tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572456235638386982024-03-13T14:02:37.129+01:00The quest for EquipoiseNew post every Thursday!Lenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112475408539777394noreply@blogger.comBlogger132125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757245623563838698.post-89113572886183625002013-11-10T11:40:00.001+01:002013-11-10T12:04:25.388+01:00Time for a new beginningBest followers and readers!<br />
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The time has come for me to move on and end of this blog. Thank you for the interest you have shown for all that Lena and I have written. Every question and comment meant a lot, feedback is a nice gift to receive.<br />
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For my part, it has been a busy year with horse's feet and hooves in focus. Since August 2012 I've been sitting with my head above living and dead hooves and a lot of books . During five full week courses in Applied Equine Podiatry (AEP) , I have studied the anatomy, function and structure of the hoof and foot in order to perform a balancing of the hoof capsule to the horse's feet ( = coffin bone and cartilage ) in accordance with the HPT method (Hight Performance Trim) which in turn is based on AEP .<br />
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On October 2, I took the practical test in Boden after a final exam on the internet-based theory set forth by the Institute of Applied Equine Podiatry, USA .<br />
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Kerstin Kemlén, Boden and I have started Horsequality Sweden AB. We both have expertise in AEP and in combination with the rest of our knowledge , we create an unbeatable concept, a company with research, horse health and human as our core.<br />
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Kerstin has a background in harness racing , where attention to details is a must when training has competition as a goal - ex diets/feeding performance horses , monitoring heart rate with a monitor and motion analysis , training etc. Kerstin can read horses as few others can and have, after several years of collaboration with veterinary professor Robert Cook, USA, developed bitless bridle for trotting horses in order to minimize physical bit-related damages on performance horses. She is specialist in bit-related behavioral issues and well versed in the research .<br />
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My background is in riding and driving. In Horsequality my contribution is the Alexander Technique, which gives riders and drivers good balance and suppleness. I have an education in Equine Touch (and its counterpart for people, VHT), a gentle manual technique that provides muscle tension release , increases circulation and creates wellness.<br />
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Horse welfare and habitat is an important area. Feeding, work/discipine, outdoor activity and interaction with conspecifics is important. All horse management involves various degrees of compromise: from our own perspective as a horse owner and from a horse based perspective.<br />
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Horsequality Sweden offering lectures and clinics on hooves and feet, posture, bit, training schedules, new research related to the horse and more. Contact us to learn more.<br />
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Thank you for these years and welcome to join us in the future.<br />
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Maria<br />
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kontakt@horsequality.se<br />
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Horsequality Sweden can be found on Facebook.Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04601845946855705234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757245623563838698.post-46946000428069962272013-06-03T11:25:00.000+02:002013-06-03T11:25:28.071+02:00Get your feet movingThis weekend, I learned to run and it was fantastic! <a href="http://www.alexandertechmontreal.com/" target="_blank">Malcolm Balk</a>, a teacher of the Alexander Technique and runner with many kilometers in his legs shared his knowledge with us.<br />
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As with everything else my mind slipped over to riding and horse management during the work shop. To run is to bring many small detailes to form a whole and every detail is important for the quality of the whole.<br />
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Just as in riding, it is important to know in which direction the movement will take place. For a runner, there should be an upward direction in the body while we want to move forward. If we bounce with each step we are wasting energy. I thought Malcolm said that with a bouncy running technique during a marathon you are likely to have climbed up to the top of the Empire State Building (381 m) and down again.<br />
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When we run, there is very little free energy for us to use, compared to cycling for example we can let the bike roll from time to time without stopping completely. The small amount of free energy in running is developed when the achilles tendon is stretched as the heel touches the ground and is released when the heel leaves the ground. In order to make use of that energy, our foot fall needs to be both accurate and fast enough. If we stand for to long on our foot the free energy disappears into the ground and we'll have to work our way to the next step. Besides making it harder to run if we waste the free energy our shock absorbing is decreased and the risk of injuries such knee pain, shin- and calf muscle problems increases.<br />
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As we sit on horseback, we should have an upward direction in our body (vertical seat) while the horse should move forward. The horse's legs store and release more energy than we can in our legs and therefore can provide more free energy into the next step, if we let the horse's direction in the spine be forward and slightly upward. Riding the horse behind the bit, with the third cervical vertebra as the highest point, the horse moves on its forehand and the power from the back legs is pushed into the ground. Just like us, the loss of free energy forces the horse to work more with muscle power to take the next step and the degraded shock absorption increases risk of problems in fetlock and knees.<br />
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A good lateral balance is important for running, it increases the chance that the legs are equally loaded during a run. To train lateral balance, you can stand on one leg and then switch leg with a small jump. You should be able to do that transition without wobble and a need to balance yourself with your arms way outside your body. As humans, lateral balance is fairly easy, we have two legs that needs to interact. The horse has four. Shoulder in in walk is a movement that trains the lateral balance of the horse.<br />
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Step rate, or cadence as Malcolm calls it, should be 180 steps per minute (90 steps per leg per minute) when we run. If you, like me, is a recreational runner without competition aspirations, it's a good deal faster than what you're used to. Usain Bolt takes 2.5-meter-long strides with a cadence of 240 steps per minute, no wonder that he is the fastest!<br />
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The horse has different cadence in different gaits and that means walking horse with a lower cadence than that one should strive for is free energy wasted straight down into the ground. An approximate cadence to aim for in walk is 55 steps per leg/minute, in trot 75 steps per leg/minute and at a gallop 95 beats per stride/minute.<br />
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The best tool for keeping track of cadence is a metronome, there are small handy digital metronomes that you can attach to your clothing for around 100 sek.<br />
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I will be taking a summer break with the blog from today. On the schedule is, in addition to summer vacation with the kids, two practical courses in Applied Equine Podiatry (June and July) and the theoretical part where the final exam is approaching. Next week is a two-day conference on the theme Musicians Health in Piteå that I think will be very interesting. Music and riding has so many connections!<br />
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All that remains is to wish you all a wonderful summer, many tropical nights and moderately amount blood-sucking insects. Take good care of yourselves and your four-legged friends and we will meet again in the fall when life slows down for the winter.<br />
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Happy summer!Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04601845946855705234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757245623563838698.post-26770931842691374602013-05-17T13:25:00.003+02:002013-05-17T13:25:23.568+02:00TMJ a joint of great importance and influence<br />
The early summer made a highly acclaimed entrance here in Norrbotten yesterday and we celebrated it with a Preschool day at Tallbackkottarna, where my two older boys have been and the youngest still are. All animals on the farm is enjoying the warmth; horses, cats and dog lounges in the sun. We are waiting for the "big green" to take place and according to the weater forecast it might be happening this very weekend.<br />
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The theme for today is the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The TMJ is an important point in the body for both human<br />
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Looking at the head from a skeletal perspective, upper jaw and skull is one unity and the mandibular is a separate unity. Temporomandibular joint is the point in which the lower jaw moves relative to the rest of the head. The masseter muscles are so-called anti-gravity muscles, that holds the lower jaw in place. When we chew or talk, it is the lower jaw that moves up, down and sideways. Quite often I see tendencies in people that they lift their head up and away from the lower jaw when they open their mouth. The gesture becomes more evident in some singers who want to get their voice out with some force. Such a motion affects the balance of the body quite a lot because the head itself weighs several kilos (4-6 kg for an adult).<br />
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Since the jaw muscles are designed to keep the lower jaw up it is relaxed when the mouth is closed and in work when the mouth opens. This is true for both human and horse. The temporomandibular joint has the ability to move sideways, it is needed so we are able to grind the food with our molars (teeth at the back of the mouth). In horses, eating much larger amounts of rough fiber than we do, this grinding motion is important in getting the food properly micronized.<br />
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The concept of having a locked jaw is common in both man and horse, and for both of us a locked jaw causes the teeth to wear unevenly, we get bite problems, which in turn affects the temporomandibular joint, and that in turn affects the muscles around the TMJ and neck and muscular disorder moves further into the body. In humans, tensions in relation to TMJ is a common cause of migraine and we have expressions that connotes with how anger, anxiety and frustration manifests itself in and around the TMJ; having clenched jaws and grind teeth are two examples. By actively biting your your teeth together you can feel the tonus of the neck muscles change.<br />
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A poorly fitted bit and improperly thightened nosebands increases the risk of ulceration of the mucous membranes, puts pressure on the bars and tongue and pain causes tension in the TMJ in horses. These tensions locks the cervical spine and since the horse uses his neck as a balance bar, it is easy to perceive the horse as rigid and unbalanced. The horse should have a relaxed, closed mouth to have access to both breathing and a supple cervical spine. Closing the mouth with nosebands is to ignore the cause of, as it is often called, an anxious mouth. An anxiuos mouth is an indicator of an underlying cause that can be found in the horse or rider.<br />
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My horses got a check up of their mouths recently and it turned out that my mare had traces of bit related injuries in her mouth that will require careful fitting of a bit, if I ever consider to ride her bitted. The mucous membrane on the bars had slided up against her teeth. A bit like a rug would do when dog would slides it up coming at full speed. She had changes in the bone tissue in the bars themselves, which is almost a guarantee that she would experinece pain in the mouth having to have bit.<br />
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Everything is connected in both horse and human. We are basically designed to work, and with an open mind to our own and the horses' signals when something seems to have fallen out of balance and we sence that equilibrium is lost, we should give ourselves the time to investigate before the damage is a fact.<br />
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In September, a course in Applied Equine Podiatry (AEP) is held in Boden again. I heartily recommend this course to anyone who wants to learn how the horse foot (= all the tissue inside the hoof capsule) works and the stimulus it needs for the horse togrow a healthy hoof. Everything we do with our horses is a compromise with theiranimal naturel, so the better we become in our compromises the better our horses can stay in tune with their animal nature. Read more about the AEP and sign up via www.appliedequinepodiatry.org<br />
Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04601845946855705234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757245623563838698.post-31579605640145679042013-04-25T15:37:00.004+02:002013-04-25T15:37:42.831+02:00The effects of bit<br />
This is an extra blog posting is directly taken from Kerstin Kemlén. Having horses is keeping an animal in captivity. Our decisions forms the captivity, we need to constantly think about how we treat our friends mounted as well as dismounted. We need to be aware of that the horse's life is a matter of compromising with the nature of the horse and our desire to use this magnificent animal's adaptability and ability to cooperate.<br />
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This summer - at the ninth International Equitation Science Conference - a new research entitled: "A Method of diagnosing and Measuring Pain in The Ridden Horse" is presented .<br />
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The experiment shows that the aversion against bit are very common and signs of aversion to bit is much larger in number than previously thought. In other words:<br />
Many bit-related behavior problems disappear when the bit is removed and this includes those behavior that frequently is included in accidents with horse and rider.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The research results support the fact that</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">the committees that control the contest rules,</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">demanded in competition!</span></b></div>
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How did they come to this result - what the scientific method was used?<br />
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58 riders were part of a controlled experiment group where they were asked to change from a bridle with bit to the bitless "whole head hug" concept. The experiment lasted from 2002-2008.<br />
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The survey included in the experiment was designed based on three years of feedback from riders who switched to bitless and the questionnaire listed 86 behaviors related to bit.<br />
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Experiments riders were asked to answer the questionnaire which was divided into two columns - one for the horse's behavior ridden with bit during the time the rider have had the horse in his possession - and another column for the horse's behavior when carrying out similar work when the bit has been replaced with a bitless"whole head hug".<br />
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Experiments riders had owned their horses between 9 months to 21 years, median 2 years.<br />
The horses were 3.5 years to 24 years of age, median 8.5 years.<br />
The horses had been testing bitless 1 day to 2 years, median 3 month.<br />
The horses belonged in the disciplines of dressage, jumping, trail, pleasure, distance, eventing<br />
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EVERY horse showed fewer signs of pain when ridden bitless.<br />
NUMBER of signals of painful symptoms showed by every horse when being ridden with bit were between 5-55, median 24 pain signals.<br />
NUMBER of painful symptoms showed by every horse when being ridden bitless was 0-17, median 1 painful symptom.<br />
OUTCOME out of these 58 horses 90% of the signs horse showed of pain vanished when the bit was removed .<br />
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04601845946855705234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757245623563838698.post-60247792258495082482013-04-18T13:00:00.000+02:002013-04-18T13:05:08.656+02:00The head leads and the body follows<span title="Inom Alexandertekniken finns ett uttryck "huvudet leder och kroppen följer".">Within the Alexander Technique we have the expression "head leads and the body follows." </span><span title="Uttrycket i sig myntades av forskaren Rudolf Magnus (1873-1927) som i sina studier av kroppshållning hos däggdjur konstaterade att det finns reflexer i kroppen hos däggdjur som gör att kroppen automatisk följer huvudets rörelser.">The term itself was coined by researcher Rudolf Magnus (1873-1927) in his studies of posture in mammals he found that the head and neck reflexes of mammals cause the body to follow automatically when the head moves.</span><br />
<span title="Uttrycket i sig myntades av forskaren Rudolf Magnus (1873-1927) som i sina studier av kroppshållning hos däggdjur konstaterade att det finns reflexer i kroppen hos däggdjur som gör att kroppen automatisk följer huvudets rörelser."><br /></span><span title="När vi rider, eller för allandel kör, hästar har vi kontroll över hästens huvud via huvudlaget.">When we ride, or drive horses, we have control over the horse's head through the head stall. </span><span title="Beroende på vilken uppgift vi vill att hästen ska göra kan huvudlaget vara en grimma eller träns med eller utan bett.">Depending on the task we want the horse to do, the head stall can be a halter or bridle with or without bit.</span><br />
<span title="Beroende på vilken uppgift vi vill att hästen ska göra kan huvudlaget vara en grimma eller träns med eller utan bett."><br /></span><span title="Men i uttrycket "huvudet leder och kroppen följer" finns också en psykologisk betydelse, hjärnan leder och kroppen följer.">But the term "the head leads and the body follows" has also a psychological bearing, the brain leads and body follows. </span><span title="Träning och utbildning är ett mynt med två sidor, en fysiologisk och en psykologisk och för att¨få bäst effekt av träningen och utbildningen.">Training and education is a coin with two sides, a physiological and a psychological and to get the best effect of training and education these two needs to coincide.</span><span title="En bild som illustrerar dessa två sidor av myntet har jag hittat i Hans von Blixen-Fineckes bok The Art of Training.">I found an image illustrating the two sides of the coin in Hans von Blixen Fineckes book The Art of Training.</span><span title="En bild som illustrerar dessa två sidor av myntet har jag hittat i Hans von Blixen-Fineckes bok The Art of Training."> </span><br />
