I will add that these are my observations; Dr Kerry and Col. Carde may have corrections to offer, which will be most welcome. LATERALITY SYMPOSIUM CIRCLE OAK EQUINE JUNE 9-10, 2012 copyright Kate Schmidt-Hopper 6-15-2012 all rights reserved Two advantages modern day riders have over the founding fathers of classical dressage, and the master proponents in the last century such as Nuno Oliveira, are scientific advances in understanding equine biomechanics, and new veterinary practices which integrate eastern and western medical treatment modalities. Interested veterinarians and trainers can work together to analyze and diagnose the causes of training issues and lameness to insure a long and pain-free career for the modern performance horse. The LATERALITY symposium at Circle Oak Equine Rehabilitation facility in Petaluma on June 9-10, 2012 was a display of this collaboration in action. Colonel Carde was the presentation trainer, deftly filling the space left when master horseman from Australia, Manolo Mendez, was prevented from traveling due to scheduling problems. Dr. Kerry Ridgeway, DVM, equine chiropractor, and equine acupuncturist, represented the western and eastern veterinary science aspect of the symposium. Both men obviously hold each other in great esteem and supported and reinforced each others points of view. Dr Ridgeways task was to explain LATERALITY to a gathering of 150 people ranging from curious amateur riders and professional horse trainers from multiple riding disciplines, to body workers and farriers. He succeeded magnificently with a combination of slides projected onto a large screen, and demonstration horses. Dr Ridgeway explained that every horse will have forelimb dominance, typically reflecting human beings with 80+% right limb dominant and the rest left limb dominant. This results in foals developing “natural crookedness” which affects their skeletal straightness, muscular balance, gait evenness and hoof symmetry. Dr Ridgeway used a variety of horse breeds to show the audience how to evaluate their own horses for “crooked horse syndrome” patterns. Gait stride and alignment at walk and trot showed how the pelvis and shoulder are affected by crookedness. The pectoral muscle of the dominant limb will be noticeably larger and more developed. The dominant shoulder when viewed from above and behind the horse, is flatter and less developed due to short striding. Colonel Carde, long affiliated with the school Cadre Noir, outlined his principles for training: “A straight horse is one working in muscular harmony; balance is only achieved in the presence of three elements-- calm focus, straightness, and forwardness. Lose any one of these three and balance is impossible.” He insisted on clarity and correct timing of the aids; “make yourself understood and let the horse perform”. Colonel Carde adheres to the “Six Ps”: preparation/patience/precision/progression/persistence/and especially praise” One challenge Colonel Carde gave to the riders was to maintain a soft elastic “permanent contact” while changing the neck posture, stride length and tempo within each gait. An exercise he used started at walk on a large circle: spiral the hindquarters out while with an opening inside hand exaggerate the inside bend. As the inside hind leg steps deeper under the torso, the horse will seek the soft following rein contact down and forward, lengthening the neck and opening the throat latch. The rider then allows the horse to lengthen the stride and rides straight. On day two, Dr Ridgeway addressed the static postural effects of forelimb dominance: grazing posture and high heel/ low heel. The dominant leg remains under the grazing horse while the other points forward. This posture leads to a tendency for the non-dominant hoof to have a low heel /long toe, and the “fence post “ leg to have a high heel. According to Dr Ridgway, “the unrecognized ramifications of unbalanced, asymmetrical hooves are: muscle imbalance, compensatory posture, performance deficit and potential lameness”. Colonel Carde reminded the riders that their bodies must be balanced before they can affect the horse. This includes always being “with the horse” by following the horses movement with the hips and hands as needed in each gait. For young horses he recommended this progression for training: “1. permanent relaxation – no force 2.forward/in front of the leg – permanent 3.progressively increasing straightness leading to balance 4.soft permanent elastic contact without resistance – never a sensation of pulling 5.a quiet mouth with relaxed jaw 6.longitudinal suppling 7.variety/ transitions 8.“on the bit” using lateral / 2 track exercises and poll flexions.” Dr. Ridgeway shared some of the body work techniques he has developed over his long career. Personal experience proved on my horse the effectiveness of the “pectoral release” in freeing the shoulder. Multiple demonstrations of acupuncture applied to specific sites above the coronary band and traditional “Ting” points, both fore and hind, showed immediate results in muscle release of the neck, hindquarters, and shoulder for all the demonstration horses. “Withers rolling” with a tennis ball and psoas and scapula stretches were three other body work techniques we received as homework. Dr Ridgeway suggested that good training can improve the “natural crookedness” of a horse, but acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, and precise trimming/shoeing may be necessary for lasting straightness and soundness. Colonel Carde reminded the audience that bad riding creates contractions and stiffness. It is incumbent of us to train each horse as an individual, and attend to his/her specific physical and psychological needs with patience and lots of praise. This synergy of physiology and classical philosophy points the way forward for the thinking horseman/woman of the future. copyright Kate Schmidt-Hopper 6-15-2012 all rights reserved
Posted on: Fri, 11 Oct 2013 03:28:56 +0000
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