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- Herausgeber: Kenilworth Press
- Kategorie: Lebensstil
- Sprache: Englisch
- Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015
From the author of the hugely successful titles 'How Your Horse Moves' and 'Horse Anatomy for Performance', comes a completely different training manual, also based on the Horses Inside Out philosophy: 'Understanding Anatomy Improves Performance and Reduces the Risk of Injury'. Divided into three main parts: Principles of Anatomical Riding and Training; Exercises for Horse and Rider; Troubleshooting, the book contains a wealth of practical tips and exercises broken down into easy to follow, well-illustrated steps showing how riders can improve their riding skills and potential. The author suggests ways to improve horses' physique, flexibility, stability, core strength, performance and movement and how to reduce muscular and movement problems, and reduce the risk of injury. This beautifully illustrated book looks at how to deliver a safe, varied, fun, effective and achievable training programme. It provides all the ingredients for riders to make informed decision to maximise their own and their horse's potential, gain more enjoyment, satisfaction and improve their skills. Based on the principles of anatomy and biomechani with welfare in min learn all about: skeletal maturity, how to achieve good back posture, how to reduce strain on ligaments and tendons, movements to strengthen and condition muscles and more.
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Contents
Useful Terms
Abduction – When the leg is taken away from the body.
Adduction – When the leg is brought towards or across the body.
Asymmetrical gait – A gait in which the limb movements are different on the left and right sides, for example canter and gallop.
Atrophy – Wasting away, loss of muscle bulk and function.
Cadence – Rhythm combined with impulsion and spring.
Caudal – Towards the tail.
Cranial – Towards the skull.
Impact – The first point at which the hoof makes contact with the ground.
Impulsion – Energy.
Lateral flexion – Side bend through the spine.
Myofascia – Skeletal muscle and its surrounding fascia.
Neural – Relating to nerves.
Overtracking – When the hind leg is placed in front of the imprint of the fore hoof.
Proprioception – Perception of body positioning and spatial awareness.
Propulsion – The moment in the stride from midstance to where the tip of the hoof digs into the surface to propel the horse forward.
Protraction – Where the limb moves forwards in relation to the body: it begins at breakover and ends just before impact.
Retraction – Where the limb moves backwards in relation to the body: it begins just before the hoof touches the ground at impact and ends at breakover.
Rhythm – Regularity of the steps or strides in each gait.
Rotation – The action of rotating around an axis.
Spinal extension – Hollowing of the spine, accompanied with a degree of high head and tail carriage.
Spinal flexion – Rounding of the spine.
Stance – The moment of the stride when the foot is on the ground. There are different parts to stance:
1. Deceleration from impact and when the limb is in front of vertical
2. Loading when the body weight is loaded onto the limb
3. Load-bearing where vertical impact is at its greatest
4. Breakover – From when the heel lifts off the ground until the toe leaves and the swing phase begins.
Stride length – The distance from the placement of one hoof to where it next falls.
Swing phase – The moment of the stride when the foot is off the ground and coming through the air.
Symmetrical gait – Gait in which limb movements on one side are repeated on the opposite side half a stride later. Example: trot, pace.
Tempo – The speed of the rhythm of the gait.
Tracking up – When the hind hoof steps into the imprint of the fore.
Tuberosity – A bony protuberance, which provides an area for muscle attachment.
Foreword
By Adam Kemp
I first met Gillian Higgins in 2012 when we were both invited, independently, to give a presentation at a British Horse Society conference at Hartpury College. I was immediately taken by her boundless enthusiasm for, and deep knowledge of, the relationship between anatomy, biomechanics and training of horses.
I’ve been training horses and riders for many years with a quest for performance enhancement in both horse and rider. Gillian has really helped me understand the anatomical and biometric possibilities of the horses’ physiology and anatomy in my training philosophies.
