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Monday 08:00 - 17:30 Tuesday 08:00 - 17:30 Wednesday 08:00 - 17:30 Thursday 08:00 - 17:30 Friday 08:00 - 17:30 Saturday 08:00 - 17:30 Sunday 08:00 - 17:30

Falconwood Equine Spa

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Falconwood Equine Spa

Falconwood aids in the recovery & rehabilitation of injuries. We offer a wide range of treatments.

We treat all types of equine injuries at Falconwood Equine Spa
We have the following facilities:
*Equine Hydrotherapy Spa
*Solarium, Laser & Magnetic treatments
*Equine sport massage, Myofacial treatments
*Stable yard
*Grass Showjumping arena
*Lunging ring
*Crushes, washing bays
*Safe hacking space

24/04/2024

Muscle: Quadricep Femoris

The quadriceps femoris is a powerful muscle in the hindquarters. The quadriceps femoris muscle, inserting to the patella, serves to extend the stifle joint. It may assist in keeping the patella in locked position. The direction of pull of its three main portions, the vastus medialis, re**us femoris and vastus lateralis.

Function:

All four of the quadricep femoris muscles have a similar function. They protract the hindlimb (bring it forward) by extending the stifle (knee) joint. Let's take a closer look at each quadricep muscle.

Three of the quadricep muscles are very similar. The Vastus Medialis is the most medial (inside) of the vastus muscles. The vastus lateralis is the middle quadricep and is the most lateral (outside). All three of these muscles extend and stabilize the stifle joint.

The Re**us Femoris is a little different. This muscle originates on the illum (pelvis), meaning that in addition to extending and stabilizing the stifle, it can also flex the hip joint.

All of the quadriceps femoris muscles have different origins, but merge together into a single insertion point just above the intermediate patellar ligament.

28/11/2023

Very good read! 🐴

20/11/2023

Semimembranosus:

The semimembranosus is the most medial of the hamstring muscles & is found on the inner thigh of the horse. It is a superficial muscle that is easy to see & palpate.

𝑭𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
Similar to the other hamstring muscles the biceps femoris & semitendinosus, the semimembranosus works to retract the hindlimb. It does this by extending the hip joint. In addition the semimembranosus is able to adduct & internally rotate the hindlimb.

20/11/2023

Congratulations to Leoni Van Der Burgh on the purchase of her new stunning red Instant Cryo and Thermal imaging Machine.

15/11/2023

Christmas has come early! We are running a Christmas special on the fabulous cryo machine and thermal camera. R285 000 ex Vat. We also offer financing through Wesbank. 083 083 391 9258 or [email protected]

02/11/2023

Muscle fibrillation on the TFL of a polo pony

31/10/2023

Biceps Femoris:

This week we will be taking a look at one of the most powerful and complex muscles of the hindquarters, the biceps femoris. The Biceps Femoris is one of three hamstring muscles. Out of the three hamstrings, the biceps femoris is the largest & most lateral (farthest from the midline).

Biceps - A muscle with two points of attachment.

Femoris - Latin for femur. The long bone in the upper leg.

This means that the biceps femoris is a muscle with two points of attachment and is closely tied to the femur bone.

Funtion:

The biceps femoris has two origins. The first origin is along the sacral & caudal vertebrae, as well as the gluteal fascia and sacrotuberous ligament. The second origin is on the ischial tuberosity, which is the back part of the pelvis.

Moving down from the origins, the biceps femoris splits into three parts which are easily visible on many horses. These three parts include many insertion points including the patella (stifle), patella ligaments, tibia, achilles tendon and all of the surrounding crural fascia. One of the insertion points even goes down to the calcaneus, which is the bone at the back of the hock.

Because of the Biceps Femoris complexity, it has a wide array of functions. This is one of the few muscles that is able to both extend & flex a joint, in this case the stifle. It is also able to extend the hip and hock as well as abduct the limb (pull away from midline).