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</span><span title="Det är en enkel bild med mycket information.">It is a simple image that contains a lot of information. </span><span title="Intressant för mig som Alexanderlärare är att han pratar om den medvetna hjärnan hos både häst och ryttare.">Interesting to me as an Alexander teacher is that he's talking about the conscious brain of both horse and rider. </span><span title="Han beskriver hur den motoriska akt som utgör våra hjälper registreras av hästens sensoriska nervsystem.">He describes how the motoric action that constitutes our aids is recorded by the horse's sensory nervous system. </span><span title="Informationen från oss till hästen går via beröring och informationen från hästen till oss förmedlas till oss via känsla.">The information from us to the horse goes through touch and the information from the horse is conveyed to us through feel.</span><br />
<span title="Informationen från oss till hästen går via beröring och informationen från hästen till oss förmedlas till oss via känsla."> </span><br />
<span title="Informationen från oss till hästen går via beröring och informationen från hästen till oss förmedlas till oss via känsla."></span><span title="Hans von Blixen-Finecke pratar om ridning som ett språk av beröring och en förutsättning för den formen av kommunikation är lugn, hos både häst och ryttare.">Hans von Blixen-Finecke talking about riding as a language of touch and a prerequisite for this form of communication is calm, within both horse and rider. </span><span title="Lugn och närvaro.">Calm and presence.</span><span title="Lugn och närvaro."><br /></span><br />
<span title="Lugn och närvaro."></span><span title="En god vän som har stor erfarenhet av att rida in unghästar för galoppen tycker att det viktigaste i all form av utbildning av hästar att hästen aldrig blir skrämd under inridningen.">A friend who has vast experience of riding young race horses think the most important thing in any form of training of horses is that the horse never gets frightened during the early training. I</span><span title="Då får den en positiv inställning till ryttaren och det arbete den ska göra, den blir trygg och det gör att den psykologiska sidan av myntet kan samverka med den fysiologiska.">t gets a positive attitude to the rider and the work it should do, it will feel safe and it makes the psychological side of the coin interact with the physiological in a beneficial manner. </span><span title="En lugn häst kan ta in information från ryttaren, en rädd och nervös häst är blockerad.">A calm horse can digest information from the rider, a scared and nervous horse is blocked.</span><br />
<span title="En lugn häst kan ta in information från ryttaren, en rädd och nervös häst är blockerad."></span><br />
<span title="En bekant var på hopptävlingar i helgen och konstaterade trött att det var få som red, de flesta ägnade sig åt att försöka kontrollera flyktbeteenden med både bett, extra snören och BF&I (brute force & ignorance).">Another friend was at a jumping competition at the weekend and reported with a tired tone that few were actually riding, most engaged in trying to control flight responses with both bit, extra reins and BF&I (brute force and ignorance). The BF&I </span><span title="BF&I ryttarna hade förvisso skaffat sig kontroll över hästens huvud rent mekaniskt men de hade helt missat att få med hästen mentalt.">riders had certainly gained control over the horse's head mechanically but they had totally missed getting the horse mentally.</span><span title="BF&I ryttarna hade förvisso skaffat sig kontroll över hästens huvud rent mekaniskt men de hade helt missat att få med hästen mentalt."></span><br />
<span title="BF&I ryttarna hade förvisso skaffat sig kontroll över hästens huvud rent mekaniskt men de hade helt missat att få med hästen mentalt."> </span><br />
<span title="När vi rider är det av betydelse för oss som ryttare att vara i god egen balans.">It is important for us as riders to be in a good balance within ourselves. </span><span title="När vi sitter till häst påverkar vår egen interna viktfördelning (skevhet) i kroppen hästens kropp.">As we sit on the horseback our own internal weight distribution (skewness) affects the horse's body. </span><span title="På något sätt måste hästen ta in vår vikt i sin och placera den över sina fötter.">Somehow the horse must handle adding our weight to its own and distribute it over his feet. </span><span title="Ju mer liksidiga och rakriktade vi är kring vår egen ryggrad desto jämnare fördelas vår vikt över hästen">The more equilateral and straight we are aligned around our own spine, the more even our weight is distributed to the horse.</span><br />
<span title="Ju mer liksidiga och rakriktade vi är kring vår egen ryggrad desto jämnare fördelas vår vikt över hästen"><br /></span><span title="När vi rider, och jag förutsätter att vi har koll på vår egen kropp, är det skiftningen i hästens balans som vi känner via både sits och händer.">When we ride, and I assume that we are aware of our own bodies, it is the shift in the horse's balance we feel through both seat and hands. </span><span title="Den skiftningen signalerar till oss om hästen är i en bra egen balans, är självbärig, i de rörelser vi frågar efter.">The shift signals to us if the horse is in a good self carriage in the current movement.. </span><span title="En otränad, outbildad eller en häst som är under rehablilitering har större skiftningar i balansen än en frisk och mer färdig häst.">An untrained, uneducated or a horse that is under rehabilitation have more obvious shifts in the balance than a healthy and more educated horse. </span><span title="Genom att vara närvarande i varje steg kan vi som ryttare känna hur hästen rör sig och vi kan med våra signaler, vår beröring, ge signaler som kan hjälpa hästen att placera om vikten (vår och sin egen!) och få en fördelaktigare balans.">By being present in each step, we as riders are able to feel how the horse move and we can with our signals, our touch, give aids that help the horse to place the weight and regain balance.</span><br />
<span title="Genom att vara närvarande i varje steg kan vi som ryttare känna hur hästen rör sig och vi kan med våra signaler, vår beröring, ge signaler som kan hjälpa hästen att placera om vikten (vår och sin egen!) och få en fördelaktigare balans."><br /></span><span title="En bra utbildning leder i slutänden till att ekipage som får allt att se lätt ut, det är två hjärnor som enas i rörelse och även om det är ryttaren som leder är det tryggheten som utvecklats i relationen som gör att hästen kan delta utan rädsla i utförandet">A good education ultimately leads to an equipage that makes everything look easy, it's two brains joined in movement and although it is the rider who leads it is the sence of trust developed in the relationship that makes the horse participate without fear</span><span title=".">. </span><span title="Då kan ryttaren sägas rida hästens medvetna hjärna och i det läget kan ryttaren, om hen vill, ta av all utrustning från hästen och rida vidare.">At this point the rider can be said to ride the horse's conscious brain and in that context, the rider, if the he/she would like, can remove all the equipment from the horse and ride on.</span><br />
<br />Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04601845946855705234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757245623563838698.post-9712831215314837792013-04-04T21:25:00.002+02:002013-04-04T21:25:57.365+02:00Perception - to hear the unspoken<span title="Påsklov och underbar norrlandsvår har gjort att bloggen fått vänta till solens nedgång.">Easter holiday and wonderful northern spring means that the blog has had to wait until sunset. </span><span title="Det gäller att fånga de goda dagarna som en buffert till dagarna av annan sort.">The challenge is to capture the good days as a buffer for days of another kind.<br /></span><span title="I augusti 2010 var jag ute och red mitt anglosto.">In August 2010, I was out riding my anglo-arabian mare. </span><span title="Vi var ute i skogen och red efter fina, galoppvänliga tallhedsvägar och jag var så glad.">We were out in the woods and rode on nice, gallop friendly sandy pine moore paths and I was so happy. </span><span title="Hon var alert, följsam och kändes underbar.">She was alert, responsive and felt wonderful. </span><span title="En dag klättrade jag med henne uppför en liten slänt, 4 steg blev det, vi tog den lilla slänten två gånger - åtta steg blev det.">One day I climbed her up a slight slope, four steps, we took the little slope twice - eight steps all in all.<br /></span><span title="Vi skrittade hemåt och från att ha varit lugn och tillfreds började hon takta, slänga med huvudet och vara allmänt störig.">We walked home and she went from calm and at ease to toss her head and stepping, she became generally annoying. </span><span title="Jag gjorde halt och tänkte att hon skulle få besinna sig men hon började rygga och mitt i ett forcerat steg bakåt kände jag hur hon tappade sitt vänstra bakben.">I halted and thought that she would come to her senses, but she began to back up, and in the middle of a forced step back I felt how she lost her left hind leg. </span><span title="Det var bara att sitta av och börja gå hemåt.">I got off her back and started walking home. </span><span title="Konfunderad.">Confused.<br /></span><span title="Något år senare berättade en bekant att hon, efter att ha gått en kurs om hästar och bett, insett att det bett som hon tyckte att hennes häst gick bäst på var det bett som orsakade mest smärta i hästens mun.">A few years later an acquaintance told me that she, after having taken a course on horses and bits, realized that the bit she liked to use when riding caused the most pain in the horse's mouth. </span><span title="Det var för henne obegripligt för hon upplevde att hästen var så mjuk och följsam i ridningen.">It was incomprehensible to her, she felt that the horse was so soft and smooth in riding.<br /></span><span title="En annan berättade att de hade upptäckt att hästen hade skador i munnen men i ridningen hade den fungerat som en klocka, mjuk och följsam.">Another told me that they had discovered that the horse had lesions in the mouth but in riding the horse had felt soft and flexible. </span><span title="Ytterligare en berättade att hästen gått som en dröm bara för att veckan efter visa sig vara halt.">Another told me that the horse worked like a dream just to show lameness the day after.<br /></span><span title="En gång ingen gång, två gånger, tre gånger och fyra gånger...jag vet att det inte är ett statistiskt säkerställt antal men icke deso mindre väcker det frågan hos mig.">Once is once but twice, three times, four times ... I know that this is not a statistically significant number, but never the less it raises a question in me. </span><span title="Hur är det ställt med förmågan att läsa häst?">How well can we read horse?<br /></span><span title="Hästar har tystnad som sin levnadsstrategi, de är experter på att dölja smärta och smärtans effekter på sina kroppar.">Horses have utilized silence as their survival strategy, they are experts at hiding pain and the effects pain have on their bodies. </span><span title="Kan det vara så att alla hästarna i dessa exempel hade skickat ut små signaler om att allt inte stod rätt till och när vi som ryttare inte lade märke till dem så rörde de sig inom sin smärtram, och vi uppfattade dem som följsamma och mjuka?">Could it be that all the horses in these examples had showed small signals that something was wrong and since we as riders did not notice them, they moved within their frame of pain, and we considered them pliable and soft?<br /></span><span title="I fallet med min häst hade jag fört henne utanför smärtramen och hon blev högljudd i sitt beteende.">In my own case, I had taken her outside her framework under and she became very vocal in her behavior.<br /></span><span title="Hade det gått att upptäcka smärtreaktioner om hästarna i exemplen ovan hade haft pulsmätare?">Had it been possible to discover pain reactions of the horses in the examples above by using a heart rate monitor? Were t</span><span title="Fanns det några små indikationer från hästarnas sida som vi missade, fanns det några stora??">here some small indications from the horses' side that we missed, were there some big?<br /></span><span title="Det sägs att innan du dömer en häst för olydnad ska du fråga dig om den förstod det du bad om, om den lärt sig göra det du bad om eller om den rent fysiskt kan göra det du ber om.">It is said that before you judge a horse to be disobediet, you should ask yourself if it understands what you ask for, if it has been trained to do what you ask for, or if it is physically fit to do what you ask for. </span><span title="Ni hör ju hur jag resonerade 2010 - hon blev störig och behövde besinna sig.">You can tell by my wording that the way I reasoned in 2010 was disobedience - she was annoying and needed to come to her senses. </span><span title="Att det rörde sig om smärt blev uppenbart för mig senare men just då när hon bröt ihop var olydnad ett närmare alternativ.">The fact that it was the pain became apparent to me later, but at the moment disobedience was a closer option.<br /></span><span title="Jag har lärt mig en läxa av händelsen med mitt sto.">I have learned a lesson from the incident with my mare. </span><span title="Nu strävar jag efter att fråga mig om det kan vara något av de andra skälen som hindrar hästen att göra det jag vill istället för olydnad.">Now I strive to ask me if it can be any of the other reasons that prevent the horse to do what I want instead of disobedience. </span><span title="Jag försöker träna upp min förmåga att läsa häst, perceptionen, för att bli bättre på att se hästens tecknen.">I'm trying to train my perception, my ability to read horses better.<br /></span><span title="Mitt nya sto, vars hovar förde mig till AEP, drar nyttan av min läxa och är dessutom en god lärare.">My new mare, whose feet carried me to AEP, enjoys the benefit of my homework and is also a good teacher. </span><span title="Hon signalerar i en stigande skala om jag kommer för nära kanten på hennes smärtram.">She signals in an ascending scale if I get too close to the edge of her frame of pain. </span><span title="I vår träning ingår att jag inte begär högre gångarter än de hon själv tar i hagen (då ingår inte orosgaloppen i skalan).">In our training I don't not ask for any gait other than those she chooses to take in the pasture (the scare canter is not included). </span><span title="Hon har precis i dagarna börjat ta en trav som bygger på påskjut i stället för en trav som hon skuttade in i. Alltså har vi lagt in kort trav repriser i våra promenader.">She has just recently begun to take a trot based on self carriage rather than a trot she jumped into. So we have now added short trot repetitons in our walks. </span><span title="Nu kan vi promenera upp till 1,5 timme, när vi började ville hon vända efter 10 och våra promenader blev då 20 minuter långa.">We can take walks up to 1.5 hours, when we started she wanted to turn around after 10 minutes which added up to 20 minutes walk.<br /></span><span title="När vi jobbade från marken var ett öppna liknande steg med vänster bak nog i början, ett till och hon nöp mig försiktigt i handen.">When we worked from the ground in a shoulder-in like move one step with left hind was enough in the beginning, one more and she gently nibbled my hand. </span><span title="Nu kan vi ta några steg i hörnpasseringarna.">Now we can take a series of steps in the corners. </span><span title="Jag föreslår en rörelse och hon antar eller förkastar.">I propose a move and she adopts or rejects. </span><span title="Det är inte en fråga om lydnad eller olydnad för mig utan jag litar på att hon vet vad hon klarar av att göra och om jag begär mer än hon förmår så bromsar hon mig.">It is not a question of obedience or disobedience to me, I trust that she knows what she is capable of doing and if I ask for more than she can manage so she shows me.<br /></span><span title="Jag ser att hon kan en massa när hon rör sig i hagen.">I see that she trained when she moves in the pasture. </span><span title="Hon gör fina roll backs på den trånga stigen där valacken, som inte kan, får ta omvägen ut i djupsnön.">She's doing nice rollbacks on the narrow path where the gelding, who can not, must detour into the deep snow. </span><span title="Traven hon bjuder på nu längtar jag efter att få rida.">The trot she offers now I long to ride. </span><span title="Jag längtar verkligen efter att få rida henne, men jag är också beredd att ge henne tiden hon behöver för att hela.">I really long to ride her, but I'm willing to give her the time she needs to heal. </span><span title="Vi gör detta tillsammans hon och jag, vi är på lag.">We do this together, she and I, we are a team.</span>Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04601845946855705234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757245623563838698.post-9860163162245351172013-03-22T13:08:00.001+01:002013-03-22T13:08:12.719+01:00Hooves and humans<br />
It was a busy day yesterday with Vasaloppet for the children and that altered the writing schedule for me, but with that done, I can say that now it's finally spring!<br />
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Last spring a new horse came to my farm and she forced me to pay attention further down her legs to the hooves or more accurately to her feet. I have a good friend who dived into Jamie Jackson and Pete Ramey's wild horse model and one that focused on Applied Equine Podiatry (AEP). During the summer last year, I talked to both and juggled my thoughts about the new horse's hooves with them. For it soon became apparent that the traditional blacksmith could not come up with any solution that seemed sensible - or if I'll be completely honest, the farrier I contacted with a veterinarian referral was quote "so tired that he went home instead" end quote. After a response like that, it felt like I myself is my own best farmhand although I actually had big gaps in my knowledge.<br />
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At first I thought that my two friends had a similar vision of what was needed in terms of trimming, support and stimuli of the feet. I read about both their perspective and tried to insert my own horse's troubles in each framework. We struggeled on the horse and I, and although it was in small steps we progressed.<br />
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In September last year, the opportunity to immerse myselves in AEP came and I took it. After that I realized that what on the surface may seem alike can differ tremendously when you go in depth. AEP is a method of hoof care based on universal scientific principles that apply regardless of whether it's hooves, bow and arrow or cars being discussed. Wild Horse model is based on studies of wild horses in their respective environments such as Mustangs in the U.S. or Brumbies in Australia but it is not based on studies of domestic horses and their living conditions.<br />
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In Sweden there was a veterinarian who made headlines when he, in an article in an Equestrian Magazine, pointed out the area that created the most problems for horses in general. Can you guess where he was pointing?<br />
In a place just behind the withers above the horse's back - man in the form of a rider.<br />
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When the horse went from being a prey animal to become a domestic animal the price it had to pay for food and protection was their lives and health. We have used them in war, to ride on long and arduous hardship and we have shaped them into different breeds to enhance properties that have been beneficial to us.<br />
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When farriery developed into the profession it is today, it was in response to the increased demands on the horse as transportation vehicles, a vehicle that would work more in one day and on surfaces that were more "hoof unfriendly" in the form of rough dirt roads, cobblestone, wet clay and so on. Horse managment changed, horses were more tied up in stalls with the consequence that they often stood in wet beds instead of roaming freely in pasture. The science was under construction, industrialization was still in its infancy. What they knew was static, ie load during quiet standing, pull, push and levers.<br />
