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When Half Breed Saddles Fit The Rider But Not The Horse

November 14, 2023 by Jane @ THB 1 Comment

Although hugely popular, the Half Breed saddle is harder to fit to horses than its simple appearance seems to suggest.

As the love child of the Australian stock saddle and the Western saddle, its origins are on the station or farm, where riders spend long hours working cattle.

It offers the rider a lot of stability and security, while allowing freedom of movement when needed in stock work.

In Australia, it’s favoured in sports including campdrafting, team penning, or polocrosse. There are also many variations in endurance riding, while many leisure riders love this secure saddle.

However, its design does throw up some oft-seen fitting problems horse-side.

Caveat: If your saddle fits well, you’ve no reason to be concerned with what I describe here. If you’re not sure, then the following points are something to be aware of. It’s not an attack on this style of saddle or the sports that use it.

Why are Half Breed saddles so popular?

Note: This style is often called a Swinging Fender, which is becoming a catch-all name for a group of similar styles. Strictly speaking, the ‘Fender’ saddle has stuffed panels like the Aussie stock saddle – that’s not what we’re looking at here.

This style is favoured by many riders for a few reasons. I’ll hazard a few here:

It feels safe and secure, thanks to the knee pads.
You sit where it puts you, thanks to the knee pads.
The seat is open and wide, therefore comfortable.
It’s functional for working stock.
It’s lighter than western saddles.
It apppears to be easy to fit.
It’s a good-looking saddle.

The sticking point is its apparent simplicity when it comes to fitting. There’s a prevailing belief that if it’s wide enough, it fits.

That’s simply not true. And nor does it become a better fit through the addition of a thicker pad.

What are the features of a Half Breed saddle?

The tree is closer to a Western tree, but with a more forward-angled swell (ie. pommel area). It also has fenders and skirts like the Western, with an unpadded underside (which is why it’s always used with a thick saddle pad).

Meanwhile, the raised knee pads that offer so much security hark back to the Aussie stock saddle. A critical difference is that in the Half Breed saddle, they’re angled forwards.

*Western (left) and Half Breed tree (right).*

But what’s also important is this.

Like the Western saddle, the Half breed’s fit is harder to check underneath than English and Aussie stock saddles. It can often look fine from the outside, even when it’s not fitting the contours of the horse’s back at all.

Here are the varied ways and the reasons why Half Breed saddles can fail to fit. As you’ll see, they overlap and interlock to a surprising degree.

The forward sloping angles of the fork

As we’ve just seen, the swell of the Half Breed saddle (ie. pommel area) is angled forwards.

This provides a base for the knee pads, which suit a forward leg position for the rider.

The difficulty is that the bars frequently restrict the shoulder action, as the structure either extends forward above over the scapula cartilage or digs in behind it.

*The forward angled bars frequently extend over and restrict the scapula cartilages.*

The Trapezius and Rhomboid muscles are affected, with horses often showing tension and muscle maldevelopment, along with ‘hollowing’ along the topline.

Even so, the shoulder action can still lift and tilt the saddle back, which then causes it to slide back. It’s quite common to see the saddles used with breastplates for extra stability.

On top of this, the fixed position of the knee pads can force a rider’s butt further back as they adopt a ‘chair seat’. This leads to or contributes to a number of problems – more on this below.

The width and angle of the Half Breed saddle tree

Half Breed saddle trees are often narrow in front and steeply angled.

These may suit lower weight, hard-working stock horses of Thoroughbred type, but can be disastrous for heavier horses, such as Australian Stock Horses with more Quarter Horse influence.

The shoulder action is often even more restricted by this narrowness. Once again, the saddle may be lifted in front and the saddle can tip back.

Alternatively, if the bars are pushing in behind the scapula, muscle atrophy can occur and then the saddle drops down in front. Thicker saddle pads may be added by a well meaning owner, but this doesn’t solve the problem – it compounds it.

**The profile across the back of the tree**

As mentioned, the back of the saddle gives the illusion that it’s simple to fit.

The plain skirt suggests that ‘what you see is what you get’ when compared with European saddles or Australian stock saddles.

However, there’s a solid tree in there, and the contour across the back of the tree needs to match that of the horse’s back.

When the tree is too wide and flat, there’s often too much contact adjacent to the spine, and little to no contact further out.

This creates a higher level of pressure in the narrow contact areas.

If the saddle is already being tipped back, we have potential for a lot of postural change throughout the lumber spine and lumbosacral region of the horse.

The bridging Half Breed saddle

Can it get worse? Yes. Compounding all of the above, the saddle may bridge due to its close fit over the scapula cartilage.