Understanding what a horse’s body is capable of is paramount in designing a training and educational regime to help bring the best out of each individual horse we are lucky enough to train. This book will help you understand what effects each training phase and exercise will have on your horse’s body, which will assist you in designing a programme of performance enhancement training to suit his individual needs.
Performance enhancement requires firstly an assessment of your horse’s needs, followed by a systematic training regime involving education, gymnastics, and body building. Gillian will help you understand these concepts, and guide you through the practical application of the theory.
Having had a very extensive education in the practicalities of training horses I have found it refreshing and intriguing to learn more about the theories of biomechanics of the equine athlete’s capabilities. This knowledge hasn’t changed what I believe in or do. What it has done is greatly enhance the enjoyment I get from developing the equine athlete. I believe in maximising the horse’s capability through education and physical development. Understanding the physiological implications of this process has served to further my thrill and wonderment of the challenge.
This book will help you understand what you are trying to achieve, and why success in training your horse is somewhat elusive! You will marvel at the success of your training, as much as you will rationalise your failings. Through systematic, educated reasoning you will see why things work, and why things don’t.
Training a horse to be the best he can be is one of the most rewarding, and challenging things I’ve done. Things will go wrong on the way, but remember, you are the intelligent member of the horse/rider combination. He has immense physical strength that will always outdo yours. Your strength is in your head – use it wisely to win him over.
Horses are not machines. Use this book to help you embrace, and be richly rewarded by, this challenge.
Enjoy the book, and enjoy your horse.
Adam Kemp
Introduction
This book is refreshingly different! It shows riders how, by understanding more about anatomy, biomechanics, how their horses function and the principles of training from an anatomical perspective they are in a position to make informed decisions related to riding, training and management. By applying their knowledge they can then maximise their own and their horse’s potential, improve their skills, achieve their goals and thus gain more success, satisfaction and enjoyment.
Posture and Performance shows riders how to think of themselves as personal trainers to their horses, take care of their musculature and consider every aspect of their well-being in general and their posture in particular. It shows how to train with empathy, sensitivity and always with the best interest of the horse at heart.
Today’s horse is an athlete. We are continually pushing him to his physiological limits. We are constantly raising the bar – in some cases literally as well as metaphorically. We expect him to run faster, jump higher and perform increasingly complicated movements often requiring seemingly unattainable feats of skill, strength and balance, all whilst carrying the weight of the rider. To do this he must be fit, agile, relaxed, strong and mentally prepared. As riders, we often train in a gym. Our horses’ gym is the arena, field, hill and dale.
The universally recognised German scales of training are a tried and tested training system developed to maximise the horse’s natural, physical and mental aptitudes. By following their principles in conjunction with a thorough understanding of anatomy and biomechanics, the rider will enjoy a well-trained, obedient, supple and comfortable horse that is willing to cooperate without resistance in any situation. This applies to all horses regardless of breed or discipline.
The six principles of the training scale are:
• Rhythm and regularity of steps
• Suppleness, relaxation and elasticity of movement
• Contact, acceptance of the bit and aids
• Impulsion
• Straightness and equal contact on both reins
• Collection, increased engagement and balance.
All levels are interdependent and, although each stage should be well established before moving on to the next, they also need to be considered as a whole. Posture and Performance is descriptively illustrated, arranged in bite-sized pieces and approaches the subject in an easily digestible format.
This illuminating and unique book is not designed to be a definitive training manual but rather to give food for thought, provide an insight into the anatomical and biomechanical principles of posture and training and to encourage us all to improve our personal skills and achieve the very best for our horses.
PART 1
The Principles of Training
This section looks at basic anatomy and the principles of training horses from the anatomical perspective, examines the importance of posture and considers both asymmetries and compensation patterns.
1 Principles of Anatomy
Anatomy is a study of the structure and relationship between all the parts of the body. Knowledge of anatomy is essential for every rider, trainer and equine professional. It allows us to understand the dynamics of movement and encourage the horse to move freely without putting undue stress on joints, tendons, ligaments, or muscles. Understanding anatomy promotes a good rider, trainer, therapist, farrier or saddler to great. It is critical for achieving optimum performance and for understanding the limitations of our horses.