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The farriery met the requirements that were on a hoof of a horse standing still. When the horses were predominantly started being shod long periods of the year, problems arose with ossification, white line disease etc. Everyone knew that it was because of the shoes, but they were seen as a necessary evil and a price you had to be willing to pay.<br />
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With industrialization came cars and the development of them brought dynamics, kinetic and now we have developed tools that enable accurate measurements of things that were previously hidden to the human eye.<br />
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The results of the scientific development is taken into consideration by AEP when the theory of the hoof and the horse's feet were designed. With the model that constitutes the AEP's basis for the work with horses' hooves and feet I lcan earn to read a hoof at any time, wild or tame, and see if it is healthy or have defects in the structures. It's like a new world opening up!<br />
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Join course and get a new relationship with your horse's hooves!<br />
Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04601845946855705234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757245623563838698.post-42105261681085713282013-03-07T14:45:00.000+01:002013-03-07T14:45:02.663+01:00Winter can be a challenge to horse health<span title="Vintern är en tid som för med sig en ökad risk för kolik.">Winter is a time that can lead to an increased risk of colic. </span><span title="Kolik är ett samlingsnamn för mag- tarmproblem hos hästar och i ett tidigare inlägg kan du titta närmare på hästens matsmältningsorgan.">Colic is a general term for gastro-intestinal problems in horses and in a previous post, you can take a look at the horse's <a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/12/colic-part-1-anatomy.html" target="_blank">digestive system</a>.</span><br />
<span title="Kolik är ett samlingsnamn för mag- tarmproblem hos hästar och i ett tidigare inlägg kan du titta närmare på hästens matsmältningsorgan."><br /></span><span title="Den ökade risken för mag-tarmproblem kommer sig av foderkvalitet (som vi berört i ett tididgare inlägg), utfodringsrutiner, vilket även gäller hur hästen får sitt vatten, och hur mycket hästen rör sig.">The increased risk of gastrointestinal problems comes from the <a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/12/colic-part-2-food-to-feed.html" target="_blank">quality of forage</a>, feeding routines, including the way the horse is served water, and how much the horse moves.</span><br />
<span title="Den ökade risken för mag-tarmproblem kommer sig av foderkvalitet (som vi berört i ett tididgare inlägg), utfodringsrutiner, vilket även gäller hur hästen får sitt vatten, och hur mycket hästen rör sig."><br /></span><span title="En häst behöver äta 2,5 -3 % av sin kroppsvikt av torrsubstans dvs fibrer för att hålla igång matsmältningen.">A horse needs to eat 2.5 -3% of their body weight of dry matter ie fiber to keep the digestion working. </span><span title="Utfodringsrutinerna har stor betydelse för hästarnas välmående.">Feeding routines are very important for the horses wellbeing. </span><span title="En häst har ett behov av att tugga, ute i det fria äter hästen runt 14-18 av dygnets 24 timmar.">A horse has a need to chew, in the wild the horse eats around 14-18 a day. </span><span title="Man har sett att ättiden är något längre vintertid och det förklaras av att hästar håller värmen via den fermentation (jäsning) som sker i grovtarmen och då behöver de äta och tugga mer.">It is noticed that time spent to eat is slightly longer in the winter and it is explained by the fact that horses stay warm through the fermentation that occurs in the colon and therefor they need to eat and chew more. </span><span title="Hästar håller inte värmen genom att röra på sig utan har de ingen anledning att röra på sig (läs: mat eller vatten) så står de gärna stilla.">Horses do not keep warm by moving, if they have no reason to move (read: food or water) they are most likely to stand still. </span><span title="Precis som för oss främjar rörelse tarmarnas aktivitet och att vara stilla ökar risken för förstoppning.">As in us humans movement promote intestinal activity and being still increases the risk of constipation.<br /></span><span title="Ett sätt att förlänga ättiderna är att utfodra höet i så kallade småmaskiga hönät och fördela maten på flera nät som sen hängs upp på olika ställen i hagen.">One way to extend eating time is to feed the forage in hay net placed in various places in the paddock. </span><span title="Då äter och tuggar hästarna under en längre tid och de rör sig mellan näten.">This increases the time spent eating and chewing as well as movement. To f</span><span title="Utfodras hästarna med löshö i hagen gäller det att sprida ut höet i flera små högar med avstånd mellan högarna.">ed the horses in the pasture with hay you have to spread it out in several small piles with a distance between the piles. </span><span title="Det ger en viss ökning av ätttiden och när höet är uppätet tenderar hästarna att vandra runt och leta upp eventuellt spill.">It gives a slight increase in the time spent eating and when the hay is eaten the horses tend to wander around and look for any left overs. </span><span title="Att ge allt hö i ett fåtal större högar gör att hästarna äter upp fortare och sen står de still och väntar in nästa giva.">Giving all the hay in one or two large piles allows horses to eat faster and then they stand still and wait for the next feed.<br /></span><span title="Många hönät eller höhögar gör att stressen i kring matningen minskar.">A number of hay net or piles of hay makes the stress connected to feeding decreases. </span><span title="Hästar med lägre rang blir bortjagade av dem med högre rang, finns det gott om nät/högar att äta från kan även de få möjlighet att äta i lugn och ro.">Horses with lower rank is chased by those with a higher rank, if there are plenty of net/piles to eat from the low ranked horse gets a chance to eat in peace.<br /></span><span title="Vatten är ofta ett bekymmer på vintern.">Water is often a concern in the winter. </span><span title="Hästar dricker helst ljummet vatten och på vintern kan det vara svårt att hålla vattnet isfritt och med en behaglig dricktemperatur.">Horses prefer luke warm water and in the winter it can be difficult to keep water ice-free and with a comfortable drinking temperature. </span><span title="Även om temperaturen inte är svettdrivande på vintern kan träning med vinterpäls och torrare foder öka behovet av vatten.">Although the temperature is not perspiring in the winter, training with winter coat and drier feed increase the need for water. </span><span title="Numera finns det uppvärmda vattenkar som ser till att hålla vattnet både isfritt och något varmare än iskall, det finns också förslag på hur man kan göra sådana vattenkar själv på internet.">Nowadays, there are heated water troughs that will keep the water from freezing and warmer than ice cold. (You can get ideas of how to make those water troughs yourself on the internet.) Even in the winter you need to clean the water troughs, bacterias grow in luke warm water. </span><span title="Kraven på att rengöra vattenkaren gäller även vintertid, i ljumma miljöer växer bakterierna till."> </span><span title="Har man många hästar i hagen så bör det finnas flera vattenkar, det för att försäkra sig om att även de ranglåga individerna får i sig tillräckligt med vatten.">If you have many horses in the pasture you should have a couple of water troughs in order to ensure that even the low ranked individuals are getting enough water.<br /></span><span title="Just tillgången till mat och vatten kan påverka både hästens mage och risken för skador hästar emellan.">The access to food and water can affect both the horse's abdomen and the risk of injuries among horses. If</span><span title="Känner hästarna sig stressade för att det är brist på mat och vatten ökar risken för konflikter, är hästarna skodda är de även broddade och en broddspark kan verkligen orsaka stora skador."> horses gets stressed by shortage of food and water it increases the risk of conflict, if the horses are shod, they also have studs, and studs can cause major damage.<br /></span><span title="Ursprunget till detta inlägg är en tragisk förlust som en vän till mig upplevde då en mag-tarmstörning behandlades som en förstoppningskolik istället för en grovtarmsinflammation.">The origins of this post is a tragic loss that a friend of mine experienced when a gastrointestinal disorder were treated as constipation instead of a colon inflammation.<br /></span><span title="Om du bor i ett hästtätt område kanske du har tillgång till veterinärer som har specialkompetens på hästar men här där jag bor är de flesta veterinärer distriktsveterinärer med en allmän kompetens och hästkunnandet varierar.">If you live in a horse-dense area, you may have access to veterinarians who are expert on horses but here where I live, most veterinarians have a general skills and their horse knowledge varies. </span><span title="Det betyder att det finns ett standardförfarande vid mag-tarmbesvär hos häst, man ger paraffin och vatten för att lösa en eventuell förstoppning.">This means that there is a standard procedure in gastrointestinal disorders in horses, giving paraffin and water to dissolve any constipation.<br /></span><span title="Man kan lite ordvitsigt säga att det gäller att vara skitobservant som hästägare om hästen visar tecken på smärta i bukregionen.">As a horse owners you need to do careful observations if the horse is showing signs of pain in the abdominal region. What about the horses droppings</span><span title="Har hästen avföring?">? When was the last time he defecated? </span><span title="Hur ser den ut?">How does it look? </span><span title="Hur luktar den?">How does it smell?<br /></span><span title="Om hästen inte har avföring och näst intill obefintligt med tarmljud är det med största sannolikhet en form av förstoppningskolik.">If the horse does not defecate and have almost non-existent bowel sounds, it is most likely a form of constipation colic. </span><span title="Men om hästen har avföring som blir lösare och lösare och luktar surare och surare är det en indikation på att det sker en feljärning i grovtarmen och då är en behandling med praffin och vatten att likna vid att släcka eld med bensin.">But if the horse feces gets looser and looser and smell sour and acidic, it is an indication that there is a disturbance in the fermentation in the colon and then a treatment with praffin and water is akin to extinguish fire with gasoline.<br /></span><span title="I fallet med diarré pågår en feljäsning i grovtarmen, hästens naturliga bakterieflora är utslagen och det kan bland annat bero på att mögel i grovfodret dödar tarmbakterierna (penicillin är ett mögel).">Diarrhea is a sign of an ongoing faulty fermentation in the colon, the horse's natural bacterial flora is eliminated and it may be due to mold in roughage killing intestinal bacteria (penicillin is a mold). </span><span title="Feljäsningen leder i sin tur till acidos, ett förgiftningstillstånd och gasbildning.">The faulty fermentation in turn leads to acidosis, a toxic condition and an increase of gases in the colon. </span><span title="Gifterna som bildas i grovtarmen förs ut med blodet i kroppen och kan t ex leda till fång.">The toxins formed in the colon, is transported via the blood into the body and may for example lead to laminitis. </span><span title="Gasen som bildas i grovtarmen kan göra så att grovtarmen sväller upp och faktiskt hindrar diafragman att röra sig tillräckligt och därmed försvåras andningen med allt som det för med sig.">The gas that is formed in the colon can cause the colon to swell and actually prevent the diaphragm to move enough and thereby render in breathing difficulties.<br /></span><span title="Om din häst har diarré så ska du se det som ett allvarligt tillstånd!">If your horse have diarrhea, you should see it as a serious condition! </span><span title="Ett sätt att försöka hjälpa hästen genom krisen är att ge den smärtstillande och kramplösande.">One way to try to help the horse through the crisis is to give it analgesic and antispasmodic. </span><span title="Inom humanvården är alla former av laxativer förbjudna om man inte är helt säker på att det är frågan om förstoppning, istället ger man vätska med elektolyter som ska hjälpa till att buffra mot giftiga ämnen i tarmarna.">In human health care any form of laxatives is prohibited unless you are absolutely sure it is an issue of constipation, instead you give fluid with electrolytes that will help to buffer against toxic substances in the intestines. That may be applied to horses and t</span><span title="Till hästar kan man även ge 0,5 kg vanlig jäst uppblött i vatten som stöd för tarmbakterierna.">o aid the horse's intestinal bacterias you can give 0.5 kg normal yeast solved in water.<br /></span><span title="Nu är den här vintern på väg mot sitt slut men den kommer igen.">Now this winter is coming to an end but it'll return. </span><span title="Gör det du kan för att förbereda dig för nästa vinter.">Do what you can to prepare for the next winter. </span><span title="Köp foder av bra kvalitet, tänk igenom dina utfodringsrutiner och planera för en bra lösning för vattnet.">Buy forage of good quality, adjust your feeding routines and plan for a good solution for the supplie of water.</span>Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04601845946855705234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757245623563838698.post-55818879427362946112013-02-21T20:15:00.001+01:002013-02-21T20:18:53.467+01:00Ethics, moral and the law<span id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Egentligen vore det väl bäst med en daglig etik/moral och lag stund då vi alla kunde tänka över våra egna och andras handlingar.">Maybe daily reflections on ethics/moral and law would help us see what's going on in front of our eyes. </span><span title="Genom nyheterna har vi fått veta att hästkött har använts i snabbmat, på Fejan sprids dagligen bilder eller filmsnuttar som visar på tvivelaktig hästhantering och på SVT har scener från Ponnyakuten fått några att reagera.">The news in Sweden has been dominated by the story of horse meat being used in fast food under the name of beef, on Facebook images and movie clips that show questionable horsemanship are being spread and on Swedish television the program "Pony Panic" is commented.</span></span><br />
<span lang="en"><span title="Genom nyheterna har vi fått veta att hästkött har använts i snabbmat, på Fejan sprids dagligen bilder eller filmsnuttar som visar på tvivelaktig hästhantering och på SVT har scener från Ponnyakuten fått några att reagera."></span></span><br />
<span lang="en"><span title="Genom nyheterna har vi fått veta att hästkött har använts i snabbmat, på Fejan sprids dagligen bilder eller filmsnuttar som visar på tvivelaktig hästhantering och på SVT har scener från Ponnyakuten fått några att reagera.">I feel I need </span><span title="Det känns nästan lite uttjatat men jag måste få nämna ISES konferensen 2010 igen.">to mention ISES Conference 2010 again. </span><span title="Där hölls en föreläsning om etik och moral i hästhantering och föredragshållaren avslutade med att poängtera att det som är oetiskt eller omoraliskt behöver inte vara olagligt.">There was a lecture on ethics and moral in horse handling and trainig and the lecturer pointed out that even if it is unethical or immoral it is not necessarily illegal. </span><span title="Och det gäller att hålla det i minnet när blodet kokar inom en eller när hjärtat blöder, för det man själv längtar efter att göra i etikens och moralens namn kan nycket väl vara olagligt och därmed straffbart.">And it is important to keep that in mind when the blood is boiling within or when the heart bleeds that the things one long to do in the name of ethics and moral may well be illegal and therefore punishable.</span><span title="Om vi tar hästköttet i lasagnen från Findus och lägger till lite några köttskandaler till på det.">We start with the horse meat in lasagne from Findus and adds a couple of Swedish meat scandals and take a look at them. </span><span title="I fallet med Findus har det hänt något som är olagligt, ingen matproducent får utge något att vara något det inte är.">In the case of Findus, changing beef to horse is illegal. </span><span title="Nötkött är kokött och inget annat.">Beef is cow meat and nothing else.</span><span title="Själv har jag varit på restaurang med en styckmästare och hon konstaterade att jag visserligen fått griskött men inte filé av densamma som utlovades i menyn.">I myself have been to a restaurant with a butcher and she said that I did get pork but not fillet as said on the menu. </span><span title="Det blev ett kort snack med köket som sen bjöd på kvällens efterrätt när de insåg sig överbevisade.">There was a short talk with the chef who offered the evening's dessert when they realized they just couldn't win. It wasn't an illegal act but an </span><span title="Just det var väl i dig inte olagligt men väl omoraliskt för det tog betalt för en filérätt.">immoral.</span><span title="Vi har köttfärs som bytt datum, utgånget kött som malts om till köttfärs och fläskfilé som har färgats och sålts som oxfilé.">We have had minced meat that passed best before date and was given a new date, expired meat that has been turned into minced meat and pork that has been dyed and sold as fillet of beef. </span><span title="Allt detta är både olagligt, oetiskt och omoraliskt men särskilt tvivelaktigt i fallet med fläskkött, för i det kan det finnas trikiner som verkligen kan skada människor.">All this is both illegal, unethical and immoral but particularly questionable in the case of pork, because it can have trichinae which really can affect people. </span><span title="Genomstekt fläskkött är inget problem men hur många brukar inte vilja ha sin oxfilé lite röd i mitten?">The fried pork is no problem but how many people do not usually like to have their beef a little red in the middle? </span><span title="Då blir oxfilé av griskött ett problem...">Then fillet of pork a problem ...</span><span title="I fallet med lasagnen hände det något, vinklingen i nyheterna blev mer åt det oetiska än det olagliga hållet i nyheterna (tyckte jag) och det tror jag beror på vår inställning till att äta häst.">In the case of lasagne something happened, the bias in the news became more on the unethical than illegal aspect and I think that is due to our attitude to eating horse. </span><span title="Hästkött är inte farligt för oss människor att äta, till skillnad från fläskkött.">Horse meat is not dangerous for humans to eat, unlike pork.</span><span title="Nu över till de hästar som ännu är vid liv och vars liv dokumenteras och skickas runt på fejan.">Now over to the horses that are still alive and whose life is documented and passed around on Facebook. </span><span title="En bild som etsat sig fast i mitt minne är bilden av den iberiska hästen som "formges" med pannan mot en tegelvägg och en rem knuten kring underkäken som sedan går runt över manken.">An image etched into my memory is the image of the Iberian horse placed with his forehead against a brick wall and a string tied around the lower jaw and over the withers. </span><span title="Den hästen kommer antagligen att gå i den "formen" väl riden och kanske drar den rent av ner applåder där den rids men vägen dit - under all kritik.">The horse will probably move in this position and be seen as well ridden and maybe even be applauded when ridden but the way that outline was acchieved - beneath contempt.