ARE YOU SEEING WHAT I AM SEEING?
NoBackPain
Copyright © 2019 Nobackpain.dk v. Linda & Palle Thilqvist
nr. 3. april 2019
THE RIDER'S INFLUENCE ON THE HORSE
TRAINING MANUAL PART 2
THE RIDER
art2ride
Classical Foundation Training
Read more on page 15
Read more on page 3
Welcome
The magazine is now published in danish, English and German. Everyone is working on a voluntary basis, in order to spread the the word of a better and more appropriate way of training horses. We all hope that our work may be contributing to that more horses will have a longer and better life. I want to thank all of you who’s writing articles and translating. I think it’s outstanding that you want to do this. I’m proud, happy and it warms my heart. So a huge thanks to you. There probably wont be much changes in the equestrian sport in my lifetime, but I can however, be glad that I have the opportunity to help people who have problems with their horses. The interest in improving and helping horses without using force and violence grow bigger and bigger. I am busy, which is the reason why the magazine comes a little later than expected. But I am happy!! I have now experienced people bringing back their horses into work, horses that they had almost given up on. The interest in Art2Ride is growing. And it’s amazing to experience that. We can all make a difference and we should do so. It is not okay that horses are being worked with overly tightened nosebands, harsh bits and all sorts of possible and impossible gadgets. The poor horses who’s trained in these ways are screaming for help. No matter how big of a fan you are of a rider, it isn’t alright if their horses have blue tongues or marks from the spurs. It isn’t alright either if you can see by the horses muscles that it is worked in a wrong way. Broken neck lines and hunters bump aren't correct. If the back is hanging between the wither and the hips, then that isn’t ok either. Open your eyes and distinguish it. It isn’t a mountain bike that we’re dealing with. There isn’t much improvement to see in the dressage sport and the Icelandic sport is now just as bad. Weights are used to get these small horses to lift their legs up higher. The riders are sitting far back on their horses loins, in the attempt to get a better and more spectacular artificial gait. Look at those poor horses backs, are they hanging or what? How pleasant might that be to the horse? I feel so sorry for those small, clever horses. Sometimes it feels like mission impossible. But there’s nothing else to do but keep on going. I can however enjoy that my own horses are getting better and better. No matter kissing spine, previous injuries and so on, they keeps getting better. Their gaits has changed and so has their spirit and joy regarding the work. It is now a true pleasure to work with them. I hope that many more will experience this with their own horses. And maybe the magazine can be to some sort of help. Besides the magazine it’s possible to read more about our training of the horses according to Art2Ride's principles on www.nobackpain.dk The founders of Art2Ride, William Faerber and Karen Losbaugh has the website www.art2ride.com You can found videos regarding this training on Art2Ride’s youtube channel There is help to be found in the Facebook group Art2Ride Fans & Followers And on the Facebook page Art2Ride Danmark If you want to read more about saddles visit Peter Horobin's website Kriemhild Morgenroth’s website if you are in Europe. Karen Loshbaugh's website if you are in the USA Karl Middleton's website if you are in England Phil Maddox's website if you are in New Zealand Enjoy Linda Thilqvist
to the 3. Edition of the E-magazine NoBackPain
Guest writer Tytti Vanhala - Art2Ride associated trainer Next chapter in the instructional manual for Art2Ride trainers
Guest writer Karli Starman - Art2Ride associated trainer What we need to be looking at when watching horses move.
Guest writer Charlotte Ravnbo - authorized Physiotherapist and Horse physiotherapist The rider's influence on the horse
Linda Thilqvist - NoBackPain - Art2Ride associated trainer What we as riders should think about when we get up on a horse.
Read more on page 29
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Read more on page 25
2.1.2. Under developed muscles over the topline, but otherwise healthy This is the condition level where you will most likely be starting from. You could call it also the ‘zero point’. That is, when the horse has developed no muscle mass and strength along the topline muscles, but has no chronic injuries or illnesses. The lower neck muscling is most likely over developed while the upper neck is thin and short in comparison. Depending on the conformation, the withers are either non-existent or very sharp and void of muscles. The shoulders are very close to the withers and there is no lift of the ribcage by the sling muscles. Back has a general lack of muscling and can be either hollow and sunken or normal to straight depending on previous training and the horse’s conformation. There may be a clear bump showing on top of the croup due to lack of muscling both on the back and the hind quarters. The loins are usually also concave due to lack of back and core muscles. Abdominal cavity is usually hanging and distended, because of lack of abdominal muscle strength.
TYTTI VANHALA ART2RIDE ASSOCIATED TRAINER 2. The welfare of the horse Next chapter in the instructional manual for Art2Ride trainers discusses the starting point and what you should think before starting to train. 2.1. Physical condition Before you start training your horse it is important to evaluate where he is both physically and mentally. You need to know of any possible chronic issues before you begin, because these will have an effect on your training and will determine how carefully and meticulously you should proceed. If needed, veterinarians, body workers, osteopaths, chiropractors, farriers, etc. should be consulted. Make sure that anyone you use and ask to treat your horse is accredited in a proper manner and has a good reputation and proven ability in what they do. 2.1.1. Well muscled horse Starting with a horse that is already nicely muscled over his topline and has no health issues is of course the most ideal situation. This type of horse has well developed upper neck and back muscles. The abdominal and sling muscles are toned and strong. The back is normal to straight and will have no excessive dip. The lower neck stays relaxed and even when these muscles would be in use when the horse looks up and around they won’t bulge excessively. This type of horse should find no difficulty in starting to stretch and will develop further a lot faster than a horse with underlying issues or no muscles.
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"TRAINING- MANUAL Part 2"
2.1.3. Broken neckline When a horse has been systematically drawn into a higher frame without the supporting topline muscles and worked consistently behind the vertical line, ligaments along the vertebrae gradually overstretch and cause the appearance of a break in the neckline of a horse. This is a serious fault because as long as the ligaments are overstretched and the neckline is broken, no proper connection between the hind and front ends of the horse is possible. Thus the horse cannot be in balance with his body let alone be collected. There is a kind of short circuit in the system and the movement wave from back to front is unable to follow through the whole horse. Repairing the overstretched ligament takes a long time (about a year or even longer), very consistent work and soft hands with only very light contact. Even when the neckline has returned to normal, a horse that has been over stretched like this is very liable to keep on over bending his neck very easily even with light contact when ever he feels that the work is difficult or when he is stiff in his body. Another telling sign of a broken neckline is a horse with very prominent and overdeveloped neck muscles along the area of 2-4rd vertebrae only. The muscles can be seen bulging out only on this spot while the rest of the upper neckline is underdeveloped.
