Well if there is one thing a the fore front of a riders mind these days, once they have found that perfect horse, is keeping that horse fit and well for competitive life.
As a Chiropractor and Deep Tissue Sports Massage Therapist for Humans & Horses, I am frequently called on only when the horse is already injured or having problems, and the same holds true for when the rider comes for treatment.
The horse has evolved over millions of years to be a plains grazer and to flee predators, at speed in a straight line. His whole skeletal frame is designed so that he is comfortable grazing for up to 22 hours a day with his head down at grazing position. His gut and digestive system is designed for him to be a continuous feeder, consuming mainly grass/roughage.
As previously mentioned the horse’s strong muscular body and long slender limbs are designed to gallop at speed in a straight line, he is not designed to be ridden, to work on turns and circles or to carry a rider over fences.
As Equestrians everything we do with our horses puts stress on their bodies, therefore it’s up to us to put a plan in place to maintain their health throughout their working life. That being said we all know that prevention is better than cure, so I have included 10 Steps, that you can adopt to help you to keep your Horse Competition Ready!
Number 1.
Allow Your Horse to Be a Horse; That’s right plenty of paddock time is not only beneficial for the horses mental health, it will improve his gut performance and it is extremely beneficial for his Skeletal Frame. When the horse grazes he adopts his natural posture, stretching his head, neck and topline. He also walks around constantly as he grazes which benefits his circulation
Number 2.
Regular Feeding Times – It’s important to have regular feeding times, this reduces stress and promotes optimal digestion. Remember to feed according to his age, weight and current level of fitness, only increasing rations in line with your training program and your horse’s individual requirements.
Number 3.
Daily Grooming – A good grooming routine is paramount to the health of your horse. During grooming you not only develop a bond with your horse, but you improve his coat and well being. A daily groom helps you to keep a close eye on what’s normal for your horse, and you will notice any scrapes, scratches or heat in his legs at an early stage, while also noticing if he has any tender areas on his body. This helps you to stay on top of any issues he may have.
Number 4.
Correctly fitting Tack; It is important that the tack you use fits your horse correctly so he is comfortable in both bridle and saddle while being exercised. For example, an incorrectly fitted bridle/bit, can cause problems with his Jaw and Neck, while a poor fitting saddle with cause damage to his back. Take the time to make sure his tack fits correctly and employ the services of a good saddle fitter at regular intervals to ensure that your saddle remains comfortable for your horse, so that he can remain happy in his work.
Number 5.
Balanced Feet – No Foot, No Horse is still true – Regular Shoeing is a must for your competition horse, but it’s not as simple as that. Your horse’s feet must be trimmed and correctly balanced at each shoeing, which in competition horses is done every 4 – 6 weeks. As the old saying goes “Out by one inch at the bottom, out by one mile at the top!” the same is true of the horse’s foot. If the hoof is over long at the toe, this will put unnecessary stress on the tendons, which if not corrected can lead to significant injury. While medio-lateral hoof imbalance can cause problems all the way up the limb! I have personally witnessed a problem in the Sacro–iliac Joint, that started with a horse who had poor lateral wall growth in a hind foot. In order for complete recovery the imbalance in the feet had to be addressed alongside his treatment.
Number 6.
Hacking is Good; Hacking is important, whether it be on roads and tracks or just around the edge of a field. Straight Line ridden work is a must to build up strength in your horse’s skeletal frame correctly. Lots of slow steady work, changing diagonals in trot every few strides, so that horse is worked equally. If you are working canter on hacks this should be done equally also, so that your horse develops his strength equally to each canter lead.
Number 7.
Warm up and warm down; Make sure to have a good warm up, so that your horses muscles are loose and flexible before your ask him to do the hard work. During your schooling session, include breaks on a long rein so that your horse can stretch his head and neck and take a bit of breather.
When your schooling session is complete finish off with a relaxing cool down, this allows the horses body to cool down gradually, which will reduce the build up of unwanted waste products in his muscles which could cause him to feel stiff and sore the following day.
Number 8.
Lunging – Lunging once to twice a week, is beneficial to the horse’s suppleness. Although your horse is not designed to be worked on a circle, it is incorporated into its training usually from the breaking stage. This is done so that the horse develops suppleness and balance on a circle before a rider is introduced. Often, once the horse is broken and riding lunging is dropped completely.
However, I believe lunging on a 15 – 20 metre circle once to twice a week, will enable your horse to remain comfortable and supple in his own balance on a circle, and therefore it will be easier for him to carry the rider on turns and circles.
Plus lunging is a great way to observe your horse moving, to ensure he is looks sound, healthy and balanced, it gives you the rider, clues to any stiffness’s or problems he may be experiencing.
Number 9.
Pole Work /Gymnastic Work – Regular Pole work or gymnastic jumping helps to keep your horse flexible and encourages him to lower his head and neck and use his back. Horses usually enjoy the work, and it not only improves their flexibility and suppleness, but it also helps to improve their rhythm and balance while ridden.
Number 10.
Regular Treatments to Enhance Performance– Last but by no means least, Treatments to keep your horse fit and healthy. A Horse Dentist should be factored into your horse’s calendar yearly at least. Yearly Dental Checks will ensure that your horse retains even wear on his molars, and has no sharp edges that will make him uncomfortable while being exercised or while he is eating.
Also, you should have your horse checked regularly by a Chiropractor/Physio. If you are intending on keeping your horse in optimum health for competition this is a must. Your Equine Chiropractor with ensure that your horses skeletal frame remains in correct alignment for maximum functionality, while your Equine Physio will work mainly on the soft tissues of your horses body such as muscles and ligaments.
Prevention is better than cure, that’s why regular checks will help pin point minor issues and correct them before they become big problems. Thus, keeping your horse supple and flexible so that you both can remain in tip top condition to enjoy your sport!
This Article originally appeared in our December 2018 Issue of Irish Sport Horse Magazine.