This chapter explores the relationship between the principle aspects of the axial and appendicular skeleton, fascial connections, how muscles function and the importance of muscle chains all related to movement.
The Spine
The spine is a complicated arrangement of vertebrae, cartilaginous discs, strong ligaments and joints. Forming a bridge between the fore and hindlimbs, it transfers the forces created by the thrust of the hind end, supports the weight of the digestive system and carries the weight of the rider. It is made up of five sections. The shape of the vertebrae, all of which have common features, change at the junction between each section. Each vertebra has areas for muscle and ligament attachments and each has a vertebral canal running through the centre that houses the spinal cord. This transmits messages between the brain and the rest of the body.
A little-considered but very revealing and thought-provoking view of the spine.
The eighteen pairs of ribs protrude from between each neighbouring thoracic vertebrae. These support the back and contribute to the horse’s ability to bend. They consist of:
• Eight true ribs which connect directly into the sternum and are considered to be supporting ribs. There is little movement here.
• Ten false ribs which connect to the sternum via cartilage and connective tissue. As there is more spring in this section they are known as ‘breathing ribs’.
Six lumbar vertebrae, characterised by the length and width of the transverse processes, protect underlying organs, provide an area for muscle attachment and increase stability. As the lumbar vertebrae are unsupported by the ribs it is important that the saddle and thus the rider’s weight are positioned above the ribs. The thoracolumbar section of the spine is very inflexible with only minor flexion-extension (up and down), lateral (side to side) and rotational movement.
The Forelimbs
The forelimb, essentially an upright bony column, is connected to the spine via the thoracic sling, a series of muscles and soft tissue which allows the horse to turn and which dissipates concussive forces, particularly when landing from a jump. Its main function is to support weight and contribute to balance, turning and braking.
The Hindlimbs
The hindlimb is connected to the spine via the pelvis at the sacroiliac joint. The bones in the hindlimbs are large and strong to withstand and create enormous forces. The main function of the powerful hind leg is to create propulsion. The angles, length and alignment of the bones determine the amount of flexibility, forward propulsion, range of movement and thus gymnastic ability. The more acute the angles, the more the horse can compress and the more suited he will be to competitive jumping or high levels of dressage. The horse with more upright, open angles will have less spring and absorb concussion less efficiently.
Muscles
There are hundreds of skeletal muscles in the horse’s body. These create movement by applying force to bone via tendons to operate joints. Muscle length, strength and tone determine the degree of skeletal support.
Muscles work in opposition to each other
Muscles work in pairs. As one muscle, referred to as the agonist, contracts, the opposite one, the antagonist, lengthens. This principle is extended to groups and chains of muscles. The chains affect movement patterns and posture.
How muscles contract
Muscle comprises of many strands of tissue called fascicles. An example of these can be seen in red meat or poultry. Within each fascicle are bundles of tens of thousands of thread-like myofybrils, which can contract, relax, and elongate. The myofybrils themselves are made up of millions of microscopic bands of sarcomeres consisting of overlapping thick and thin myofilaments of the contractile proteins actin and myosin.
Arrangement of the actin and myosin filaments in a single sarcomere in a stretched, relaxed and contracted state.
Muscle fibre toning and stretching
People who do sit-ups on a regular basis have shortened, more toned stomach muscles. If a muscle or muscle fibre is repeatedly asked to contract, over time the tissue will respond by removing some sarcomeres to reduce the overall length of the myofibrils. This is how muscles become more toned with strengthening exercises. Conversely, when continuously stretched, additional sarcomeres will be added to the myofibrils thus elongating the muscle fibre. This muscle response is also true of horses.