Bridging means there are areas of strong contact and high pressure at the front and back of the saddle, and little in the middle.

It can sit clear or almost clear (you don’t need to actually see daylight) above the spinal curve beneath the saddle.

Add this to all of the above and things are getting pretty unpleasant for the horse. It’s certainly not unusual to see this, especially when bigger saddles are placed on horses that are croup-high, or downhill in conformation.

The seat balance of the Half Breed seat

Back to the angled swell and knee pads. These provide security for the rider, but leaves them little option but to sit further back.

This means they’re positioned some behind the centre of gravity ‘sweet point’, which is close behind the shoulders and withers.

The rider’s weight is levered to the back of the saddle, loading the back of the thoracic spine and possibly the more forward lumbar spine.

*Photo by JS Photography. Cropped for privacy.*

The horse’s tendency is to hollow or straighten the lumbar spine in an effort to manage the rider’s weight.

It’s common to see overdeveloped and hypertrophic lumbar muscles, along with an overstraight or raised lumbar spine.

This is not a criticism of a riding style. All saddles place the rider behind this sweet spot (as discussed in this earlier article), but the issue is how far behind. Some saddles are more angled than others.

Useful saddle fitting resources

This article introduces the problems, so what about solutions?

The following resources provide more information on getting your saddle fit right.

Western Saddle Fit – The Basics 67-minute video on DVD or Vimeo streaming from Rod and Denise Nikkel

Western Saddle Fit: Well Beyond the Basics 6 hours for equine professionals from Rod and Denise Nikkel

The Horse’s Pain-Free Back and Saddle-Fit Book eBook from Joyce Harman DVM

The Western Horse’s Pain-Free Back and Saddle-Fit Book Soundness and comfort with back analysis and correct use of saddles and pads, from Joyce Harman DVM

More Than a Blemish: How a Knocked Down Hip Can Affect Horses

August 2, 2023 by Jane @ THB 13 Comments

$Appaloosa with severe fracture of tuber coxae$

‘Knocked down hip’ is a common name for a fracture of the tuber coxae (point of hip). This is usually the result of a horse having an impact with a gate post, fence or trees, a barrel in a race, another horse’s hoof, or the ground.

A piece of bone is often completely displaced, disappearing downwards and forwards into the paralumbar fossa – the space between the transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae, internal abdominal oblique muscle, and the last rib.

This displacement can then change the outline of the pelvis on the damaged side. That said, it isn’t always visually obvious, and many horse owners often don’t even know it has happened.

It’s the least damaging of pelvic fractures as it doesn’t involve a joint or compromise the pelvic structure, and for this reason it’s often said that its long term effects are purely cosmetic.

But does that really mean it has no lasting effects whatsoever?

This post presents a range of potential issues, from none whatsoever to an altered gait that affects performance, and explains why you should always thoroughly assess your horse for effects after a tuber coxae fracture.

(c) Jane Clothier, thehorsesback.com. With thanks to Dr Sharon May-Davis for checking this post and catching my errors.

The elusive nature of the problem

I know a horse whose owner reported a succession of minor come-and-go issues in the hindlimb.

These either failed to warrant veterinary attention (there being no lameness) and with no diagnoses made when a vet was consulted. The problem was intermittent and elusive.

Older Arabian with a recent tuber coxae fracture — *A recent fracture in a veteran Arabian, showing some swelling. (c) J Clothier, thehorsesback.com*

There was no visible asymmetry and no muscle atrophy.

However, the horse was outwardly rotating the right stifle and swinging the leg outwards in the forwards (cranial) phase of the stride.

When I palpated the right tuber coxae, it had a section knocked away halfway up the bone.

Could there be a connection? Very likely!

Let’s take a closer look at the tuber coxae and how a fracture can affect the action of the hind limb on that side.

Why is the knocked down hip so common?

Besides being the widest point of the pelvis and therefore vulnerable to traumatic injuries of all varieties, the horse’s point of hip has another key weakness.

It’s part of a growth plate. It’s an epiphyseal plate, which means it’s separated from the main body of the pelvis by a physis, the line where bone is produced during growth in early life.

Growth plate on TB pelvis — *9-yo TB pelvis, showing remaining growth plate at the tuber coxae (Note: some has broken away during cleaning). (c) J Clothier, thehorsesback.com*

This means we’re looking at the ‘cap’ of the tuber coxae, which is a weaker cap of bone until at least 5 years of age, and often later depending on the breed.

These are vulnerable to getting displaced – the growth plate of the elbow (ulna) being another example.