31/10/2023

Just look at these stunning cryo machines in various colours. You can now choose from a variety of colours. Contact us for more info, sales. We offer financing. 083 083 391 9258 or [email protected]

25/10/2023

𝙃𝙄𝙉𝘿𝙇𝙄𝙈𝘽 𝙋𝙍𝙊𝙏𝙍𝘼𝘾𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 - 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙠𝙚𝙮 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙘𝙡𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙

When the hindlimb is brought forward into a protraction stretch the following muscle groups are stretched:

• Hamstring muscle group — semitendinosus, semimembranosus, gracilis
• Bicep femoris
• Gluteals - superficial and accessory
• Longissimus dorsi - lumbar portion

25/10/2023

𝙃𝙄𝙉𝘿𝙇𝙄𝙈𝘽 𝙍𝙀𝙏𝙍𝘼𝘾𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 𝙎𝙏𝙍𝙀𝙏𝘾𝙃 𝙆𝙚𝙮 𝘼𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙘𝙡𝙚 𝙂𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥𝙨

• Longissimus dorsi (lumbar portion)
• Tensor Fascia Lata
• Quadriceps Femoris
• Bicep Femoris
• Gluteals
• Gracilis

25/10/2023

𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐑 & 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐈𝐂 𝐒𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐒𝐘𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐑𝐘

Asymmetry through the shoulders incorporates so many aspects.

• Scapulohumeral joint dysfunction
• Thoracic sling dysfunction - pectoral muscles, Serratus ventralis, trapezius…
• Hoof conformation
• Cervical vertebrae pathology
• Pelvic asymmetry
• Distal limb pathology
• Rider asymmetry…

When there are shoulders in misalignment, it often means there is a spiral of dysfunction throughout the body as well.

The use of very targeted exercises and deep release techniques can correct and address this problem.

This can be an undervalued perspective, so at your next opportunity, try taking a photo of your horse from this angle and see how symmetrical they are.

25/10/2023

The Thoracic Sling:

Did you know that horses don’t have a collarbone?

This means that the only way a horse’s front legs connect to the rest of the body is through soft tissue. We call this connection the thoracic sling. True shoulder problems are pretty uncommon in horses, however it is very common for the soft tissues of the thoracic sling to become tight and sore.

Exercises involving poles particularly walking over poles are one of my favourite exercises. Walking horses over poles on the ground or slightly raised have so many benefits including encouraging the horse to lower his head, lift his thorax and stimulating the thoracic sling muscles.

Bodywork is also a fantastic tool for releasing tension in the thoracic sling!

09/10/2023

MUSCLE ATROPHY (VISIBLE DIP) AT THE WITHERS.

Muscle atrophy can occur when an un-balanced saddle puts too much pressure on a particular area. The horse tries to avoid the pressure, goes onto “defensive mode” by contracting the particular muscle and surrounding muscles, and can even alter his gaits.

An atrophy of Trapezius Cervicus usually shows in a dip in front of the wither and is usually well recognized. It can be caused by poor training practises such as a rider holding the reins or putting the horse's neck in a forced position. The Nuchal ligament might also be compromized.

The nuchal ligament limits forward flexion of the head and the cervical spine. It also serves as the attachment for some major muscles.

Clinical signs include permanent resistance against the reins, with difficulty or unwillingness to lower and flex the head and neck when ridden and poor flexion at the poll. In contrast to horses with back pain, hindlimb impulsion is usually good. The horse may have a tendency to rear or shake its head aswell but not always.

09/10/2023

Horse Blankets: 🐴

How much damage can they do?
When blanketing our horses during cold winter months or the summer rain season or for insect protection, we have the best intention of keeping them warm and protected from the elements and insects. But the design and fit of many blankets can potentially harm your horse and in extreme cases cause major structural problems. A first sign that the edge of your blanket is cutting into the crest and the nuchal ligament of the horse, is the so called ‘blanket-dip’, an indentation right in front of the withers.

A first sign that something is not quite right, is usually a slight indentation right in front of the withers, often coupled with hairloss, coldness to touch (lack of circulation) and possibly stiffness and soreness in the horse. It’s hard to put two and two together. We blanket our horse to keep him warm and protected from the elements and often don’t think that such a relatively light piece of equipment such as a blanket can do damage to our horse.

But indeed, most blankets even though available in many different sizes are still not customized enough to fit every horse. The blanket pulls down on the front edge and causes the so called ‘blanket-dip’.

What this means to the horse’s anatomy:

The blanket edge presses on the fatty tissue of the crest and the underlying nuchal ligament. The nuchal ligament starts at the poll and attaches at the withers, making it an elementary component of equine biomechanics. This ligament together with the supraspinous ligament serves as the ‘string’ in the ‘suspension bridge’ of the horse’s back.

