G'evening!
Sometimes, to "cure" a horse, a vet will prescribe an exercise. In general, that is great. I prefer not to medicate problems if possible. But... it is HOW you do an exercise, not that you do an exercise that will determine effectiveness. If you do something for training, for fitness, for gymnastic or skeletal health, or any other reason, there are always parameters that will define the success of an exercise or movement. Often times, the vet doesn't give the rider those parameters. Unfortunately, the purpose becomes lost. Sometimes, damage is increased. I have heard a vet order "trot sets" of 15 minutes to build stamina. I have heard many vets ordering "hill work". Both of these orders have great potential to improve a horse... or to break down a horse if executed poorly. Even a healthy horse can be hindered, but one that is already compromised could be destroyed by such work, if done poorly.
The working balance, tempo regulation, stride length, overall suppleness, state of mind and other things must be considered in all exercise intended to improve health and well being. Every time, every day.
Working balance: As opposed to the natural balance, the working trot or canter adjusts the horses posture and flexes his joints with degrees of suppleness necessary for the man-made figures and patterns the horse is required to do under the weight of his rider. Imagine, if a horse is hollow backed... or in-elastic... or mentally fragile... and asked to do hill work, there may be sad side-effects of the "hill therapy." There is a profound mechanical effect on the horse's skeletal system when bearing the weight of a rider up and down hills. Hills are good for the horse ONLY when done with care for the details in all the mechanisms (and minds) that are effected. Also, trot sets done in poor posture would not improve a horse's health either. Working balance is a necessary adjustment of a horse's posture and mechanics for riding.
Tempo regulation: The steadiness of tempo within the gait is necessary for a positive gymnastic effect in such basic things as transitions and changes of rein. The tempo needs to be moderated by the rider. Flux in tempo manipulates the core mechanisms for work in the horse. Insensitivity to tempo irregularities can increase the weakness of a weak leg, or heighten mental anxieties, or many other negative consequences over time. Over months or years of time. Tempo control is a useful tool for positive gymnastic improvement.
Stride length, overall suppleness and state of mind are also often unattended. So, if a vet orders an exercise for your horse, consider thoughtfully the possible parameters that can effect the quality of that movement. It is not that you do the movement, it is how you do the movement.
Here is a question for discussion: Should a horse warm up in a natural balance (often called "frame") or warm up already in the working balance (frame)? I've got my opinion. Let's hear yours.
Sometimes, to "cure" a horse, a vet will prescribe an exercise. In general, that is great. I prefer not to medicate problems if possible. But... it is HOW you do an exercise, not that you do an exercise that will determine effectiveness. If you do something for training, for fitness, for gymnastic or skeletal health, or any other reason, there are always parameters that will define the success of an exercise or movement. Often times, the vet doesn't give the rider those parameters. Unfortunately, the purpose becomes lost. Sometimes, damage is increased. I have heard a vet order "trot sets" of 15 minutes to build stamina. I have heard many vets ordering "hill work". Both of these orders have great potential to improve a horse... or to break down a horse if executed poorly. Even a healthy horse can be hindered, but one that is already compromised could be destroyed by such work, if done poorly.
The working balance, tempo regulation, stride length, overall suppleness, state of mind and other things must be considered in all exercise intended to improve health and well being. Every time, every day.
Working balance: As opposed to the natural balance, the working trot or canter adjusts the horses posture and flexes his joints with degrees of suppleness necessary for the man-made figures and patterns the horse is required to do under the weight of his rider. Imagine, if a horse is hollow backed... or in-elastic... or mentally fragile... and asked to do hill work, there may be sad side-effects of the "hill therapy." There is a profound mechanical effect on the horse's skeletal system when bearing the weight of a rider up and down hills. Hills are good for the horse ONLY when done with care for the details in all the mechanisms (and minds) that are effected. Also, trot sets done in poor posture would not improve a horse's health either. Working balance is a necessary adjustment of a horse's posture and mechanics for riding.
Tempo regulation: The steadiness of tempo within the gait is necessary for a positive gymnastic effect in such basic things as transitions and changes of rein. The tempo needs to be moderated by the rider. Flux in tempo manipulates the core mechanisms for work in the horse. Insensitivity to tempo irregularities can increase the weakness of a weak leg, or heighten mental anxieties, or many other negative consequences over time. Over months or years of time. Tempo control is a useful tool for positive gymnastic improvement.
Stride length, overall suppleness and state of mind are also often unattended. So, if a vet orders an exercise for your horse, consider thoughtfully the possible parameters that can effect the quality of that movement. It is not that you do the movement, it is how you do the movement.
Here is a question for discussion: Should a horse warm up in a natural balance (often called "frame") or warm up already in the working balance (frame)? I've got my opinion. Let's hear yours.
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