Skeletal specimens such as the one in the image show us that even beyond 5 years of age, the growth plate may not be fully attached and is a weaker structure. The tuber coxae in the mature horse still has a roughened surface due to muscle attachments, which gives it a rather open honeycomb structure. This makes it far easier to damage.

More than a cosmetic feature

The clue as to why this fracture can be damaging, even though it doesn’t affect the structural integrity of the pelvis, lies in its function.

Yes, its function. Even though it’s not a moving part, the tuber coxae is much more than a cosmetic feature. Like the withers and the elbow/ulna, its function is to provide an anchor for some important muscles.

It serves as the attachment point for muscles involved in flexing the hip and extending the stifle to move the entire hindlimb forwards (more on those later). For this reason, the attachment point needs to be extremely stable.

Anglo with tuber coxae fracture — *Anglo gelding with tuber coxae fracture (c) J Clothier thehorsesback.com*

The tuber coxae must serve as an anchor point in this way while powerful propulsive forces are conveyed via the pelvis to the spine.

That’s why the tuber coxae are tuberosities – they sit wide and proud and, like handlebars on a motorbike, remain relatively stable in spite of the forces being transmitted from the hind legs forward along the spine.

The location of the fracture

Although generally similar, tuber coxae vary in shape from horse to horse. Fortunately, as they come in matching pairs, it’s possible to identify damage by comparing one side to the other.

Visually, it can be easy to spot a horse with an old tuber coxae fracture due to its pelvic asymmetry. How visible generally depends on the fracture’s severity.

Alternatively, good old manual palpation can reveal its presence.

Here are the main possibilities.

Upper piece of bone is displaced

QH tuber coxae fracture — *Quarter Horse with old tuber coxae fracture affecting the upper section of the tuberosity. (c) J Clothier, thehorsesback.com*

The upper part of the tuber coxae (ie. dorsomedial aspect) may be chipped off. This is usually, but not always, a visible type of fracture, as the point of hip acquires a rounded appearance. This is generally what gives the knocked down hip its name.

Central piece of bone is displaced

Tuber coxae fracture WB gelding — *Tuber coxae fracture showing loss of bone in the centre of the tuberosity (c) J Clothier, thehorsesback.com*

In this case, both ends of the tuber coxae are intact, so the overall shape isn’t much different.

However, if you palpate carefully, there’s a divot in the middle where a chip of bone has been dislodged. Identifying this involves comparing both sides of the horse.

Lower piece of bone is displaced

OTTB with old tuber coxae fracture — *Ex-racehorse with displaced lower part of the tuber coxae. (c) J Clothier, thehorsesback.com*

Only the lower part of the bone (ie. ventrolateral aspect) may be missing.

This is harder to see, but easy to feel: the tuber coxae’s ‘ledge’ is noticeably shorter.

This variation of the fracture is common as it’s the outer corner, the widest point, that’s been knocked off.

One study of 29 horses reported that when only the lower, outer aspect of the bone (caudolateral) was fractured, injured horses returned to work in around 3.5 months. [1]

Whole tuber coxae is displaced

Appaloosa tuber coxae fracture — *The entire tuber coxae is displaced and the horse has experienced severe muscle loss. (c) J Clothier, thehorsesback.com*

In severe cases, the entire tuber coxae is displaced. The visual asymmetry is more obvious. It can also be more serious: with palpation, it may be possible to feel the wider, deeper section of bone remaining, where the ilial shaft becomes the ilial wing.

In the study, when the entire tuber coxae was fractured, the recovery period was longer at around 6.5 months from injury. [1]

Could there be more damage?

If the horse has fallen hard enough to fracture the tuber coxae, it may have damaged other areas of its pelvis too. The various sacroiliac ligaments are prime contenders, as is the sacroiliac joint itself, along with the lumbosacral joint.

Then there are the structures of the actual hip joint (acetabulum and coxofemoral) and head of the femur.

There may even be an incomplete fracture of the ilium that we don’t know about, or separation at the pelvic/pubic symphysis. A full veterinary assessment should always be sought if your horse is lame and you suspect a trauma. Radiographs, ultrasound and scintigraphy have been used to image the tuber coxae and identify the extent of the damage. [2]

Sometimes, palpation and left to right comparison is the only way to identify the damage to the tuber coxae, in this case on the right side. It’s possible (r) to see the dip in the bone once you know it’s there. (c) J Clothier, thehorsesback.com

On a more superficial level, a ridge of what feels like soft tissue can sometimes be moved over the remaining tuber coxae – this is where a muscle attachment or its associated tendon or fascia has been damaged.

Small masses may also be palpated, which may be displaced bone chips. Small avulsion fractures have been observed in young racehorses, at the attachment of the Superficial gluteal muscle.

