Equine Health & Fitness

27/08/2024

27/08/2024

Highly recommend to subscribe to The Equine Documentalist if you would like to have better understanding of your horses feet!

23/08/2024

Inability to meet a need ≠ that the need is wrong.

The failure of modern manufacturing does not determine whether a specific need is right or wrong.

For example, if a person requires size 9 shoes, but manufacturers only provide sizes 8 and 10, does that then mean the measurements of the foot are incorrect due to the manufacturers inability to meet that specific need?

This applies to saddle fitting and the failure of the many manufacturers to not only meet the specific needs of the horse, but also in the misrepresentation of their products and misinformation spread regarding the needs of the horse.

Such misinformation as "this saddle never needs to be adjusted" or "fits every horse" or as we most recently saw was “maximum freedom of movement” as a justification of short, forward-facing tree points..

What a horse requires in a saddle is not determined by the manufacturer, but the horse, based on the anatomy and biomechanics to prevent pain, injury and compensatory postures.

To cherry-pick what is and isn't important based on what is available on the market, or what is easiest and cheapest to manufacture is inherently wrong and is what has lead to the constant crippling of horses by saddles, reps and some fitters.

Demand drives the industry, but so long as people remain uneducated about the importance and methodology behind anatomy-based saddle fitting, manufacturers have no reason to change as saddles continue to be purchased.

From independent saddle makers utilizing the CEE course for their saddle designs, to both high-level and everyday riders demanding manufacturers provide better saddle options, the industry CAN change for the better and it starts with each and every single one of you!��Comment ‘EDUCATION’ and we will select a free resource to send to you right now!

23/08/2024

Great visual representation!

10/08/2024

Horses Inside Out always has great tips !

31/07/2024

Heels !!! Trim or not to trim and to what extent ??? Master Farrier Yogi Sharp delves into answering this question. Highly recommend The Equine Documentalist to learn about shoeing, hoofs and more!

20/07/2024

This is real and so often overlooked issue
And lots of time it starts with bad fitting saddle!

29/04/2024

Highly recommend Dr. Dysons course! It will forever change the way you look and evaluate horses!

Recognizing Uncomfortable Horses - Should be a Basic Skill for Everyone

Learn more about this instructional, eye-opening course that should be an integral part of learning for owners and professionals alike.

https://www.equitopiacenter.com/shop/how-to-recognize-the-24-behaviors-indicating-pain-in-the-ridden-horse-dr-sue-dyson/

23/04/2024

Love the tips from Horses Inside Out!!

TUESDAY TIP - 𝐁𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐄𝐗𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐈𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐀 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐒𝐄

Turns, loops, circles, figures of eight and serpentines are all great exercises to incorporate into your horse's training.

Combine them together and you have an infinite number of beneficial bending exercises.

1. Begin with shallow loops and large circles to promote balance, suppleness and accuracy.
2. Progress to tighter turns, smaller diameters and exercises that require more changes of bend as your horse becomes stronger and more flexible.
3. The intensity of all these bending exercises can be increased by varying the gait, degree of collection, speed and tempo.

22/04/2024

What can Activo-Med PEMF blanket do for your horse ?

PEMF therapy is often used for horses because it offers several potential benefits for their health and well-being:

1. **Pain Relief:** PEMF therapy has been shown to help alleviate pain in horses. It can be particularly useful for managing musculoskeletal issues such as arthritis, tendonitis, and muscle soreness. By reducing pain and inflammation, PEMF therapy can improve a horse's comfort and mobility.

2. **Enhanced Healing:** PEMF therapy may promote faster healing of injuries and wounds in horses. It can stimulate cellular repair processes, increase blood flow to injured tissues, and accelerate the formation of new blood vessels. This can lead to quicker recovery times for injuries such as strains, sprains, and wounds.

3. **Improved Circulation:** PEMF therapy can enhance blood circulation in horses, which is essential for delivering oxygen and nutrients to tissues throughout the body. Improved circulation can help maintain the health of muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other structures, as well as support overall cardiovascular function.

4. **Reduced Inflammation:** Inflammation is a common issue in horses, especially those involved in strenuous activities or suffering from chronic conditions. PEMF therapy has anti-inflammatory effects, which can help reduce swelling, pain, and stiffness associated with inflammatory conditions.

5. **Relaxation and Stress Reduction:** PEMF therapy can have a calming effect on horses, promoting relaxation and reducing stress and anxiety. This can be beneficial for nervous or high-strung horses, as well as those recovering from trauma or undergoing rehabilitation.

6. **Support for Performance and Training:** PEMF therapy may support horses' performance and training by helping to prevent injuries, enhance recovery between workouts, and improve overall physical condition. Many horse owners and trainers incorporate PEMF therapy into their horses' wellness routines to maintain optimal health and fitness.

Overall, PEMF therapy offers a non-invasive and drug-free approach to supporting horses' health and performance. When used as part of a comprehensive care plan, PEMF therapy can contribute to the overall well-being and longevity of horses, making it a valuable tool for horse owners, trainers, and veterinarians alike.