</span><span title="Filmsnuttar på blå tungor, roll kür, slide stops in i väggar, alldeles för många varv i spin, korrigeringar med såna tag i tyglarna att betten måste skära som knivar i hästens mun, sporrar som hackas in in hästens sidor.">Movies on blue tongues, role kür, slide stops straight up to the walls, too many turns in the spin, corrections with such harsh hands that the bit must cut like razorblades in the horse's mouth, spurs hacked into the horse's sides. </span><span title="Och detta, mina vänner, är bara ett axplock och antagligen bara toppen av ett isberg.">And this, my friends, is just a few examples, and probably only the tip of an iceberg. </span><span title="Det som visar sig på framridningbanor och tävlingsbanor är ju grundlagt på hemmaplan...">What appears on riding courses and competitions grounds are founded at home ...</span><span title="Ponnyakuten, ett behjärtansvärt program, vars syfte är gott men som ändå (tycker jag!) skjuter bredvid målet.">"Pony Panic", is a programs with a good purpose but I never the less thinks it misses the target. </span><span title="Programmet bygger på problem som antingen kan vara hos barnet i form av rädsla eller hos hästen i form av oönskat beteende.">The program is based on problems that can be either in the child in the form of fear or in the horse in unwanted behavior. </span><span title="Nu är det viktigt att komma ihåg att det är TV och att det betyder att det filmas en hel del och ur det materialet väljer någon ut lämpliga scener.">Now it is important to remember that this is television and that means there is a lot that has been filmed and from that material appropriate scenes are selected. </span><span title="Vad som händer mellan klippen vet vi egentligen ingenting om.">What happens between the chosen scenes we really don't know</span><span title="Jag har inte följt säsongens avsnitt utan snabbtittade igenom några i veckan och jag tycker att mönstret från tidigare år (nota bene: i det som presenteras) följer samma spår.">I have not followed this season, I just quickly looked through some of the programmes and I think the pattern from previous years (nota bene: in what is presented) is followed. </span><span title="Hästen hålls ansvarig och det är den som ska korrigeras.">The horse is held responsible and it is the one that should be corrected. </span><span title="I ett läge (avsnitt 5) korrigeras en bockande häst av en dittagen beridare.">In a situation (section 5) a professional rider is brought in to ride a horse with bucking issues. </span><span title="Hon rider hästen på gummisnodd, hakan mot bringan - en vanlig syn.">She rides the horse with auxiliary reins a so called rubber band, the chin is brought to the chest - a common sight. </span><span title="Det är inte olagligt att rida ihop hästar med hjälptyglar, men jag tycker att det strider mot etik och moral.">It is not illegal to ride horses squezed together with the reins, but I think it goes against ethics and moral.</span><span title="Av den snutt jag såg när hästen bockde var det ryttaren som inte lärt sig sitta upp ordentligt och hästen var bakskygg.">From the sequense I saw when the horse bucked it was the rider who had not learned to mount properly and the horse was hind shy (if that's an expression that works in English). </span><span title="För mig hade det känns bättre att hantera de två momenten, lära ryttaren sitta upp och träna hästen för beröring/händelse bakom den.">To me, it would have better to deal with the two issues separately, teach the rider to mount and desensetice the horse.</span><span title="Majoriteten av dessa unga ryttare skulle behöva en grundkurs i sitsträning.">The majority of these young riders would benefit from a basic course in seat training. </span><span title="Som jag ser det beror många problem på en dålig sits, som ger dålig balans och följsamhet vilket i sin tur skapar spänning och rädsla och ponnisar som blir alldeles för hårt hållna i munnen.">As I see it many problems is due to a bad seat, which results in poor balance and suppleness, which in turn creates tension and fear and it all ends with the ponies being held to much in the reins.</span><span title="När det gäller tävlingsridningen så är det allmänt känt att den som vinner tjänar pengar och vinnaren kan även ha turen att få en sponsor som möjliggör en heltidssatsning.">With regard to competitions it is generally known that the winner earns money and the winner may also be lucky enough to have a sponsor that allows a full-time venture. </span><span title="Vi är alla konsumenter, om vi vänder oss till sponsorerna med våra synpunkter på hästhanteringen och frågar dem om de verkligen vill bli associerade med moralískt och etiskt tvivielaktiga metoder så kanske det kan vara en snabbare väg att gå än genom ridsportens egna kanaler.">We are all consumers, if we turn to the sponsors with our views on horse management and ask them if they really want to be associated with morally and ethically questionable methods it may be a more efficient way to go than via the equestrian channels. </span><span title="Det är inte olagligt att meddela de som betalar dyrt för att synas att vi inte orkar se dem...">It is not illegal to tell those who pay dearly to be seen that we are not seing them because of what's going on in the arena...</span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" id="gt-undo" style="display: none;">ändringarna</a><br />
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04601845946855705234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757245623563838698.post-60496435162082053662013-02-07T12:53:00.001+01:002013-02-07T12:53:25.277+01:00A short note on training<br />
A short note on training as a response to a question ont he Swedish blog.<br />
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Anyone who can say with certainty how we can train our horses, for whatever purpose, without causing damage need not worry about their livelihood. There are as many training philosophies as there are trainers and what works for one horse do not necessarily fit another.<br />
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A horse can always move with their own weight on their legs, so to speak. A good paddock can encourage and help horses to train themselves. In many training stables they build paddocks that are long and narrow and place them in a row next to each other. In this way, the horses gallop back and forth in the pasture and if one starts to run the others soon follow. Another way to encourage movement, be it at a slower pace, is to have food and water and shelter located far from each other. In this way, the horses must walk to satisfy their needs.<br />
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Training is basically about preparing a body for the work it is expected to do. In the body there are different tissues that require different amount of time to adapt to the loads it is subjected. Heart and lungs = condition, it is quick to respond, while the tendons, ligaments and bones take longer to adapt to an increased load.<br />
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The foundation for all training is walk, a walk with good impulsion works as stretching and strength training at the same time. The work in walk can be varied. It may be in hand walking, long reining, work over cavaletti, work in hand with sideways movements or a walk infront of a wagon /sleigh.<br />
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Walk is beneficial for all horses regardless of orientation. Other training varies with the chosen ara of competition or use. A good friend of mine has been a training rider at Janow in Poland. They worked the race horses under rider 6 days a week with fast job on Monday and then reduced the pace down to a ride in the woods the day before the day of rest. Each day, the horses was placed in a walker.<br />
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Something that I think is valuable when training horses is to have learned to feel the horse's muscles systematically. It makes it is easier to notice changes in muscle tone early, thus preventing injury. I use Equine Touch when I run through my horses. I also think a heart rate monitor can be useful, the horse's heart rate tells a lot about the state of fitness. Is there an infection in the body an light job gives a higher heart rate, an indication that you might need to take it easy.<br />
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Another relevant question is, am I too heavy for my horse? The answer to that question depends on how well balanced you are as a rider, how often and how long you ride, what you do when you are riding and the horse you have. Do you know that you are heavier that you figure your horse can handle pay attention to the horse's reactions during the ride. If the horse bevomes tired, lowers his back and raise its head (become U-shaped), it does not help to pull down the head with draw reins (something I actually seen) - it is much better to dismount and work the horse in hand for a while and gradually extend the time mounted. No matter how light or heavy we are as we mount we put pressure on the horse's muscles in the back and push away the blood from the tissue.<br />
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What we should keep in mind when we train our horses is to vary the work, switch between mounted and dismounted, vary surfaces and tempo and give the horse the opportunity to rest, preferably in a field that encourages movement in the gait the horse choose.<br />
Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04601845946855705234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757245623563838698.post-30526898106540244572013-01-25T13:11:00.000+01:002013-01-25T13:11:05.480+01:00Horse conformation<br />
Yesterday we had the kick-off meeting for the course in<a href="http://appliedequinepodiatry.org/index.html" target="_blank"> Applied Equine Podiatry</a>, June 15 to 19 in Boden. This really is a course I recommend all horse owners (and horses interested for that matter!) . The course is not primarily about learning to trim yourself, even if it is a part of the curriculum, but to learn to recognize a healthy hoof. We collected a few hooves yesterday and I'm really looking forward to see and hear the story hiding in those feet, because they all had something to say!<br />
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I had a question on the Swedish blog on<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/07/bone-tendon-circumference-indicates.html" target="_blank"> horse conformation and weight bearing ability</a> and riding trotters, it'll be the topic for today.<br />
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Horses can be described in many ways, the starting point may be the color, breed, conformation, performance or behavior. The exterior that we see when we look at a horse is a mixture of bone structure and musculature. A skinny horse can look dreadful, but have a better skeletal conformation than a seemingly well-muscled and athletic horse.<br />
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From a sustainability standpoint, horse conformation is important but actually not always conclusive. Beyond question that a horse with well aligned bones, good relationship between the different parts of the body, a well-set neck and a muscle suit that is proportional is well equipped to take the strain of an active life. But there is no guarantee. Hambletonian, a fantastic breeder in harness racing, had plenty of exterior deviations but it did not prevent him from being both strong and fast.<br />
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The horse's skeleton consists of 205-210 bones, depending on how they are classified.<br />
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<img height="240" src="http://www.hastsverige.se/Filer/Skelett.jpg" width="320" /><br />
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The horse's engine sits in the back, the angles that is talked about is how the pelvic angle affects the angle of the femur and it in turn affects the horse's ability to carry weight and pushing the horse forward. Power is transmitted via the lumbar spine - the part of the spine that allowes for some movement between the vertebrae. The legs are responsible to take the horse forward and the way the bones of the legs are stacked affects both movement patterns, hoof form and shock absorbing. Here's a spread that shows different leg conformation from the book The horse exterior by Lars-Erik Magnusson.<br />
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<img height="231" src="http://www.stallm.se/files/hstensexterir_ben.jpg" width="320" /><br />
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No horse is actually designed to carry any other weight than their own, be it trotters or riding horse. Since we choose to mount up and ride them, it is important to be observant of how the horse reacts to our training and to vary both training and ground we train on.<br />
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I would like to quote a farrier in Luleå, Bengt-Erik Källsenius. "You do not buy a retired trotter, you buy a bred trotter." Trotters can be very fine horses, provided that those who train them remember that they are bred to trot fast, and it has brought exterior customizations and a movement pattern that corresponds to the requirement.<br />
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Trotters are usually lower in height (about 155 cm), has a strong back to be able to handle the power coming from the hindquarter. A trotter usually begins its training in early years and made it in a reasonable manner based on the young horse it will build the body, both in terms of bone mass and muscular strenght. A trotter trained for racing, even if it does not measure up to race quality, can become a nice riding horse, with the advantage that it can also be harnessed and driven for a change.<br />
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I recommend Lars-Erik Magnusson's book The horse's conformation and a book in English The Horse Conformation Handbook by Heather Smith Thomas. And it's never wrong to take a crayon and mark the various joints, bones, etc on a real horse, and then measure the angles, lengths and widths. All that trains the eye and makes it easier to see the horse as it is.<br />
Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04601845946855705234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757245623563838698.post-88862468808296142292013-01-10T14:49:00.001+01:002013-01-10T14:49:23.107+01:00Hooves<br />
Happy new year! Right now it's a beautiful winter day in Kalix with moderate -10, winter blue skies and sun-kissed pine tops. Hope your Thursday is as beautiful where ever you are!<br />
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For my part, I started as early as 1 January with something that I think will be a theme for the year, hooves.<br />
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Here are the hooves that I, along with Kerstin Kemlén and photografer Anki Lundberg, where evaluating. At a first glance they look like completely normal riding horse hooves to me. For the evaluation, we looked at; heel (landing), frog, bars, hoof walls on quarter and toe, coronary band, sole and toe (push off) and we use a score from 1-9.<br />
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When the legs are separated from the horse and it is not a horse you know from before, it is actually not easy to know what is the right or left side of each pair. I certainly thought that would be the easy part...<br />
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The picture above is of the hind feet and you can see how the nails are set in the white line. It is not unusual that the nails ends up there, though it does not cause tendering preassure it means that bacteria have a way into the white line and the risk of white line dissease increases markedly.<br />
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In this picture you can also see that the outer bars has fallen and that the shape of the hoof is deformed in both the outer regions, the hoof capsule is a bit rotated and the toe is cut at an off angle relative to the frog.<br />
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A toe that is cut in this way robs the horse of its push off ability at the front of the hoof. In turn, this means that the work load will be more directly on the front of the coffin bone and it was visible in the sole, nature had padded the coffin bone by adding on to the sole.<br />
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Since I am new in the area and most hooves I've seen looks like these I missed all this with the toe, sure, I could see that the toe was cut off angle - but the consequence of the cut and removal of the tip of the toe for the horse Kerstin enlighten me of.<br />
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Here we nippered the toe of the hoof, the structures you can see in the picture are (from folding rule and down) the insensitive sole, the blood supplied part (red dots) of the sole nearest the coffin bone, inner wall and the black stripe at the end is the outer hoof wall.<br />
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In the current hoof the hoof capsule had migrated forward more than 2 cm in relation to the foot. I guess the feeling for the horse is as if I (size 39) would walk around in a pair of 45's, I would have a hard time knowing where I really have my feet and where I put them in the world.<br />
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As with anything else, it was life itself that brought hooves in focus and I'm learning everything I can to give my horses hooves that fit their feet. Everything under the motto: No hoof, no horse.Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04601845946855705234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757245623563838698.post-49373042662716628192012-12-20T19:55:00.001+01:002012-12-20T19:55:05.439+01:00What can a horse carry?<span title="Årets sista blogginlägg kommer att beröra hästens rygg.">The last blog post this year will be about the horse's back. </span><span title="Syftet med blogginläggen om hovar, mun och nu rygg är att göra oss, som tillbringar en del av vår tid med hästar och tar deras tjänster i anspråk, mer medvetna om att vi ber om något som hästen visserligen gör (och det med den äran!">The purpose of the blog entries on hoof, mouth and back is to make us, who spend part of our time with horses and make use of their abilities, more aware that we are asking for something that the horse certainly can perform (and with honor!</span><span title=") men som ändå strider mot dess natur som djuret häst.">) but at the same time is contrary to its nature as an animal called horse.</span><br />
<span title=") men som ändå strider mot dess natur som djuret häst."><br /></span><span title="När något sysselsätter ens tankar händer det ofta flera saker samtidig som verkligen sätter de egna tankarna i spinn.">When one gets involved in a thoughts it often happens several things simultaneously that really sets the own thoughts on spin. </span><span title="En elev berättade följande.">One student told me the following. </span><span title="Vid ett besök hos en bekant i ett stall stod det en häst på gången.">During a visit to a friend in a barn, a horse was standing in the aisle. </span><span title="Min elev strök hästen över ryggen och hästen sänkte ryggen - Stryk honom inte över ryggen, sa ägaren, han har ont.">My student stroked the horse over the back and the horse lowerd its back - Don't tuch him over the back, the owner said, he is in pain. </span><span title="Och det var ju uppenbart men när boxen var mockad tog ägaren och sadlade den ömma hästryggen och tog ut hästen för att rida.">And that was obvious, but when the box was cleaned out the owner saddled the sore horse and took it for a ride. </span><span title="Vari ligger logiken i detta?">Where is the logic in this? O</span><span title="En rygg som ömmar av beröring borde få riktigt ont av ridning.">ne would expect a <span title="En rygg som ömmar av beröring borde få riktigt ont av ridning.">back that touchy would hurt bad when ridden.</span></span><br />