If there’s a pain response when you palpate these, bear in mind that it may be a sequestrum – ie. a bone fragment that has caused a lingering infection. This needs veterinary attention.

Alternatively, as Dr Sharon May-Davis explains (having examined fractures in dissections), these may also be ‘repair jobs’ that have happened as a result of bleeds. Smaller lentil-sized masses are calculi, ie. mineralized lumps, while the larger grape-like masses are lipomas, caused when a specialized fat is deposited in an effort to repair damaged tissue.

Thoroughbred gelding ex racehorse — *Off the track Thoroughbred with an old tuber coxae fracture. With more heavily built horses, the bone loss may be still harder to identify visually. [Brand obscured.] (c) J Clothier, thehorsesback.com*

What are the lasting effects of a tuber coxae fracture?

If there are no further pelvic issues, the general view is that following recovery, the lasting effect of a tuber coxae fracture is little more than a cosmetic blemish.

Radiographic view of tuber coxae fracture — *Dorsomedial-ventrolateral 50° oblique radiographic view of the tuber coxa of the ilium in a horse. Large bone fragement (arrow) displaced ventrally. (c) JAVMA, 234. 10.*

Our study of 29 horses says that:

“The majority of horses in this study did have muscle atrophy or abnormal bony flattening over the affected tuber coxae. Horses with tuber coxae fractures have an excellent prognosis for returning to athletic use but will most likely have a permanent blemish associated with the area.” [1]

So, a couple of things here.

First, the horses in the study were sufficiently injured, ie. lame, for veterinary attention to be sought. This suggests the fractures were fairly severe, and it therefore follows that the fracture site would be noticeably different upon healing.

But second, what we don’t know about is the quality of the horses’ work post-recovery. They returned to their previous athletic work, but were they the same as before?

*Ultrasound images of a fractured vs normal tuber coxae in the same horse. (c) IMV Imaging*

One lameness text states that this may only affect the careers of dressage horses, because they look asymmetrical, and judges may mark down due to this imprecision. [3]

Otherwise, the assumption tends to be that the localised trauma is no more than a superficial injury that leaves only a visual blemish, with occasional minor changes in gait quality.

As to whether horses are left with just that, quite a few people believe otherwise.

In fact, the rise of manual therapies has led to a lot more observation of gait changes and anomalies, such as those in the horse mentioned earlier.

Even while writing this, I went out and placed my hands on two more horses with this fracture and a noticeable effect on their movement.

*WB gelding with smaller fracture in the centre of the tuber coxae. [Brand obscured] (c) J Clothier, thehorsesback.com*

The most affected muscles

Down to the nitty gritty – why my concern?

Let’s take a look at the effect on some significant muscles that have origins on the tuber coxae, and the related effect on movement if these attachments are damaged through the fracture.

Tensor fasciae late

The Tensor fasciae late muscle originates on the tuber coxae and the gluteal fascia. It has multiple insertion points, including (via fascial connections) the crest of the tibia bone and the lateral patellar ligament.

Its job involves flexing the hip, while extending the stifle (femeropatellar joint) as the hindlimb comes forwards.

It has a stabilising effect on the stifle through its connection to the patella ligament in front and the tibia.

This muscle does lose function when its attachment is permanently damaged. Even if it’s a small area of bone that’s lost up there, the effect lower down is broader.

Superficial gluteal

This muscle originates on the rear side of the tuber coxae (caudal) and the gluteal fascia.

It inserts onto the femur at the third trochanter. Its job is also to help flex the hip, while adducting the limb (bringing it inwards).

Internal abdominal oblique

The Internal abdominal oblique muscle originates from the tuber coxae and the inguinal ligament, and inserts onto the cartilages of the last 4 or 5 ribs, the linea alba, and the prepubic tendon.

Dr Sharon May-Davis writes that this muscle becomes overworked when engaged in supporting a hind limb lameness, and hypertonic when “excessively aiding pelvic engagement or [adopting] a supportive role in hind limb lameness.” [5]

[Biomechanical issues follow below.]

Ex-racehorse with severe tuber coxae fracture — *The Tensor fasciae lata muscle is compromised in this ex-racehorse with a tuber coxae fracture. (c) J Clothier, thehorsesback.com*

The biomechanical issues…

I’m sure you can see where this is heading now.

If muscles dedicated to flexing the hip suffer from impaired function due to a tuber coxae fracture, there’s going to be a negative effect on movement.

The horse can still move its hindlimb and flex the hip, of course, but an element of fine tuning is going to be lost. At least.

There’s also going to be compensation from other muscles, a functional asymmetry, and some stress in joints.