Well muscled horse
2.1.4. Hunter’s bump A hunter’s bump is a consequence of riding and jumping a horse in a hollow higher frame without topline muscles for a longer period of time. The back basically has sunken down while the sacroiliac joint detaches from it. With proper training this prominent bump should slowly disappear when the back starts to muscle up and the core muscles strengthen.
2.1.8. Bitting issues Another piece of tack that is essential to get right for your horse is the bit. The horse cannot relax and work properly, if the bit is not right for his mouth’s conformation. It is not useful to mask a bitting problem with a tight nose band, this only aggravates the issue, leads to resistance and tension, and won’t resolve anything. An ill fitting bit may cause damage to the tongue, palate, teeth and lips. The horse must be comfortable with the bit before you can train him properly. Any tension in the mouth will prevent any real contact with the horse.
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2.1.6. Sacroiliac joint issues Pain and alterations in the sacroiliac (SI) joint may have a very complex background, and it is usually due to alteration in the normal unrestricted locomotive movement of the horse. Until the cause of the pain in this area is found out and dealt with, the SI problem will keep on coming back, even with good and careful training regime. Some possible causes, among others, can be tendon injuries, gelding scarring, issues with ovaries, bad farriery, bad saddle, kissing spine as well as long term bad riding and training. A vet and reliable body worker should go through the whole horse to determine the cause of the SI problem. And of course their opinion should be heeded. A horse with pain in the SI area should be trained very carefully and initially only in walk with in-hand work and lunging. It is very important that these horses stretch completely to the ground and relax totally in the work. Care should be taken to observe that the whole of the back is being activated from the quarters to the withers before advancing to trot work. A good body worker (osteopath, chiropractor, massage therapist f.ex.) should be regularly consulted to keep an eye on the SI area and whether it is functioning properly. And of course the original cause to the SI problem needs to be taken care of and monitored. 2.1.7. Issues arising from bad saddle fit A well fitting saddle is absolutely crucial in training. If the saddle is at all uncomfortable, it will seriously hamper your progress. Ignoring the problem and riding in a badly fitting saddle for a longer period of time may cause serious muscle atrophy along the saddle support area. In the worst case scenario the muscles give way totally and ‘holes’ appear in the horse’s back all the way to the bone. In a milder case, the pinching of the saddle at the shoulders or withers will cause the horse to hollow his back. Thus if ridden in an ill fitting saddle, he will be unable to work properly through his topline and no progress will be made in ridden training. Other consequences include back pain, damage to the scapula and rubbing along the withers. An ill fitting girth will also cause tension in the horse. When teaching a new client, it is advisable to check the saddle briefly before you start. This because with an ill-fitting saddle your teaching efforts may be wasted.
2.1.5. Kissing spine A horse that has been ridden for a longer period of time without taking care of the basic condition of strengthening the topline, will eventually hollow out so much that the spinous processes of the spine will start to get too close and even rub against each other (kissing spine; KS). This is a very painful condition. Operation is possible to give relief from the rubbing effect, but the only real and lasting aid to this condition is to get the horse to actively lift his back into use and activate the whole of his topline. This should be done as soon as possible, because the moment the horse stretches down and steps under better, the spinous processes are ‘opened up’, back is straightening and there is relief from the chronic pain. Thus with KS horses, it is vital to concentrate on that stretch to the ground level and the subsequent lifting of the back as soon as possible. When the topline is strengthening, the condition should be slowly alleviated. Note that we do not claim to be able to heal KS in its entirety, but to give the horse the best chances to possible recovery and pain free life through teaching him how to use his body correctly.
Traningmanual Part 2
a dropped noseband
2.2. Mental condition While the physical condition of the horse needs to be taken into account when you start your training, the mental condition needs to be thought of as well. Only when the horse can relax with his mind, trust the handler and respect him, can there be real progress in the training. So, mental relaxation, trust and respect are vital. To gain the horse’s trust and respect, you have to be consistent and clear in your handling as well as firm, but not aggressive. If the horse is extremely reactive and worried, it may take even a couple years before he calms down into the training. Your average horse though usually calms down and finds relaxation relatively quickly in this work. The long and low form has a calming effect on the horse building trust and confidence in the horse.
The noseband is fitted too high and to tight
2.3. Tack and other equipment Before each training session, check that the tack is fitting and that it is appropriate. Ill-fitting tack will interfere with or even prevent correct muscle movement and at worst will result in injuries. Badly fitted tack may not only harm the horse but could also put the trainer into jeopardy. 2.3.1. Bridle The bridle should fit the horse’s head properly. Make sure to check that your noseband is fitted correctly about two centimetres below the cheekbones and that it is not too tight. Use the two finger rule; two fingers on top of each other between the noseband and the nose bridge. A drop noseband is not advised since it can too easily restrict the horse’s breathing. If you are using a flash noseband, make sure that it is also loose enough, but not so loose as to come off while working the horse. A noseband and flash are there only to restrict the horse from fully opening his mouth, and discouraging him from playing too much with his tongue. It is not there to prevent these unwanted behaviours fully, because it is important to allow the horse to exhibit any discomfort he may feel in his mouth so that we can act on the issues before they become a problem. If the horse is uncomfortable with his mouth and wants to open it continuously and push his tongue out etc., a full mouth check and evaluation of the bit is necessary. Too tight a noseband also restricts the swallowing of the saliva and therefore horse may dribble excessively over his chest and legs. Another point when selecting a bridle is to make sure that the part going over the poll is flat. This because if you lunge with the lunge line over the poll (line going through the inside bit ring over the poll and fastening to the outside bit ring), you have to make sure that the line will not slip under bridle at the poll and get stuck. Hence the best bridle for lunging is flat at the poll.
