NoBackPain
A Horses’ Withers Can Lift; How does that work?
Copyright © 2019 Nobackpain.dk v. Linda & Palle Thilqvist
nr. 4. Oktober 2019
feedback on ART2RiDE CLINIC I DANMARK
The famous Sacroiliac joints / (S.I. Joint)
Stretching - How important is it?
Classical Foundation Training
NOBACKPAIN
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Hi every one Welcome to this delayed edition of the e-magazine NoBackPain. We have been through a very hectic summer. We started with an Art2Ride clinic in May with Karen Losbaugh. The plan was that we would immediately create a magazine about this clinic. Unfortunately, afterwards, I felt a little disappointed or confused. It wasn't quite the kind of training I was expecting. Therefore, the desire to write was not particularly high, and at the same time, I also had to rethink my involvement within Art2Ride. To make a long story short, I dropped out of Art2Ride's trainer program. But we have had some of the other participants write a little about their experience, and you will be able to read about it in this edition of the magazine. The magazine will no longer have solely Art2Ride related training articles. Most people who read this magazine want to get useful tips on how to build a strong topline, have doubts about training horses with health problems, or want to learn something more about stretching the horse. All this and more will still be what's written about here in the magazine. We have different types of therapists to make articles so that we can all have a better understanding of how the horse's body works and how it is affected by our training. We have so much more accessible knowledge than we had just 10 years ago. We should take advantage of this and use it in our training of the horses. It is information and knowledge that is needed if we are to have a chance to change the way the horses are trained today. Here I think about the discipline's dressage and jumping, but also in Icelandic sports it is terrible. And the classical dressage is not necessarily special horse-friendly either. It is within all types of methods and disciplines that things could be improved. The saddle is also extremely important if we want to ride our horses and keep them sound and healthy. We have written a bit about Peter Horobin saddles. However, Peter Horobin saddles will no longer be the only brand you will read about. There are now new exciting opportunities. Even now, I am eagerly waiting for my new Morgenroth Premium saddle to be delivered to my saddle problem horse Noller. I think most people want to and believe, they do the best for their horses, but as long as there are titles and money involved, then proper training of the horse will be compromised. It will be hard to change, but we can all make an effort to gain more knowledge, become more enlightened, and then we must start with ourselves and our own horses. This means recognizing when we have made mistakes, respecting new knowledge, and being open to learning from each other across methods, theories, and disciplines. We are going to have to learn throughout life. Suddenly we meet a horse that just doesn't fit into what we thought would work on all horses. Or we meet a horse that shows us new ways and possibilities. That's what is so exciting about the training of horses. None of us will probably find all the answers. We will never be able to call ourselves fully educated or masters in horse training. It is never going to happen. However, if we are lucky, we may end up riding a horse where we feel a particular affinity. A feeling that the horse understands our thoughts. Enjoy Linda Thilqvist - NBP Horsetraining - www.nobackpain.dk NoBackPain on Facebook
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Welcome
Guest writer Helle Kornbek - Horse Osteopath The famous Sacroiliac joints / (S.I. Joint)
Guest writer Louise Willads My experience of saddle testing with Kriemhild Morgenroth
Guest writer Karli Starman - Art2Ride associated trainer A Horses’ Withers Can Lift; How does that work?
Linda Thilqvist - NoBackPain - NBP Horsetraining Stretching - How important is it?
Feedback on art2ride clinic in Denmark Pia Petersen
Feedback on art2ride clinic in Denmark Sonja Bækkel
Feedback on art2ride clinic in Denmark Marte Helle Bjørnødegård
Feedback on art2ride clinic in Denmark Stine Mortensen
to the 4. Edition of the E-magazine NoBackPain
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HELLE KORNBEK HORSE OSTEOPATH 2. Hestens velfærd Næste kapitel I Art2Rides træningsmanual handler om udgangspunktet og hvad du skal tænke over inden du starter på træningen 2.1. Fysisk tilstand Før du påbegynder træningen af din hest er det vigtigt at evaluere hvor hesten er både fysisk og mentalt. Du er nødt til at kende til mulige kroniske problemer før du begynder, fordi disse vil have en effekt på træningen og vil være bestemmende for hvor forsigtigt og metodisk du skal gå frem. Ved behov bør dyrlægen, massør, osteopath, kiropraktor, smed osv kontaktes. Du bør sikre dig at de personer du bruger til at behandle din hest er godkendte i deres fag, samt at de har et godt rygte. 2.1.1. Den godt muskulerede hest At starte med en hest der har en velmuskuleret overlinje og ingen helbredsmæssige problemer er selvfølgelig den mest ideelle situation. Denne type hest har en veludviklet hals og ryg muskulatur. Bug muskulaturen og sling musklerne er synlige og stærke. Ryggen vil være normal til lige og der vil ikke være nogle overdrevne fordybninger. Underhalsen forbliver afslappet og selv når denne muskel er i brug, hvis hesten løfter hovedet, vil den ikke bule ekstremt. Denne type hest burde ikke have nogle problemer med at begynde at strække sig og vil udvikle sig hurtigere end nedenstående typer af heste.