Muscle fibre recruitment
Muscle fibres are unable to vary the intensity of their contraction. Varying the strength of force relies on the number of muscle fibres recruited by the central nervous system. The more that are recruited the stronger the contraction.
To avoid fatigue, prolong muscular endurance or to counteract damage, the muscle fibres alternate between work and rest. This is rather like a factory shift system! If some fibres are damaged, for example after a bout of hard exercise, the muscle will avoid using them until they have recovered. It is important to allow the muscles time to rest and recover after new or strenuous exercise.
Performing regular sit-ups creates shortened, more toned stomach muscles.
Types of muscle contraction
There are two types of muscle contraction; isometric and isotonic. Understanding these helps us to train our horses more effectively and sensitively.
This horse is using his neck muscles isometrically.
Isometric contractions
These are used when the muscle is working statically to maintain a position. For example when we hold a heavy weight at arm’s length or when a horse is required to hold his head in an elevated flexed neck outline. This can be muscularly tiring. To counteract this we need to allow the horse regular breaks to stretch down and relax.
Isotonic contractions
These create or control movement and can be further divided into:
•Concentric muscle contraction, which occurs when the muscle is actively shortened. It is used when initiating propulsion, taking off for a jump, going uphill, accelerating and creating cadence.
•Eccentric muscle contraction, which occurs when the muscle is actively lengthened. It is used when braking, during the loading phase of the stride, landing from a jump or going downhill.
Connective Tissue
Connective tissue links and supports all the structures and systems of the body. It is comprised of the protein, collagen and includes fascia, tendons and ligaments.
Fascia
Fascia, the main components of which are collagen and elastin, is the most abundant material in the body. It is a pliable, web-like, integrated, continuous sheet of tissue that penetrates and links every structure and organ. It surrounds bone in the form of the periosteum and gives muscles shape, structural support and protection. Another function is to allow the transport of nutrients and waste. When fascia, which is 80% water, is hydrated, it is resilient and flexible, allowing its moist layers to glide smoothly past each other without interference. When emotional stress or injury occurs, the fascia may harden, become inflexible and locally dehydrated or disorganised at a cellular level. This causes the layers to adhere together leading to muscular tension, restricted movement patterns and sometimes pain often far removed from the original site of the problem.
SCAR TISSUE
Scar tissue is formed from the excessive amounts of collagen produced as part of the normal healing process following injury. This can be as a result of an external cut or internal injury when muscles, ligaments or tendons are damaged. The initial production of granulation tissue is necessary to provide tensile strength for repair. Unfortunately, owing to poor structural organisation of the collagen, it is less pliable, less flexible and less consistent than the tissue it replaces. In some cases and depending on the severity of the original injury, it can cause restriction and even pain.
Healthy tendon tissue with well aligned collagen fibres.
Damaged tendon tissue with poorly aligned collagen fibres and scar tissue.
Tendons
Tendons attach skeletal muscle to bone. They are dense fibrous parallel bundles of collagen arranged in long cords that have high tensile strength but limited elasticity. They originate in the parent muscle, and insert into bone. Blood supply to tendons is limited and explains the poor healing capacity. During muscular activity the force generated by the muscle is transmitted to the tendon and then to the bone, thereby initiating movement. As horses have no muscles below the knee, tendons bear the brunt of the workload. Once a tendon or ligament has been damaged, the scar tissue that forms is aligned haphazardly and is less strong.
Ligaments
Ligaments connect bone to bone across joints. They are found throughout the body. They are composed of fibrous bands of connective tissue made up of relatively inelastic white fibres and more elastic yellow fibres that have the ability to stretch. The degree of elasticity within the ligament depends on the amount and type of the fibres, location, function and range of movement within the joint. Ligaments that cross joints where there is more movement require a higher proportion of yellow fibres. The nuchal ligament in the neck for example, requires more stretch than the collateral ligaments that stabilise and prevent lateral movement in the hinge joints of the limbs.