Generally speaking, the more bone that’s lost, the larger the negative effect on hindlimb control on that side.

Here’s what I’ve observed in various horses on the side affected by a tuber coxae fracture.

1. Outward rotation of the femur

The stifle is angled outwards, and the foot lands toe out.

The horse is less comfortable working in the same direction as the fracture, ie with the fractured tuber coxae on the inside of a circle. I’m presuming there’s a lack of stabilisation from the Tensor fasciae late and reduced function in this muscle.

*Outward rotation of femur in Anglo gelding with fractured left tuber coxae. (c) thehorsesback.com*

2. Overdevelopment of the Rectus femoris muscle

This is the largest muscle of the quadriceps and the only one that attaches to the pelvis. It’s responsible for flexing the hip and extending the stifle. I presume this hypertrophy is due to compensatory action.

3. Reduced function in the Superficial gluteal

This muscle is also responsible for flexing the hip. In cases with full tuber coxae fractures, this muscle is atrophied behind the point of hip, adding to the change in the outline of the hindquarters on that side.

4. Tension in the Iliacus muscle

Along with Psoas major, this muscle forms the Iliopsoas. I’ve presumed this tension from the positive responses to corrective moves for the Iliopsoas muscles on this side.

5. Lumbar imbalances

I’ve observed vertebral rotation and restriction, and painful tension in the caudal Longissimus dorsii muscles.

I assume this is due to the compensatory ‘swing and haul’ action required for protracting the hindlimb when there’s insufficient controlled flexion at hip level. Again, this would depend on the extent of the tuber coxae fracture.

Muscles that may also be directly affected

Depending on the anatomy of the individual horse, other muscles may also be affected. How much so depends on the extent of the fracture and the anatomical variations between individuals.

Iliacus muscle

Forming the Iliopsoas along with Psoas major, Iliacus is responsible for flexing and rotating the hip. It has an origin under the ilium and insertion on the lesser trochanter of the femur, along with the tendon of Psoas major.

Middle gluteal muscle

This massive muscle has multiple origins, including the ilium, and inserts onto the greater trochanter of the femur.

In some horses, the lateral edge of its origin on the ilium is close to the tuber coxae, and may be affected by a fracture. This major muscle is largely responsible for extending and abducting the hind limb (ie. moving it outwards, away from the body).

Accessory gluteal muscle

This smaller muscle is below the Middle gluteal, and works with it so closely that some texts describe it as part of the bigger muscle.

However, it is largely separate and has its own flat tendon that attaches to the greater trochanter of the femur. This insertion means that it also aids in abduction of the hind limb (ie. moves it outwards, away from the body).

Assessing the individual

In many cases, the apparently quick recovery from lameness can cause the horse’s owner to believe the fracture of a tuber coxae is of little consequence.

It may be true for some, but for others it may be more serious.

The only way to tell is to examine the horse as an individual, starting with a visual assessment and palpation with the hands, comparing one tuber coxae to the other.

The horse’s hind limb action should also be assessed for balance and evenness. The horse may not be lame, but may have limitations in its movement on the side of the fracture.

If muscles flexing the hip aren’t working as they should, other muscles may be compensating, and these in turn can lead to secondary pain.

If the effect on hindlimb action appears to be significant, it is worth considering veterinary imaging to measure the extent of the damage (although this can usually be felt).

At any rate, some rehabilitative work is probably going to be needed so that better muscle condition and strength can be developed on the fracture side.

Ultimately, in severe cases, we have to remember that ‘we can’t put back what’s gone’. This injury may well mean the horse is unsuited to certain sports.

But please, never assume that this is simply a cosmetic blemish.

References

[1] Dabareiner, R. M. and R. C. Cole (2009). Fractures of the tuber coxa of the ilium in horses: 29 cases (1996-2007). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 234 10: 1303-1307.

[2] Pilsworth, R. C. (2003). Chapter 51 – Diagnosis and Management of Pelvic Fractures in the Thoroughbred Racehorse, Diagnosis and Management of Lameness in the Horse. M. W. Ross and S. J. Dyson. Saint Louis, W.B. Saunders: 484-490.

[3] Van Wessum, R. (2020). Lameness Associated with the Axial Skeleton. Adams and Stashak’s Lameness in Horses: 763-800.

[4] Ashdown, R. R.; Done, S. H.; Evans, S. A. (2000). Color Atlas of Veterinary Anatomy: Vol. 2: The Horse, 2nd ed. Mosby Elsevier: Edinburgh.

[5] May-Davis, S. (2023). Dissecting Out The Facts. Author’s workshop manual.