Rotation round the right transverse axis
Axial rotation through the median plane of the bone
"The famous Sacroiliac joints / (S.I. Joint)"
The Sacroiliac joints / S.I. Joints As an Osteopath working with horses I have come across lots of performance related problematics that can be linked to the famous Sacroiliac joints. These could for example be : my horse is having problems with the flying changes my horse is bucking my horse is stiffening its back and is reluctant to put weight on its hind quarters my horse is bringing is moving in a c shape in canter problems in canter in general So to learn more about these special joints here is a little anatomy and physiology insight into the Sacroiliac joints. The engine of the horse is situated in the hind quarters and the power originates from the hind legs. The hind legs are connected to the pelvis through art. Coxae (hip joints) and to columna (the spine) through the sacroiliac joints. The sacroiliac joints is not a normal henge or socket joint, but instead a joint where two rather flat bone surfaces meet. The sacroiliac joints lie between the wing of ilium and the wing of sacrum. Each sacral wing carries an articular surface that is broadly flat, but irregular in detail, to match the corresponding iliac surface. The joint capsule is tight and is surrounded and supported by short fascicles of connective tissue that join the adjacent parts of the two bones. The function of the equine sacroiliac joint in relation to locomotion is to transfer force from the hindquarters to the trunk. The Sacroiliac joint also has some shock absorbing effect, but because of its position it is never fully weight bearing. When pelvis moves sacrum follows and is pulled along much in the same way as riding a bicycle in the slipstream of a vehicle. The surrounding ligaments and fascias of the sacroiliac joints help transfer the power from the pelvis to the sacrum. The specific movements of the sacroiliac joints are closely related to the movement of sacrum, which moves in an axial rotation through the median plane and rotates around the right and left transverse axis. Movement is linked to pelvis in the way that during propulsion, where the hind leg is pushed back into an extension pelvis lowers, sacrum moves into counter nutation and the sacroiliac joint is extended. Duringprotraction, when the hind limb is moved forwards and takes support, pelvis is lifted, sacrum moves into nutation and the sacroiliac joint is flexed. The S.I. Joint in relation to locomotion Optimal function of the sacroiliac joint is important to the optimum performance of the horse, especially in canter where the pivotal point is the lumbosacral joint, and in collected movements in general. For an upper level dressage horse the sacroiliac joints play an important role in collection and collected exercises, where the horse needs to step under behind and carry more weight on the hind limbs, by further flexing the joints of the hindlimb. When carrying a rider, correct use of the back is challenged, because the horse by nature is not meant to be ridden and the long back muscles are not designed for carrying the weight of a rider. The back of the horse link the hind limb and the forelimb and back dynamics are thus essential to performance. If the epaxial muscles (muscles located above the spine) are tens flexion of the hindquarters becomes difficult and the mobility of the back is also reduced. Optimal locomotive performance of the horse is depending on the engagement of the hindquarters, rounding of the back and arching and reaching of the neck. All three functions are linked and work as a whole. The riders weight on the back of the horse is a disturbance to this ring function and the horse needs to use its ligaments to help carry the rider to avoid tension in the back. Dysfunction of the sacroiliac joints often leads to reduced hind limb engagement and reduced performance. The high proportion of sacroiliac joint dysfunction found in upper level dressage horses as compared with other horses may be caused by the riders being more observant to changes in performance in their horse. It may also be the high biomechanical demand placed upon the hind limb of the horses. In upper level dressage some training techniques concerning head and neck position is also suggested to be the cause of poor performance and sacroiliac joint dysfunction. I hope you enjoyed the article and I know that with all your focus on correct training you will build strong well functioning horses and thus also make their sacroiliac joints stay healthy and strong. :) Artikel reference: Veterinary paper on: The equine sacroiliac joint - Function and dysfunction of the sacroiliac joint in relation to locomotion. Picture references: 1. https://lpequinechiropractic.co.uk/2017/11/23/low-back-pain-in-horses/ 2. https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g-z6ZLE65VY/WBDKeRTKT1I/AAAAAAAAEwE/2R4yftXRhEQHHG2q1pEfhBOZ1Xu-wiq1ACLcB/s1600/pelvis.jpg 3. http://www.skullsunlimited.com/userfiles/image/variants_thumb_5271.jpg 4. https://chestofbooks.com/animals/horses/Health-Disease-Treatment-2/images/Sacrum-Side-View.jpg 5. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wellenbewegung-pferd.jpg