<span title="En rygg som ömmar av beröring borde få riktigt ont av ridning."><span title="En rygg som ömmar av beröring borde få riktigt ont av ridning."></span><br /></span><span title="Senare samma vecka fick jag tips om en artikel skriven av Stormy May som lade ytterligare några vedpinnar på tankebrasan.">Later that week I got a tip on an article written by Stormy May that added a few more sticks on the fire light going on in my head. </span><span title="I artikeln berör författaren det som händer med hästen när vi sätter oss upp på dess rygg.">The article is about what happens to the horse when we place our weight on its back. </span><span title="Mitt inlägg är en blandning av utdrag ur artikeln och mina egna ord.">My post is a mixture of extracts from the article and my own words. </span><br />
<span title="Läs gärna artikeln i sin helhet!"><br /></span><span title="I " Journal of Veterinary Science" Volym (Vol14(11), 1994) publicerade den välkände veterinären och sadelutprovaren Dr Joyce Harman resultatet av en studie.">In "Journal of Veterinary Science" Volume (Vol14 (11), 1994) the well-known veterinarian and saddle fitter Dr. Joyce Harman published an outcome of a study.</span><span title="I " Journal of Veterinary Science" Volym (Vol14(11), 1994) publicerade den välkände veterinären och sadelutprovaren Dr Joyce Harman resultatet av en studie."><br /></span><br />
<span title="I " Journal of Veterinary Science" Volym (Vol14(11), 1994) publicerade den välkände veterinären och sadelutprovaren Dr Joyce Harman resultatet av en studie."></span><span title=""Vid tillämpningen av denna studie, bedömdes sadlar med tryck upp till 1,93 psi (pound force per square inch) ha god passform, mellan 2,0 och 3,38 psi, utan ihållande tryckpunkter, ha medelgod passform och sadlar som översteg 3">"For the purposes of this study, saddles with pressure up to 1.93 psi (pound force per square inch) were assessed to have good fit, between 2.0 and 3.38 psi, but persistent pressure points, to have moderate fit and saddles that exceeded 3,4</span><span title=",4 psi eller haft ihållande tryckpunkter under hela sessionen bedömdes har dålig passform. Dessa siffror kommer från preliminära data som visar att det var svårt att hitta en engelsk sadel med lägre tryck än 0,75 psi, vilket är det högsta tryck som finns i kapillärbädden"> psi or had persistent pressure points throughout the session was considered poor fit. These figures come from preliminary data showing that it was difficult to find an English saddle with a lower pressure than 0.75 psi, which is the highest pressure in the capillary bed, </span><span title=". Tryck som överstiger 0,75 psi stänger av blodflödet i den arteriella kapillärbädden."">pressure exceeding 0.75 psi shuts off the blood flow in the arterial capillary bed. "</span><br />
<span title="Det är viktigt att notera att Saddletechs provtryckninskudde, som användes i dessa studier, har sensorer utvecklade för att utvärdera riskerna för trycksår hos sängliggande människor och mäter endast tryck upp till 4 psi."></span><br />
<span title="Det är viktigt att notera att Saddletechs provtryckninskudde, som användes i dessa studier, har sensorer utvecklade för att utvärdera riskerna för trycksår hos sängliggande människor och mäter endast tryck upp till 4 psi.">It is important to note that Saddle Tech preassure measuring tool, used in these studies, had sensors that have been developed to evaluate the risks of pressure sores in bedridden people and only measures pressure up to 4 psi. </span><span title="Moderna sensorer, exempelvis FSA (Force sensing Array) som utvecklats av Vision Engineering Resaerch group (VERG Inc) i winnipeg, Manitoba, Kanada kan avläsa mycket högre tryck.">Modern sensors, such as the FSA (Force Sensing Array) developed by Vision Engineering Resaerch group (verg Inc) in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada can read a lot more pressure. </span><span title="I ett test mer westernsadlar med bra inlägg, mättes normalt "trycktoppar" mellan 8,25 och 14 psi.">In a test with Western saddles with good padding, measured normal "pressure spikes" between 8.25 and 14 psi. </span><span title="(Wesley, ED, McCullough, E, Eckels, S, Davis, E, artikel # 9329, 2007, "The Horse" magazine).">(Wesley, ED, McCullough, E, Eckels, S, Davis, E, Article # 9329, 2007, "The Horse" magazine).</span><br />
<span title="(Wesley, ED, McCullough, E, Eckels, S, Davis, E, artikel # 9329, 2007, "The Horse" magazine)."><br /></span><span title="Trycket som uppstår på vävnaderna under sadeln fortplantas ner via musklerna till de benstrukturer som finns inunder.">The pressure that occurs on the tissues under the saddle is propagated down through the muscles to the bone structures found underneath. R</span><span title="Inom forskningen kring trycksår hos människor har det visat sig att vävnadsdöden börjar nära benet långt innan rodnad och sår i huden uppkommer.Vad har då hänt hos de hästar som har synliga sår eller ärr i sadelstaden?">esearch on pressure ulcers in humans have shown that tissue death begins near the bone long before redness and skin lesion is present.What have happened with the horses that have visible wounds or scars in the saddle area?</span><span title="Inom forskningen kring trycksår hos människor har det visat sig att vävnadsdöden börjar nära benet långt innan rodnad och sår i huden uppkommer.Vad har då hänt hos de hästar som har synliga sår eller ärr i sadelstaden?"><br /></span><br />
<span title="Inom forskningen kring trycksår hos människor har det visat sig att vävnadsdöden börjar nära benet långt innan rodnad och sår i huden uppkommer.Vad har då hänt hos de hästar som har synliga sår eller ärr i sadelstaden?"></span><span title="Musklerna longissimus dorsi och trapezius, som ryttaren sitter på, har hästen utvecklat sedan Eohippus (mellan 60 miljoner och 45 miljoner år sedan) för att underlätta rörligheten.">The muscles longissimus dorsi and trapezius, which the rider sits on, the horse has developed since Eohippus (between 60 million and 45 million years ago) to facilitate mobility. </span><span title="Denna struktur har aldrig varit konstruerad för att bära vikt i form av ett tryck ovanifrån.">This structure was never designed to carry weight in the form of a pressure from above. </span><span title="Hos många hästar kan man se en påtaglig muskelatrofi (förvinade muskler) precis bakom bogbladet uppe vid manken.">In many horses, you can see a marked muscular atrophy just behind the scapula up at the withers. </span><span title="Icke desto mindre har jag själv hört en tränare sagt att han inte vill ha hästar med välmusklade ryggar för de blir så svåra att sadla.">Nevertheless, I have heard a coach say that he did not want to have horses with muscular backs because they become so difficult to saddle.</span><span title="Icke desto mindre har jag själv hört en tränare sagt att han inte vill ha hästar med välmusklade ryggar för de blir så svåra att sadla."><br /></span><br />
<span title="Icke desto mindre har jag själv hört en tränare sagt att han inte vill ha hästar med välmusklade ryggar för de blir så svåra att sadla."></span><span title="Tryck från sadel och ryttare på hästens rygg uppkommer oavsett användningsområde.">Pressure from the saddle and rider on the horse's back occurs independent of use. </span><span title="När blod som trycks ut ur vävnaden kommer tillbaka känns det som tusen nålar sticker i den kroppsdelen.">When blood is pushed out of the tissue and comes back, it feels like a thousand needles sticking in the body part. </span><span title="Vi har inbyggda sensorer som ser till att vi byter ställning då och då när trycket på en enskild punkt varit för högt för länge.">We have embedded sensors that ensure that we change position from time to time, when the pressure on a single point has been too high for too long. </span><span title="För en häst som blir riden är det svårt att stuva om vikten på sin kropp som det sättet.">For a horse that is ridden, it is difficult to stow the weight on his body that way. </span><span title="Den kan försöka påkalla din uppmärksamhet genom att ta kortare steg, slå med svansen, klia sig mot staket/ridhusvägg, nafsa efter underskänkeln, lägga öronen bakåt eller rent av bocka.">It can try to attract your attention by taking shorter steps, swishing tail, scratching himselves against the fence /riding school wall, nip at the leg, have ears back or even bolt or buck.</span><span title="Den kan försöka påkalla din uppmärksamhet genom att ta kortare steg, slå med svansen, klia sig mot staket/ridhusvägg, nafsa efter underskänkeln, lägga öronen bakåt eller rent av bocka."><br /></span><br />
<span title="Den kan försöka påkalla din uppmärksamhet genom att ta kortare steg, slå med svansen, klia sig mot staket/ridhusvägg, nafsa efter underskänkeln, lägga öronen bakåt eller rent av bocka."></span><span title="Det som poängteras i artikeln är att det är alltför vanligt, med dagens hästhantering, att avfärda hästens enda möjliga utttryckssätt, kroppsspråket, som olydnad och som sådan ska den korrigeras - ofta med "en starkare smärta i munnen, på huvudet, revbenen eller flankerna,">What is emphasized in the article is that it is all too common with today's horsemanship, to dismiss the horse only possible way of communicating, body language, as disobedience and as such it should be corrected - often with "stronger pain in the mouth, on the head, ribs and flanks, </span><span title="förmodligen i kombination med en längre session under sadel" skriver Stormy May.">probably in combination with a longer session under saddle" writes Stormy May.</span><span title="förmodligen i kombination med en längre session under sadel" skriver Stormy May."><br /></span><br />
<span title="förmodligen i kombination med en längre session under sadel" skriver Stormy May."></span><span title="Nu vill varken artikelförfattaren eller jag förbjuda ridning men jag delar uppfattnigen att en ökad kunskap om hästens rörelsemekanik vore en fantastisk julklapp som skulle glädja både ryttare och häst.">Now neither the author nor I are proposing to forbid riding but I share the conclusion that increased knowledge of the horse's movement mechanics would be a fantastic Christmas gift that would please both rider and horse.</span><br />
<span title="Nu vill varken artikelförfattaren eller jag förbjuda ridning men jag delar uppfattnigen att en ökad kunskap om hästens rörelsemekanik vore en fantastisk julklapp som skulle glädja både ryttare och häst."><br /></span><span title="Jag har sökt de båda artiklarna som Stormy May refererar till på nätet men utan att lyckas.">I have searched both articles Stormy May refer to online but without success. </span><span title="Det känns som en intressant uppgift för 2013 att skaffa mer kunskap i frågan.">It seems like an interesting task for 2013 to gain more knowledge on the issue. </span><span title="Jag skulle gärna vilja veta mer hur respektive studie har gjorts.">I would like to know more about how each study has been done. </span><br />
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<span title="Precis som alltid, när det gäller vår relation till hästen, är det vi som ska sträva efter att tolka hästens signaler/språk - hästen har redan full koll på oss, som den sanna humanist den är.">As always, when it comes to our relationship with the horse, it is we who must strive to interpret the horse's signals/language - the horse already has full notion of us, as the true humanist it is.</span><span title="Nu tar jag jullov och återkommer efter trettonhelgen."></span><br />
<span title="Nu tar jag jullov och återkommer efter trettonhelgen.">Now I take Christmas holiday and will return after Twelfth Night. </span><span title="God jul och gott nytt år!">Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!</span>Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04601845946855705234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757245623563838698.post-26231912375515431952012-12-07T12:03:00.000+01:002012-12-07T12:03:40.630+01:00Bitting, episode 3<span title="Vi som väljer att ägna oss åt hästar, må vara nöjesridning, tävlingsridning, körning, trav och/eller galopp måste i alla lägen vara medvetna om att vi väljer att göra något som hästen ursprungligen inte var ägnad att göra.">We who choose to engage in horses, be it pleasure riding, competative riding, driving, harnessed horses or racing must at all times be aware that we choose to do something that the horse was not originally intended to make.</span><br />
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<span title="Hästen är inte konstruerad för att bära vikt på ryggen, dra tunga lass, ha beslag på hovarna eller bett i munnen.">The horse is not designed to bear weight on his back, pulling heavy loads, have metal shoes (or any hoof protection for that matter) on the hooves or bit in his mouth. </span><span title="Att den går med på att låta oss göra det beror på att hästens överlevnadsstrategi är tystnad.">That it allows to let us make use of it is due to the fact that the survival strategy of the horse is silence. </span><span title="Hästen är i grunden ett fogligt djur, ett djur som strävar efter att minimera konflikter därför att det, i det vilda, har räddat liv.">The horse is basically a docile animal, an animal that seeks to minimize conflicts because, in the wild, that has saved lives. </span><span title="Hästen ägnar ingen tid åt onödigt bråk, den är förprogrammerad att finna sin plats i en hierarki och att vara följsam.">The horse devotes no time to unnecessary quarrel, it is pre-programmed to find their place in a hierarchy, and to be responsive.</span><br />
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<span title="Hästen, precis som hunden, har visat sig vara en nyttig följeslagare för människorna.">The horse, like the dog, has proven to be a useful companion for us. </span><span title="Deras olika egenskaper har gynnat och förenklat våra liv och nu när vi som bor i i-länderna inte längre behöver dem för vår försörjning förgyller de vår fritid.">Their different characteristics has improved and simplified our lives and now that we who live in developed countries no longer need them for our livelihood they enhance our leisure time.</span><br />
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<span title="Jag har inga moraliska betänkligheter mot att äga och ha häst (eller hund) som mitt fritidsnöje.">I have no moral qualms about owning and have a horse (or dog). </span><span title="Det jag strävar efter är att göra det liv som mina hästar får leva hos mig så "lite dåligt som möjligt" genom att lära mig allt jag bara hinner och kan om det som berör hästar.">What I strive for is to make the life that my horses will live with me as "a little bad as possible" by learning everything I can about the well fare of horses. </span><span title="Att ha häst är att kompromissa med hästen som biologisk varelse och ju bättre kompromiss desto färre grader i helvetet för hästen - lite brutalt uttryckt.">Keeping a horse is compromising the horse as a biological being and the better compromise the fewer degrees in hell for the horse - a little brutally expressed.</span><br />
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<span title="Dr Cook har ägnat en stor del av sitt yrkesverksamma liv till att forska kring bett och det han definierar som bettrelaterade problem.">Dr. Cook has devoted much of his professional life to research and to issues that he defines as bit-related problems. </span><span title="Precis som Lena påpekar kan vissa av de beteendestörningar som han kopplar till bett förekomma av andra skäl.">Just as Lena pointed out, some of the behavioral problems he connects to bitting can occur for other reasons. </span><span title="För mig betyder det att det finns fler variabler att ta hänsyn till i denna multifaktoriella ekvation som hästägandet innebär.">To me, it means that there are more variables to consider in this multifactorial equation that horse ownership entails. </span><span title="Lämna ingen sten ovänd...">Leave no stone unturned ...</span><br />
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<span title="I sin forskning har Dr Cook jämfört kranier från tama och vilda hästar.">In his research, Dr. Cook compared the skulls of domestic and wild horses. </span><span title="Det som han sett hos de tama hästarna är sk bensporrar, microsprickor vid lanerna och deformerade tänder, skador som helt saknas hos den vilda hästen.">What he has seen in the tame horses are so called bone spurs, micro cracks in the bars and deformed teeth, damage completely absent in the wild horse. </span><span title="Det är skador på hård vävnad, som hästtandläkare kan man få se friktionsskador på tungan av bett som glidit fram och tillbaka över tungan, sår på insidan av kinden, klämskador, tryckskador i gommen etc.">That is damage to the hard tissue, a horse dentist may see friction damage to the tongue from a bit that slid back and forth across the tongue, sores on the inside of the cheek, crushing, pressure sores on the palate, etc.</span><br />
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<span title="Visst är många av skadorna ett resultat av vårdslös hantering och felaktig tillpassning av utrustningen, absolut!">Certainly, many of the injuries are resulting from careless handling and improper fitting of the equipment, absolutely! </span><span title="och med bättre utbildning av hästägaren kan många av problemen elimineras.">With better educated of horse owners, many of the problems are eliminated. </span><span title="Note bene!">Note bene! Not even </span><span title="Inte heller bettlösa huvudlag är helt utan påverkan på hästen om de är illa tillpassade eller hanteras ovarsamt.">bitless bridle is completely without effect on the horse if they are ill fitted or handled roughly.</span><br />
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<span title="Dr Cook konstaterar">Dr. Cook notes</span><span title=""Genom att ta bort metallbett ur hästens mun kan man råda bot på många problem men man kan dock inte förvänta sig att alla problem blir botade.">"By removing the metal bit out of the horse's mouth, you can address many problems, but one can not expect that all problems are cured.</span><br />
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<span title="En häst som sedan tidigare återkommande låtit i halsen kommer ej att sluta låta, en häst som utvecklat permanenta deformiteter i luftvägarna till följd av bettanvändning kommer fortfarande att vara handikappad av deformationerna.">A horse that previously had recurring throat noise will not stop sounding bad, a horse who developed permanent deformities of the airways as a result of bit use will still be handicapped by deformations.</span><br />
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<span title="Tar man bort bettet så botar det ingen hälta annat än ”tygelhälta” och inte heller kan det ersätta ordentlig utbildning av hästen så den förstår tömhjälperna (sakta av, stanna och svänga).">If you remove the bit it heals no lameness other than "rein lameness" nor can it replace proper training of the horse so it correctly understands rein aids (slow down, stop and turn). </span><span title="Alla hästar med bettorsakad nervsmärta slutar inte skaka på skallen från en dag till en annan när bettet tas bort.">All horses with bit caused nerve pain does not stop shaking its head from one day to another when the bit is removed. </span><span title="Ett fåtal slutar aldrig."">A few never stop. " (this is a translation from a swedish translation so...this one can deviate from the original english text.)</span><br />
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<span title="Vi måste som ryttare och kuskar förstå att hästen inte med automatik förstår våra signaler utan att det handlar om att utbilda hästen till det signalspråk vi väljer att använda oss av.">We need as riders and drivers to understand that the horse does not automatically understand our signals, that we need to train the horse to the language of signals we choose to use. </span><span title="När jag var hos Rune Olofsson i Sollebrunn berättade han att 98% av de hästar han fick in för tillridning hade problem för att de aldrig hade fått lära sig att start och stopp signalerna ordentligt, de visste alltså inte vad som förväntades av dem.">When I was with Rune Olofsson in Sollebrunn he told me that 98% of the horses he had re-educated in riding had problems because they had never been taught the signals for start and stop properly, they did not know what was expected of them. </span><span title="Grunden för all hantering är att hästen kan signalen för framåt, stopp, bakåt, höger och vänster.">The basis for all training is that the horse understand the signal for forward, stop, back up, left and right. When the </span><span title="När responsen för de signalerna är etablerad hos hästen är den redo att utföra rörelser som kombinerar dessa riktningar.">response to those signals is established, the horse is ready to perform movements that combine these directions.</span><br />
