measure and this horse weight calculator: https://bit.ly/3VZlPSm

𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝘅𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗺 𝗥𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁
Once you know your horse's weight, you can calculate its maximum rider weight using this handy tool: https://bit.ly/4d3nVHG. Note that this tool assumes a well-balanced rider, a horse at their ideal weight, and a properly fitting saddle.

𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗠𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗪𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆

𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯
A horse that can easily carry weight usually has a well-muscled, short back and thick cannon bones. This horse will have a lower centre of gravity compared to a horse with long legs and a long, weak back. Always consider your horse's build and adjust their fitness plans accordingly.

𝘍𝘪𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 & 𝘉𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦
The fitness and balance of both horse and rider are crucial. An unfit or unbalanced horse will struggle to support the rider’s weight while maintaining its own balance. Similarly, an unfit rider—or one that is too tall for the horse or pony—can throw off the horse’s balance, leading to discomfort and potential injury. Ensuring both horse and rider are in good condition is essential for a safe and enjoyable ride.

𝘋𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 & 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬
Activities over rough terrain, for longer durations, and at increased speeds demand more effort from the horse. Only attempt such activities if both horse and rider are fit enough to handle the increased physical demands.

𝘌𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 & 𝘏𝘰𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘦
Always ensure your equipment meets the needs of the activity. A properly fitting saddle distributes the rider’s weight evenly without causing muscle soreness. Regular hoof care is also vital; hooves should be trimmed to provide a balanced, flat surface for weight-bearing. For horses that wear down their hooves quickly or have thin soles, consider using shoes or protective boots based on professional advice from a farrier or veterinarian.

𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲-𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲
Understanding your horse’s weight and the maximum weight it can carry ensures their welfare and promotes a long, healthy partnership. Always consider your horse’s physical condition, the demands of the activities you engage in, and the quality of your equipment to keep your horse happy and healthy.

10/07/2024

Well done team! 🤗

01/06/2024

Horses have never and nor will be ever designed to have beneficial effects from riding

So quite the bold statement and as I watch droves of followers maybe leave because of that statement, but try and stay to read on we must know that there is no beneficial advance to a horse having a rider on its back, evolution has not prepared them for this job it’s the fact that they were probably faster and more willing than other species when we were thinking of a work animal or a battle animal (and when we look back at the horses then some horses today are so far away from what we would consider an animal best equipped for the job)

So, don't leave yet because if you start at this base line then you either don't ride or you make damn sure that your horse is at the peak of health and fitness to be able to do what we want (yes what we want not what they choose)

We need more realists in the equine world who are going to tell you how it is not sugar coat things if we take our rose-tinted glasses off as to why our horses may not be able to perform the task that we ask of it then we might just get longevity and quality to their lives, rather than the fast turnover of horses continually breaking down

Balance ...you cannot ask a horse even to consider balancing another moving force without it or the moving force placed upon it being fit, healthy and balanced and if this means a long time on the ground before you get on then so be it.

Strength... A weak structure and foundation will lead to failure, if your horses haven't the strength to carry itself correctly again add another moving force and the foundation will become even more unstable and weak

Feed...internal health is so important, what we feed on the inside will show on the outside and that doesn't mean fancy smanchy expensive feeds it means you need to meet your horses Nutrional needs and feed it according to the work its doing remember the bacteria in the hind gut will start dying off at around 6 hours without anything passing through so especially in winter where our horses are stabled for long periods of time that amount of hours can be the realism for some horses (don't shoot me if that may different now i was taught that over 30 years ago things may have moved on lol)

Time out...we need to let our horses just be horses for the majority of the day we owe them that much, a horse must be able to have room to move and i mean if they want to gallop they have enough room to build up speed as if a horse is frightened by something yet never has the means to escape then what will it be doing to their nervous system are they forever trapped in flight mode without the ability to reach a peak to then come back down

Time...the last growth plates to fuse at the most important part and usually the most common areas we see dysfunction throughout the horse's life the last growth plate can close as late as 8 years old in some horses, yet we are overdoing things at 2,3 and mostly 4 yrs. old, how many horses do we see with lower neck and lower back issues in later years when coincidentally these are the last areas where the growth plate closes

Teeth and feet. The effect of imbalance or pain in these areas will have ripple effects throughout the body and no amount of bodywork will compensate for continual pain in these areas. In fact, I will say more feet than teeth as i see way more foot pain and dysfunction than I do incorrect dental structures, just pick your horses foot up have a look at the heels are they nice and plump or flat and hard and that is just one area I often see

Pain....changing tack, injections etc will only let us know the area no longer has pain the horse will still think the area may hurt again we go back to time for the horse to process that an area will no longer be in pain, how long I don't know we cannot ask the horse....and with that you may have removed or changed the offending object but do you think that it only affects one area remember one lame leg means the whole body will move differently

We are so lucky in these times we have so much information on ways to help our horses, but we need to listen to our horses after all we are supposed to have a partnership. And f we start at the basis of I am going to help my horse be as fit and healthy for the job I ask it to do then it’s a good starting point. Be a realist if your horse keeps saying no then listen, sometimes we cannot help them all, sometimes you may have got as far as you can and even sometimes, we have to make hard decisions, but we must always have the horses best interests we must never lose sight of the fact we must come second in our dreams the horse must always come first.

