Ride On Equine Therapy

01/17/2024

10 Ways Horses Cope In Winter (+ a Bonus)

Turn your horse out in a field of snow and chances are he’ll be off playing, rolling and running around in it, even if he hasn’t got a blanket on.

Horses are remarkably well adapted to tolerate a broad range of temperatures, reflecting the climate they evolved in. In the summer horses are able to sweat profusely to cool off. In winter, they have other tools to help their core warm and healthy.

1. Horses have a unique strategy to prevent their feet from freezing. Typically, blood circulates in a horse's hoof through an impressive network of tiny capillaries. However, when his feet get cold, a mechanism known as ‘direct shunt’ opens up in the hooves, allowing blood to flow through larger veins instead of through the small capillaries, helping to keep the area warm.
2. Your horse's lower limbs are well-suited for cold conditions because there are no muscles below the knee. This design reduces the need for extensive blood circulation in the leg cells, resulting in less heat loss.
3. Your horse's winter coat is composed of two layers of hair. The top layer is coarse hair set at an angle. A fine layer of softer downy hair grows underneath. This design forms pockets of air, creating an insulating layer that effectively retains heat and acts as a windbreak. Additionally, the downward tilt of the coat helps deflect falling raindrops and snowflakes before they reach the skin.
4. Piloerection, another heat-trapping adaptation, involves tiny muscles at the base of the hair lifting it vertically. This action increases the hair depth, effectively trapping air next to the body and creating an insulating layer.
5. Your horse's mane and tail also serve as protection for vital blood vessels and sensitive areas during the winter months.
6. The blunt-shaped equine muzzle is richly supplied with blood so it can withstand the bitter cold without freezing, unlike our triangular shaped nose that can be susceptible to frostbite.
7. Your horse's skin is adept at warding off the cold. The outermost layer, the epidermis, comprises waterproof layers. Oils produced by the skin spread across, coating the skin and hairs and forming a protective barrier against moisture. Below the epidermis is the hypodermis, which is a loose layer of connective tissue in which insulating fat is stored.
8. In cold weather, your horse's nervous system triggers the adaptive response of vasoconstriction. This process involves narrowing blood vessels, restricting blood flow to the skin and superficial muscles. Instead, it redirects blood to deeper tissues, minimizing heat loss.
9. During summer's warmth, your horse's muscles naturally relax, reducing heat production. Conversely, in winter's cold, your horse's muscles contract, actively generating heat. This increased effort demands more calories and can lead to muscle soreness and tension. Horses in good health may also opt for running and playing to generate more muscle heat. Shivering, an extreme response, occurs when a horse's core temperature drops too low, serving as a way to generate heat and avoid dangerous cooling.
10. Your horse's digestive system plays an important role in keeping him warm in cold weather. Digesting hay generates internal metabolic heat (more than any other feed), effectively warming your horse from the inside out. As staying warm in winter demands more calories, it's crucial to provide an increased amount of quality hay during colder times.

Bonus - Horses have thick eyelashes, which protect their eyes from bitter winds and temperatures.

Horses employ a variety of unique strategies to deal with winter conditions.
You can help your horse thrive by booking him a massage appointment this winter.

Learn more about why your horse should get a massage here - https://koperequine.com/heres-a-list-of-things-you-may-not-yet-know-about-massage/

Learn more winter care for your horse’s muscles here - https://koperequine.com/tips-for-maintaining-your-horses-muscles-tendons-and-joints-in-cold-weather/

01/06/2024

11/20/2023

10/13/2023

07/05/2022

https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/how-walk-work-over-poles-benefits-equine-rehab-and-strength-793578?utm_content=horseandhound&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialflow&fbclid=IwAR2STakKg9pGaf0KF1dAgHrB4KRdgA3U1ksfD5BWM1khp47YOybd8SGs4Xs&fs=e&s=cl

WALKING over ground and raised poles can be beneficial for horses in rehabilitation or as general strengthening work, research has highlighted. A team originally from the former Animal Health Trust found that using poles can help achieve many key rehab goals set out by veterinary and musculoskeletal...

11/08/2021

An INCORRECT outline.

❌ Back is hollow
❌ Hind legs are trailing out behind and not talking any weight
❌ Head is behind the vertical in hyperflexion/rollkur

To the untrained eye, people can think this looks "pretty," when in actual fact, it's painful.

Try it yourself... Go on your hands and knees, tuck your chin into your chest, arch your back, and move your knees out behind you. Then imagine a weight being placed on your back and having to move around for 30-60 minutes.

Aside from the discomfort, the horse will show signs of tension, be unable to over-track and develop self-carriage. The rider will have limited ability to bend the horse correctly, thereby making it very difficult to teach the horse higher-level movements, such as lateral movements.

Instead of this, check out this post - https://www.facebook.com/HowToDressage/posts/1062440337840157

10/16/2021

These are all the points I ensure to check while fitting or checking the fit to your horse. Also checking with your body in the saddle as that changes pressure points as well.
If you feel your horse needs a fitting, do not hesitate to contact me.

08/13/2021

Dundee, a 2 year old Shetland pony. I was hired by Dundee’s owner to help make some changes within this situation. Dundee had neurological damage and bone damage following her entanglement with a fence in January. The nerve injury is affecting her right lower lip, her right jaw muscles, her tongue and her swallowing abilities to various degrees. she had sustained injury to her upper cervicals and poll region as well. There is bone bruising to her lower right jaw and bony avulsion and injury to her left TMJ joint. The first treatment consisted of working on the opposite side of the injury to help relax and release the muscles involved with the facial structure and lightly working with the effected side. When dealing with the superficially located facial nerve, that was injured it was important to keep in mind that the muzzle will then be pulled to the opposite side of by the functioning muscles so it was important to ensure we get that side to relax and release. Second treatment consisted of the same type of treatment. Locating the tightened off structure and then going to the injured side and bringing some feeling and blood flow back with different styles of massage work. During the third treatment we decided to work intraoral working with the muscles inside along the jaw line and cheek, allowing some blood flow to come back into the area. Within each treatment we were able to help release her C1 along with her C2 and her left TMJ joint. Slowly working with the jaw and TMJ area on the right, we released the tension that would be affecting any of the facial nerve functions. We repeated each time and got considerably noticeable results from Dundee. She seems to be challenging the muscles involved with the trauma. We are getting her right side to tighten off and are now bringing function and blood flow back. I will continue to work with Dundee on a schedule to insure she keeps healing to her full potential.

08/11/2021

Ace has been an outstanding case in his healing journey. We started the first treatment with ace at the beginning of July. I will say he had a number of things going on with his muscoskeletal structure that required attention. Just to mention a few, his topline was lacking, his shoulders were stuck in an upward position, his pelvis was stuck up to the right, while the left was held downward and flared outward. (Along with tight muscles throughout the hind as well as some of the protracting muscles not being used) With all of these issues going on throughout his body, he was surely not able to use himself properly or even ride within frame.
It took 3 treatments and his owners following the "at home treatment plan" supplied, to get him back to where he needs to be. As you can see the difference in his structure. You're able to note his topline has been developing, hes able to stand more square. We have now noticed after these 3 treatments, his whole body is relaxed. His pelvis is even and dropping at a normal and even angle as well.
Ace is able to use the proper biomechanics in his movements, allowing a better development within his whole muscoskeletal structure. He also enjoys his treatments and gives some great releases along the way. He will need his teeth done and some more work on his hooves as well as maintenance treatments to ensure he is functioning at his full ability.