When the horse stretches his neck forward, the nuchal ligament is put in traction, pulling on the
withers’ spinous processes, causing them to rise. This effect extends all along the horse’s back – the traction is transmitted to the tendon-like supraspinous ligament, which, as a direct continuation of the nuchal ligament, connects all of the back’s
spinous processes.” And it is mainly the nuchal ligament that helps the horse lift his back by stretching it forward.”

Impeding or even damaging this important ligament can lead to anything from minor discomfort and restriction to major loss of soundness, requiring lengthy rehabilitation. Stiffness, choppy strides, disjointed movement can be first pointers that something is causing damage or restriction to this ligament.

If you are blanketing your horse, investigate carefully whether the blanket is restricting the nuchal ligament. If you find a dip, coldness to touch or loss of hair, you will want to make changes. Having a knowledgeable tailor make custom changes to your blanket or buying a blanket that has a different design, such as the “Rambo Wug” or “Rhino Wug” by Horseware Ireland may be a good idea, if your horse cannot go without blanket.

09/10/2023

What Are Carrot Stretches?

A carrot stretch is a active stretch that is often done with a treat to encourage your animal to soften, stretch and bend.

Active Stretching vs. Passive Stretching
Passive stretches are those that remain in a position for a length of time, allowing it to deepen and using a tool or partner. For example, a tail stretch would be considered a passive stretch. It cannot be done without a partner (you) and is held for a longer period of time.

An active stretch is one where the horse is activating their own muscles without the use of tools or a partner. For best results and to avoid risk of injury, this type of stretch should be used when muscles are already warmed up from a ride or a professional massage session, but NOT grooming. There are a lot of pros when it comes to active stretches, however, there is also the biggest risk of injury.

Can carrot stretches hurt your horse.Yes they can if done INCORRECTLY!

Stretches must be precise or they are problematic. On the left: a proper bow technique with an experienced horse. Note the straight head and extended neck. If not guided into the correct position, this could result in compression, herniated disks, tight muscles, and much more.
Most people have no idea what they are doing and either ask for a stretch that is not healthy for their animal, a stretch past the horse’s abilities, stretching a cold muscle, or not listening when their horse says it hurts. After all, the horse is going to try their best to do what you ask because, hello TREAT.

If done incorrectly, carrot stretches can:

Cause a pulled muscle.
Create herniated disks in the poll or neck.
Form incorrect patterns in the spine, muscle, or ligaments/tendons that later become problematic and result in conformation that is unhealthy.

04/10/2023

Capped hock

04/10/2023

🐴 Assess the Wither 🐴

When we approach strength in the horses body, the neck, hindquarters & the back are the main areas that are discussed.

But the withers can be a great indicator of if your horse is building muscle & how it is building muscles.

And that is super important as muscle should be developing to enhance your horses body, not to support its compensations. And often when the withers are not showing signs of functioning at optimum biomechanically level it can be a sign that your horse may not be building strength & muscle correctly.

The characteristic of atrophy & compression of the thoracic trapezius, dip in front of the wither and over-recruitment of the nuchal ligament as a supporting lever, over-development of the underside of the neck and reduced ability to flex the neck either side or maintain a consistent contact are an accumulation of signs potentially indicating wither dysfunction.

01/09/2023

Congratulations to Kristina Plattner on the purchase of her new ECB Instant Cryo machine.

Address

Pretoria

Opening Hours

Monday	08:00 - 17:30
Tuesday	08:00 - 17:30
Wednesday	08:00 - 17:30
Thursday	08:00 - 17:30
Friday	08:00 - 17:30
Saturday	08:00 - 17:30
Sunday	08:00 - 17:30

Website

http://www.falconwood.co.za/

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Videos

Muscle fibrillation on the TFL of a polo pony

Look at the spasm on this Tensor Fasciae Latae muscles. 😳 The Tensor Fasciae Latae is a superficial muscle located in the horse's hindquarter. It is complex in nature due to its multiple attachments. The muscle originates at the Tuber Coxae [Point of Hip] - sharing a partial partnership with the Superficial Gluteal

Nothing beats ECB's amazing equine products. Only the best for the best. Contact us to own your own ECB Hydro spa, Aqua Treadmill or mobile instant cryo machine. 083 391 9258