Fitness Evaluation of the Horse , livre ebook

Fitness Evaluation of the Horse
Jean-Pierre Hourdebaigt, LMT
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Copyright 2008 by Jean-Pierre Hourdebaigt. All rights reserved.
Howell Book House
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Hourdebaigt, Jean-Pierre.
Fitness evaluation of the horse / Jean-Pierre Hourdebaigt.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 978-0-470-19229-0 (alk. paper)
1. Horsemanship. 2. Horses-Training. 3. Physical fitness. I.Title.
SF309.H684 2008
636.1 '3-dc22
2007044695
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Book design by Erin Zeltner
Cover design by Jos Almaguer
Book production by Wiley Publishing, Inc. Composition Services
C ONTENTS
List of Figures
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Anatomical Terms
Introduction
Part I: Preparation
l. Palpation Skills
Touch
The Four T s
Pressure, Contact, and Rhythm
Attitude
Observation
Recognizing Signs of Inflammation
Summary
2. Massage Awareness for Your Palpation Evaluation
Massage Movements
Stroking
Effleurage
Wringing Up
Kneading
Skin Rolling
Friction
The SEW/WES Approach
Summary
3. The Relaxation Massage Routine
Relaxation Massage Routine
Poll Work
Back Work
Sacrum Work
Tail Work
Summary
4 . Stretching
How to Stretch
The Easy Stretch
The Deeper Stretch
The Spontaneous Stretch
The Foreleg Stretches
The Shoulder Rotation
The Hind Leg Stretches
The Back Muscles Stretches
The Tail Stretch
Neck Stretches
Summary
5. Anatomical Review
Dentition
The Skeleton
The Axial Skeleton
The Appendicular Skeleton
Spinal Subluxation
Ligaments and Joints of the Horse
The Equine Muscular System
Muscles
Tendons
Trigger Points
Stress Points
Summary
6. Conformation and Stances Evaluation
Conformation
Front-Leg Conformation
Hind-Leg Conformation
Horse Stances
Weight Distribution Evaluation
Summary
Part II: The Riding Evaluation Program (REP)
The Arena
The Normal Gait
Praising
New Horse
The Horse s Demeanor
Relaxing Your Horse
Proper Tack
Self-Scrutiny
7 . The REP Starting Point
Contact
Being Square
Stepping Backward
Impulsion
Rhythm
Is Your Horse Jigging at Walk?
Inside-Outside
Straightness
Straightness in Turns
Collection
Stretching the Neck During the REP
8. Signs of Problems with Your Horse
Back Problems
Difficulty in Engaging the Hindquarters
Head Tossing
Neck Problems
Refusal to Pick up a Canter
Taking the Bit
9. The Riding Evaluation Program (REP) Exercises
Exercise 1: Straight Lines
Exercise 2: Half Circles and Figure-8s
Exercise 3: Serpentines
Exercise 4: Lateral Work with Leg Yield
Exercise 5: Lateral Work with Shoulder-in
10. The Walk
The Natural Walk
Reading Your Tracks
Curve
Walk Variations
The Medium Walk
The Collected Walk
The Extended Walk
The Walk Leg Yield Exercise
The Shoulder-in Exercise
Transitions
Walk-Halt Transition
Walk-Trot Transition
Walk-Canter Transition
11 . The Trot
The Natural Trot
The Rising Trot
The Sitting Trot
Trot Variations
The Lengthened Trot
The Collected Trot
The Medium Trot
The Extended Trot
The Trot Leg Yield Exercise
The Trot Shoulder-in Exercise
Trot Transitions
Trot-Walk Transition
Trot-Halt Transition
Trot-Canter Transition
12. The Canter
The Natural Canter
Canter Variations
The Working Canter
The Lengthened Canter
The Collected Canter
The Medium Canter
The Extended Canter
Canter Transitions
The Canter-Trot Transition
Canter-Walk Transition
Canter-Halt Transition
13. More Advanced Riding and Jumping
The Haunches-in (Travers) Exercise
The Haunches-out (Renvers) Exercise
The Turning on the Forehand Exercise
The Turning on the Haunches Exercise
Cavallettis and Jumps
Cavallettis
14. The REP Routine
First Part: The Walk
Second Part: The Trot
Third Part: The Canter
Fourth Part: Advanced Riding and Jumping
Conclusion
Part III: The Palpation Evaluation Program (PEP)
15. The 25-Point Program
Early Practice
Recommendations about the PEP
Patience
Praising
Treats
Choosing a Location
Positioning the Horse
The Horse s Feedback
Touch-Shyness
PEP Application: Before or after Exercising?
