FASCIA Health Considerations

creates efficiency in motion, the aim is to train the type 1 (postural and long distance) muscle fibres to reduce fatigue, improve strength and promote symmetry. Without balance there is brace. A horse in a relaxed, balanced posture will have mental relaxation and hence trainability and reduced injury risk. Things to think about are; what is the current posture of your horse and what is influencing this i.e hoof balance, fresh or old injuries etc.

– how much? Is the horse hypermobile or stiff? Do we want to promote mobility or stiffness to counteract mobility i.e thoracic sling stiffness and mobility to land a jump, lumbosacral mobility to clear the jump with the hind legs.

what needs to be strong? What discipline? Which areas of the body are important i.e jumping – hind end propulsion; dressage – the ability to collect for long periods of time; endurance – adaptability in strength to allow for

Psychological

– what does your horse enjoy as a reward for hard work? Some enjoy liberty, others enjoy being out on the trail or being ridden bridleless. Find your horse’s ‘joy’.

Open stables where horses can not only see each other but can communicate via touch can aid psychologically.

Incorporate Variation into your training

I N TH e PADDOCK

Variable feeding positions creating active stretching and alterations in position such as hanging a hay bag at differing heights, feeding on a ramp, side of a hill or over a gate. Creating obstacles in the paddock such as differing surfaces or objects such as logs to step over.

Utilising a TRACK system (tracks around the property) to promote movement and variation by having the hay bag positions, different surfaces and obstacles in the track system. (See Green Horse features in Dec/Jan and Feb/March issues).

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P OSTUR e AND BALANC e

In-hand work is very valuable in improving posture and balance as it allows the horse to establish body control without the added weight and variable balance of a rider. To aid posture and balance it is important to utilise movements in a slow and controlled manner - this will also aid your horse’s body awareness (proprioception). Performing exercises with a focus on posture and balance three times a week is very beneficial - this may be as a separate focused session or before riding and progressing to exercises during riding. Poles can be a very useful addition but they have to be done in a slow and controlled manner with the horse acknowledging the pole otherwise the value of the exercise is not optimised.

(Initially start with 5-6 times a week, then do 3 times a week)

S TR e N g TH

Strength training can have many different meanings depending on what you want to strengthen. It is important to build either the intensity of the exercise or the number of reps but not both in one session and you should only increase every third session. When incorporating strength work the rehydration breaks are vital to allow fascia recovery time. Rehydration breaks can include getting off the horse for a few minutes and walking, allowing the horse to stand for a minute when doing ground work, incorporating stretching or some massage into the routine or allowing a stretchy forward trot or canter in a light seat.

(Start with 2-3 times a week then for less time and intensity progress to 2 times per week).

VARIATIONS OF STR e N g TH TRAININ g TO PROMOT e FASCIAL H e ALTH INCLUD e:

• Long, slow distance 45-60 minutes – easy work

• Equiband, poles, gymnastics jumping, hills

• Interval training i.e transitions, collected work alternated with a soft stretchy trot with at least a work:rest ratio of 1:3. If more anaerobic (typically exercise that is performed at a higher intensity) then longer rest periods i.e one minute of gallop, acceleration, sharp turns, jumping followed by six minutes of rest.

F L ex IBILITY (2-3 times a week)

Dynamic mobilisation exercises - those that are performed from the ground unmounted) and involve teaching the horse to follow a food treat (bait) or track a target with its chin while keeping its feet stationary have been found to be beneficial for flexibility and core strength. Exercises such as carrot stretches with 5-15 second holds. Reps 3-5 times. No more than 30 seconds for mobility.

Lateral work - includes a range of schooling exercises during which the horse moves both forwards and sideways, while maintaining a bend through its body - this is really beneficial when performed in hand as well as ridden as the horse does not have to adapt to the rider weight, balance and positioning. Perform at a walk to promote postural strength as well.

P SYCHOLO g Y

This is the science used to train horses to make them feel safer and more secure. Keep it interesting, variation promotes stimulation and relaxation. Straightness creates balance, which creates relaxation.

• Introduce a Track system

• Liberty - work your horse loose, without ropes or reins

• Hack out - ride out of arena on tracks and trails

• Begin new exercises/skill in five minute chunks to aid learning. 1-2 repetitions is all that is required

• Keep the workouts short (20-30 minutes)

• What does the horse LOVE?

Optimising fascial health is achieved through exercise variation, rehydration breaks and regular body work, fascia is the key to body health and strength internally and externally.

Variation in training aids in fascia health, preventing overuse wear and tear, fatigue, stress and injury.

Varying exercises distributes the load across the body promoting improved flexibility, balance and strength ultimately leading to enhanced adaptability and function.

Overall the health and well-being and hence performance of your horse will improve. Add some variation into your training regime today and your horse will thank you.

A biomechanical medicine veterinarian and lecturer in Equine Science at Charles Sturt, Wagga Wagga, Raquel is passionate about equine locomotion, rehabilitation and the physiology and management of the equine athlete.

A video of exercises can be seen through accessing the link www. horseprohub.com/pl/2147604027.

Raquel has a great injury prevention and rehabilitation series along with many others that can be accessed by joining Horse Pro Hub with the coupon DRRWEBINAR at checkout.

Email: integratedvettherapeutics@gmail.com