Human Horse and Hound Osteopathy

Announcement: I have made a few changes with my working hours and clinics.

I am now fully mobile 4 days a week!!

This gives me plenty more time to treat your lovely animals.

I will update the website and social media platforms over the next week or so.

Sending love and happiness your way 💗

Gut health is so important at the moment with the grass coming in fast. Know the signs 🧐

Spring watch 🌱🌱 Maintaining equine gut health is key to protecting your horse from disease and even shaping the behaviour of your horse 🐴 Please take a moment to read this article to support your spring watch that is on our blog page (direct link is on bio ⬆️) https://premierperformance.uk/blog/maintaining-equine-gut-health #premierperformancecz #guthealth #gastropremier #horsesupplements #happyhorses #gastricsupplement #springgrass #springwatch #gutfeeling #equine #equinelove

This is a very interesting post regarding the backing of youngsters and the importance of saddle fitting - enjoy! https://www.facebook.com/238905202843417/posts/4027153620685204/

CENTAUR BIOMECHANICS - BLOGS

**DOES SADDLE FIT MATTER FOR YOUNG HORSES?**



Generally, when starting the horse’s education (backing) there is little regard for the fit of the saddle. In most cases (not all), a saddle which appears to “reasonably” fit the young horses back is used – these saddles tend to be well used, and when not required, are placed at the back of the tack room, out of sight. It is important to appreciate that the unbacked horses back and soft tissues have never been exposed to the weight and dynamic forces created by the rider (and saddle). Therefore, if a saddle, which does not fit or distribute forces appropriately is used, the experience that the horse gets when first ridden, will vary considerably to the experience a horse has when ridden in a saddle which is fitted.

Although this may seem overzealous, we must not underestimate the compensatory strategies horses take. We and others have demonstrated the effect that incorrect saddle fit/design can have on saddle pressure distribution, back function, and locomotion. In the case of the young horse, who has not been exposed to the dynamic forces of the rider/saddle and the vertical load applied to its back, when ridden for the first time in a saddle which doesn’t fit, will create high pressures/restrict locomotion. It seems logical to expect, that the horse will develop a locomotor strategy to compensate to alleviate any discomfort caused.

In the case of the young horse, this strategy will be learnt immediately. It remains to be seen how this manifests itself over time. Our understanding on the effect that incorrect saddle fit has increased exponentially, therefore, applying the same principles, the young horse will develop a locomotor strategy (caused here by incorrect saddle fit), which may have been able to be prevented had a correctly fitted saddle been fitted.


Often people say, “I will invest in a saddle once the horse has fully matured”. The financial implications of buying a saddle for a young horse are fully appreciated, especially when horses mature and alter their body shape. Generally it is not viable to have a “made to measure” saddle for a young horse and then replace it as the horse matures and alters body shape.

With the advances of saddle design and technology, there are multiple options for horse owners for example, interchangeable gullet systems. Although the saddle must be professionally fitted, this type of system means that saddles can be fitted to young horses and then altered throughout the horse’s career.

Back related conditions in the horse are increasing which lead to a loss of athletic performance, injury, and lameness etc. Research is underway looking at saddle fitting in relation to young horses however, the question which remains to be answered (which will be in time to come), is does the locomotor compensatory strategy that the horse adopts at the beginning of its riding career cause locomotor asymmetries which can then lead to back / gait related conditions?

In summary – correct saddle fit for young horses is equally as important as correct saddle fit for the mature horse.

Please like / follow our page for more blogs and please share to raise awareness 😃

Dr. Russell MacKechnie-Guire
Centaur Biomechanics
www.centaurbiomechanics.co.uk

I love this page, they have such interesting posts! A recent one on stirrup length really rung true to me.

SHOULD WE RIDE WITH ODD STIRRUPS?

The answer to this may seem obvious however, sometimes riders are unaware that one stirrup is longer than the other and furthermore, riders (and trainers) may deliberately alter one stirrup as a possible solution to help “improve” the riders’ position or manage rider limb length differences.

