E.M.T. HORSES - CASE STUDIES

INITIAL assessment highlighted several "sore" areas which required the attention of our chiropractor, Georgina Sim.

DYLAN had been quite "stressy" in his ridden behaviour so that and being uncomfortable in his body not only accounedt for the jumping difficulties he and his owner were having but also, despite his owner's best efforts, the ability to keep weight on Dylan.

WE set to work building up Dylan's muscles and improving his flatwork so that he found jumping altogether more comfortable and, most importantly, fun!

THIS photograph illustrates Dylan's typical headcarriage.

IT was taken after Georgina's second visit so there is already significant improvement in Dylan's muscle tone and development.

DYLAN had been ridden in a vulcanite pelham which, coupled with his physical problems and lively nature, had resulted in him breaking at the poll and drawing himself up and in rather than flexing correctly. He also had a shortened stride and that, combined with him drawing himself in, resulted in a horse that just did not go anywhere.

WE had to encourage Dylan to take a contact and go into the bridle as well as use his back.

SO now, 5 weeks on from the day Dylan arrived, when asked to "come up ",we have a horse that is taking a contact whilst remaining relaxed.

THIS sequence of photographs was taken on the same day to show that even though Dylan still comes out in his "old Dylan" style, with correct loosening work within minutes the "new Dylan" emerges.

BY continuing to ask Dylan to take more contact and work off the leg, his stride has lengthened considerably yet a more acceptable outline has remained intact.

CANTER work then got underway having had the "all clear" from Georgina. At first Dylan thought he could not canter unless he either went fast or drew himself in but as with the walk and trot work, we encouraged a forward, stretched outline to strengthen the back and engage the hind leg then gradually ask Dylan to come up.

DYLAN proved to be a real star; he tried so hard. In such a short space of time - just 8 weeks - he had changed both physically and mentally.

HE happily negotiaed trotting poles and small jumps with confidence and enthusiasm but at the same time allowed us to regulate his speed - no more rushing in as if his life depended on getting to the other side as fast as possible. Dylan developed a canter that was smooth and rythmical, a canter than you could really sit into and feel his back lifting beneath you.

DYLAN'S whole shape and way he carried himself is improved almost by the day.

SUCH was his new-found suppleness we were able to place his head in various positions depending on the particular exercise we were doing.

THERE is still plenty of work to do but then there always is with horses; schooling and training is an on-going journey with always room for improvement and better performance.

DYLAN will now be transitioned from the Myler Combination bit that has given him the confidence over the past weeks to seek and take the contact.

AS always, when a horse leaves us, how work progresses is up to the owner. We have absolute confidence that Laura and Dylan will rebuild their bond and have a better understanding of each other.

LAURA has already worked very hard on improving her position and way of riding so as to give clearer aids and use her back and lower legs more effectively.

DYLAN had to come back for a few days as there were difficulties with his saddle causing him to become upset. These now resolved, Dylan is a happy horse once again and he and Laura are progressing very well.

LAURA has been working incredibly hard on her position as can be seen by this photograph - a lovely upright body, straight back, a nice bend to her elbow, good legs.

WHAT a pity the camera had not been clicked a second or two later when Dylan's hind leg was better placed.

REA, as an ex-racehorse, thinks that she already knows about being ridden and what to do. Yes, she does but not as a riding horse.

IN typical fashion Rea's holds her head up in the air and she has a solid neck with a thick underside muscle. In such cases most people would resort to using side reins for lunge work to encourage a lower head carriage, but Rea knows instantly how to avoid their action. She is very strong willed and can be very negatively demonstrative!

WE elected to fit a loose-fitting flash noseband which is unusual for us as we prefer complete mouth/jaw freedom.

HOWEVER because Rea is so busy in the mouth but yet not salivating by using the flash Fred has immediately gained more control whilst lunging and Rea is relaxing her neck, seeking the bit and already clicking into "listening and learning mode".

REA shows a good length of stride - whilst she has her own way!.

WE have to date mostly worked Rea on long lines so that she learns to go forward, seek and take the bit.

HERE, although we have a lowered headcarriage and Rea is generally more relaxed, she is still not yet softening through her topline.

WE have also noted the mare always inclines to the left both through the neck and hind quarters.

AFTER 3 weeks Rea has gradually presented a picture that all is not quite as it should be physically.

IN trot she has a different stride arch with her right hind to that of her left, despite, in such a short space of time, her already seeking a contact and actively going forward with a beautifully lowed head carriage, or as seen here, showing her capacity to accept being asked to take a little more weight behind and come up a little in front.

AGAIN, however, this is all without the weight of a rider.

WHILST we would generally elect to contine with long reining work, Rea's owner is not experienced enough in their use to work a horse on them so as to effect the "corrections" Rea needs in order to over come her physical weaknesses.

SO we introduced Rea to the pessoa so that her owner could continue with groundwork without worry that Rea did not understand the pessoa.

WE use a roller with lower set rings but we have fitted the pessoa appropriately to the roller Rea's owner has. As you can see the pessoa is loosely fitted - not pulling Rea in in front; she is working happily from a loose lunge rein.

FOR ridden work we elected for a harbridge as without some form of "guidance" Rea was just not prepared to listen instead preferring to throw every evasion tactic going at us from refusing to move, to going sideways and to rearing up, which is a definate no-no!

AS you can see from the picture the harbridge is loosely fitted, just preventing Rea from lifting her head way too high as in the ridden pictures above.

IN walk, Rea has soon realised which head carriage is most comfortable and this photograph presents a very pleasing picture.

REA is going forward well now and has taken a contact; she now just needs to work out that trotting with a more rounded outline (in the same way as she does in walk) is a better, more comfortable option.

IT takes time to completely change a horse's way of going - habits have to be broken and muscles conditioned to work correctly.

IN Rea's case, as there is muscle wastage, much more time has to be allowed for this process. As she becomes physically stronger Rea will find working in the correct way easier but for now she must just be gently enouraged to "come down"