Rotation round the left transverse axis
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About the author My name is Helle Kornbek Lundborg. I have been working as a horse osteopath for a living since 2011 and i'm the owner of Hest i Balance. I have a background as a market economist and bachelor in veterinary medicine. Alongside vet school I was trained a horse osteopath by Cecilie Stadler in dk and studiet on in Holland to become an animal normalization therapist by Patricia Kortekaas (approved by Oregon and Washington veterinary board) Horses have always been a huge part of my life and the fact that I have been able to make osteopathy a living is no less than amazing. I feel lucky every time I get to meet and help a horse and rider :)
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Jörg Versteegen Tier Physio Jörg Versteegent
KRIEMHILD MORGENROTH kriemhild morgenroth saddlery
charlotte ravnbo cr Hestefysioterapi
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"My experience of saddle testing with Kriemhild"
My experience of saddle testing with Kriemhild: When I found Art2rides Youtube channel a couple of years ago, Peter Horobin’s saddles almost immediately caught my interest. Not because they look amazing in pictures, even though I can’t deny that they are unbelievably beautiful, but because I have always had an interest in doing the absolute best for my horse in every way possible. I constantly try to expand my horizon when it comes to new developments in how we understand the wellbeing and welfare of the horse. All of us who practice Art2Ride can probably recognize this. I’m the owner of Farco who is a 26-year-old Oldenburger gelding. In his long life he has never had a saddle he has been really comfortable in. In the 13 years I’ve known him, I have always been told that he has a difficult saddle support area. Kriemhild Morgenroth is the first saddlefitter to ever explain exactly why that is and also to how to solve the saddlefit issues. I will briefly describe my experience with Kriemhild and the Peter Horobin saddles. Before I booked a saddlefitting with Kriemhild this spring, I had watched all the videos and pictures with the Peter Horobin saddles, so my knowledge about the principles behind the saddles was quite good before I met up with Kriemhild. At first, Kriemhild started drawing Farco’s saddle support area directly on him while explaining how a saddle should fit him correctly and what special considerations should be taken regarding his conformation. It was extremely rewarding to have this explained specifically to Farco. I have always been told that he has a very short back and I had tried measuring it based on the videos I’d seen. But Kriemhild actually measured his back 3 cm. longer than I had myself. So all of a sudden he was not that short-backed after all. Instead she showed me how Farco’s shoulder is particularly big, so it made sense to me that his previous saddle always slipped back. There simply has not been any room for his shoulder to slide under the saddle, so instead his shoulder has pushed the saddle back. When I saw the Stride-Free tree directly on Farco’s back, compared to a regular tree, it was just so logical that he could never be comfortable in other saddles, as he could not take a single step without the regular tree interfering with his shoulder blade. Kriemhild is without a doubt the most skilled and knowledgeable saddlefitter I have ever met. I felt like I was in safe hands. Before the fitting, I had been in contact with her about buying one of her demo saddles. Kriemhild very thoroughly explained and showed me why any of the demo saddles would not fit Farco. She recommended me to try the Kitzbühel model, which can give Farco the best amount of shoulder freedom. Before the fitting I had decided not to buy Farco a Peter Horobin saddle unless there was a significant difference in how he moved. And there definitely was. I had not ridden him for almost 6 months, but as soon as I got in the saddle he stretched. I hadn’t even touched the reins yet, I was only just getting a feel of the saddle myself. He was a bit stressed at first because he has never liked too much touching around the saddle. But he had not walked many rounds before he was completely relaxed. All of a sudden he could move under saddle as he used to do from the ground. So now I’m waiting for Kriemhild to deliver my new Peter Horobin saddle. Even though Kriemhild never asked me during the fitting if I wanted to order a saddle. That was completely my own decision. I can’t wait to ride in it. Farco and I have both been measured so the saddle will fit us both and I have decided the look of the saddle. It’s a huge investment, but I can have this saddle for life. In the future the panels can be changed so it will fit a new horse. Some people at the stables thought I was silly to spent that much money on a new saddle for my old horse. But you don’t tell the elderly at the nursing home that they can’t have a decent bed to sleep in just because they are not going to sleep in it as many times as a younger person would. The same regards the saddle. You can’t compromise on your horse’s wellbeing no matter it’s age. That’s why I will only ride my horse in a Peter Horobin saddle.