In some cases, when rider’s ride on one rein they may feel more symmetrical than when riding on the other rein. On the rein where they feel less symmetrical, the rider would usually feedback that their seat/hips are consistently slipping out to one side. From a visual observation, when the rider is riding towards you, it may appear that the stirrups look equal and when riding towards you on the opposite rein, the outside stirrup may appear longer. This observation will generally coincide with the rider’s feedback that their seat/hips are displacing to the outside. At first glance, it may seem that the rider is putting increased weight in the outside stirrup due to it being “longer” which is causing the riders seat/hips to displace towards the side with the longer stirrup. Therefore, based on this visual observation, riders (and trainers) shorten the stirrup to make them appear visually “symmetrical”.

The key word used here is “appear”. What needs to be considered here is the position of the saddle. We (1) and others (2, 3) have demonstrated that saddle slip generally occurs on one rein as a result of the horse’s locomotor system. As saddle slip generally occurs on one rein, this will have a significant effect on the rider’s position. In the above scenario, with the saddle slipping to the outside, this will change the position of the stirrup bar (relative to the horse) which will give the appearance that the stirrup is longer on the side that the saddle has slipped towards, and the rider will follow the saddle causing them to displace their seat/hips (Image: Left rein). When on the other rein, as the saddle is “straight” the position will be improved (Image: Right rein).

In the above scenario (saddle slip right, right stirrup appears longer and riders seat displaced to the right), if the right stirrup is shortened this will compound the issue further as an element of rider asymmetry will be induced into the horse-rider system as a function of different stirrup lengths (4). When assessing stirrup length dynamically, it is important to assess the position of the saddle relative to the horse. This observation must be made from a rear viewpoint, with the horse/rider going away and must be performed on both the left and right rein and in all gaits (if appropriate). If the stirrups “appear” to be different because of saddle position, then initially this must be addressed with the qualified saddle fitter (and others). In the above case, riders and trainers should avoid the temptation to shorten one stirrup to resolve the issue as this is not addressing the fundamental reasoning i.e. why is the saddle slipping?

In addition to this, riders often report that they have one leg longer and then self-prescribe a plan to alter one stirrup. This will be addressed in a future blog, but caution should be taken over this, along with clarification from a specialist, confirming if the rider has an actual or functional limb length difference. In either case, it is imperative that riders seek clarification on this before altering stirrups, as for reasons outlined in previous blogs, riding with asymmetric stirrups will cause the horse to seek a locomotor compensation strategy to compensate.

So to answer the initial question, it is important that the length of the stirrup is equal and not asymmetrically altered to “correct’ saddle or rider position.

Check your stirrup leathers regularly to ensure that they are symmetrical and get someone to watch you ride away from a left and right rein approach.

Please like / follow our page for more blogs and please share to raise awareness 😃

Dr. Russell MacKechnie-Guire
Centaur Biomechanics
www.centaurbiomechanics.co.uk



1. Mackechnie-Guire R, Mackechnie-Guire, E., Fisher, M., Mathie, H., Bush, R., Pfau, T., Weller, R. Relationship between saddle and rider kinematics, horse locomotion and thoracolumbar pressures in sound horses. JEVS. 2018;69:43.52.
2. Greve L, Dyson SJ. An investigation of the relationship between hindlimb lameness and saddle slip. Equine Vet J. 2013;45(5):570-7.
3. Greve L, Dyson SJ. The interrelationship of lameness, saddle slip and back shape in the general sports horse population. Equine Vet J. 2014;46(6):687-94.
4. MacKechnie-Guire R, MacKechnie-Guire E, Fairfax V, Fisher M, Hargreaves S, Pfau T. The Effect That Induced Rider Asymmetry Has on Equine Locomotion and the Range of Motion of the Thoracolumbar Spine When Ridden in Rising Trot. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 2020;88:102946.