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<span title="Men det finns ytterligare en aspekt på bett som har med hästens fysiologi att göra.">But there is another aspect of bit that concern the horse's physiology. </span><span title="När hästen har bett i munnen stimuleras dess matsmältningssystem som innebär att hästens kropp är inrktad på låg aktivitet och sänkt huvud/hals samtidigt som du vill att hästen ska vara alert, beredd på att prestera och och höjt huvud/hals.">When the horse has a bit in the mouth it stimulates the digestive system, which means that the horse's body is programmed to low activity and a lowered head/neck position while you want the horse to be alert, ready to perform and with raised the head/neck.</span><br />
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<span title="I hästens hals finns det en växelfunktion som öppnar eller stänger passagen till luft- respektive matstrupe.">In the horse's throat, there is a switch function which opens or closes the passage of the air ways and esophagus. </span><span title="Hästen andas med näsan och när den andas ska läpparna vara förseglade så att munhålan är fri från luft.">The horse breathes through the nose and when breathing, the lips must be sealed so that the mouth is free of air. </span><span title="Med ett bett i munnen bryts läpparnas försegling och det virvlar in luft i munhålan, samtidigt som stimulit på tungan gör att det produceras saliv som ska hanteras.">With a bit in the mouth the lip seal is broken and air is swirling into the oral cavity, at the same time the stimulus on the tongue results in production of saliva that needs to be handled. </span><span title="När hästen ska svälja kan den inte andas och när den andas kan den inte svälja.">When the horse swallows, it can not breathe and when breathing it can not swallow. </span><span title="Det blir en fysiologisk krock i hästen som biologisk varelse och det får konsekvenser.">It is a physiological impact of the horse as biological beings, and it has consequences. </span><br />
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<span title="En kortis om varför jag valt Dr Cooks huvudlag.">A short note on why I chosed Dr. Cook's bridle. </span><span title="Amaretto har konvex nosrygg och det gör att en repgrimma eller bosal välter framåt/nedåt och då hamnar på fel.">Amaretto has a convex nose and thus makes a rope halter or bosal tipp forward/downward and end up being in the wrong place. </span><span title="Nosgrimman på bitless bridle går att spänna fast och sitter därmed på plats bättre.">The nose band on the bitless bridle can be fasten and is thus kept better in place.</span><br />
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<span title="Signalsystemet liknar det som jag har när jag arbetar Amaretto i repgrimma, huvudlaget förmedlar dessutom de signaler via tyglarna som direkt och indirekt tygel skapar.">The signaling system is similar to the one I have when I worked Amaretto in rope halter, the headstall also conveys the signals from the reins that the direct and indirect rein aids create. </span><span title="Hackamore har aldrig varit aktuellt och det bettlösa alternativet som ser ut som ett hjul med ekrar har jag inte provat.">Hackamore has never been an issue and the bridle that looks like a wheel with spokes I have not tried. </span><br />
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<span title="Jag var på en föreläsning med Per Larsson om bett och betsling, han visade en bild på ett bett som kallades "Liberty", i hans gradering var det bettet hett, riktigt hett faktiskt för med det kunde man korrigera en häst med så mycket smärta att">I was at a lecture given by Per Larsson on bit and bitting, he showed a picture of a bit called "Liberty", he graded it to be hot, really hot actually and it could "correct" the horse inducing so much pain that the horse </span><span title="den antingen kapitulerade eller blev galen...vi har en förmåga till omskrivningar vi människor - liberty/frihet för vem?">either surrendered or went crazy ... we have an ability to paraphrase we humans, Liberty - freedom to whom?</span>Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04601845946855705234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757245623563838698.post-47035105555288500832012-11-22T16:07:00.002+01:002012-11-22T16:07:39.387+01:00Bitting<span id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Är det någon mer än jag som undrar om vi verkligen har 24 timmar perdygn och i snitt 30 dagar per månad?">Is anyone else, besides me, wondering if we really have our 24 hours daily and an average of 30 days per month? </span><span title="Det känns som att det var alldeles nyss som jag drack den sista klunken bubbel för att fira in det nya året - och snart är det dags igen!">It feels like it was only a moment ago that I had the last sip of bubble to celebrate the New Year - and soon it's coming up again!</span></span><br />
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<span lang="en"><span title="Kerstin Kemlén är en god vän som till sin person är en som går till botten med alla frågeställningar hon ställs inför."><a href="http://www.kerstinkemlen.se/" target="_blank">Kerstin Kemlén</a> is a good friend of mine and as a person she is one that goes to the bottom of all issues she is faced with. </span><span title="Hon är en hästägare med tävlingshästar inom trav och har med det ett starkt fokus på prestation.">She is a owner of harness horses with a strong focus on performance. </span><span title="Det var just prestationsbiten som ledde henne i in på ämnet bett och betsling samt dess konsekvenser för hästarna.">It was a question of performance that led her into the subject bits and bitting and its consequences for horses. </span><span title="I början var det frågan om att lösa ett problem för en specifik häst i stallet som drev henne att utforska ämnet men nu har det blivit alltmer en fråga om hästhälsa.">In the beginning the question was one of solving a problem for a specific horse in her stable which drove her to explore the topic, but now it has become a question of horse health in general.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="en"><span title="Kerstin kom tidigt i kontakt med dr Robert Cook, som utvecklat ett bettlöst huvudlag, och de har haft en flitig mailväxling under åren där Kerstin har ställt frågor och Dr Cook har svarat efter förstånd och förmåga.">Early on Kerstin came in contact with Dr. Robert Cook, who developed a bitless bridle, and they have had an extensive email exchange over the years where Kerstin has raised questions and Dr. Cook answered by the best his of understanding and ability.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="en"><span title="Essensen i Dr Cooks forskning är att bett, oavsett form, material eller handhavande av ryttaren åsamkar hästen skada.">The essence of Dr. Cook's research is that bit, regardless of form, material or the quality of the riders hand causes damage to the horse. </span><span title="Skadorna kan vara allt från rent fysiska skador av bett på laner, tunga och tänder till skador som tar lite mer tid att utveckla, struppipning t ex och rena beteende störningar.">The damage can range from physical injuries from bit on bars, tongue and teeth into njuries that take a little more time to develop such as breathing disorder and behavioral disorders.</span></span><br />
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<span title="Precis som tradititonen att sko hästar påverkar hästen negativt gör traditionen att betsla den samma sak.">Just as traditional horse shoeing affects the horse negatively the tradition of brideling does the same thing. </span><span title="Den här aningen färgstarka bilden hämtad från Dr Cooks hemsida och visar med skala den relativa känsligheten för beröring som olika kroppsdelar har hos hästen.">This colorful image taken from <a href="http://www.bitlessbridle.co.uk/fear-of-the-bit.php" target="_blank">Dr. Cook's website</a> shows by the scale the relative sensitivity to touch the different body parts of the horse have. </span><span title="De röda ytorna representerar de områden som har flest sensoriska nerver.">The red areas represent the areas with the highest amount of sensory nerves. As you can see m</span><span title="Mulen och munnen utgör områden som är mycket känsliga för beröring.">uzzle and mouth are areas very sensitive to touch.<br /></span><span title="Att vara hästägare är att vara medveten om vad man kompromissar med och varför.">Being a horse owner is to be aware of what you compromise with and why. </span><span title="Själv har jag valt att sko mina hästar nu i höst, och även om jag vet med mig att det kostar i form av hämmad hovmekanism, så tar jag hellre det än fläkskador.">I myself have chosen to shoe my horses this fall, and although I know that it costs in the form of hampered hoof mechanism, I´d take it rather than to have a horse rip itself.<br /></span><span title="Jag har huvudlag med bett i sadelkammaren, men jag rider med Dr Cooks bettlösa.">I have bitted bridle in the tack room, but I ride using Dr. Cook's bitless bridle. </span><span title="Och visst blir det en skillnad i upplevelse!">And of course there is a difference in experience! </span><span title="Hästen blir till exempel bra mycket starkare i bettlöst, 16 gånger starkare jämför med en betslad häst enligt Kerstin (som både kan och gärna räknar på allt).">The horse is a good deal stronger in bitless, 16 times stronger compared to a bitted horse according to Kerstin (who happily and readily calculates everything). </span><span title="En sån skillnad påverkar absolut maktbalansen (om jag kan få använda det ordet) mellan ryttare och häst.">Such a difference most certainly have an effect on the relative balance of strenght (if I can use that word) between horse and rider.<br /></span><span title="Så när min unghäst blir Herr Het i Hatten så känns det rätt påtagligt...men jag har inte känt mig otrygg trots pigga galopper.">So when my horse gets Mr Hot in the Hat, that strenght it's really apparent ... but I have not felt unsafe despite some lively gallops. </span><span title="Det är fullt möjligt att göra en sk one rein-stop med det bettlösa och i ridningen finns det alla möjligheter att få en lågmäld kommunikation via huvudlaget.">It is possible to make a one-stop rein with the bitless bridle and there is every opportunity to get a low-key communication via the bridle.<br /></span><span title="Skillnaden är känslan i handen, det finns ingen sensorisk feed back via tyglarna som det gör när de är fästade till ett bett i hästens mun.">The difference is the feeling in the hand, there is no sensory feedback via the reins as one gets when the reins are attached to a bit the horse's mouth. </span><span title="Det är faktiskt tyst i tyglarna...inget tuggande, ingen rörelse och det är egentligen så det ska vara enligt Dr Cook.">It's actually quiet in the reins ... no chewing, no movement and it's really how it should be according to Dr. Cook. </span><span title="När hästen arbetar ska munnen vara stängd och stilla, det är bara när hästen äter som ska den tugga.">When the horse is working it has its mouth closed and it is still, it is only when the horse eats it should open the mouth and chew.</span></span><br />
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04601845946855705234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757245623563838698.post-51619730155653842622012-11-08T12:41:00.001+01:002012-11-08T12:41:22.010+01:00The hoof - a genious invention<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="I höstas var jag ner till Iotas Hovbalans i Dalarna och gick en kurs i Applied Equine Podiatry med KC LaPierre.">Last fall, I was down to <a href="http://www.hovbalans.com/" target="_blank">Iotas Hovbalans</a> in Dalarna and took a course in <span id="goog_1689078961"></span><a href="http://www.appliedequinepodiatry.org/" target="_blank">Applied Equine Podiatry</a> <span id="goog_1689078962"></span>with KC LaPierre.<br /></span><span title="Det var en intressant och mycket tankeväckande kurs med många, för mig, nya infallsvinklar på hur hästens hov fungerar och hur den svarar på den belastning som hästen utsätts för.">It was an interesting and thought-provoking course with many, for me, new perspectives on how the horse's hoof works and how it responds to the load that the horse is exposed to.<br /></span><span title="Mitt i sin karriär som hovslagare tar KC en plats som lärling i en smedja.">In the middle of his career as a farrier takes KC a place as an apprentice in a forge. </span><span title="Avsikten var att bli en så skicklig smed att han skulle kunna smida vilket sjukbeslag som helst.">The intention was to become such a skilled blacksmith that he could form any kind of horse shoe that he needed. </span><span title="Under sina två år som lärling skapades grunden för det som skulle bli KC mantra: struktur + funktion = prestanda.">During his two years as an apprentice the foundation for what would become KC's mantra was created: structure + function = performance. </span><span title="När han sen avslutat sin lärlingsperiod och återgick till sitt yrke som hovslagare kunde han verkligen smida vilken sko som helst men det fanns ändå hästar som han inte kunde hjälpa.">When he completed his apprenticeship period and returned to his profession as a blacksmith, he could really forge any shoe atany time but there were still horses that he could not help. </span><span title="Det ledde honom in på den väg som han vandrar nu.">It led him on the path he walks now.<br /></span><span title="KC strävar efter att flytta fokus inom hovslageri från hantverk till vetenskap.">KC seeks to shift the focus of farriery from craft to science. </span><span title="Hovslageriet blev en profession som hamnade i skymundan i och med den nya tidens tekniska utveckling vilket gör att dagens hovslagare utbildas med kunskaper från förrgår.">Farriery became a profession that ceaced to develop as a new era of technological development began, and this in turn makes today's farrier trained with knowledge from the day before.<br /></span><span title="Grundtesen är att en sund häst är beroende av en sunda hovar vars funktion är att hantera och distribuera och nyttogöra energi.">The basic thesis is that a healthy horse is dependent on healthy hooves whose function is to manage and distribute and utilize energy. </span><span title="Hovslageri i sin tur syftar till att neutralisera energi.">Farriery in turn is designed to neutralize energy. </span><span title="I detta uppstår kollisonen mellan natur och människans inverkan, där hästens hovar hamnar i kläm.">This leads to a collision between nature and human demands and leaves the horse's hooves trapped in the middle.<br /></span><span title="KC har definierat varje del i sitt mantra struktur + funktion = prestanda.">KC has defined every part of his mantra: structure + function = performance. </span><span title="Med struktur menas hovens inre beståndsdelar och varje enhet har sin specifika funktion som ska fungera i samklang med alla delar.">The structure is the internal components of the hoof and each component has a specific function that will work in harmony with all the other parts. Within the</span><span title="I hoven finns flera olika vävnadstyper; blodfylld, inte blodfylld, mjuka vävnader och ben."> hoof there are several different types of tissue; blood-filled, not blood-filled, soft tissues and bone. </span><span title="Med prestanda avses hur väl en hov kan möta det krav som den av människan valda aktiviteten ställer på hoven.">The performance refers to how well a hoof can meet the requirements that the chosen activity imposes on the hoof. </span><span title="En fritidshäst som rids emellanåt kan fungera med lägre krav på hovens prestanda än en travhäst i full tävlingskondition.">A recreational horse can function with lower demands on hoof performance than a racehorse in full racing condition. It may seem like a </span><span title="En given sanning kan tyckas, du kör inte Formel 1 med en SAAB V4 och tror på en topplacering, men enligt KC så saknas den insikten icke desto mindre hos flertalet hästägare.">given truth, you do not drive Formula 1 with a SAAB V4 and hope for a top position, but according to KC lacking that insight is nonetheless quite common.<br /></span><span title="Tama hästar lever under helt andra premisser än vilda.">Domestic horses are living under very different premises than wild. </span><span title="Det gör att KC ibland väljer att prata om skodda respektive oskodda hästar för att poängtera att skor faktiskt kan vara den bästa kompromissen för vissa hästar.">It allows KC sometimes choose to talk about shod and unshod horses to emphazise that shoes may actually be the best compromise for some horses. </span><span title="Barfota är alltid bäst för hästen, under förutsättning att dess hovar har den prestanda som krävs för uppgiften.">Barefoot is always best for the horse, provided that its hooves have the qualities needed for the task. In</span><span title="Att sko hästen innebär alltid att hovens naturliga mekanism påverkas negativt men om det jobb hästen förväntas utföra också påverkar hästen negativt kan det vara bättre att låta hästen ha skor."> shoeing the horse the hoof's natural mechanism is always adversely affected but if the job the horse is expected to perform also affects the horse negative, it may be better to have the horse shod.<br /></span><span title="Idag finns det alternativ till järnskor i form av boots, olika tvåkomponentsprodukter som "hovlindor", plastskor och sulskydd.">Today there is are alternatives to iron shoes in the form of boots, various two-component gadges as "hoof wraps", plastic shoes and sole guards. A remark </span><span title="Det som KC kan reservera sig emot är att några av dem, enligt honom, inte tar tillräcklig hänsyn till hur hoven defacto är uppbyggd och att de, förvisso utan spik, ändå hämmar en korrekt hovfunktion.">KC made is that, according to him, some of them does not take sufficient account of how the hoof defacto is built and that, indeed without nails, still hampers a proper foot function.<br /></span><span title="Jag har haft mina hästar oskodda under sommaren men har, i brist på alternativ till skor med brodd, skott mina hästar nu när isen kom.">I have had my horses unshod in the summer but has been, because of lack of an alternative to shoes with studs, shood my horses now as the ice came. </span><span title="Mina hästar går på lösdrift och är ute dygnet runt i en kuperad skogshage med en bäck som rinner genom hagen.">My horses are out 24-7 in a hilly forest pasture with a creek that runs through the pasture. </span><span title="När den bäcken börjar frysa på och vattnet från ovanliggande våtmark fortsätter att strömma bildas det stora partier med svallis.">When the creek begins to freeze and the water from the overlying wetlands continue to flow it floats out of the stream bed and freezes to ice on the ground. Our place is p</span><span title="I folkmun kallas platsen som vi bor på Märsfallet just för att en märr halkat illa på svallisen.">opularly known as Märsfallet just because a mare slipped badly in the wake ice.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-55CfGDsV8nE/UJuZQr293QI/AAAAAAAAAPA/ieJcrUHR_Xw/s1600/ishovar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-55CfGDsV8nE/UJuZQr293QI/AAAAAAAAAPA/ieJcrUHR_Xw/s320/ishovar.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /></span><span title="För egen del hoppas jag på en snörik vinter utan perioder av blidväder för då kan jag ta av skorna mot slutet av december och sen sko på igen i mars/april när våren med sin istid kommer.">Personally I'm hoping for a snowy winter without periods of thaw because then I can take off the shoes at the end of December and then put them on again in March /April when spring with its icy periods comes. </span><span title="Det är en kompromiss med en önskan jag har, men det är en medveten kompromiss, och jag har (tack och lov!) en hovslagare som är öppen för dialog.">It is a compromise with the desire I have, but it's a conscious compromise, and I have (thank goodness!) a farrier that is open to dialogue.<br /></span><span title="KC kommer till Boden i juni och ger en 5 dagars kurs, läs mer om den på Kerstins webbsida.">KC comes to Boden in June and to give a 5 day course, read more about it on <a href="http://www.kerstinkemlen.se/" target="_blank">Kerstin's website</a>. </span><span title="Jag rekommenderar kursen varmt!">I recommend the course strongly!</span></span><br />
