Biometrics of Forwards Motion While Riding

By Shantel Perreal

Canadian Equine Therapy Institute

We all know that if we want our horses to be fit and sound, they need to have a proper training program to keep them healthy and happy for competition. Let’s walk through how that should look.

As we know, horses are built in a way that allows both forward and upward movement. To do so, they have a 5 way spring system.
Most people by now know that we have a horse that is built like a spring system, we have a 5 way spring. Let me explain that in detail.
If we begin by looking at the hind legs, the 1st set of springs starts at the ilium down to the hip and stifle and then follows through to the hock, fetlock, and into the hoof. This spring system is strong and works to hold the limb together like a universal joint (the pelvic girdle). Keep in mind there are two legs which means there are two springs.

The 2nd set of springs, or front springs, are in the shoulder and begin at the top of the scapula and follow down to the point of the shoulder then over to the elbow and down to the knee, fetlock, and then to the hoof. This spring system is held together by connective tissue and muscle; therefore, is lighter than the hind limb springs that are held together by the bones as well.

Our 5th or middle spring will travel the length of the horse starting from the tip of the tail to the tip of the nose. Beginning at the tail, the spring follows the topline of the horse from the croup over the spine, withers, neck, poll, and down to the nose. See attached picture for clarification. This spring works in conjunction with the other 4 springs to lift the back.

This 5-way spring system allows the horse to move freely, but does not compensate for activities such as weight baring or riding, yet these wonderful animals seem to love and forgive us for doing so.

If horses are not naturally designed to carry us and perform the daily tasks we ask of them, then how do we go about keeping them strong and fit? Before we can explore exercise options, it is important to fully understand this apparatus.

Many great trainers understand from an anatomical point of view how this 5 way spring system applies to their riding and should be approached, however, not everyone has access to educated trainers. Some trainers may not know what this means or how it should be carried out. We will explain this further.
The horses have 5 springs (2 front legs, 2 hind legs, and a spring attaching the 4 together) and so when we aim to ride them, what is the first thing we do? We put a saddle in the middle of that moving system and tightly cinch it down. This is where we need to be aware of how balanced and fitted our saddle really is. Saddle fit is VERY important and finding a TRAINED saddle fitter is key!

So now that we understand we are essentially riding a 5- way spring system where the hind springs are the strongest and most efficient, we can assume that the hind legs are designed for driving the horse forward. To do so, the hind limb must reach under the barrel of the horse towards the front limbs and lift the 5th spring along the topline. With a saddle and rider placed over that spring, it interferes with the ability of the horse to carry out such an action. Let me further explain how common riding scenarios inhibit the spring system from working.

While riding a horse, we place an average extra weight of 200lbs on the middle spring and depending on the discipline or scenario, squeeze our legs around the horse. Then we tighten our reins either pulling the horse’s nose closer to its chest or creating resistance causing the horse to throw its head up. If we look into the scenario where the rider has pulled the horse’s head up and keep in mind where we are sitting on the horse’s back, what would you infer will happen to the front spring located in the front legs? If you answer that the horse will brace, you are correct. So if the horse is bracing in the front two springs we are causing interference and compensation within the front limb muscle structures. What does that mean? Well, if I get you to take a dumbbell and put it on the back of your head and ask you to lift your head you will start to develop muscle on your lower neck and shoulders. This is essentially what happens to your horse. The horse’s back begins to hollow and weaken and then it starts to rotate the back springs forward. Now those back springs can no longer stretch to the front nor are they as strong. This means the impulsion must now come from the front. So again the 2 springs in the front begin to get larger. This is all wrong. As discussed earlier, the back two springs need to be the strongest and be the driving force of the horse. They have a universal joint with it being the pelvis and hip all connected. The muscles connecting the springs allows the lift in the back to begin at the back two springs at the universal joint apparatus. When these muscles contract they shorten, hence the lifting the back. Riding a horse inverted with its head up disrupts the entire function of the horse just as riding the horse over flexed with its nose to its chest can.

Ok, so that is the horse being ridden with the head up. Now, lets look at the horse the head down and with the nose too close to the chest.

A horse is not designed to be ridden with its head in the sky or to its chest. How does an over flexed neck disrupt the normal movement of a horse? If the driving force of the horse comes from the hind end coming forward and creating lift throughout the middle spring and front springs, it will be hindered by a hyper flexed neck and nose to the chest. Let’s think of it in another way. Grab a partner and have one pretend that they are the horse and get down on all fours. Use a piece of string to mimic reins. The other person will sit on the partner’s back who is acting as the horse. Careful not to hurt one another! Place the string in the mouth of the partner who is the horse and the rider will hold on to the other end. The rider will ask the other partner to lower their head as they would a horse. The partner acting as the horse will put their chin to their chest. Now the rider feels like they have lost their contact and will pull on the reins a little more. How does the horse feel? Now horse, try to extend your front legs as far forward as you can. Does it feel easy and free? No, I didn’t think so. So now you have lost the mobility in your front legs and this will have a ripple effect throughout the whole spring apparatus. Now rider, sit tall in your seat and have some pressure on the ground like it was a stirrup. Let the reins go and allow the horse to relax his/her neck. How does that feel? Do you feel that your front is free to move and your back is strong enough to round and carry the rider? This is because you are not being restricted and can balance yourself in a way that enables your body to move freely preventing potential soreness.

There are many structures and muscles that are at play and we could go into deeper detail about the anatomical and physiological points to support these theories, but that would be a whole new book! The goal in this article is to get our minds as riders thinking about how we ride our horses and what we can do to improve the life of our equine friends. If our horses function with a 5-way spring system that includes the function of the neck, how is your horse developed?

So now going back to the beginning of the story and look at your horse. If we look at them as a 5 way spring system, dividing hind end back and front end then the neck, how is your horse developed?

Categories: Biometrics, Equine Rehab
 
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