Traningmanual part 2
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2.3.2. Bit The bit should sit in the mouth without making excessive creases in the horse’s lips, but at the same time it should sit high enough so as not to hit the horse on his front teeth. The bit itself should be fitted to the horse’s mouth’s conformation. You should take into consideration the size of the tongue and the height of the palate. Oversensitivity in the mouth can be located anywhere in the tongue, palate, lips or the bars. The bitting should take these possible sensitivity issues into consideration and an appropriate bit should be selected that allows the horse to be comfortable with his mouth. A noseband should never be used to mask an uncomfortable mouth due to wrong choice in bitting. The problem should be solved with bitting and not be masked with a nose band. The bit should also not be too small or too wide for the horse’s mouth. A bit that is too wide will move too much in his mouth while a bit that is too short will press or pinch the lips. Most horses do well in the normal loose ring three piece snaffle. However, if there are conformational issues with the mouth, then the three piece snaffle is not always appropriate. As the topline muscle strength increases, the problems with the bitting usually decrease. That is, the easier the horse can carry himself, the less the bit matters, and a horse who has been fussy with a normal three piece snaffle may find it totally acceptable later on. Horses that have been severely or even permanently damaged in their mouths by previous bitting or wrong training may require bitless bridles. It is recommended to then use the simplest side-pull type of bridles, bearing in mind that harsh hands and wrong use of bitless bridles will cause severe damage to the horse’s head. Art2Ride does not advocate bitless training, but acknowledges that in some cases it is necessary due to earlier damage done in the horse’s mouth. 2.3.3. Reins Reins should be long enough to allow the horse to stretch long and low all the way to the ground level. Too short reins will restrict and stop the horse’s proper topline development. They will also pull the rider easily forward disturbing the balance in general. Easiest way to find the right length of rein is to add extra into your existing reins (spur straps or flash nosebands) and when they feel long enough, measure them and order the correct length from a tack shop or saddle maker. An idea of how long in general you should have your reins would be to get your horse’s height at withers and add about 15 cm to that and then double it to get the total length of the reins (f.ex. height of horse 155 cm + 15 cm = 170 cm x 2 = 340 cm reins). But the best way to check the length of the reins is to try it out, and then you know for sure. 2.3.4. Saddle Saddle fit is absolutely crucial for allowing the horse to move correctly over his topline. It should be remembered that when the horse develops his topline muscling, the saddle can become ill-fitting very quickly. Most fitting issues which arise from the correct training of the topline muscles involve the straightening of the horse’s back, the widening of the horse’s shoulders and the raising of the withers. If these changes in the horse’s muscular conformation are ignored, the horse will become resisting and progress in training will cease. The horse will eventually become sore and if further ignored, injuries are likely. It is highly advisable to learn about saddle fitting at least to such extent that you can check the saddle fit, detect where the problem lies and then inform your saddle fitter of the issues. Art2Ride endorses saddles which are adjustable not only with their head plate angles but also for their width. The saddle label associated with Art2Ride is the Australian Peter Horobin Saddlery, saddle fitter contacts for PHS can now be found around the world.
Excessive drippling
Schleese
Kriemhild Morgenroth
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2.3.5. Lunging aids The only lunging aids that are endorsed by Art2Ride are the chambon and the side reins. Chambon is a training aid for horses that are used to going hollow and head high for a long time and find it difficult to change their work pattern. Its correct use is shown here It should be tight enough to limit the horse’s higher head carriage, but not too tight to prevent the horse from balancing himself, if he happens to stumble. Meaning that the chambon should not be tightened so that the horse cannot lift his head just above the withers. The principal use of the chambon is to aid in the lunging of the horse. However, the chambon can be used also when riding in an arena with a level surface. It should never be used when riding out or jumping, or when riding on an uneven surface. When the horse stretches all the way to the ground with the chambon on, the ropes of the chambon may come very low along the horse’s legs. You can avoid this hazard by having a neck strap over the chambon and tie it to the surcingle or the saddle’s d-ring. However, make sure that the chambon will slide freely under the strap and will not get trapped. If you decide to ride with the chambon on, it is advisable to adjust it a little looser than you would have it when lunging. This is to make absolutely sure that your horse can balance himself by bringing his head up, if he were to trip. If side reins are used, they will have to be fitted so that the horse can reach into the contact without restriction. Most side reins are too short, so care should be taken to obtain long enough side reins or you should be able to lengthen them sufficiently. Side reins are not to be used with horses that have been previously trained with such contact that they are broken in their neckline and come behind the vertical very easily. In these cases the side reins tend to overbend the horse automatically even though they are set to be long enough. The side reins work not only by restricting the higher head position, but also by giving the horse a contact to which to stretch into as well as providing an outside rein while lunging. The side reins should be adjusted such that the horse can stretch out into the contact. At first you may have them shorter if the horse doesn’t stretch yet very much, and when the horse stretches into them, you can lengthen them to encourage further stretching. The side reins should not be adjusted too long either, then they will just flop around and do nothing. Your guide should be that the horse is able to take contact with them. When your horse has good topline muscling you may use the side reins to start working on the higher head carriage on the lunge with the side reins. The correct use of side reins is explained here In some cases both chambon and side reins can be used at the same time, if the horse needs the support from both.
Recommended watching are the videos from Schleese, Karen Losbauch and Kriemhild Morgenroth
Karen Losbauch
2.3.6. Whips Whips with appropriate length for the task should be used. With in-hand work you should have a whip that reaches the horse’s haunches. Too long a whip with the in-hand work will be cumbersome and with too short a whip you will not have a good reach. The whip should also be slim enough with its handle so that you can hold it and the rein in your outside hand. The lunging whip should be as long as possible. A light weight whip is preferable so that your arm and hand will not get tired and your whip aid will not deteriorate. It is a good idea to invest in a good quality light weight and well balanced whip with the possibility to change the leash part. With this training you will do a lot of lunging, and a lunging whip that is too heavy, too short, or cumbersome will hamper your sessions. You can train in using the lunge whip accurately with non-horse targets to make sure you can hit exactly the intended spot when you use the whip. When riding in an arena, a schooling or dressage whip that is long enough for you to reach your horse’s flank behind your leg without you having to move your hand from its position is a good idea. 2.3.7. Spurs Spurs are an advanced tool in training. Before you start wearing and using spurs, your legs and your over all position in the saddle should be stable. You should also be able to use your spur aid in isolation from the rest of your leg. That is, you need to be able to control the spur aid from the main leg aid, as you would not use your spur aid every time when you use your leg aid. The purpose of spurs is to ask the horse to activate his abdominal and back muscles even more and therefore step under better. Thus the spurs are to be used only when the horse has enough topline muscles to be able to work in the working frame and collection. Spurs should not be used in order to make a slow horse more active. Here is a link on how to use your leg including how to use spurs.