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04601845946855705234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757245623563838698.post-18097803927189929062012-10-25T15:53:00.000+02:002012-10-25T16:08:38.764+02:00Rein in handIn early October, I attended a lecture by <a href="http://www.kerstinkemlen.se/" target="_blank">Kerstin Kemlén</a> on the topic bit and bit related problems.<br />
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Kerstin has for over three years been involved in intense email exchange with Dr. Cook, an American veterinarian and professor emeritus, who has devoted much of his professional life to studying horses and their mouth and throat health and its connection to bit.<br />
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According to Dr. Cook, there are 47 problems that can be scientifically verified to be connected to the use of bit. A part from the physical damage that bits can cause in the mouth; damages on the bars, ulceration of the mucous membranes and deformation of the teeth, there are a number of behaviors that can be associated with bits and with a scale from immobilised to flight. Kerstin has the full list, if you want to know more contact her.<br />
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During the lecture, with an audience coming from both the riding and the harnessed horse world, those who wanted to try Kerstin home made reintaking gadget were urged to do so. The picture shows the principle of the gadget (lackning round rod, I had to use my son's wooden Winchester replica). The spring balance is attached to the rod together with the rein.</div>
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Anyone who wanted to test the pressure on the reins took the reins and tried to establish the contact they usually had while riding or driving. Kerstin was reading the pressure on the spring balance and kept the value to herself. Then she got the rider/driver stand between the reins and put the bit on forearms and lean on the bit until Kerstin said they reached their previous pressure. (The picture was taken by my 4-year-old assistant, so he has time to get better at sharpness ...)<br />
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Putting the bit on the forearm is as close as we can get to the horses bars in on our body, the bones have only a thin layer of skin over them, just as the bars themselves only have a thin mucosa over the thin and sharp edge.<br />
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Those who dared to try the gadget in front of the group had a range in pressure from 15 kg to 600 g.<br />
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She who held her mighty strong horse with 15 kg in the reins found it difficult to lean into the bit with the equivalent weight because of the pain she felt in her arms.<br />
This is perhaps not an exact scientific method, but it gave palpable knowledge to each rider and groom! Please read a previous post on the blog about <a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2010/12/out-of-scale.html" target="_blank">pressure on the bit</a>. <br />
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I want to remind you of the importance of avoiding bringing your hands backwards when you hold the reins in riding or driving (more difficult to completely avoid in the latter case) and if you do have to take your hands backward REMEMBER to ease off!<br />
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Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04601845946855705234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757245623563838698.post-7955451156911794992012-10-11T15:20:00.000+02:002012-10-25T15:58:00.880+02:00More hands The hands theme continues. A rider's hands are expected to have many qualities, it should be soft, sensitive, quiet, offering horse support and much more.<br />
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Many of these qualities, can be impoved off the saddle and in third posting I'd like to give you some ideas of how you can train your perception of and in your hands. The basic idea of the Alexander Technique is that anything you are unaware of, you can not improve, and awareness is aided by the ability to percieve.<br />
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By taking a few moments each day to pay attention to what your hands are doing and how they do will refine your perception.<br />
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Take time to notice how what you are holding in your hand feels; its weight, texture, temperature. When you let your hands stroke the horse, notice how the hair, muscles underneath the skin feels and you try to register any temperature difference on the surface.<br />
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A good opportunity to exercise, that many of us have every day (and I am at right now), is when our fingers and hands move across a keyboard. How hard do your fingers press on the keys? Or when you hold a pencil, how hard do you have to hold it to write?<br />
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Become an explorer in yourself, experiment! If you can do something with a certain force, try to do it with half as much power next time. Be easier in that you do!</div>
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Take the time to rest your hand against your thigh when the opportunity arises. Avoid pressing down on the thigh, just rest your hand, that in itself encourages relaxation and is a very soft stretch of the hand muscles.Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04601845946855705234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757245623563838698.post-32461495398978111902012-09-28T10:21:00.000+02:002012-09-28T10:21:02.296+02:00The HandWelcome to a "the day after" blog. Yesterday I came home at 7:00 am after a driving the entire night from Svärdsjö in Dalarna. Together with three other northeners, I have been on a five day hoof clinic with KC LaPierre and it gave lot of new input to be processed. I slept all day...<br />
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Today's post will be about our front hoof - the hand. Our hand plays a big role in our daily dialogue with the horse. We inspect the horse with our hands, we stroke it, it holds the brushes we use when grooming, it lifts the horse's legs, it holds the reins and much, much more.<br />
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I would like to hand out some tips on how we can improve our use of the hands to make the dialogue with the horse more nuanced. The hand, which I described earlier in the post <a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/04/hand-is-dominating.html" target="_blank">The hand is dominating</a>, occupies a large part of the brain's sensory and motoric centers. It has an amazing ability to develop fine tuned skills and sensitivity. All we need is to engage in deliberate practice.<br />
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These are three experiments for you to play with<br />
1, Take a straw from the horse's tail or mane, put it under a page in the telephone directory. Look out in the room and let your finger cross out the page and feel hair through the paper. Add on another page, feel again. Add on another page, and another. Do this until you no longer think you can feel the hair. Then touch lightly, lightly over the paper. Can you perceive the hair?<br />
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2, Develop touch<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WPcAsLa5Pv0/UGVbVQAkFmI/AAAAAAAAAM4/Obnau8KGGNc/s1600/hand1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WPcAsLa5Pv0/UGVbVQAkFmI/AAAAAAAAAM4/Obnau8KGGNc/s320/hand1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Take an ordinary A5 envelope and hold it between your thumb and other fingers. Let the fingers "pads" rest on the envelope. Does the envelope bend? How much do you need to hold to keep to the envelope between your fingers? Can you walk with the envelope still between your fingers? Once you find a light touch you can try to replace the envelope with a paper folder, it is a bit heavier but keep your efforts as light as possible to hold the folder between the fingers.<br />
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3, Tip touch<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--LQ4mJOosRQ/UGVc1-l7XRI/AAAAAAAAANA/QfEifjaeQFk/s1600/hand2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--LQ4mJOosRQ/UGVc1-l7XRI/AAAAAAAAANA/QfEifjaeQFk/s320/hand2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Let the envelope rest on your fingertips, with all fingers in contact with the envelope. It can feel like it tightens in the hand. Breathe and let your fingers find their way up towards the envelope. Inhibition, to say no to any attempt to force your fingers into contact with the envelope. Direction, to know that you want your fingertips to have contact with the envelope.<br />
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Good luck!Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04601845946855705234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757245623563838698.post-77169311998551383082012-09-13T15:45:00.003+02:002012-09-13T15:50:14.247+02:00The work on the wooden horse<span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Välkomna till blogghösten 2012.">Welcome to the blog autumn 2012. </span><span title="Som Lena skrev förra veckan ska hon ägna hösten åt sin uppsats och när den är klar kommer hon att bli en ännu bättre pedagog ute på ridbanorna.">As
Lena wrote last week, she will spend the fall writing her essay, and when
it is ready, she will become an even better teacher out on riding arenas. </span><span title="Här hos mig har sommarlovet tagit slut och "arbetsårets rutiner" har börjat finna sin form.">At my home, summer vacation is over and "regular routines" have started to find their form. </span><span title="Det är vemodigt och skönt på samma gång!">It is both sad and a relief at the same time! </span><span title="Med det sagt övergår jag till dagens inlägg - arbete på trähästen.">With that said, I turn to today's post - work on the wooden horse.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="En viktigt del i Alexanderteknikens utbildning av ryttare är arbetet i sadel på en trähäst.">An important part of Alexander Technique training for riders is the work in the saddle on a wooden horse. </span><span title="Ursprungligen utvecklades proceduren på 60-talet för att hjälpa en AT-lärare som efter en höftskada ville återuppta ridningen.">Originally the procedure was </span></span><span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Ursprungligen utvecklades proceduren på 60-talet för att hjälpa en AT-lärare som efter en höftskada ville återuppta ridningen.">developed </span></span><span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Ursprungligen utvecklades proceduren på 60-talet för att hjälpa en AT-lärare som efter en höftskada ville återuppta ridningen.">in the 60's to help an AT teacher who had had a hip injury and wanted to resume riding. </span><span title="För att förbereda kroppen, muskler och höftleder, för att sitta i sadeln igen satte man upp sadeln på en specialsnickrad träbock, det som idag kallas trähästen.">In
order to prepare the body, muscles and hip joints, to sit in the saddle
again the saddle was placed on a specially built "wooden horse".</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Som ryttare finns det massor av information att hämta från en lektion på trähästen.">As a rider, there is plenty of information to retrieve from a lesson on the wooden horse. </span><span title="Sadeln är en kontaktyta mellan häst och ryttare.">The saddle is one contact point between horse and rider. </span><span title="Sitsen på sadeln ska passa ryttarens rumpa.">The seat of the saddle should fit the rider. </span><span title="Får man som ryttare ont av sadeln så påverkar det ridningen negativt!">If the rider is hurting while in the saddle that affects the riding negatively! </span><span title="Eftersom trähästen står stilla och är rak kan finns det mer att lära om sin sits; sitter ryttaren snett, roterat, skevt, framåt- eller bakåtlutad.">Since
the wooden horse stands still and is both level and straight, there is more for the rider to learn
about his/her seat; is the rider crooked, rotated, skewed, leaning forward or
backward. </span><span title="Allt sådant är det möjligt att utforska i lugn och ro på trähästen.">All that is possible to explore in peace and quiet on the wooden horse.</span><span title="Genom att jag lyfter benen, roterar lårbenet i höftleden får ryttaren en känlsa för hur "väl" kroppen fungerar och om det skiljer i rörlighet/rörelsekvalitet mellan höger respektive vänster sida - något som det ofta gör!"> </span></span><br />
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<span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Genom att jag lyfter benen, roterar lårbenet i höftleden får ryttaren en känlsa för hur "väl" kroppen fungerar och om det skiljer i rörlighet/rörelsekvalitet mellan höger respektive vänster sida - något som det ofta gör!">As I lift a leg, rotate the femur in the hip joint rider gets a feeling of how "well" the body works and how if it differs in the quality of mobility and movement between left and right leg - and it often does!</span></span><br />
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<span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Det går också bra att rida på trähästen!">It is also possible to ride the wooden horse! </span><span title="En ryttare kan till exempel rygga sin häst och då kan jag se om hästen ryggar rakt bakåt eller om ryttaren vrider sig i hjälpgivningen och alltså får en häst som ryggare snett bakåt.">A
rider can, for example, give the aids for reing back, and I can see if the
horse back straight up, or if the rider somehow gets twisted when giving aids and
thus get the horse to move off to one side as it is backing up. The rider can give the aids for canter, shoulder in, haunches out, turns</span><span title="Galoppfattningar, halt, sidvärtrörelser - allt går att träna (med reservation för lättridning i trav...det är trähästen för stilla för)."> - everything is going to educate the rider
(but to do posted trot on a wooden horse is difficult...)</span><span title="Arbetet på trähästen syftar till att träna ryttarens perceptionsförmåga, det vill säga förmågan att kunna avläsa vad som händer i den egna kroppen, att bli bekant med de vanor som finns etablerade i kroppen och att få verktyg för att medvetet kunna arbeta med att förbättra det som"> </span></span><br />
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<span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Arbetet på trähästen syftar till att träna ryttarens perceptionsförmåga, det vill säga förmågan att kunna avläsa vad som händer i den egna kroppen, att bli bekant med de vanor som finns etablerade i kroppen och att få verktyg för att medvetet kunna arbeta med att förbättra det som">Work
on the wooden horse is designed to train the riders perception, ie, the ability
to read what is happening in their own bodies, to become familiar with
the habits that are established in the body and to get tools to
consciously work to improve what </span><span title="kanske lägger hinder i vägen för god ridning.">might stand in the way of good riding.</span></span><br />
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<span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="På trähästen kan jag även hjälpa ryttaren att utveckla sin ryttarhand genom att helt enkelt arbeta med tyglar.">On the wooden horse, I can also help the rider to develop their hand by simply working with the reins. </span><span title="En stilla hand är helt beroende av en rörlig arm och det får bli temat för nästa blogg!">A gentle hand is entirely dependent on a movable arm and it will be the theme for the next blog!</span></span>Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04601845946855705234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757245623563838698.post-25937278264959107002012-09-06T08:49:00.000+02:002012-09-06T08:50:08.137+02:00The autumn of 2012<br />
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear
readers,</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the
summer here in Sweden is slowly turning into autumn. There will be some
changes here on the blog since I'm taking a time out from writing
here on the blog in order to finish my masters thesis about how to
teach riding. Both me and my supervisor thinks it can be a very good
thesis but I need time to write it. Maria will however continue to
write every other week so stay tuned!</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I
would also like to take this opertuinuty to intive you all to the
first <a href="http://www.ekipage-1.se/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58:morgondemo&catid=1:sidor">Morning demonstration</a> held by me and my fellow
instructor-student of Ecole de Légèreté Sweden on September 29.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hope
you have a wonderful autumn and see you again next year!</span></div>
Lenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112475408539777394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757245623563838698.post-2892108563052741632012-06-14T07:22:00.000+02:002012-06-14T07:22:52.250+02:00Table of contents and reader's companion<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Maria and I have been posting a blog
entry every week for a over two years straight. That means that
there are over 100 blog entries! This summer we have decided to take
a break from writing here on the blog. Rest assured we will be back
again at the end of August.</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In order to give you, our devoted
followers, something to read until then, I have prepared a table of
contents, or if you will a reader's companion. I have grouped a selection of the
existing entries into categories and suggested an order for
re-reading the entries. Remember, repetition is the mother of all
knowledge!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This reader's companion is also helpful
to any new readers to get started with reading all the great material
already collected here on this blog.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This table of contents does not include
all entries. I have focused on the entries concerning the nature and
biomechanics of the horse, as well as the training of the horse and
the rider. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Overall introduction</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2010/06/3-p-perception-position-precision.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3 P: perception, position, precision</span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Nature of the horse: his mind and
anatomy</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2010/10/horses-nature-and-leadership.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Horse's nature and leadership</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2010/11/leadership-something-to-strive-for-or.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Leadership, something to strive for?</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Is the horse's personality changed