LOUISE WILLADS 2. Hestens velfærd Næste kapitel I Art2Rides træningsmanual handler om udgangspunktet og hvad du skal tænke over inden du starter på træningen 2.1. Fysisk tilstand Før du påbegynder træningen af din hest er det vigtigt at evaluere hvor hesten er både fysisk og mentalt. Du er nødt til at kende til mulige kroniske problemer før du begynder, fordi disse vil have en effekt på træningen og vil være bestemmende for hvor forsigtigt og metodisk du skal gå frem. Ved behov bør dyrlægen, massør, osteopath, kiropraktor, smed osv kontaktes. Du bør sikre dig at de personer du bruger til at behandle din hest er godkendte i deres fag, samt at de har et godt rygte. 2.1.1. Den godt muskulerede hest At starte med en hest der har en velmuskuleret overlinje og ingen helbredsmæssige problemer er selvfølgelig den mest ideelle situation. Denne type hest har en veludviklet hals og ryg muskulatur. Bug muskulaturen og sling musklerne er synlige og stærke. Ryggen vil være normal til lige og der vil ikke være nogle overdrevne fordybninger. Underhalsen forbliver afslappet og selv når denne muskel er i brug, hvis hesten løfter hovedet, vil den ikke bule ekstremt. Denne type hest burde ikke have nogle problemer med at begynde at strække sig og vil udvikle sig hurtigere end nedenstående typer af heste.
MORGENROTH PREMIUM 100% produced in Germany, this product fulfills amongst the most important criterion - the fit for horse and rider - all of my requirements of the product “saddle” In addition to that, for your horse's custom-made saddle tree and gullet that allows unobstructed shoulder movement, it also means: Best seating comfort for the rider (in any desired seat depth), Saddle flap at right angle to rider's legs. Finest leather quality Loose or fixed knee pads (angle adjustable) Sandwich pad with a soft and broad surface and of course, many options such as. lacquer, Swarovski stone and special color. Finest quality leather from domestic cattle, tanned and colored in this country. A saddle tree which is individually made for the back of your horse. Minimum environment impact due to short transports. Sustainability due to a long lifetime because of great quality and adjustability to the needs of your horse. Constantly very good quality due to consistency, a good quality control, the possibility to promptly affect production, the collaboration with a saddle manufacturer, which has been producing very good saddles since many years. If you want to know more or want to make an appointment for a saddle test, see more at kriemhild-morgenroth.com OF COURSE, I will continue to serve my customers with Peter Horobin saddles sold by me!!
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KRIEMHILD MORGENROTH SADDLERY On the wide field of equestrian saddles there are many good saddles. The problem is, "How do I find the right one for my horse?" Why not give up the search and related costs and efforts and rather just buy a full measure saddle? We manufacture our saddles including saddle tree exactly to the needs of your horse. That is, we are able to place you in the exact right center of gravity at the end of the withers. Length, width, sidecut and seat depth are made in such a way that your horse can develop his full potential without pain and that you can balance without effort.
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by karlistarman E.S.T. E.E.B.W
Body text
"A Horses’ Withers Can Lift; How does that work?"
KARLI STARMAN EQUINE THERAPY
We have all heard a riding instructor talk about 'lifting the withers', but how does that work? If I experiment with my back, it isn’t able to do that, so why is my horse able to? As a bodyworker, my first step is to take a look at the anatomy. To review we can begin with a spinal column or axial skeleton. This follows the line of bones from the head to the tail. It begins with the cervical or the bones of neck region, followed by the thoracic region or the vertebrae that make up the wither and follow rib cage backward, then into the lumbar in the low back (behind the saddle), followed by the sacrum which can be felt after the highest point of bum, and finally to the caudal vertebrae of the tail.
The next consideration we have to investigate is that all bones have to connect to one another to form a structure for weight bearing and movement. This connection point is what we call a joint and joints are supported by muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The focus here, on how the withers are able to move, leads us to the joining of the forelimb to the spinal column. There is no specific joint to accomplish this, the forelimb of the horse lacks a collarbone (clavicle) which is present in human anatomy. This is special because the only connection between the horses forelimb and the spine is therefore muscle!
Then we can look at the appendicular skeleton. This includes all the bones that make up the front limb and the hind limb.
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This muscle sling is why the horse has the capability to change the position of the wither and is a part of why the back will lift up in a horse that moves in self carriage. Healthy muscle is required in the tissues of the ‘sling’ for both collection and healthy posture.