2.4. Farriery issues Even a horse with best possible hoof quality, good and proper angles along his legs and perfect trimming will have difficulties with harder training sessions in sand schools, if he is barefoot. Art2Ride does not promote horses to be trained barefoot. Some horses may be fine trained barefoot in the lower basic training level on soft ground or grass. However once he advances and gains muscle, a close eye should be kept on the hooves and the horse’s comfort levels. Any signs of shortening of the stride or tender feet should be taken seriously and shoeing should be considered to keep the horse’s welfare in mind. 2.5. Safety issues of training locales You should make sure that the arena you are working in is safe. No obstacles in the arena, except if you are using them (like poles). Surface should be suitable for the horse, that is, not too hard or abrasive or too deep and soft. Optimally you should have an enclosed area to work with in case something unexpected happens and you temporarily loose control of your horse.
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The areas of tension or dysfunction show as increased/sharper curvature of the spine and also as areas of reduced space between the lines. This funnels the energy into smaller spaces in the body. These illustrations show how the wave is compressed through the wither, neck and throat latch channels.
"Are you seeing what I am seeing?"
Karli Starman Age 33 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada karlistarman@shaw.ca www.eqequinetherapy.ca I am an Equine Bodyworker based out of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I began my equine education training thru BCCET and Equinology in 2009. Since this time I have been committed to continuing my education with a focus on bodywork, massage, stretching, saddle fitting, aromatherapy, energy work, acupressure and bio-mechanics. In 2014 I found Art2Ride and have become an Associate Trainer. I currently have two horses, a younger mare and older gelding whom I work in the Art2Ride principles. I view a trusting horse - human relationship to be the foundation on which bio-mechanically sound riding and working principles can be based. My goal is to access the self awareness that comes when horses mirror to us our subconscious selves. It is my passion to use this knowledge within my own life, as well as to coach others to access this awareness and develop deepening compassion and an awakened heart. Art2Ride has been a large part of my journey as well as a number of other brilliant teachers. To find out more you can find me @eqequinetherapy & @eqequineart on Facebook @eqequinetherapy & @eqequineart on Instagram @eqequinetherapy & @eqequineart on Youtube Karli Starman
Illustration 2: A live anatomical equine model showing the drawn line to mirror the spinal column.
Illustration 1: An anatomical equine model showing the drawn line to mirror the spinal column.
Are you seeing what I am seeing? A focused look into what we need to be paying attention to when watching horses move, including a discussion of spinal dynamics to highlight correctly and incorrectly moving horses. Are you seeing what I’m seeing? {& what we need to be looking at when watching horses move} Recently, I found myself looking at dressage photos online, wondering about the sometimes extreme differences that are seen between horses, riders, trainers and even time periods. I began playing with some of the images, marking major landmarks and adding lines from front to back to indicate balance. My final configuration was to draw a line mirroring the spinal column and then copy this line and position it along the underline. I found this configuration special because, not only are you able to see the shape of the spine, but when this line is duplicated and placed along the underline, you also see, how the shape of the spinal column affects the energy flow through the horses’ body. It gives a clear visual reference to the ‘wave’ of energetic impulsion in the body. It also shows how the movement of the back governs the movement of the limbs; every action of the limbs is a function of the back. Note the black and white lines comparing the front and rear stride lengths on the illustrations.
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Illustration 3. In this example what do you notice about the lines representing the spine? Are the curves strongly emphasized in the neck, do the lines narrow the channel between them in any areas? Horses that are ‘on the forehand’ are shown by the degree of horizontal variation in the main branch of the line drawn from the core of the loins (about 4 to 6 inches down from the highest point of the 'butt' [SI]) to the base of the neck (C5). It is approaching level or is it heading downward? Will lifting the head change the angle of this line? (*Hint- no amount of lift coming from the front/head and neck will correct a ‘line’ (aka. spine) that is pushing into the ground!) What else do you see; Is the head ahead of the vertical? What does this mean for the neck carriage- are the curves of the upper spine more open because of this? What about stride length? A step that is equal between the front to back feet is desired of a horse that is working in correct posture.
Are you seeing what I am seeing?
Illustration 4: An example showing well balanced horse - all four feet are carrying a much more even amount of weight This can be seen with the nearly perfect horizontalline that we discussed in Illustration 3 (drawn from the core of the loins to the base of the neck) . What do you notice about the space between the lines (esp. in the neck region)? As compared to the first example, this horse and rider team show more length in the neck and you can see more space between the lines of the neck portion with less curvature. How is this neck set achieved? Is it as a result of allowing the energy coming up from the hind end? (Note: Can you see how this flow needs to come up through the shoulder/wither and out to the head and neck without being restricted by a set hand? ) What do these correct spinal dynamics do for limb dynamics? Is the stride length equal now?
llustration 5: A modern example showing a similar (although not as balanced frame as Illustration 4) with compression in the neck. What do you notice about the upper neck? What do you see in the set of the head? Is the head in front of the vertical? Do you see the increased curvature, especially in the upper region of the neck? What does this do to the space between the 2 lines in the neck region? How does this compare to the last example? What do you notice about the main branch of the line? Is it horizontal or tipping to the front end? What do you notice about the comparison of hind to front stride length? What can you notice about the lower line of the body? Are the abdominals engaged? Or does the belly sag (does it hang low behind the girth)? What about the belly in the last 2 examples?