INQUIRE ABOUT FREE DEMO at 561 -951-2555!

www.activomed.com

20/04/2024

PEMF mechanism of action explained:

Let's break down the mechanism of action of PEMFs step by step:

1. **Generation of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (PEMFs):** PEMFs are generated using devices that create specific patterns of electromagnetic fields. These fields consist of fluctuating electric and magnetic fields, typically with low frequencies and specific waveforms.

2. **Interaction with Cells:** When PEMFs encounter living cells, they pe*****te through the cell membranes and interact with the cell's internal environment. This interaction occurs because the electromagnetic fields can easily pass through cell walls.

3. **Effect on Cell Membrane:** The electromagnetic fields cause tiny vibrations in charged particles on the surface of the cell membrane. This vibration affects the behavior of ions (charged particles) near the membrane.

4. **Influence on Ion Channels:** The vibrations induced by PEMFs can disrupt the normal functioning of ion channels in the cell membrane. Ion channels are like tiny gates that control the flow of ions in and out of cells. Disrupting these channels can alter the balance of ions inside and outside the cell.

5. **Cellular Responses:** The disturbances in ion channel activity triggered by PEMFs can lead to various cellular responses, including changes in cell signaling pathways, alterations in gene expression, and modulation of cellular functions such as proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis (programmed cell death).

6. **Propagation of Effects:** The effects of PEMFs may propagate and amplify along signaling pathways within the cell. This means that a small initial disruption caused by PEMFs can trigger a cascade of biological responses within the cell.

7. **Intracellular Signaling:** PEMFs stimulate the production of signaling molecules within the cell, known as second messengers. These molecules play crucial roles in transmitting signals from the cell membrane to the cell nucleus, regulating various cellular processes.

8. **Biological Effects:** The changes induced by PEMFs at the cellular level can have broader biological effects. For example, they influence the release of growth factors, the production of nitric oxide, and the activation of signaling pathways such as the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) and Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase (ERK) pathways.

In summary, the mechanism of action of PEMFs involves their interaction with cell membranes, modulation of ion channel activity, and subsequent effects on cellular signaling pathways and functions. This can lead to a range of biological responses that have therapeutic implications for treating various diseases and promoting tissue repair and regeneration.

Making horses happy! Great resource for all type of equine needs!

17/04/2024

What is PEMF therapy and what does it do for horses ?

Confusion persists regarding magnetotherapy and its mechanisms. This blog aims to clarify PEMF therapy, a subset of magnetotherapy, which offers diverse applications in treating musculoskeletal conditions and beyond. Compared to static magnetotherapy, PEMF therapy has garnered significant scientific interest and demonstrated therapeutic benefits in numerous clinical studies.

The term PEMF stands for PULSED ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS. But what exactly do they entail?

These fields are generated when an electric current passes through coils of copper or aluminum wire, known as solenoids, or around a radiant circuit. The device producing the current controls the strength and frequency of the magnetic field it emits.
PEMF therapy specifically targets cells in the body by using electromagnetic waves to create changes in the cell membrane, which leads to increased blood flow, improved oxygenation, and enhanced nutrient exchange.

Clinical research in this area has demonstrated that these electromagnetic waves can regenerate the biomagnetic field at the cellular level, promoting the exchange of nutrients and waste both inside and outside the cells.
This biological process makes PEMF therapy ideal for treating chronic pain and inflammation relating to the musculoskeletal system. This means that the majority of areas of the body from the neck down to the feet can be treated.

My personal favorite is Activo-Med Professional blanket because it has 18 different pre set programs and ability to create your own custom programs with frequency all the way up to 50Hz and intensity up to 78Gaus which is 7,8000 microTesla!

More info at: https://equinehf.systeme.io

31/03/2024

Sweet potatoes for horses Myth

I am getting questions from several platforms asking if it’s true that sweet potatoes are a treatment for equine gastric ulcers and metabolic problems. Sweet potatoes are way too high in star…

29/03/2024

Another great webinar available! Love this resource

There are many horses with back problems including kissing spines – whether you have a horse with this condition or not, learning as much about it is a good thing to do. In this on-demand webinar with the help of Gillian’s anatomically painted horses, anatomical bones and real horse bones, disco...

28/03/2024

DETECT – UNDERSTAND – OPTIMIZE

If you are looking for innovative solutions and services to optimize horse's health and increase its performance, look no further. EQUUSIR offers Health & Performance Management (HPM) that connects nature, science, awareness, and technology to ensure your horse's well-being.

Our application for health and training focuses on maintaining long-term physical health and sustainably promoting performance. We ensure balanced energy management through a holistic approach that considers both the body and the psyche.

https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/features/equusir-best-box-818015

https://youtu.be/yRzUSxZWD94

https://youtu.be/Ok-ry1iA6R4

11/03/2024

07/03/2024

An excerpt from "Pole Work for Dressage Riders" by Ann Katrin Querbach.

17/02/2024

Your horse needs to be relaxed and soft when you ask him to stretch, which can be tricky during a dressage test if you are full of nerves.