Human Horse and Hound Osteopathy

Hello all! I am now opening for bookings from the first week of JUNE (horse and dog consultations only).
Please check out my website: https://humanhorseandhoundosteopathy.wordpress.com for more information about what osteopathy is or head over to my Instagram page by searching hhhosteopathy. Thank you and stay safe everyone!

humanhorseandhoundosteopathy.wordpress.com Providing equine, canine and human osteopathic treatment in Berkshire and the surrounding areas [email protected]+447594773273 ABOUT OSTEOPATHY Osteopathy is a non-invasive, gentle and medicine free manual therapy. Osteopathy aims to treat a wide range of muscular and skeletal conditions. Releas...

This cheeky chap likes to lick car doors before treatment 🐴

Any animal or pet can suffer with aches and pains, just like us. Meet my 15 year old cat. I treat him every 6-8 weeks to reduce muscular tension and help keep his joints moving freely.

Message to book an appointment for your four legged friends whether that be due to injury or maintenance, each treatment is tailored to every individual.

🤓

One of my lovely doggie patients sleeping off his treatment! 😴

It’s very normal for a patient to feel tired and exhausted after for a day or two after treatment. This is because the body needs time to adjust, just the same as when you go to the gym and feel a bit sore afterwards. Message for more info/to book an appointment for yourself, dog or horse!

No horse too big! Although I’m a staggeringly tall 5ft 2, I am still able to treat majority of horses. As long as my hands can reach I can treat!! 🧐

Message me to make an appointment or check out my website (link in bio)

Happy New Year! 🥳



We hope you have a wonderful year and wish you all the happiness in the world 🌎

Keep following for more fun facts and info about osteopathy!
Check the website (link in bio) if you would like to book an appointment!

Horse riding ideal ratio of aids 🐎
Check out:
https://pkhorsemanship.com/articles/the-ideal-ratio-of-aids/ for more info.
A very interesting read.
If you notice your horse is no longer responding to the normal aids, osteopathy may be able to help.
Signs that might indicate discomfort:
- not leading with the correct canter lead when asked
- stumbling or tripping during riding
- imbalance which comes and goes
- shivering when putting the saddle on
- sudden behavioural changes on the ground and when ridden
Send me a message for more info or for an appointment!

There are over 700 muscles on your horse as apposed to only 300 in humans.
All these muscles must work together to maintain optimal health. Asymmetry or imbalance within the muscle groups can effect performance, stride length, and much more.
If you notice your horse is not performing as well as you would expect or is showing signs of discomfort. Get in touch. Osteopathy may be able to help!
www.humanhorseandhoundosteopathy.wordpress.com

South Wonston Farm

Did you know? 🤔

'Horses have a wider thermoneutral zone than humans. The thermoneutral zone is the temperature range where no energy is required to increase or decrease body temperature. A horse’s thermoneutral zone is between 0 and 25°C, whereas a human’s is between 20 and 30°C. This means that even if you’re feeling chilly, your horse might not be.' - Shires Equestrian ❄️

Did you know❓🤯 Most of our doggie friends need 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity a day. They need varied surfaces to exercise on to help keep their joints moving well and to stay healthy. Daily walking is good for us too!

If you notice your furry friend is reluctant to go on its normal daily walk this might be a sign of discomfort - check my website in the comments below for more details on how Osteopathy can help our furry friends!

💥WEBSITE💥 Take a look at the website for more details. Link in my bio, please get in contact for an appointment!!

www.humanhorseandhoundosteopathy.wordpress.com

Osteopathy is not just for people 🐴🐎🐶🐱.
Osteopathic treatment for animals can help with:
- pain relief
- reduced stiffness
- improved performance & mobility
- improvement in bad behaviour.
Check out the website for more info and to make a booking:
humahorseandhoundosteopathy.wordpress.com .

Human Horse and Hound Osteopathy's cover photo

Human Horse and Hound Osteopathy