Sometimes there are so many things that influence our opinion when watching horse and riders that we end up relying on ‘flash’ rather than substance. ‘Flash’ can be attributed to many things - such as an atmosphere at a competition, the opinions of others , or even excitement or tension in the body of a horse, and can give a false sense that what we are seeing is desirable. By taking a moment to look behind the flashy exterior, we begin to see past the surface and then get to decide if what we are seeing is good for the horse. By looking at the spinal column we are able to relate what we see in the exterior of the horse to the interior structure and can begin to recognize healthy posture. Horses that are compressed and restricted cannot possibly be in good mental or physical health. For example,horses that work with constant head and neck restriction are like trying to jog with your head tied back to your shoulders and your arms limited in range of motion so you are no longer able to balance yourself. Once we can recognize this we are able to see beyond the ‘flash' and recognize healthy postures that will carry our horses ahead for sound and lengthy careers. The dynamics (or position) of the spinal column dictate the movement you will see in the limbs of the horse. This is why matched diagonal pairs in the trot are essential to good dressage (or any riding) not because of an aesthetic, but because of what it represents in the core of the horse. The same goes for matching stride length, it too represents a functioning topline. These illustrations show how a shortened or compressed neck shuts off the wave of energy coming up from the back and gives it nowhere to go. This results in a tight funnel of energy that is often maintained through a restrictive hand. These illustrations are a visual reference as to why the principle of a long elevated neck, extending out from the body, with a head in front of the vertical is a principle of correct bio-mechanics and correct dressage. As well, an area that is often overlooked, is highlighted. This is the underline/abdominal muscles and it is as (or more) important than the muscles of the topline for correct posture. When the back hollows the belly sags and provides no support to help lift the free span of the back. This can be seen in the illustrations when the belly hangs below the lower line. (Hint: look at Illustration 7)
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Illustration 7: Although this is only showing a moment in time, this examples is a overtly incorrect example; including tipped pelvis, dropped belly, hollow frame, broken line of the neck and head behind the vertical. What about these differences can you see? Are they about the limbs or head set by themselves? Or are they all results of an incorrect spinal dynamics? Note the exaggerated kinks in the lines and areas of decreased space between them! Is this horse on the forehand? Compare this example to the fourth illustration. Can you see how hollow the back is and how this causes the belly to sag even though the head, neck and knees are elevated!?
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Illustration 6: A horse and rider team showing compression in the front through a set hand - see how this instantly manifests into a tight shoulder, wither and stuck lower neck (cervical spine). What do you notice about how the lines increase in curvature and become closer to one another? Since this energy is being stopped by the hand, the energy is forced downward into the ground via the forehand: the spinal dynamics of tension show up as incorrect limb dynamics, in this case the over extended forelimb (aka. toe flick). What do you notice in this example about the main branch of the line? How close to horizontal it is? What does this do to the body balance? Would you call this horse on the forehand, even though the head and neck are elevated? How does this manifest into front vs. rear stride length comparison?
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by karlistarman E.S.T. E.E.B.W
Illustration 8: A horse and rider showing a stretch in the beginning of training. The spinal curves are opened and postural restrictions are released over time. They are literally ‘working out the kinks’ and developing the first stages of rhythm and relaxation. The horse is clearly on the forehand at this point in training, but this is not the finished product. Additionally, the full step of the horse can be reached in this frame (unlike when the spine is compressed and in tension) and he/she learns to step up and through - the true meaning of ‘swing’ opening the door to the development of rhythm. As the horse develops the musculature to move in a correct posture, the energy created by the back limbs is able to be transferred forward through the entire spinal column (aka back/topline) and power the entire horse. This posture is the fundamental base goal of all bio-mechanically sound riding. By studying the examples (and all the horses you meet) you may begin to see something new and interesting! It is always my opinion that the horses themselves are always the ultimate teachers; if you get quiet and still your horse will tell you if they are in alignment with what you are doing, both in body and in mind. Much love, Karli References: Bennett, D. Principles of Conformation Analysis Volume I, II, III. Boulder CO: 1988. Pattillo, D. Equinology Course Manual 100,200. CA: 1995. I have not heavily cited this article, as much of my learning has come from the following masters/teachers in person or online as often happens in the horse industry. Please check them out for a great wealth of information: Kerry Ridgeway, Will Faeber, Manolo Mendez, Dave Collins, and Equinology. *The images included in this article are used within the limits of ‘Fair use’ which “is the right to use portions of copyrighted materials without permission for purposes of education, commentary, or parody.” and are in NO way criticism of any of the horse or riders pictured. Additionally all rider features and logos or other markings have been removed to the best of my ability.
CHARLOTTE RAVNBO HORSE PHYSIOTHERAPIST
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The rider's influence on the horse As a rider, it is important to be aware that one's own physical problems and challenges affect the horse for better or worse. The fact that we sit in the saddle and ride the horse, even though we may have pain in the back and find it difficult to move, for example to one side, will have an impact on the horse's way of moving. Many riders do not think that, if they have fallen off the horse, it is important that they be examined and treated by either osteopath, physiotherapist or chiropractor. It is the few riders, who fall off the horse without beating themselves, even though they might "just" slip off the horse and not be thrown off. When you fall off the horse and, for example, fall on one shoulder or hip, it hurts the following days. There may be a blue mark or a blood collection (hematoma). Pain is by a definition, evidence of tissue damage. That is, the body way of saying that, we need to keep that area calm. If we decide to ride the horse anyway, even though we have pain, we compensate for the pain and the joint restrictions, we have in that area. That is, if we have, for example, hurt our left hip and SI joint (pelvic joint), then we do not move so much in that particular joint. Often, we will actually have a tendency, to hang a little to the right, to get away from the pain on the left side, or said in another way, we put more weight in the right seat knob. As we put more weight on the right side of the saddle / seat, we tend to rotate our upper body to the opposite side (left) so that we do not feel we are falling off (due to the increased weight on the right side of the seat). The eyes will always like to look horizontal and straight, so in order to achieve it, we will turn the face to the right. So now we really sit awkward on the horse. Many riders sitting, as described, will be told by their teacher, that they should have the right shoulder back. However, this will not help much, as the rider has more weight in the right stirrup and therefore does not sit right over the horse. The solution is to have the rider sit right over the horse, by straightening the pelvis to the left, so that the upper body can be turned back to the right and the face to the left. But again, it will be difficult for the rider due to pain in the left side of the pelvis, especially if it is a few days after the fall from the horse. As time goes by and the pelvic pain disappears, this way off sitting on the horse, becomes a bad habit for the rider. The longer the time goes, before this is corrected, the harder it is to correct. The horse feels that the rider is not sitting right in the saddle and because of the crooked weight distribution, the horse will start pulling towards the middle, when riding on the right side. On the left, the horse will be very difficult to ride, as the rider has the weight to the right in the saddle. These crooked loads will affect the horse negatively, so that the horse compensates in its own body. In a relatively short time, the horse will have uneven and very tense muscles, when comparing the left and right sides of its body. However, it is not only the horse's muscles that are affected off the rider's crooked weight, but also the spine and the horse's legs, can be damaged. So please remember to be treated yourself, if you have pain or have fallen off the horse. It is not only yourself that are affected, but also your horse.