10 Equine Bodywork Responses That Tell Us Heaps About Horses

July 29, 2023 by Jane @ THB 8 Comments

In an equine bodywork session, having a feel for the horse’s mental and emotional state is important.

It helps us to understand where they’re at, why they’re responding the way they do, and how we’re likely to be moving onwards in future sessions. We can then use this understanding to improve our connection and the holistic health outcomes.

Here are 10 of the common responses I see in horses I work with. For ease of communication, I’ve given them names.

It’s not science (and isn’t meant to be), but it is all about listening to the horse.

See any horse you recognise here? Enjoy 😉

(c) Jane Clothier, The Horse’s Back. No reproduction of text or images without permission.

1. The Enthusiast

This horse is the equine bodywork practitioner’s number one fan. If there were a t-shirt, they’d be wearing it.

They nicker at the sight of the therapist, and when led to the yard will often walk alongside their bodyworker instead of their owner. Someone’s made them feel good and THEY LIKE IT.

As a result, they exude huge warmth and give great cuddles and neck hugs.

And let’s just say they look bereft when ‘their’ therapist arrives and works on a different horse. They’ll probably stand nearby to tune into the energy of the session anyway.

2. The Child

This horse is often but not always young, projecting an air of total innocence.

And it’s genuine: they’re full of wonder for everything good that happens in their world.

And it’s safe to assume that up until now, it has all been good. As a result, they’re curious about everything that happens around them.

They’ve no defences set up and respond to the GOOD FEELS easily, sometimes apparently to their own surprise.

Their eyes will lock onto the therapist, the source of this remarkable experience.

Then they’ll turn their head from one side to the other, eyes following you as you move around the yard after the session.

‘Who are you? What did you do? Why am I feeling this?’

It’s impossible not to be enchanted by their bright, beautiful curiosity.

3. The Lightweight

This horse is a sensitive flower who has mixed feelings about this whole therapy business.

Their responses come super quickly, for good or for bad. Then they’ll take a huge amount from very little, and that goes both ways, for better or worse.

They can flinch at the unfamiliar nature of touch. If all’s well after that, they’ll often zone out at the first opportunity.

If you touch a spot with even a tiny problem, be prepared for flattened ears, a swinging head, tail swishing and a raised foot – sometimes all at once.

This horse is often a mare, affectionately known as ‘princess’ by her owner. But some geldings get complimentary membership too.

Once you get it right, don’t expect thanks, but do take heart watching the softness that unfolds before you.

Next time, you’ll be back to the beginning, but not quite, for now you’ll know very well that less is more.

4. The Superior Being

This trouper of a horse is a great competitor. They brush minor issues aside. They’ll often look down on you from a great height, as if at a mildly irritating fly. They don’t care to do anything as weak as going with the flow – yawning, licking and chewing is for losers.

‘Oh, are you still down there?’ … goes on to win 1st LWT. (c) J Clothier

They occasionally forget themselves and the eyes start to close. It doesn’t last though: they’ll catch themselves and return to consciousness, with a ripple of irritation.

This doesn’t mean they’re not feeling it. They’ll remain tight-lipped until the pesky human is out of sight, then do all of their letting go in private.

Stallions and lead mares often march to this drum too.

5. The Survivor

This horse shows you very little at all.

They’ve often been through a previous episode of pain that lasted too long. Or, they may have become used to locking down a source of pain, as they still have a chronic issue today.

At the slightest recurrence of pain, they revert to the lock down posture or attitude they had before. It’s what got them through it last time – they’ve survived by gritting their teeth and ploughing on.

A recent hoof abscess sent this mare back into her old laminitis responses. (c) J Clothier

You can almost hear this horse ignoring you and your hands. When you first work with them, they don’t yield and go with the flow. Instead, they stand with firm lips and a fixed stare.

But unlike the Superior Being, their vibe isn’t a light one.

Any effects happen in their own time, when the halter is off. They may stand in a corner or seek the presence of their closest friend… You’ll only know how well it went on the next visit, when the horse suddenly starts to respond.

6. The Anxious

This is the horse that can’t switch off.

They stand with their head up, always on the lookout, with a giraffe like posture that’s not great for their body and especially not for their neck.

They don’t feel safe and their attention flits around. Their breathing is shallow and/or fast.

Some of them can’t let go. They’ve a nervous system in overdrive and its buzzing signals won’t allow the horse to relax.

This is your challenge: to help this horse rediscover a deactivated state.

Pain may well be an issue, particularly in its shoulders and neck (and a headache). Nutrition and environment, too. Oh, and humans.

Initially settle for a horizontal neck, with a slightly closed eye being a bonus.