Time Factor
Contraindications
16. The Head and Neck: Points 1 to 5
Point 1: Dental Examination
Point 2: The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)
Checking the Opening of the Mouth
Point 3: The Upper Neck
Palpating the Upper Neck
Point 4: The Midneck
Palpating the Midneck
Point 5: The Lower Neck
Palpating the Lower Neck
Associated Stress Points of the Neck
Stretching the Neck
17. The Back: Points 6 to 12
Point 6: The Withers
Point 7: The Rest of the Thoracic Spine
Point 8: The Rib Cage
Point 9: The Lumbar Spine
Point 10: The Sacrum
Point 11: The Tail
Point 12: The Hip
Pelvis Misalignment
Pelvis Tilt
Unilateral and Bilateral Hip Misalignment
Stress Points
Stretching the Back
18 . The Forelimb: Points 13 to 19
Leg Conformation
Point 13: The Shoulder Blade
The Shoulder Girdle Muscles
The Scapular Muscles
Point 14: The Point of Shoulder
Point 15: The Elbow
Point 16: The Knee Joint
Point 17: The Canon Bone, the Suspensory Ligament, and the Flexor Tendon
Point 18: The Fetlock
Point 19: The Pastern Bones and Hoof
The Hoof
Stretching the Foreleg
Associated Stress Points
19. The Hind Limb: Points 20 to 25
Point 20: The Coxofemoral Joint
Point 21: The Stifle Joint
Point 22: The Hock Joint
Fetlock, Pastern, and Digit of the Hind Limb
Point 23: The Suspensory Ligament and the Flexor Tendon
Point 24: The Fetlock
Point 25: The Pastern Bones and Hoof
Stretching the Hind Leg
Associated Stress Points
20. Recap from the PEP
Conclusion
Index
L IST OF F IGURES
2.1 Stroking Massage Movement
2.2 Effleurage Massage Movement
2.3 Wringing Up Movement
2.4 Petrissage: Kneading Movement
2.5 Skin Rolling Movement
2.6 Thumb Friction Movement
2.7 Hand Friction Movement
2.8 Double-Hand Friction Movement
3.1 Relaxation Massage Routine Outline, Short Version: (1) Poll Work, (2) Back Work, (3) Sacrum Work, (4) Tail Work
3.2 Poll Work
3.3 Back Work
3.4 Sacrum Work
3.5 Raising the Tail Movement
3.6 Question Mark Movement
3.7 Turning Tail Movement
3.8 Stretching the Tail Out
3.9 Squeezing Each Tail Vertebra
4.1 Foreleg Forward Easy Stretch
4.2 Foreleg Forward Deep Stretch
4.3 Foreleg Backward Easy Stretch
4.4 Foreleg Backward Deep Stretch
4.5 Shoulder Rotation Stretch
4.6 Shoulder Side Stretch
4.7 Hind Leg Forward Easy Stretch
4.8 Hind Leg Forward Deep Stretch
4.9 Hind Leg Backward Easy Stretch
4.10 Hind Leg Backward Deep Stretch
4.11 Hind Leg Transverse Stretch
4.12 Back Muscle Stretch from the Pectorals
4.13 Back Muscle Stretch from the Hinds
4.14 Raising the Tail Stretch
4.15 Question Mark Stretch
4.16 Tail Stretch
4.17 Lateral Neck Stretch to Point of Shoulder
4.18 Lateral Neck Stretch to Point of Hip
4.19 Lateral Neck Stretch, Midway
4.20 Neck Flexion Stretch
4.21 Neck Extension St