through training? <a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2012/01/is-horses-personality-changed-through.html"><span style="color: #444444;">Part 1</span></a>, <a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2012/02/is-horses-personality-changed-through.html"><span style="color: #444444;">part 2</span></a> and <a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2012/02/is-horses-personality-changed-through_23.html"><span style="color: #444444;">part 3</span></a></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2010/08/ises-2010-to-objectively-measure.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Objectively measuring the welfare ofhorses</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/09/natural-crookedness.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Natural crookedness</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/09/notes-from-lessons-with-craig-stevens.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Notes from lessonswith Craig Stevens, part 2</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2012/05/myth-of-overall-bend.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The myth of overall bend</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/04/horses-walk.html"><span style="color: #444444;">The horse's walk</span></a> (video)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">History</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2010/12/classical-riding.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Classical riding</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/06/klas-adam-ehrengranat-father-of-swedish.html"><span style="color: #444444;">Klas Adam Ehrengranat</span></a> (1751-1842)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rider training</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Training the physical body of the
rider</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2012/03/about-effective-seat-training.html"><span style="color: #444444;">Seat training</span></a> (video)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2010/11/its-all-in-head.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's all in the head</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.com/2011/08/rest-to-stretch.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A rest to stretch</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.com/2011/01/self-carriage-and-responsibility-ii.html"><span style="color: #444444;">Self carriage and responsibility</span></a>, part
2</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.com/2011/04/place-your-bones-carefully.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Place your bones carefully</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.com/2010/12/seat-that-swings.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A seat that swings</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.com/2011/05/position-direction-balance-suppleness.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The ability to follow</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A connected leg. <span style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.com/2012/01/connected-leg.html"><span style="color: #444444;">Part 1</span></a>, <a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.com/2012/01/connected-leg-2.html"><span style="color: #444444;">part 2</span></a> and <a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.com/2012/02/connected-leg-bottom-line.html"><span style="color: #444444;">part 3</span></a></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.com/2012/05/inhibition.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Inhibition</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.com/2010/09/side-reins-for-riders-not-good-idea.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Side reins for riders. NOT a good idea</span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Schooling the eye and the mind of
the rider</span></i></div>
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<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/07/neck-extension.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Directed perception</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/06/1949-overbent.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1949: overbent</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.com/2010/10/details-are-important-but-what-details.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Details are important, but whatdetails?</span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Training the attitude of the rider</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.com/2011/08/training-to-be-good-leader-six-keys-to.html"><span style="color: #444444;">Training to be a good leader: Six keysto harmony</span></a> (video)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.com/2010/11/leadership-emotional-balance.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Leadership = emotional balance?</span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Horse training</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.com/2011/01/characteristics-of-schooled-horse.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Characteristics of a schooled horse</span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Educating the mind of the horse </i>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2010/09/train-confidence-and-independence.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Train confidenceand independence</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2010/12/self-carriage-and-responsibility.html"><span style="color: #444444;">Self carriage andresponsibility</span></a>, part 1</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/02/figure-eight.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The figure of eight</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Educating the body of the horse</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2010/06/walk-mother-of-all-gaits.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The walk – the mother of all gaits</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/07/philippe-karls-training-chart.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Training chart School of Légèreté</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2012/05/rein-back-to-do-or-not-to-do.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Flexions</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/02/horses-mouth-cession-de-machoire.html"><span style="color: #444444;">The horse's mouth: cession de mâchoir</span></a>
(yielding the jaw)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2010/07/made-mouth.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A made mouth</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/03/resistance-of-force-and-weight.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Resistance of force and weight</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/12/combing-reins.html"><span style="color: #444444;">Combing the reins</span></a> (video)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/03/perception-of-position-of-horses-neck.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Perception of the position of thehorse's neck – too high, too low, or just right?</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/06/elevation-of-horses-neck.html"><span style="color: #444444;">Elevation of the horse's neck</span></a> (video)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/07/neck-extension.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Neck extension</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2012/05/rein-back-to-do-or-not-to-do.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The rein back</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/05/counted-walk.html"><span style="color: #444444;">The counted walk</span></a>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/11/videos-of-shoulder-in.html"><span style="color: #444444;">The shoulder in</span></a> (videos)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/12/leg-yield-vs-shoulder-in.html"><span style="color: #444444;">Shoulder in VS. leg yield: definition</span></a>
(videos)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/11/travers-renvers-and-half-pass-but.html"><span style="color: #444444;">Travers, renvers and half pass</span></a> (video)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2012/01/improve-canter-departs.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Improve canter departs</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Miscellaneous</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2010/12/science-comparison-of-methods-for.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Scientific comparison of methods for training</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/05/ldr-necessary-gymnastic-or-unnecessary.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">LDR, necessary gymnastics orunnecessary abuse? </span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Classical riding, how to</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/08/notes-from-lessons-with-craig-stevens.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Notes from lessonswith Craig Stevens, part 1</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/01/only-one-aid-at-time.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Only one aid atthe time?</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/04/riders-hand-primary-aid.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The rider´s handthe primary aid?</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/04/hand-is-dominating.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The hand isdominating</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2012/04/least-amount-of-wrong-or-as-much-right.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The least amountof wrong or as much right as possible?</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2010/07/how-to-use-hand.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How to use thehand</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2010/06/hand-is-primary-aid.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The hand is theprimary aid, the reversed half halt</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/10/curb-or-no-curb.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Curb or no curb?</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/10/inside-or-outside-rein.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Inside or outsiderein?</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/12/leg-yield-and-shoulder-in-part-2-aids.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Leg yield andshoulder in: the aids</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One example:
Hagens Yeats</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2012/03/picture-says-more-than-athousand-words.html"><span style="color: #444444;">Hagens Yeats 2008-2011</span></a> (video)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2012/04/classical-riding-video-part-1.html"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Example of practical lesson inclassical riding</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thanks to Mark Stanton of <a href="http://horsemanshipmagazine.co.uk/" target="_blank">Horsemanship Magazine</a> for proof reading!</span>
</div>Lenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112475408539777394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757245623563838698.post-511464509265316682012-06-08T16:26:00.000+02:002012-06-08T16:26:27.818+02:00New entry next week<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Dear readers, some nasty germs have taken residens in Maria's throat this week and made her very sick and in need of antibiotics, plenty of sleep and fluids. This means there is no blog this week.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Lenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112475408539777394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757245623563838698.post-40289033643913735562012-05-31T06:19:00.001+02:002012-05-31T06:19:46.432+02:00The myth of overall bend<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Bend your horse around your inside
leg”. I'm sure you have heard this countless times, just as I have.
What your instructor has asked of you is to bend your horse evenly
from nose to tail around your inside leg.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Overall bend in the horse is explained
as follows, according to official theory:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“The term 'overall bend' is used when
a horse is bent throughout its whole longitudinal axis, the whole
length of its spine.” (The Principles of Riding, page 88).</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On the same page the explanation
continues:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“A rider must avoid asking for too
much bend of the head and the neck and must focus on correct costal
flexion around his inside leg”.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There is, however, one major point
missing in the official theory and that is the anatomy of the horse's
spine. As explained in Twisted Truths Of Modern Dressage by Philippe
Karl, most
parts of the horse's spine have a very limited capacity for lateral
bending. Specifically:</span></div>
<ol>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the five sacral vertebrae are
welded together (the sacrum) = no lateral bending</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the parts of the spine that make
up the withers are strongly linked together by supra-spinal
ligaments connecting the spinal apophyses, and also each vertebra
are linked to the sternum via the sternal ribs = no lateral bending</span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There are few examples of photos
showing a bird's eye view of horses performing a circle, volte or
lateral movements in which, according to the official theory, the
horse should have an equal overall bend from nose to tail. There are,
however, photos of Harry Boldt, a German dressage rider and Olympic
gold medal winner in the 60's and 70's, showing shoulder in where you
can clearly see that the horse's spine is straight between the tail
and the withers. Only the neck is bent, creating the movement we call
shoulder in (photo from <a href="http://www.artisticdressage.com/boldt-photos.html" target="_blank">www.artisticdressage.com</a>).</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SB0L5i72qKg/T8bvsnHCDXI/AAAAAAAAAvI/OjOKlNrKPuM/s1600/boldt+shoulder+in.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SB0L5i72qKg/T8bvsnHCDXI/AAAAAAAAAvI/OjOKlNrKPuM/s320/boldt+shoulder+in.jpg" width="215" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So what can I as a rider know for sure
when riding a horse on a circle?</span></div>
<ol>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I can know in what direction the
horse is looking (into the circle or to the outside) or if the horse
is straight in the neck.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I can know if the horse is
“falling” in the direction of motion by overloading the inside
front leg (usually the horse turns faster and tighter than you asked
for if this is the case)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I can know if the horse is
“falling” to the outside by overloading the outside front leg
(usually when this is the case the horse will bend more in the neck
than you asked for)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I can know if the horse's croup is
to the inside (the horse's hind feel are moving on a smaller circle
than the front feet)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I can know if the horse's croup is
to the outside (the horse's hind feet are moving on a larger circle
than the front feet).</span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In my experience none of these
problems can be solved by the rider simply pushing more with the
inside leg. More efficient solutions require noticing the causes of
deviations from the ideal:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> 1 has to do with how well the horse
follows the bit (<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2012/05/flexions.html">flexions</a>)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2 and 3 have to do with where the horse
has its weight and how you as the rider influence the weight
distribution by the correct use of your hand (<a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2010/07/how-to-use-hand.html">direct and indirect rein</a>, and <a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/02/figure-eight.html">figure 8</a>).</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4 and 5 have to do with a combination
of how well the horse follows the bit (#1), if the horse can maintain
a desired weight distribution (2 and 3) as well as if the horse
can maintain an equal use of both hind legs.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When you have educated your <a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2010/07/made-mouth.html">horse's mouth</a> so that she stays
light in hand with an equal contact on both reins and moves on the
circle without increasing or decreasing it and maintains an equal use
of both hind legs, I would suggest it then feels like the horse is
bent around your inside leg. This feeling is a result of a correctly
working horse, but not the way to get there.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thanks to Mark Stanton of <a href="http://horsemanshipmagazine.co.uk/" target="_blank">Horsemanship Magazine</a> for proof reading!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>Lenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112475408539777394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-757245623563838698.post-75474606556186766802012-05-23T13:53:00.002+02:002012-05-23T14:01:05.836+02:00Bone-Tendon circumferenceA question in the Swedish blog in regard to <a href="http://thequestforequipoise.blogspot.se/2011/07/bone-tendon-circumference-indicates.html" target="_blank">Bone-Tendon circumference</a> (BT-C) has brought about this posting - how do you go about calculating the load the horse has to carry?<br />
<br />
The pressure that the horse's legs are subjected to consists of its own weight, the rider's weight and the weight of equipment and should really be expressed as kg/square centimeter or pounds/square inch. The formula used in this case to estimate the weight the horse has to carry on his forelegs creates a relationship between weight and BT-C. (A way to construct a more handy mathematic formula that may not fully follow ingeneering standards and recommendations.)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.gaitedhorses.net/Articles/HRiderGuide.shtml" target="_blank">total weight / (BT-C x 2)</a><br />
<br />
The way to go is as follows<br />
<ol>
<li>Sum up the weight of tha horse, rider and equipment. </li>
<li>Measure the TB-C just below the carpus. You can, if you want take measures from both front legs, divide by to ang get the average BT-C for your horse.</li>
<li>Divide the total weight by the BT-C.</li>
<li>Divide the sum from paragraph 3 with 2.</li>
</ol>
The guideline is a sliding scale where below or close to 13.4 kg /cm (75 p/inch) is good and up to 14.3 kg cm (80 p/inch) is acceptable but when it approaches and exceeds 15.2 kg /cm (85 p/inch), you have to be observant of the increased risk of injury.<br />
<br />
This is to give a guideline to the rider, but should not be seen as a simple truth! On a long term basis you might be able to increse BT-C by low impact training. The weight can be adjusted. Some extra pounds on horse and /or rider can be dealt with, the equipment may be changed. The horse's conformation, hoof size and status, the work they are expected to perform a number of other factors also matter - and it is important to remember that.<br />
<br />
<div>
</div>
The U.S. Cavalry's own measurements from the 20's and a study by the <a href="http://www.ker.com/library/EquineReview/2008/ScienceUpdate/SU41.pdf" target="_blank">Kentucky Equine Research (2008)</a> focused on how horses respond to load verifies the conclusion made by the cavalry, a horse should carry a maximum of 20% of its body weight. (NB: a measure calculated with the assumpion that the horse is not obese)<br />
<br />
And a quotation that summon the upcoming summer in Sweden.<br />
<br />
"Horses make a landscape look beautiful."<br />
Alice Walker<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
</div>
<br />Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04601845946855705234noreply@blogger.com0