Horse&Rider Magazine - March 2022

In this feature. . .

Our expert

As told to Kiera Boyle. Photos: Jon Stroud.

Dan Greenwood is a dressage rider and trainer.

He has won many national championships and ridden for GB at Small Tour, as well as coaching up to Grand Prix.

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Create your horse’s best-ever walk

Our models

Romanno Stromboli is an 11-year-old gelding

by Sir Donnerhall. He’s currently competing at Small Tour and is ridden by Max Campbell.

In the saddle

Boost his balance

Encourage long, powerful strides

walk A

on the

wild side Learn how to create a winning walk that’ll wow the judges

T

he walk is an often neglected pace when, in truth, it can be the deciding factor between a winning mark and a sub-par score. It’s certainly not a pace reserved for having a breather, and takes a great level of skill to maximise. Spending time improving your horse’s work at home is the key to producing a high-scoring walk in a test situation, where relaxation may be scarce. By practising a series of focused exercises, you’ll set up your horse with the fundamentals required – balance, rhythm, suppleness and relaxation – to produce an impressive test overall, no matter his natural strengths and weaknesses.

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In this feature. . .

Strengthen your horse’s hindlegs

Come into power Power up your horse’s hindquarters to transform him into a strong and elevated mover

As told to Kiera Boyle. Photos: Lucy Merrell

W

hat is it that sets apart the ordinary from the extraordinary? Well, when it comes to a horse’s movement, it’s an elegant, uphill pace that makes him look as though he’s floating above the ground – that really gives him the wow factor. Think it’s something a horse either has or doesn’t?

Think again. Any rider can inject their horse’s paces with a little extra pizzazz.

How? By focusing on improving his balance, straightness and strength so he’s able to take more weight onto his hindlegs.

Lift and reach come from the powerhouse that is your horse’s hindquarters, and learning how to engage them will make the other elements of your job feel effortless. I’ve got some handy exercises to help you form your very best overall picture.

Our expert

Anna Miller is an advanced dressage rider competing at small tour level. She coaches both para and able-bodied riders.

Our model

Adonis B (Ares) is a 16-year-old Dutch gelding, working at Inter II level.

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In the saddle

Create maximum engagement

Achieve a better canter

Any rider can inject their horse’s paces with a little extra pizzazz

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Body of work Whether your horse isn’t quite right or you’re keen to keep him feeling his best, bodywork can be a useful tool – but how can you ensure you’ve chosen the right practitioner? Suzannah Povey-White explains all Our expert

Photos: Jon Stroud

Suzannah Povey-White is a veterinary physiotherapist based in the south east of England. Alongside her work, she serves as a council member for RAMP and is active in ensuring standards of care are maintained in therapeutic practice.

A

s more and more people understand the importance of regular bodywork and assessment for their horses, it’s vital horse owners understand who to call and for what reasons. Equine therapists are broad in expertise, technique and training, so to ensure the practitioner you use makes a positive impact on your horse’s wellbeing, it’s important to understand your options.

Teamwork first

According to the Veterinary Surgery (Exemptions) Order 2015, properly trained practitioners can attend to your horse either under referral by the horse’s vet, or as part of routine maintenance.

The therapist isn’t legally bound to report back to the vet, however this is recommended to ensure collaborative care for your horse and make certain your therapist has all the relevant information.

There’s also a clear and sensible order of operations to follow – if your horse becomes lame, your first port of call should be your vet, who’ll then advise if or when a practitioner should be brought into the equation.

To ensure the practitioner you use makes a positive impact on your horse’s wellbeing, it’s important to understand your options

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Management know-how

Pick your practice

Each of the main three regulated professions do slightly different things and can be used effectively together, however there are overlaps in techniques.

Broadly speaking...

• physiotherapists will be looking at performance and movement • osteopaths will be looking at body harmony and functionality • chiropractors will be looking at alignment and balance These practitioners will belong to a membership body, the most common of which include...

• Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy (ACPAT), which is for qualified human physios who’ve gained further

qualifications in animal physiotherapy • Association of Animal Osteopaths (AAO), which gathers qualified practitioners and student members to encourage better industry standards • British Veterinary Chiropractic Association (BVCA) is open to qualified chiros with postgraduate training and a certification examination conducted by the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association (IVCA) However, there are a number of other membership bodies, including the National Association of Veterinary Physiotherapists (NAVP), Institute of Registered Veterinary and Animal Physiotherapists (IRVAP) or McTimoney Chiropractic Association (MCA).

On the register

While bodyworkers might be affiliated to a number of membership bodies, these don’t provide an impartial list of therapists to choose from, which is why independent registers were created. The registers exist to allow owners to find a practitioner who’s qualified, trained and regulated by an independent body. Practitioners must adhere to a strict entry criteria, undergo regular training, be insured and are governed by a robust complaints procedure. The...

• Register of Animal Musculoskeletal Practitioners (RAMP) encompasses chiropractors, osteopaths and physiotherapists trained at degree level • Animal Health Professions Register (AHPR) includes a broader range of practitioners so, as well as the main three, others such as sports therapists and massage professionals also appear on its listings

TOP TIP

Working with your vet doesn’t just ensure you don’t waste your money on a treatment that might not help – it could also give you access to a practitioner who comes highly recommended, as your vet may have top quality therapists in mind.

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