This is a very special difference between horses and humans and it means that the muscles that connect the forelimb (appendicular skeleton) to the spine (axial skeleton) support the entire fore weight of the horse. These muscles have been grouped together and are often called the shoulder sling or shoulder girdle. They include the pectoral group, which is on the ventral (underside) surface of the thorax (rib cage) and is made of multiple muscles shown in pink and the serratus group, which is on the dorsal and lateral (top/side) surface of the thorax (rib cage) which has multiple muscles shown in blue.
This lack of boney support means that the entire weight of the horses’ head, neck and trunk, including muscles, bones and organs, rests in this muscular sling like structure that is attached to the forelimb. As gravity weights the tissues of the body downward, the muscle sling is there to oppose them! Visualize how the entire weight of the forehand of the horse rests in this muscular sling. The forelimbs are like the posts of the hammock or sling and the front end of the horse is carried by the muscle 'material' stretched between them.
KRIEMHILD MORGENROTH SADDLERY
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Some food for thought, based on these biomechanics; •Adding weight (i.e. in the form of a rider) to a horse that is unable to carry the weight of their own forehand/trunk can be excessively challenging. •Unequal tension/contractile ability will lead to the thorax being carried unevenly (closer to one forelimb). •Excessive tension in the muscles above this sling structure can block the lifting action of the wither. Contractile ability in the muscles along the underside of the body would aid this action. This means our original statement about 'lifting the withers' is true, but now you know exactly how and why there might be some limits to the statement! Always remember that when we look at one small piece of the anatomy in detail we are separating it from the whole. This means that for a true representation of how this mechanism works within the body, this detailed view has to be added back into the holistic view. Therefore, this is not nearly the full picture of how the back lifts, or how collection occurs, only the mechanism by which the withers are free to move.
Resources: Kainer, R.A., & McCracken, T. O. (1998). Horse Anatomy, A Coring Atlas. Loveland, CO: Alpine Publications. Rachen-Schoneich, G., & Schoneich, K. (2007). Straightening the Crooked Horse. Postfach 103743, 70032 Stuggart: Trafalgar Square Books. Heuschmann, G. (2006). Tug of War: Classical versus Modern Dressage. WuWei Verlag, Schondorf: Trafalgar Square Books. Author Bio: Karli is an Equine Bodyworker based out of Edmonton, Canada. She began her education in 2009, training thru Equinology and BCCET. She is committed to continual education, and now includes, saddle fitting, biomechanics, Reiki, acupressure and more within her studies. She runs EQ Equine Therapy as well as provides biomechanics based riding and groundwork instruction. To her, the horse is a catalyst and mirror into the spiritual realms of growth, healing and leads ultimately our deepest selves. To find out more, find her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and www.eqequinetherapy.ca.
"Stretching - How important is it?"
Stretching - How important is it? There are many opinions about how deep a horse should be stretching. There are also different opinions about how often and for how long the horse should be stretching. It strengthens and supples the horse when it is moving in a stretch, no doubt about that. But how deep are the horse supposed to be stretching? Let's take a look at that. All horses can stretch deep All horses can stretch to the ground. At least I haven't yet seen a horse that could not graze. The question is if whether the horse can move while doing so. Yet again, I haven't seen a horse that couldn't move slowly around with the nose in the ground searching for the best blade of grass in the field. A lot is changing though when the horses begin to speed up, trotting or cantering. If you study a herd in the field who is playing around, then you will see that it is very different how the individual horse is using itself. Some horses will change between stretching all the way down and raising their heads high. Other horses will switch between having their necks in a more horizontal position and an elevated position. Balance Whether the horse is doing one thing or another depends on whether it can keep its balance. If for instance, the horse can't keep its balance while trotting in a deep stretch, then it simply won't do it. The reason why some horses can do it and others can't depend on the horse's conformation. It is not easy to say precisely what type of horse conformation has an easier time stretching because there are so many different conformation combinations. What you can say is that all horses can stretch, but the depth of the stretch will depend on the pace the horse is moving in. This means that some horses will only be able to stretch deep while walking calmly forward, other horses will be able to canter while stretching almost to the ground. The topline Healthy horses who have spent the first 3 to 4 years in big fields with grass, typically have a well-developed topline, even though they haven't been in training. This applies no matter which "group" they belong to. They develop their topline whether or not they are stretching deep while moving. The reason for this is that the horse is always moving in balance. Horses that have been raised in restricted areas will have weak toplines, even though people have tried to keep the horse activated. Nothing can beat the free movement in big fields with grass. So already, at this point, we have the most significant difference in the approach to the training. There is no doubt that no matter what type of horse we are going to train, it is essential to spend a lot of time working the horse from the ground before starting the ridden work. Unfortunately, many