7. The Controller

This horse prefers not to let go, even if they show early signs of doing so. They step and move around frequently. Displacement activities include chewing the rope, rubbing their head on the handler, a fence, anything. They can be mouthy.

Although there’s no real hostility, there’s a constant ‘push back’ as you work – and you’ll be aware of it. Don’t expect to feel quickly accepted. Better get used to life outside their bubble – and their tough-guy efforts to keep you there, outside their safety zone.

Controlling their space and tuning you out: there’s usually a reason. (c) J Clothier

However, it can all change when you successfully relieve an issue that they never, ever expected to go. Suddenly you’re allowed in and find yourself looking into their huge, deep eyes.

This can be because they’ve been resolutely ignoring an uncomfortable body issue. If so, their fidgeting may have been because you were drawing their focus to exactly that.

8. The Watcher

This horse may stand in a quiet manner that’s initially encouraging. They may show early signs of relaxation, yet there’s still the feeling that they’re holding something back.

Then whoah! You’re met with a sudden tail swish, a swing of the hindquarters, or a snap of the teeth. You’ve touched a trauma spot and they’re telling you: ‘It’s right there! Watch yourself!’

The horse has some pain and you’ve just committed the cardinal sin of touching it.

Some may be alert throughout the session as they wait for you to find that spot. Little do you know that you’re being subject to a test. Better tune up your psychic abilities…

No matter what you do, the horse holds on and won’t let go until that breakthrough moment when you find the problem that’s highest in their awareness.

The painful spot may be an old or newer issue, but one thing is sure: there’s a lot of emotion wrapped around it.

Stay safe.

9. The Over-Trained

This horse stands with resolute obedience, as they know they should. They’ve been taught to wait with statuesque stillness, no matter what happens around them.

Whatever happens, they’re just waiting until it’s over, doing their best not to get in the way. They’ve learned that if they do, there’ll be a reprimand or sometimes heavy correction.

Receiving bodywork, these horses are often in their new home, where more self-expression is allowed.

To the therapist, this horse feels mentally and emotionally absent from their own party.

Some horses have been taught that they must remain completely still until asked to move. I find it’s very common with working station horses. (c) J. Clothier

Watch out for this horse’s return to their body, as their responses may be elevated.

They may love you to pieces, or they may shout about a problem that’s been long overlooked. Finally permitted to say what they think, they’ve lost the volume control.

It’s up to you to find a way through this, along with their people.

10. The Depressed

This horse knows it’s not worth even trying to connect or respond, probably because last time they did, it got them nowhere.

Their vibe is a dull one, and their eye contact is minimal or non-existent. They’re not into engaging with you.

They may stare off into the middle distance, as if disocciating. There’s very little response until the relaxing sensations completely take over – then you may receive a single look, or a tentative touch on the hand.

It’s a start. That has to be enough for now.

This horse will hopefully learn from the beneficial after-effects of the work. They will slowly start to feel that life can feel better and that humans have something to give.

With these horses, working with their mind and emotions is even more important. If they’ve had physical stresses forced on them in the past (and they usually have, leading to pain issues), the last thing we want to do is pressure them again.

Negotation is always the best way when we need to move forward, with lots of acceptance and thinking time.

Now I said there’d be ten, but there’s one more to come. I don’t meet too many of these extreme cases, and for that I’m grateful.

11. The Broken

This horse is so badly damaged that there seems to be no way back.

Very often, they’ve had multiple negatives in their lives, on multiple levels. Pain is a huge factor, with the horse having a condition that’s been ignored and frequently overridden (literally… it’s often back pain).

Some are both desperate and furious, having been forced beyond their limits. They can be highly dangerous to work with.

This horse has probably given enough for one lifetime – or had it taken from them.

I met this chestnut mare in a UK horse sanctuary. (c) J Clothier

Bodywork is our fleeting gift as we try to help these horses feel better.

By helping to ease their stress, we may to a tiny extent counter the less positive experiences they’ve had at the hands of other humans.

In return, they take us into a silent place, with depths unknown. Go gently while you’re there.

Swaying Opinion: Can Ataxia Cause Hind Hoof Rings?

May 6, 2023 by Jane @ THB 4 Comments

Did laminitis, trauma, nutrition, disease, or something else cause these hind hoof rings?

Recently I came across hoof rehab specialist Daisy Bicking’s view as to an additional cause of these rings. What she said on the subject made me sit up a little – OK, a lot.

*Daisy Bicking, School of Integrative Hoofcare (c) Daisy Bicking & Easycare inc*

Daisy is an internationally renowned expert of nearly 20 years’ professional standing (see: School of Integrative Hoofcare) who has radiographed hundreds if not thousands of hooves during that time.

