Winter Newsletter 2006

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The sacrum is a triangular type shaped bone composed of 5 vertebrae that fuse together when the horse reaches between 4 - 5 years of age.   

Integrated into the pelvic girdle, the sacrum forms a skeletal link between the hindquarters and the horses back.  

Energy and movement generated from the hindquarters relies upon the sacrum and the sacroiliac joint to transmit its forces through to the horses body and forehand. 

The gaits of walk and trot protract the hindlimbs alternatively, this action and energy is received and transmitted by the sacroiliac joint.

The gaits of canter and gallop as well as jumping protract the hindlimbs together, this action and energy is received and transmitted by the integrated workings of the sacroiliac joint and lumbosacral joint that work together to rotate the pelvis.  

The horses loins require a balanced form in harmony with the structures that they support. Over developed loins will create a line of tension within their supporting structures.  

Jumping is an unnatural action for the horse, and subsequently, the horse has failed to evolve with the physical influences to incorporate jumping as an everyday activity. 

Small lower limbs, an inflexible spine, a heavy forehand (designed for pulling the hindquarters in the wild), long neck with a comparatively large heavy head as well as visionary inhibitions do not equate to the physical ideals required for jumping.  

As the horse lands, the leading forelimb makes ground contact establishing the horses balance and support, followed by the immediate impact of the preceding forelimb

For any horse to work 'on the bit' requires an unhurried learning process for the horse with unhurried, sympathetic and intellectual teachings from an experienced rider.

The horse that has been trained to communicate and work in unison with his rider, and over time will have learnt to move in new ways away from his natural instinctual actions and adapt accordingly, allowing the horse to work with impulsion, rhythm and balance generated from his powerful hindquarters to be received by a light, flexible and receptive forehand. 

The horse will have learnt to utilise his power to serve as a form of propulsion to push his movement forward, and, only when the horse has learnt these techniques will he naturally raise his neck, flex at the poll (Ref: diploma course - cranialsacral therapy) at the first cervical vertebrae, while still maintaining and working with flexion and free movement. 

This blend of harmonious communication between rider and horse presents the most desired outline the horse and rider can achieve,

and horses whom have not experienced the above teachings and understanding will often attempt to achieve the false neck outline courtesy of the pelham bit, minus flexion, elasticity of movement and mutual communication with the rider.

Horses being assessed for equine massage therapy, must always have their tack taken into account. Most horses ridden in a pelham bit will have muscular stress present in both the directly and indirectly affected muscles.

Subsequently, the indirectly affected muscles, ligaments and fascia planes will radiate their tension through the entirety of the horse, ultimately leading the horse to present complications in his locomotion and behaviour that would seemingly have no relationship to the 'bit'.

An intellectually devised programme of craniosacral, myofascial and specific muscular release will work to psychologically relax the horse, allowing ideal conditions for the proceeded targeted therapy.  

Location - Situated within the superficial muscle layer running down either side of the neck

Insertion - Point of shoulder (top of the humerus)

A stressed or strained Brachiocephalicus will create immediate, progressive and / or consequential effects, individually and collectively affecting the horses physiological and psychological well being.

An assessment of the horses working discipline, life style, tack, gait analysis and character provides a good insight into the possible causes, creations and continuing patterns of stress either present or threatening to this major muscle.

Inside The Muscle Cell (Certificate Course)

Looking inside a muscle is rather like looking into a miniature world complete with its own army, inside their own barracks with the soldiers harmoniously communicating and working within its effective laws of 'cause and effect'.

Recognising the cellular level of the muscle is equally important as recognising the more superficial level. 

When you apply massage applications and techniques to a muscle you are dealing directly with the bulk of the muscle; the tissue mass with its various fluids, its tissue density.

Muscle cells are composed from 'cytoplasm', a gel type substance both in its composition and reactive behaviour. 

When the muscle cell is exposed to times of inactivity, it becomes taught and dense in its composition; and when exposed to times of activity, it becomes fluid and pliable in its composition - a process is referred to as 'Thixotrophy'.

Being able to recognise and understand the behavioural traits of the muscle cell enables you to intellectually apply equine massage therapy in order to positively influence negative activity such as muscular tension and myofascial restriction and in each muscle. 

Subsequently, deep massage techniques involving compression, stretching and twisting will help to initiate and promote the 'Thixotrophy' phenomenon, promoting the muscles more receptive state for positive results offered through equine massage therapy.

With water being the main component of gel, the cells are very effective at conducting electricity. Subsequently, nerve impulses are more effectively received and transmitted when communicated through a soft pliable muscle. This principle allows many cases of referred neural pain often present within the internal organ cavities (Ref: diploma course) to be eradicated at their root cause.