people don't do enough groundwork if the horse already, to begin with, has a nice topline. Those who have a horse with no muscles knows or should know that they will need to spend some time building up that horse. Unfortunately, this often leads to using extreme methods in the try of getting the horse made strong fast. Work from the ground Before we begin the ridden work, the horse should have a well-developed topline. The horse should be able to move in balance on a circle and have learned to work in a relaxed way. It should know specific voice commands, moving forward from the whip and to stop from the rein and seeking the contact on the bit, etc. How long this will take depends on the horse's temperament and conformation as well as the trainer's skills. Is the deep stretch necessary? If we assume that the horse has been thoroughly worked from the ground before the ridden work is started, is it then necessary to ride the horse in a deep stretch? Well, it depends!! The deep stretch isn't the most crucial thing in the ridden work - balance is!! We mustn't focus on the horse's frame at the beginning of a session. This applies whether we are talking about a young or an older trained horse. The horse should always be allowed to find its balance under the rider before the real work begins. The rider's job And what does that mean? It means that you should be concentrating on getting your horse to follow the track you want, without having the horse wobbling around, changing the rhythm and without losing control of the shoulders. The rider's job isn't about getting the horse into a specific head and neck position. The rider's responsibility is to guide the horse around until the horse has found its balance. When the horse is moving in balance and follows the guidance from the rider, then it will typically start to seek contact on the bit. When that happens you can, depending on the horse's level of training, either let the horse follow the reins down into a stretch, or you can bring your horse up. This article is about the stretch, so that is what I will elaborate on. If the horse has learned to follow the contact, then it's easy to feel when the horse is getting difficulties. The horse will then typically stop following the contact. You now know that the horse has lost its balance. Maybe you have asked the horse to stretch deeper than it can handle and that's why the horse stops following the contact further down. Or you have requested the horse to move in the wrong level of activity. Most of the time, it will happen when you have asked for too much activity. The horse will then need to raise its head to keep its balance. If the horse loses its balance, no matter the reason, then it is of no use to immediately try to get the horse to stretch again. No instead, you will have to start over again. Get the horse to follow the track you decide, gain control over the shoulders and wait for the horse to seek the contact again. If you only think about getting the horse back into a stretch as fast as possible, then it will affect the rideability. The stretch doesn't do the horse any good if you at the same time have lost control of the shoulders, can't control where the horse is going or if the horse is rushing. This is a horse moving out of balance. Never be afraid to ride your horse with different head and neck positions as long as the horse can keep its balance. After all, muscles need to be both extended and shortened to develop. Horses with a weak topline On the contrary, if we are riding a horse with no topline, then it will be more problematic. Those horses will hollow their backs when ridden. The only way you can avoid that is by riding the horse in a deep stretch while it's moving very actively forward. The risk of injury, overload, and muscle soreness is high. Even though the horse is stretching. I don't want to talk much more about these horses, because I don't really think they should be ridden. And if they are ridden, it should be in a very relaxed walk. Many opinions regarding the stretch Depending on the type of horse an individual trainer typically works with, the trainer will form an opinion on how most horses should be trained. It may be upbringing related or breed-related. But in any case, the theories and the interpretation of the methods will arise from the individual's experience. And that is probably why there are so many opinions about the stretch. The horse is your best teacher We must take care not to blindly follow a method or theory. Our most important information we get is from the horse. It will tell us how deep it can stretch at a given pace and how long it can handle it. Therefore, listen to your horse, it is your forever best teacher.
22 | NoBackPain | Oktober 2019
LINDA THILQVIST NBP HORSETRAINING 2. Hestens velfærd Næste kapitel I Art2Rides træningsmanual handler om udgangspunktet og hvad du skal tænke over inden du starter på træningen 2.1. Fysisk tilstand Før du påbegynder træningen af din hest er det vigtigt at evaluere hvor hesten er både fysisk og mentalt. Du er nødt til at kende til mulige kroniske problemer før du begynder, fordi disse vil have en effekt på træningen og vil være bestemmende for hvor forsigtigt og metodisk du skal gå frem. Ved behov bør dyrlægen, massør, osteopath, kiropraktor, smed osv kontaktes. Du bør sikre dig at de personer du bruger til at behandle din hest er godkendte i deres fag, samt at de har et godt rygte. 2.1.1. Den godt muskulerede hest At starte med en hest der har en velmuskuleret overlinje og ingen helbredsmæssige problemer er selvfølgelig den mest ideelle situation. Denne type hest har en veludviklet hals og ryg muskulatur. Bug muskulaturen og sling musklerne er synlige og stærke. Ryggen vil være normal til lige og der vil ikke være nogle overdrevne fordybninger. Underhalsen forbliver afslappet og selv når denne muskel er i brug, hvis hesten løfter hovedet, vil den ikke bule ekstremt. Denne type hest burde ikke have nogle problemer med at begynde at strække sig og vil udvikle sig hurtigere end nedenstående typer af heste.