This picture is taken further away, but everything else is the same. However it becomes clearer that the rider is sitting with the right leg stretched.
The rider’s pelvis is rotated to the left. The right leg seems longer and more stretched than the left leg. The upper body is rotated towards the left and the head is rotated a little to the right. The right shoulder is more lifted than the left.
"The rider's influence on the horse"
The Rider's influence on the horse
Stretching off the inner thigh. If those muscles are tight, the rider will have a tendency to shorten the leg, which will result in loosing the stirrup.
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Peter Horobin’s Stride Free tree differs significantly from all other saddle trees. Based on Peter Horobin’s knowledge about the horse and its needs for free shoulder movements along with the importance of an equal weight distribution of the rider, the idea about the Stride Free tree emerged. Every time I fit a Peter Horobin saddle to a horse, I notice how clearly the horses shows us, that they can now move unrestricted and painfree. Words can not describe this transformation. If you want to experience the freedom a Peter Horobin saddle gives the horse, then contact me
Correction of the rider’s pelvis
Stretching of the thigh
Peter Horobin Kitzbuhel
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"The rider"
In this article, I want to talk about, what we as riders should think about when we get up on a horse. How do we improve our seat and what can be the cause, when we feel it is difficult to sit correctly. In my opinion, one can not talk about the rider without looking at the horse and the saddle as well. So let us start with the saddle. The saddle The horse will never be able to use itself correctly if the saddle is bothering it, and the rider will not be able to sit correctly if the saddle is out of balance or if the saddle does not fit the rider. A saddle that fits both horse and rider well, will make everything so much easier. The saddle in general The seat of the saddle should fit the size of the rider. If the seat is too small, the rider will easily come to put too much weight on the cantle, which will cause a lot of pressure on the lower back of the horse. Whether the seat should be deep or flat is a matter of taste. A deep seat can provide more stability, one should be careful though that the seat is not so deep that the rider feels locked. The saddle flap should have a length which matches the length of the rider's leg. A wrong length can cause the riding boots to hit the lower edge of the saddle flap, which is extremely disturbing to the rider. How big a knee roll one feel comfortable with is very individual. Many choose big knee rolls because it feels like great support and help. Big knee rolls, however, may cause tension in the rider and will in some cases push the rider too far back in the saddle.
Another Peter Horobin Kitzbuhel
Saddle balance If the saddle is not in balance, it will be difficult for both horse and rider to work correctly. When the saddle is too low in the back, it will cause a lot of pressure on the horse’s loins. The horse will get problems with stepping under itself and lift its back. The rider will have to lean forward to try to keep the balance. If the saddle is too low in front, there will be pressure in the area around the wither. The horse’s shoulders can not move unrestricted, which can make the horse take shorter steps with the front legs. The riders legs will easily come too far back and the rider will also have to hollow the back in order to keep the balance. This can result in pain in the lower back. If the saddle slips to one side it can be due to several different things. Of course, it could be the rider that isn't straight, but just as often it is the horse's shoulders or trapezius muscles which isn't completely even on both sides. The saddle fitter should correct this with the flocking and not in the tree or one should use shims. If you get your horse measured in conjunction with a saddle fitting, you will often see that the horse isn't completely symmetrical. Classical foundation training can help minor these differences, but it takes time. If the saddle is too narrow, the horse’s shoulders can’t rotate back without hitting the saddle. This can make the saddle slide to one side. Especially if one shoulder is bigger than the other. The horse will push the saddle every time the shoulders rotate back. If the saddle is pushed to one side, the rider will be unable to sit straight. If you have problems with the above-mentioned things, then you should contact a saddle fitter. If the saddle is adjusted regularly and it's only small adjustments that are needed, then you could use shims while you're waiting for the saddle fitter. The saddle is extremely important to both horse and rider. The horse can change musculature within a few months and thus will change the balance of the saddle. It’s a huge advantage to have a saddle that can be adjusted in the tree over and over again and especially if it can be changed in a way so that the horse always has enough room for the shoulders to rotate back.
The Rider
The first three steps in the training scale - rhythm, suppleness/relaxation, and contact/connection - is what is needed to get the horse to work over its back. The horse must have learned to do so without a rider on its back and when this is achieved we can begin to ride the horse. The horse learns to seek contact through the work in hand and/or through the lunge work with long side reins. When we begin to ride the horse, it's obvious that we can't achieve the things mentioned above if we squeeze with our legs and hold on tight to the reins. If we do, the horse will get problems with keeping its rhythm and it will never work in a relaxed manner. It won't seek the contact on the reins this way. Instead, it will be the rider who takes the contact. The horse will now be forced into a certain frame. If the horse is being ridden like that, then it will never begin to work over its back. It's a shame because most problems are caused by the horse's natural imbalances and weaknesses.
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The Horse The problems we feel that we have when we ride may be due to our own disparities, but it could also be because of the horse's imbalance or crookedness. If it's really difficult to sit correctly, it could be due to the fact that the horse is simply not ready to be ridden. It has always annoyed me that there's so much focus on how the rider is sitting and what the rider should do in order to sit correctly when the reason to all the problems often is caused by the fact that the horse hasn't been prepared properly to the ridden work. The result of this is that we see riders posing with a lot of tension in their bodies, on horses which are out of rhythm, with their backs dropped and often behind the vertical. This scenario is what we see at competitions even at the highest level. Some might think that these riders are sitting quite nice, so how is that even possible? The riders can sit like that because they keep their balance by holding on to the reins and have their legs kept tight around the horse. This way of sitting is simply not possible if you want to train your horse according to Art2ride’s principals Or said in another way - it isn’t possible if you want your horse to work over its back. And why is that? Training scale Let’s take a look at the training scale, it can explain a lot.
Amaze has or had Kissing spine, a nerve/muscle injury in her left shoulder and a little change in left hock. She’s always warmed up from the ground before the ridden work.