15/02/2024

Let’s talk about High-Low Conformations

When the angle difference between hooves exceeds 1.5 degrees, the horses conformation can be labeled as high-low conformation opening the door for complexities in the musculoskeletal system (Hobbs et al., 2018). Skeletal asymmetry is a natural facet of biological variation, impacting coordination and balance, and often revealing itself in equine training challenges (Watson et al., 2003).
So how do you manage a high-low horse?

High-low hooves are functionally the same as having a sub-clinical lameness! Importantly we must remember that horses are quadrupeds, these asymmetries create imbalanced propulsion and have to be compensated for in order to maintain intended speed and direction.

Beyond the biomechanics, high-low hooves create a ripple effect through the entire musculoskeletal system, potentially leading to orthopedic issues, lots of torque through the entire trunk to emphasize one that can be seen in the image.. Dr. Ridgeway (2016) emphasizes the importance of interventions that increase symmetry and balance.

In these cases, it becomes an art of individualized care from the whole team, farrier, dentist, physio, chiropractor, vet saddle fitter etc etc.
for the farrier, O'Grady (2019) suggests assessing each hoof independently, tailoring the shoeing approach to optimize biomechanical function. The goal is not to create a matching pair but to restore balance and functionality. Foot mapping emerges as a valuable tool in this quest.
Appropriate trimming and/or shoeing combined with appropriate bodywork and riding is the key to keeping these horses sound.

One thing remains clear – it's a process that requires collaboration among practitioners, regular monitoring, and a keen eye on the horse's unique needs. Which is why we are enjoying our educational collaboration with the London College of Animal Osteopathy - LCAO! If you're interested in furthering your osteopathy education follow this link: www.animalosteopathycollege.com/product/international-diploma-in-equine-osteopathy?

For more reading on this topic: https://www.theequinedocumentalist.com/post/high-low-hoof-conformation-farriery-and-whole-horse-relevance

High-low affects a significant proportion of the sport horse population and we will be discussing the effects and interventions in an upcoming webinar..

https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/courses/modern-sport-horse

10/02/2024

Alternatively, I could say that I was promoting the concept that comfortable horses are ‘happy’ athletes and providing evidence that they are likely to perform better than horses experiencing discomfort. I also had the opportunity to spend several hours watching the warm-up arena for the showjum...

06/02/2024

This article explains exactly why it’s not a piece of cake to Import a European horse and make it into American superstar!

Germans are great at a lot of things. However, clearing snow from train tracks is not a strength. As I stood struggling to decipher the ever-changing schedule of arrivals, departures and delays in the frigid breezeway of the Cologne station, it occurred to me that this must be what horses feel like....

04/02/2024

Two equine biomechanics researchers share insight on how to properly use equipement such as elastic bands, longeing systems, and rein rigs.

11/01/2024

07/11/2023

Great article!

https://www.yourhorse.co.uk/horse-care/gastric-ulcers/?fbclid=IwAR2hKO2mUiwlFQF3YYDJts__8zcr9pg-Rmkq6_0NibL3ODVs_yG-b3Ocggw_aem_AT7wEAEmzqDcx77YqlqJYk0wrul-BJYCVwo60-5hvssC1Wtc52BAeIqQu43RQyHXhXA

There are two distinct types of gastric ulcers in horses, one affected by intensity of exercise and the other by the amount of exercise

29/10/2023

https://youtu.be/JYpjd-scYkg?si=AZpNUvWr5KxRbFcK

28/10/2023

“ISH” is a 16.3 , 10 yo imported KWPN gelding by famous NUMERO UNO X TOMINKA
Competed through 1.45 in Europe and through 1.30 in USA until he was snatched for his talent for Equitation
Recently won 3”6 Maclay medal
as well as getting a Reserve Champion couple weeks ago with a weekend lease
Amateur friendly, simple ride that has endless potential!
Puppy dog personality.
PPEs welcome! Grab him before season starts !
On site trials welcome!

https://youtu.be/JYpjd-scYkg?si=AZpNUvWr5KxRbFcK

https://youtu.be/mvCXeTamWTA?si=7NbWXrY8aJDrWG_A

Price: Low sixes
S*x: Gelding
Birth Year: 2013
Age: 10- Year Old
Breed: KWPN
Discipline(s): Hunter/Equitation
Color: Bay
Height: 16.3
Sire: NUMERO UNO
Currently Showing: Yes
X Rays: PPE welcome
Location: Florida

15/10/2023

Incredible article and a podcast !

Did you know that Shivers and/or Stringhalt is not a neurological disorder but rather nerve damage or entrapment often caused by an injury to the iliopsoas muscle or issues within the lumbosacral junction. This can create uncontrollable muscle spasms and nerve firing (uncontrollable snapping or shak

20/08/2023

“Worden noted that most injuries are due to either bad movement mechanics or poor training programs. “If the horse’s body is moving efficiently, and there is a good balance between the amount of work performed versus recovery methods, then there should not be many injuries,” he said. “When injuries do arise, it is important to examine the training program’s composition and how the horses are moving themselves- both in exercise and throughout their day.”

Understanding how and why injuries in sport horses happen might be the best way to prevent them.

17/08/2023

Top hunter/jumper/equitation trainer Kip Rosenthal offers exercises to enable you to move fluidly with your horse’s motion and communicate more effectively.

05/08/2023