24 | NoBackPain | Oktober 2019
26 | NoBackPain | Oktober 2019
Amaze rides her op I en lidt højere holdning, men kun kortvarigt og så lader jeg hende strække sig igen.
Art2Ride Clinic in Denmark 10-12 May 2019 In May we had an Art2Ride clinic here at our place. It should have been Willian Faerber who was coming to Denmark, but because of an unfortunate mishap with one of his horses, he wasn’t able to participate, so instead his wife Karen Loshbaugh came. Below you'll find some feedback on the Art2ride clinic.
PIA PETERSEN FEEDBACK ON ART2RIDE CLINIC IN DENMARK
28 | NoBackPain | Oktober 2019
I am an allround rider who have been looking for the right way of training my horse - the truth about how to make my horse build the right muzzles and thereby keeping it sound and last for many years. There are many trainers and opinions and I am very confused. I came across Will Faerber / Art2Ride several years ago on the internet and got fascinated by his way of training horses from the ground. I have been trying to find a trainer in Denmark who would work from the same principles but have not succeeded. I therefore got very exited when I found out that a clinic was to be held on Møn in Denmark - only 2 hours drive from my stable. I contacted the event manager, Linda Thilqvist, whom I did not know at the time, to ask wether there was still an available spot for me and my horse. And luckily there was! I was SO excited and started to look forward to participating in the clinic. A week before the event I was contacted by Linda Thilqvist who informed me that, unfortunately, Will Faerber had been injured in a horse accident and would not be able to come, but that his wife, Karen Loshbaugh, had offered to come instead. I was offered the opportunity to cancel my participation in the clinic and get full refund. I decided to go anyway. I knew that Karen is a very skilled dressage rider and works from the same principles as Will - but I was off course very disappointed that it would not be Will coming - I was hopeful about my outcome of the clinic - but not very enthusiastic. I had a fantastic two days at Møn - enjoying the hospitality and warmth of Linda Thilqvist and her husband, Palle, at their lovely place at Møn. They had arranged everything with care and in detail: functional stable at the facility for the horses, grass fields for the horses during day time, food and beverage all day for the participants including grill and red wine and beer in the evening ;-), parking for cars and trailers, pictures and movies taken of every participant, a very skilled and trustworthy saddle fitter Kriemhild Morgenroth to give feedback and suggestions on your saddle. The clinic lasted for three days - I only had opportunity to be there Friday and Saturday and had booked two riding lessons - one each day - and ended up booking an extra lesson late Saturday before leaving because Karen Loshbaugh wanted to try to give me “the feel of it”. In the first lesson Friday we did ground work in hand and on a longe line. My horse Sonja did everything to "run me over" and Karen showed me how to solve that. The second lesson Saturday started with in-hand work and later riding. Karen was very kind and skilled. She tried very hard to find a way to teach me how to ride the Art2Ride way …… and give me the feel of it. Therefore she convinced me to take an extra lesson late Saturday to further strengthen what I had learned. I think I ended up getting a snif of feel and what to look for - but I am still confused and do not have a clear understanding of what to do to make Sonja use her back when I am riding her. I will definitely need follow-up to get a clearer picture. The clinic as a whole was a great succes! The most important outcome was: 1) meeting and getting to know Linda and Palle - I would definitely want to come back just for a visit :-) :-) :-) 2) finding a perfect saddle for Sonja - Kriemhild Morgenroth did a fantastic job and offered me a deal I could not refuge ;-) 3) finding out that the principles of Art2Ride are on the right path - the difficult part is to know how to do it …… I would therefore love to come back and if Will Faerber will have the opportunity to come and give a clinic in the future - I will be there! XOXO / Pia
ART2RIDE Clinic - Seen from the sideline I was so lucky that I had the opportunity to be on the side line through all three days. It was three spectacular days. There were said so many wise word during the days, but I especially remember that Karen several times said, that what we learn the horse on the ground, we have to be able to use when we sit on the horses back, because riding is our goal with the horse. I love Karen`s little game, where she pretend to be a horse, and a trainer should show the horse what to do. The game showed how important it is, that we are 100% sharp in showing the horse, what we want it to do. I admired Karan so much for her commitment. She was always 100% “on” – even though it was in the end of day – also on the third day. She was always given an enthusiastic lesson, also when the schedule was half an hour or an hour late. Unfortunately I did not see any of Kriemhilds saddle fittings, as I was so excited over the lessons outside. But Kriemhild`s lecture on Sunday – was so good and informative. It made me go home and look very carefully on my own horse and saddle. And no doubt about that a Peter Horobin saddle is now on my wishing list for a Christmas, far out in the future. Charlottes lecture on Saturday – was so instructive. I