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The modern day image of dressage is to produce
a horse that moves in a collected and rounded outline, performing
intricate movements
with accuracy and precision. Sometimes in order to reduce
training times this image is produced by using equipment or 'gadgets',
used to bring the horse's head down, to give the required
head
carriage.
However, some of these horses will become over-bent at the
poll giving a head position behind the vertical.
By setting his head
in this position
it will result in tight muscles in the poll and upper neck,
which extend down to the lower neck and shoulders. Consequently,
stiffness
in the shoulders will develop, causing a restriction in the
movement of the forelimbs. This is compounded by the fact that
a lot of
dressage horses are not encouraged to perform enough work "long
and low" to
stretch through the topline muscles before bringing them into
their collected outline.
In addition, the corners around the
dressage arena can be very tight for the larger horses, particularly
coming down
the centreline,
encouraging them to fall in. This causes subsequent stiffness
to
develop in the
neck, shoulders and behind the saddle, from having to balance
their own weight with the rider. This can also extend into
tension developing
in the tail region, which is also used to help balance the
horse around corners, and is exacerbated by soft ground such
as grass
surfaces
compared with the all-weather surfaces now more widely used.
In the early stages of training Chiropractic
would be helpful if the horse finds difficulty working in straight
lines;
not striking
off on the correct lead leg at canter, or is having problems
undertaking lateral work. Advanced dressage movements such
as canter pirouettes;
will increase the engagement of the hindquarters and so
put
more strain onto the lumbar region - chiropractic will help
reduce
this.
It is also common to find that a pelvic problem
which develops from the horse not working evenly behind, will cause
an
effect in the
diagonally opposite shoulder and poll. In addition, the
introduction of lateral
work will cause the shoulders to begin to develop and
may lead to the saddle becoming too narrow at the withers. Consequently,
with
the additional weight of the rider, the saddle will become
tilted
backwards and cause tension to build up in the Lumbar
region,
directly behind it.
It is therefore essential that a reputable
saddler regularly checks the saddle, and the panel stuffing altered
as the
horse develops
his topline in response to the work being given.
The dressage saddle is generally flatter than for other
disciplines and has a larger weight-bearing surface
in contact with the
horse's back, which will make the weight distribution
of the rider more
comfortable for the horse.
However, an unbalanced rider
with a dropped shoulder
or collapsed hip will cause the horse to become stiff
or unlevel itself over time, in an effort to compensate
for
his rider.
It is therefore
essential that both horse and rider are checked at the
same time, to prevent problems in the horse recurring.
In addition to the range of musculo-skeletal problems
they develop, dressage horses are prone to suffer joint
rather
than tendon
problems, especially in the hindleg joints and hocks,
as the horse is asked
for increased engagement. Dressage horses will benefit
greatly from regular treatment by a Chiropractor
during
training to
keep the body equally balanced as the muscles develop.
As
the horse is asked for more advanced movements in dressage, tension
and crookedness can develop so it
is essential
to keep the horse
regularly checked by a chiropractor (probably every
three to six months) Also,
with advanced movements the horse will tighten in
the area behind the saddle to compensate for stresses in
the hocks
and fetlocks
of the hindlegs. It is essential to start and finish
sessions "long
and low" to stretch the muscles of the topline,
and allow correct warming up and cooling down of the
muscles.
Chiropractic
for both horse and rider will allow them both to perform
to their full potential.
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