Sore muscles belongs here

spirithorse · Advanced

Sore muscles belongs here

sedonasilver · Advanced

Oh I am fully aware of the important of ensuring your horse has complete muscle mobility.

Lorenzo is worked on by a bowen therapist once a month, and although he doesnt have any recurring issues, it does help relax him and keeps on top of anything that could become an issue in the future.

Bowen therapy = magic.

Horse-hearted · Advanced

I so agree. Basic Maintenance, baby.

spirithorse · Advanced

Interesting statements.
What is basic maintenance to you?

Barbara F · Grand Prix

My horse has an outstanding massage therapist who thoroughly checks him for any muscle issues. I look into anything at all that is suspect, including, of course, a change of behaviour, and I am careful to mix up his routine, rather than drill him over and over in the same movements.

In addition, I don't do long schooling sessions. I do the job at hand and then go for a nice walk. Lovely for body and mind (of horse and rider!).

So far I've only had this new horse for two months, and there have been no issues at all, thank goodness.

Horse-hearted · Advanced

I believe in a ground warm up and stretches before and after a work out for horse and rider. Also, if my horse is doing solid work, then I include massage therapy and chiropractic adjustments. Stretching is really the cat's meow, it's made an incredible difference to my guys. Also I try to ground drive often- it's marvelous for flexibility, good exercise for me, and keeps my horse's routine from being boring (as a nice side benefit).
Supplements may also factor in, depending on the horse.
It can add up to big bucks, and of course it all depends on the level and amount of riding, the horse, the discipline, and the rider. This is just my two cents!

sedonasilver · Advanced

I want to know - surely a small amount of soreness is to be expected when you're working a horse in to fitness.

I know that if I go to the gym and workout, the next day I will be a bit sore, but it is a good sore and a soreness that you HAVE to feel because its your muscles tearing and repairing in order to grow and build.

Also, most responsible riders mean to do the best by their horses, and if the awareness isnt out there then how are they supposed to know that this could be an issue with their horse? I dont believe it is a case of riders not BELIEVING its true, if someone suggested something to me, with good reason behind it, i would get it checked out.

spirithorse · Advanced

I have written an article on tetanic contractions in horses. Suprise, most vets do not even know what they are and the research validates this.
I have been called into check horses that vets said needed injections in the hocks or stifles and amazingly the actual injury is within the muscle structure.
I have had horse owners rebuke me because I found the problem that their vet and farrier could not.
Personal experience has shown me that the majority of horse owners do not know how the muscle structure of the horse works. So they cannot tell if the horse has a workout soreness or a spasm injury.
Even reputable well known individuals who practice equine muscle work are not accepted by the veterinary industry, simply because we are not properly credentialed.
Horse owners should purchase an anatomy book that I reference all the time and it would be so helpful in understanding how the horse functions.

sedonasilver · Advanced

Oooh I see, wow, i can imagine you must get very frustrated about the topic then.

Can you advise which book it is that you reference? It could be a very valuable addition to my 'equine library'.

I just cant comprehend why people would resort to drugs to fix a problem when there are other more natural, and possibly simpler reasons behind the issue.

Quick fix, I suppose?

spirithorse · Advanced

Horse Anatomy, A Pictorial Approach to Equine Structure, 2nd Edition
Peter Goody

www.halebooks.com

Horse-hearted · Advanced

Wow...I have had a vet suggest my horse have his hocks injected....

spirithorse · Advanced

Injecting is easier than locating a muscle problem. All I shall say is simply BEWARE

-- Edited by spirithorse on Wednesday 3rd of November 2010 03:20:12 PM

Horse-hearted · Advanced

Thank you, this has been eye opening!

spirithorse · Advanced

most welcome.
Been doing myotherapy on horses for the past 22yrs and the story is repetitve.
I just wish folks were open to asking questions of none vets who are more knowledgable regarding equine anatomy. Would help those horses.

Horse-hearted · Advanced

What exactly is myotherapy?

spirithorse · Advanced

It is deep pressure into the muscles that are in tetanic contraction, not trigger point or myofacial...........you have to work the length of muscle and/or muscles that are in contraction.

Queenrider · Advanced

I have learned to do trigger point therapy and TTEAM body work over the years and it is very helpful. People do not believe me when I tell them their horse is muscle sore and/or lame. Sore muscles get misdiagnosed as everything from temperment problems to saddle problems to farrier problems to "old age". I used to work for vets when I was a vet tech so I have developed a good eye for this. Vets are not taught about muscle soreness and will misdiagnose this as well. Muscle soreness will occur before the horse actually goes lame. Catching this in the beginning saves money and stress on the horse and lenghtens their productive life. A lot of muscle soreness occurs high up in the body as well and again vets are not taught to check here.

spirithorse · Advanced

equine vets are a BIG problem for the horses..............inject - inject...........that is their motto.

Barbara F · Grand Prix

Allan, do you have some simple at-home techniques you might share with us?

spirithorse · Advanced

Yep....let me write something up for ya!!!!

spirithorse · Advanced

Myotherapy is the manipulation of a muscle or group of muscles by the application of increasing pressure and depth of penetration. One palpates along the length of the muscle until the horse stops reacting to the palpation. This will give the individual an idea of the length one has to apply the myotherapy.
Remember that the individual will have to establish [through palpation] if it is just the surface muscle or does the problem go into the deeper muscles.
This is not trigger point therapy, one must pressurize the entire section of muscle that is in contraction.
The individual starts at the point at which the horse did not react and works backwards into the contracted section. The individual can use the elbow or a tool that has a rounded end…pressing into the muscle for approximately 30seconds then moving the width of the area pressed and repeat the process.
If one goes to www.bonnieprudden.com one can purchase a book that explains how to do this with humans, and it is the same process for horses except that horses have much more muscle mass to work with.

Barbara F · Grand Prix

Thanks Allan,

This is very much like what I do to my own back, with a very cool tool that I got from the back store. Or sometimes I get my husband to use his elbow along a muscle in my back. It's interesting because it feels like the pain is moving away from the pressure and I almost have to"chase" or follow it up my back. It works fantastically!

Thanks for the reminder that I can do it on my horse too!