got some input to how I could help my horse to develop his back muscle (he is born with a little bit smaller back muscle in the right side). Charlotte also showed a couple of stretch exercises. You could hear people all over the place – talking about horses. And there was no doubt that we all were very dedicated to what we did and do with our horses. Each horse was unique in their own way, but some were especially admirable. My interest fell especially on a horse with a very significant hindquarter which was extremely well going. There was also the little Icelandic horse, which worked so well. And then there were the trotter which looked like a Danish Warmblod. At last but not least – there were Lindas four muscle bundles – they had so huge muscles all of them. Three unforgettable days – where you could hear people talking about Art2Ride. Three unforgettable days – where all were thankful for how much they have reached with their horses so far – you hurry slow when you do the Art2Ride. Three unforgettable days among so many fantastic people And three unforgettable days – where you saw horses which have only tried Art2Ride a little and you saw horses which had been trained in Art2Ride for a long time. An experience I will remember for the rest of my life. Sonja Bækkel - The heavy rider and the young horse
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30 | NoBackPain | Oktober 2019
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SONJA BÆKKEL FEEDBACK ON ART2RIDE CLINIC IN DENMARK
32 | NoBackPain | Oktober 2019
First of all I want to say a big thank you to Linda and Palle for hosting this clinic. I think I can speak for everyone there, when I say that we are very thankful for all the hard work you put into this clinic. And of course, Karen Loshbaugh who shares so willingly of all her extensive knowledge. As I live in Norway, I chose not to bring my horses because of the long drive. But I am very glad I came to audit! I started, and am still working, my youngest horse (a six yo PRE) according to Art2Ride principles, and I really love to see how he develops. I have also recently purchased a 19 yo warmblood, who is a retired showjumper. This horse has for various reasons not been worked for the last two years, so I can’t wait to see what Art2Ride can do for him. It goes without saying that because I work my horses according to Art2Ride, I love seeing other horses worked this way. Some horses come to this clinics with some tension in their body (or mind!). But worked according to Art2Ride principles for a few lessons they relax much more, and use their bodies in a better way. And those moments, where the horse truly start to connect, can be quite moving and wonderful to watch. In this clinic Karen talked about the right feel, and how important this is for our training. Once you have felt the soft contact or the lifting of the horses back, then you truly know what you want to achieve in your training. Feel is something that is difficult to teach, but Karen does a wonderful job in setting both the horse and the rider up for success. And that is so inspiring to watch! I really liked how Karen managed to bring focus to the little nuances within this way of training. Within Art2Ride we strive for a contact that is soft and light, just the weight of the rein in our hands. One thing we need to remember to be able to accomplish this, is not to pull on the reins, but rather keep an light resistance in our arms and hands when needed. Use the triceps, not the biceps! I will for sure bring many of Karen’s explanations with me when I give lessons. But it not just correct training that can make the magic happen, there are many things we need to consider. Correct saddlefit and bodywork are some of the things that is needed to make the horse the best he can be. At this clinic we were so lucky to have Kriemhild Morgenroth and Jörg Verseegen to hold a workshop about saddlefitting. Physical therapist Charlotte Ravnbo also had a workshop about equine bodywork and biomechanics. This shows the importance of having a team working together to take care of our equine friends. To all of the people (and horses) there - thank you for a fun and inspiring clinic!
MARTE FEEDBACK ON ART2RIDE CLINIC IN DENMARK
It was a wildly educational experience.. I had been looking forward to the clinic for a year, so I had managed to get quite high expectations, but I will say, that they were fulfil to the fullest. The most important thing for me was to get more knowledge that I could take with me. It can be a bit challenging sometimes, that William and Karen live all the way in the united states, so it was really exiting to actually be able to have Karen here in Denmark for a weekend thanks to Linda and Palle who did a great job hosting the event. You can learn a lot from videos and text, but you can learn even more by being there. Unfortunately, I did not have my own horse with me, but I got to see so many different horses, that all had to be handled differently. Karen was really great, and I really liked how she took her time with every single horse. Besides learning a whole lot about training the horse, there were also taken care of the horses back with the opportunity of sadlefitting, trying and buying a new saddle for the horse, and get it totally on top with advice and tips from equine physiotherapist Charlotte Ravnbo. It really was a lovely weekend in the spirit of horses and passion.
STINE MORTENSEN FEEDBACK ON ART2RIDE CLINIC IN DENMARK
34 | NoBackPain | Oktober 2019