Horses often use themselves crookedly If we take another look at the training scale, you will see that straightness is the penultimate step, before collection. Before we get to this stage, the horse must be working over its back (the first three steps), the stronger the horse gets, the more weight it will be able to carry on its hind and we are now reaching impulsion. When the horse gets even stronger it will begin to carry and push equally with both hind legs and then we have a straight horse. Straightness has nothing to do with whether or not the horse is straight in the neck. It's all about the engine. The reason why I mention this is because many people wonder about why their horse isn't moving equally on each side, but there's nothing strange about that. We're quite far into the training before the horse will be able to use itself completely straight. And until then we will sense that there are differences from one side to another. Many Art2Ride riders, work with horses that have been ridden wrongly, injured horses, horses with kissing spine, horses without any topline strength and so on. Many of these horses have been working incorrectly and crooked for years. It will take time and lots of work from the ground before it will be easy to sit on those horses. Of course, it will be easier for the rider to sit straight when the horse is using its body straight. If you ride a horse that pushes you and maybe the saddle to one side, then you will need to spend a lot of time, working your horse from the ground. When you ride, you should pay attention to whether your saddle is slipping to one side. If it does so there's nothing else to do but to get off the horse and correct the saddle. If you have done a lot of work from the ground, you will most likely not have any problems with the saddle sliding to one side, when you do walk work. Often the problems will occur when starting to trot or canter. You will then need to keep these sequences relatively short. When the horse feels very crooked, you will probably also have problems with getting it to stretch deep. In this case, you should have a chiropractor or an osteopath out to check your horse, since it will most likely have something blocking it, somewhere in the body. It's not enough to use massage in this case. If you don’t know whether it’s your horse or yourself who’s crooked, then you could try to ride another horse or have someone riding your own horse. The more horses you ride, the more conscious you will become about your own mistakes and crookedness.
The horse isn’t working over its back When the horse isn't working over its back it will often lose its rhythm, you will lose control of its shoulders, the horse won't seek the contact, it will lose focus, get "lazy", start running, over bending and so on. You will feel all those things in your body and it will be difficult to sit correctly and relaxed. Even when the horse is trained correctly, you will have moments where you will experience this. In the beginning, you will probably experience this quite often, but with time it will become less. No matter what, you should get your horse to work over its back again as quickly as possible. When you e.g ride your horse in working frame and you suddenly get problems, then you should let your horse come back into a stretch, reestablish the rhythm and get your horse to work over its back again. If the horse hollows while you are trotting and you can't get it to work over its back again, then you will need to go back to the walk work. Sometimes you might also experience that the horse, even though it's stretching quite deep, will do some of the above-mentioned things. In this case, the horse isn't working correctly over its back either. What's missing here is that the horse isn't stepping under itself.
Every day life Crookedness, wrong posture and bad habits should not be corrected while riding. The way you sit, walk and stand in everyday life, will affect the way you are sitting on a horse. So use your daily life to correct yourself. Walk with a straight back and with your head lifted. Try not to collapse in your back when you are sitting down. Notice if you always have the same leg crossed over the other leg or if you're always resting on the same leg and so on.
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The rider As a rider, we can't just think about our own posture. We need to be working with the horse. No matter how much we are working on our own posture, we can’t do this without concentrating on the horse as well. That’s what makes riding so difficult for many people. We will need to control our own body as well as the horse’s body. Only when horse and rider work together optimally, will the appearance be light and beautiful.
The horse is working over its back We will need to have the horse working over its back most of the time. Because when the horse isn't doing that the "shock absorber system" isn't working and there will be lots of unnecessary load on the joints and tendons. This lack of shock absorption will also influence negatively on the rider's body, especially on the riders back and neck. Some riders are trying to mitigate this by nodding with their head, ride with their lower back rounded, leaning far back in trot and so on.
Get corrected It's obvious that if you have something blocking somewhere in the body, you will need to get that corrected by a chiropractor, osteopath, physiotherapist or similar (read Charlotte Ravnbo's article). If there's muscle tension you can try massage, but if the problem keeps coming back you will need to find the reason for that. Massage will only treat the symptoms. Some might find yoga and stretching exercises helpful. As you can see, there are many things that can affect how well you're sitting on a horse. And besides the above mentioned, it can also be challenging, when you begin to ride according to Art2Ride's principles. And why is that?
Amaze is ridden in a higher frame, but only for a short moment and then I let her come back into a stretch.
Amaze in a stretch. It easy to see and imagine that the reins can’t give any support to the rider.
Art2Ride When we first start riding according to Art2Ride's principles, we want our horses to stretch deep. If you have done a thorough preparation with work from the ground, then the horse has already learned to stretch, and it will most often also do that when we begin the ridden work, albeit not consistently. Most horses don't seek a light consistent contact in the very beginning and if they do, the contact will be so light that the rider can't use that to stabilize themselves. Our legs are used alternately, or we use the inside leg to ask the horse to step under. We never have our legs consistently tightened around the horse. So we can’t balance our self in that way either. So it isn't difficult to understand that this type of riding requires quite a good balance from the rider. The more relaxed one can sit on the horse, the better one's body can follow the horse. A relaxed body has a better balance compared to a tense body. Not rarely have I experienced one of my horses spooking and jumping forward or to one side, while I've been working them in a stretch and every time I've been impressed by how quickly one's body reacts and stay balanced if you're relaxed. Be relaxed This is why my first thought, when I get on a horse, always is if I'm sitting relaxed. I start in walk and get my horse to stretch deep. At the same time. I try to clear my mind. I try to be present at the moment. Only then can I feel me and the horse at the same time. If I can't clear my mind and thoughts keeps on disturbing me, then it's impossible for me, to feel both of us at the same time. It's like all the thoughts take up too much space in my mind. When I have control of my thoughts, I focus on if there’s tension somewhere in my body. The moment I register tension somewhere, I can make that part of my body to relax. When I'm relaxed in my body, I can suddenly feel the horses movements much better. Now I try to pay attention to my seat bones. Is my weight evenly distributed on both seat bones when I'm on a straight line? Can I feel a little bit more weight on my inside seat bone when I'm on a curved line?
Kriemhild Morgenroth from Peter Horobin saddlery is present at the clinic. You can therefore come and see the Peter Horobin saddles. It will also be possible to bring your horse and have your saddle checked and if possible fitted on your horse and try to ride in a Peter Horobin saddle. You do not need to be involved in the clinic to make use of this, but registration is required. Read more
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Art2Ride Clinic in Denmark May 10-12 2019 The founder of Art2Ride, William Faerber, is giving a Clinique in Denmark May 10-12 2019 at Frydenlund, Sivvej 9, 4780 Stege. Would you like to learn more or do you want to experience this kind of training up close, then sign up either as a spectator or with a horse. Read more
Noller is ridden in “right lead position”. You can see how the outside leg is brought back all the way from the hip. The inside seat bone is placed a little bit forward, while the inside shoulder is brought a little bit back.