A healthy well balanced and confident horse can be more challenging as they may always ask the question why, but much better than a sore, unbalanced horse that may do the job while slowly breaking down

Are you still here it wasn't so bad lol my rants are always rubbish lol

31/05/2024

If anyone, anywhere tells you to pull the horses head down (or uses leverage and gadgets to do so) they have no knowledge of healthy horse biomechanics or of correct training.
The horse's nose must always lead, with the poll highest and the gullet open. The base of the ears mustn't be lower than the withers. The jaw must be mobile. If the horse cannot chew and swallow, the hindlegs cannot operate correctly. If the hindlegs cannot operate correctly, the horse will not be able to jump, or stay off the forehand, or stay sound.
"Don’t be obsessed with the head and neck, learn to feel what the hindquarters are doing." ~ Glenys Shandley

07/05/2024

😅

Slight alteration 😀😀

03/04/2024

Absolutely! It’s really not fair nor ok to ride your horse in a saddle that doesn’t fit and hurts your horse. Not only that, it might be hurting yourself.

"I can't afford a new (different) saddle"

Shifting the focus.

Our horses, regardless of what we paid for them, regardless of pedigree, experience level or career, deserve the absolute best care.
Proper care extends well beyond feed, farrier and veterinary. It includes compassionate training, additional supportive therapies, adequate time-off for recovery, suitable turn out in a herd and properly fitting tack.

We often hear the complaint "I can't afford a new (different) saddle" which for some reason is accepted as an excuse to ride your horse in a saddle that causes physical and psychological stress.
If someone were to say "I can't afford a vet", they would be looked at as negligent, but for any other area of care the excuse is widely accepted.

The hard truth is, horses cost money. It is by no means a cheap sport, and just like with having a pet, you take on the financial responsibility when you purchase/adopt that animal.

That said, we have seen pet owners sell whatever they could to afford the veterinary care their animal needs. We have seen people save whatever they can to put towards the care of their animals, horse or otherwise. But when it comes to saddles, something that can cause an incredible amount of physical and behavioral issues, few are willing to make the sacrifice.

The narrative needs to change. Saddles are not a luxury item, they are not just a piece of tack, they are integral parts of proper care for your horse, whether you like it or not.

03/03/2024

There is sooo much going on in the horse world right now with people bringing to light abusive trainers and training practices. It’s about time this comes out! It’s been happening for a long time, but somehow they were able to keep it tucked away.

No longer. It’s being exposed more and more.

And I believe this is just the beginning. I think we are going to see more coming out in the very near future. In fact, I think this is going to be the year of revolution!

And while it is disheartening and sad to learn the truth of what is happening behind closed doors in many trainers’ barns, it is important that it comes out and is exposed to light. Finally.

So that things can change.

So that the ordinary people like you and me can create what it is that we DO want.

The Dressage community feels very intense about this issue. And they should! We NEED to be outraged when we experience abuses of power.

I also see many people feeling a sense of frustration at the slowness of reaction. They feel the urgency and yet, something feels like it has the brakes on, at the same time. There is this sense of an urgency to DO something about this, but the “powers that be” are slow to react and/or are only putting up a façade of taking action, in hopes that it will be enough to calm the people down. In the end, this just reinforces the sense that ALL is not right in Dressage world and it goes deeper than we all realized.

It is time to dig deep to dig up those secrets and bring out the truth of the corruption in the organizations and judging. I believe we WILL see more come to light. We will see more of the behind-the-scenes corruption that has led to the industry’s policy of keeping these abuses “hush-hush”.

I want to encourage each of you to step into your sovereignty as warriors for the truth and what is best for the horses and the greater good of the Dressage community… As warriors for the horse and “Good, Correct Dressage.”

02/02/2024

Pretty accurate 🤭

Welcome to the equestrian world 😅
credits: Pinterest

20/01/2024

You are your horses advocate and it’s your job to act in his or her best interest. If it doesn’t feel right for you both it’s ok to just abort 😉

Read this twice, three, four, multiple times. 🐴

You have every right to say “no thank you, but thanks for your time” at any point you feel someone offering a service to you and your horse is not aligning with your values.

Over the years with training my rather challenging horse, I’ve had professionals tell me the following (and so much more);

“You need to give him a couple of hard smacks and then he’ll do as he’s told”

“You’re not firm enough with him, he’s being naughty”

“He needs to be able to accept the use of a whip”

“Take him for a good blast, make him really tired, and then he’ll listen to you” — even though he was high off adrenaline all the time.

And I’m not going to lie, there were points where I was very “soft” with him, and I let him “get away” with an awful lot… but it was important that he was able to express himself, I could see his reaction and adjust my reaction accordingly. Different saddle, different bit, release his muscles, more strength, a few days off… there are so many reasons why a horse may react in the way they do, and responding with anger and force is not the way these are solved.

I have put my hand up in training sessions before and said “this isn’t working for us, but thank you”, because I’d rather leave with my horses trust than the trainers. How he feels, and how he wants to be trained is far more important to me than letting someone down, or someone thinking I’m too soft.

I spent so long getting my horse to trust me and my judgement, and he knows I wouldn’t ask him to try something that I don’t think he wouldn’t be capable of. Even when pushing outside of his comfort zone. And I learnt early on that just because someone trains their horse in that way, doesn’t mean it’s right for mine, and the trust lost or damaged by trying is heartbreaking.

Horses can be tired, in pain, distracted, sad, excited, blocked before the word naughty and evasive should ever be used. Trust your gut 🐴