Despite it being the dead of winter while the pandemic continues, I haven’t had much time to lament a lack of education opportunities. Somehow I stumbled across this incredible resource of free webinars discussing equine health with top vets:
https://www.lovethehorse.com/on-demand-library.html
The 2021 Art of the Horseman Online Horse Fair offered 2 days of free access to a wide range of videos discussing horsemanship, training and behavior. I was treated to several hours of watching Josh Nichol teach, among others:
www.becauseofthehorse.net
Equestrian Skill Builders hosted our favorite jumping coach, Jen Hamilton for a Q&A:
https://www.lovethehorse.com/on-demand-library.html
The 2021 Art of the Horseman Online Horse Fair offered 2 days of free access to a wide range of videos discussing horsemanship, training and behavior. I was treated to several hours of watching Josh Nichol teach, among others:
www.becauseofthehorse.net
Equestrian Skill Builders hosted our favorite jumping coach, Jen Hamilton for a Q&A:
Developing our horse’s abilities includes improving their strength, flexibility and endurance. When a horse is injured, their return to prior health firstly includes relieving their pain and then immediately improving their proprioreception. After the holidays, as the days get longer and will get warmer, we’re often resuming neglected fitness plans, not unlike rehabilitation.
“Proprioreception: the perception or awareness of the position and movement of the body”
It originates in the central nervous system and is also called ‘the sixth sense’, ‘the fifth leg’, and ‘sure-footedness’ in horses. I remember show jumping champion Eric Lamaze saying of his best horse Hickstead “It’s like he has eyes on his legs”. In riders, I think we call it the ‘eye’ for distance and ‘feel’ for connecting with the horse. It’s obvious to me that the more mindful and present a person is, coupled with physical fitness and core strength, the better their proprioreception would be. A good rider has a posture that doesn’t interfere with the horse’s physiology, and it’s not something they are thinking about when it’s happening. “Your reins are not connected to your hands, they are connected to your seatbones,” said Josh Nichol “If they do, you get top heavy and bracing. If you squeeze, you create tension.”
For our horses, I listened to these high profile professionals encourage therapeutic exercise time and time again to address proprioreception in order to speed healing and improve the outcome in a proven way. New technologies like balance pads, weighted boots, elastic bands and water treadmills are great, but so are walking over poles, different footings and inclines. You can use your phone to take ‘before and after’ video, use a tape measure to assess stride length or even rake the sand and look at the hoofprints. “Inactivity and immobilization are not our friends” said Dr. Steve Adair, “Look to the modalities that are used in people”. And “Horses are a lot like elite human athletes” said Dr. Sherry Johnson, “Promote the overall core strength and stability to protect the limbs.”
We like to think we reduce risk by reducing exposure, but that’s just not supported by the science. Exposure creates resilience, and if we can ever get together again, I will host a celebration called the ‘Pro-Proprioreception Reception’. You’re invited!
“Proprioreception: the perception or awareness of the position and movement of the body”
It originates in the central nervous system and is also called ‘the sixth sense’, ‘the fifth leg’, and ‘sure-footedness’ in horses. I remember show jumping champion Eric Lamaze saying of his best horse Hickstead “It’s like he has eyes on his legs”. In riders, I think we call it the ‘eye’ for distance and ‘feel’ for connecting with the horse. It’s obvious to me that the more mindful and present a person is, coupled with physical fitness and core strength, the better their proprioreception would be. A good rider has a posture that doesn’t interfere with the horse’s physiology, and it’s not something they are thinking about when it’s happening. “Your reins are not connected to your hands, they are connected to your seatbones,” said Josh Nichol “If they do, you get top heavy and bracing. If you squeeze, you create tension.”
For our horses, I listened to these high profile professionals encourage therapeutic exercise time and time again to address proprioreception in order to speed healing and improve the outcome in a proven way. New technologies like balance pads, weighted boots, elastic bands and water treadmills are great, but so are walking over poles, different footings and inclines. You can use your phone to take ‘before and after’ video, use a tape measure to assess stride length or even rake the sand and look at the hoofprints. “Inactivity and immobilization are not our friends” said Dr. Steve Adair, “Look to the modalities that are used in people”. And “Horses are a lot like elite human athletes” said Dr. Sherry Johnson, “Promote the overall core strength and stability to protect the limbs.”
We like to think we reduce risk by reducing exposure, but that’s just not supported by the science. Exposure creates resilience, and if we can ever get together again, I will host a celebration called the ‘Pro-Proprioreception Reception’. You’re invited!
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