The legs I also notice if my legs are hanging loose and relaxed and whether they are following the horse's movement. When our legs are relaxed, you can feel how the legs are touching the horse one at a time, alternately from left to right following the horse's rhythm. This is important to notice because you can use this to affect the hind leg in that side where your own leg automatically is touching the horse, and you can get this hind leg to step deeper under the body. This is also happening without you need to think so much about whether or not the hind leg is in a position where it's possible to affect it.
Lucky Lady in a stretch. The more the horse is lifting its back, the more the rider will be stretch out. It’s a big help that the saddle is a perfect fit for both me and the horse.
Shoulders and hips When we're riding our shoulders should follow the horse's shoulders and our hips should follow the horse's hips. So when we're riding on a curved track, our inside shoulder should be brought a little bit back, while our inside hip should be placed a little bit forward. When doing so, there will automatically be a little more weight on the inside seat bone. These things or this reaction from our own body will happen automatically if we sit relaxed and just tries to follow the horse. When our inside hip is placed a little bit forward our outside hip will be brought back. If your legs are relaxed, the outside leg will automatically be brought back from the hip and down. And now our body is, without even thinking about, placed in “left lead position” or “right lead position” depending on which lead we’re on.
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The back Your back should be straight, but relaxed. It’s only possible to balance yourself if you keep your shoulders back and use your abdominals. This applies regardless of whether you’re riding with short stirrups in a light seat or if you’re in a dressage seat. You should never let your shoulders rounding forward. It will get harder for you to keep your balance and you will sit heavily in the saddle. You should straighten up and get a sense of lightness. You should sit in an upright, straight position. Never lean forward (unless you're riding with short stirrups in a light seat), the horse already has a lot of weight on its forehand, especially in the beginning of its training. Therefore we should try to avoid putting even more weight on its forehand. You can lean back a bit if you feel that the horse is losing its back. If you do that briefly, in a flowing movement, it will affect the horse to step deeper under itself and lift its back. It's like you're changing the energy in the horse. This is not the same as you see in competitions, where the rider is leaning back in extended trot. Never sit heavily in the saddle and try to push your horse forward with your seat.
Mistakes If you're thinking too much about what you're doing with your body, when you're riding, then you will often do too much. Let's take a look at the shoulders for example. Your shoulders should follow the horse's shoulders. If you're thinking a lot about turning your shoulders when you're on a circle or when doing turns, then you will often unintentionally turn them too much. Think of the horse!! The horse can bend its neck a lot, while the bend throughout the body, from wither to hip, is quite limited, especially when the horse is moving. It's self-explanatory that because of that the turn we should do with our shoulders should be very little. The mistake in this is that we most often tend to turn our shoulders too much instead of too little. Other mistakes in connection with the shoulders could be that we not only turn our shoulders but instead turn the whole back. If this happens, we get a completely different effect on what we want. We're now moving our inside hip backward and the outside hip forward. This is almost the same as asking the horse to bend to the outside. This way of sitting will also put more weight on the outside stirrup. Thus a direct signal to the horse about turning to the opposite direction of what the rider had intended. This is the most ordinary reason why horse lifts its head, hollow its back and turns like serpentines, figure eight and so on. Another mistake is when the rider has focused on turning the shoulders, but at the same time, keeping the inside hip forward. If we're turning our shoulders too much, while keeping the hip forward, then we will most often come to collapse too the inside. The spine will round towards the outside. This will put more weight on the outside seat bone. And once more the horse will get conflicting signals from us. The horse will hollow and lose its rhythm.
Amaze in walk. I stay in walk until I feel that she has moments where she’s lifting her back. When she does that, it feels very different and much better to sit on her.
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The hands As long as the horse is not consistent in the contact, it will be necessary to lift the hands or widen them to try to follow the horse. To many people, this isn't very pretty. But this is a training phase when the horse seeks a consistent contact on the reins, it will look completely different. It is, however, necessary to follow the horse in this way, if you want to teach your horse to seek the contact. If you don't do this, you will unintentionally pull the horse in its mouth or you will completely lose the contact.
Teach yourself to sit relaxed I always stay in the walk until my horse is working correctly and I myself is sitting correctly. And only then do I move on to trot. If I get problems with the horse or my own seat while trotting, then I go back to the walk. The most important thing when we're riding is our ability to sit relaxed. Most horses accept a rider that isn't sitting perfectly as long as the rider is relaxed. But they usually don't like to have a tense rider on their backs. Our worst enemy as a rider is tension. We need to learn to sit relaxed. Of course, you shouldn't ignore if you know you have some problems with your seat. What I do is to get pictures or video taken while riding. And then i look for what is my worst mistake. This mistake I have in mind when I'm riding. Later when I can see that I have corrected that, then I move on to the next mistake. I don't try to think of my back, hands, head, and legs all at once. If I did that I couldn't be able to concentrate on the horse as well. Next time you ride, then try to walk work your horse while it's stretching and working over its back, try to keep the contact on the reins and focus on nothing else but being relaxed. Try to feel how the horse is moving under you and how the contact on the reins feels like, and that's it. Don't think of anything else. I'll promise you this will solve many problems. When we sit relaxed and just follows the horse's movements, then so many things will suddenly feel so natural and it will also look like it's easy and natural. If something is difficult, then try to use lighter aids. Mostly this will make a huge difference. We need to remember that riding is an interaction between two bodies. This interaction cannot be divided into two. Unless we get off the horse. If it's very difficult to sit correctly, then there's something that needs to be corrected either with ourselves or with the horse and a problem like that should not be solved while we're riding.
The most important skill It is no use that we as riders sit on a horse stiff as sticks and just posing, as long as the horse hasn't found its balance and the correct contact. Of course, we as Art2Ride riders want to sit nicely, but we need to do that through our own balance and our abilities to get the horse to work over its back. Our abilities to get the horse to work over its back and to preserve that is the most important skill a rider can ever learn. Linda - NoBackPain.dk