Daisy took the picture at the top of this post, and here are her views on what’s happening.

Hind hoof rings and ataxia

Daisy explains that she has seen a correlation between these deep rings and ataxia.

‘Horses that get these repeated deep rings on their back feet (usually not found on the front feet) have been diagnosed or suspected of having some kind of neurological problem which impacts the stability of the hind end.

‘The waves in the hoof come from the horse’s efforts to stabilize.

‘I work on a large population of horses who have neurological issues. Not every one of them gets these rings.

‘But a high level of correlation leads me to believe that if I see these rings (hind feet, deep, symmetrical, predominantly in the quarters) I suspect some instability in the hind end of the horse.

‘It’s not very common but there’s definitely a correlation with neurological problems when I see them like this.

‘When a horse is ataxic, they spend a lot of their time trying to stabilize. This creates a sway pattern that some horses with neurological issues experience more than others.

‘I see it the most with horses who have permanent ataxia from things like EPM, arthritis in the vertebrae, etc.’

Yowzers.

The fact that I’m writing about this here is because within a month, I was able to apply her thinking to two cases I worked with.

Here’s the first.

The horse who convinced me

Take a look at this Australian Stock Horse mare with a very obvious stability issue. At this point, she was recovering from a pelvic fracture.

I can honestly say that in 18 years, I’ve never worked with a horse less stable.

The photo with the hind legs on an angle? Some days, that was the only way she could stand (and yes, she’s lucky to still be here).

pelvic fracture horse hind hooves — **Hind** **hooves** *of horse destabilised by pelvic fracture. Photo by Jess.*

In the hoof pictures, the deep and evenly spaced rings are evident.

Pelvic practure sway front hooves — **Front hooves** *of horse destabilised by pelvic fracture. Photo by Jess.*

We might say that these are only caused by trauma, but that doesn’t account for the repeated incidence of these rings, or their spacing.

And just look how there’s a difference in the nature of the front and hind hoof rings. The front hoof rings are raised, but the hind hoof rings are also sunken.

What’s more, trauma and ataxia can go hand-in-hand when associated with the same event.

What’s up with these hind hoof rings?

Daisy explains that the mechanism comes down to changes in blood perfusion in the hoof.

‘Think of the blood flow in the foot like a water balloon. How the foot is loaded greatly impacts where/how the fluid perfuses the blood vessels. The more blood flow, the faster growth.

Blood perfusion - the balloon concept. — *Blood perfusion – Daisy’s balloon concept. Swaying achieves a similar effect, on a repeated intermittent basis. For more info: https://www.integrativehoofschool.com*

‘The sway creates a variation of load and subsequently blood perfusion that is unique to horses with certain ataxic conditions. Therefore we see these unique rings crop up in the feet.

‘I think where we see them and how long they stay depends on the degree of ataxia the horse is experiencing. If the neurological issues stick around, then they may have them forever.

‘If they are predominantly unsteady on the hind end then we see the rings on the back feet. Versus having ataxia on the front and hind ends, [when] you may see it on all four feet.’

Assessing a horse with hind hoof rings

Now, here’s an interesting 5-yo OTTB mare.

I’d previously seen this mare dropping out and running / trotting behind during canter, which had made me curious.

Upon meeting her, my eyes were soon drawn to her hind hooves.

Clearly they’ve plenty of problems, as is the case with many horses off the track. I was anticipating low heels and potential issues with pedal angles. But what caught my attention more was the series of rings.

These aren’t as pronounced as those in the above photos, and they’re in a tight band, but they’re certainly interesting. And they made me think about hind end sway.

In fact, they encouraged me to do a simple test: placing her right hind foot across the midline to rest in front of the other.

Hind hoof ataxia — *Failure to replace the crossed over foot can be a sign of ataxia.*

Well, that revealed something: this girl didn’t replace her right foot for a long time. And she didn’t do that twice, because I repeated the test.

The horse not noticing foot placement in this way is a sign of possible neurological issues. They will usually replace it immediately.

Next, I lifted the right hind leg up and found it to be super stiff and heavy. It look real effort to lift it. Same with the left.

That’s not at all what I’d expect with a healthy young TB. And in case you’re wondering, her lumbosacral area was definitely weak – yet with sacroiliac pain, I’d expect a hind foot to be quickly lifted high, either medially or with a lateral ‘be careful’ flick. She did neither of those things.

What about the location of those rings?

Parallel rings are starting to emerge — *It’s possible that parallel rings are developing in line with the stability issue.*

By their position and general speed of hoof growth, the rings could be backdated to an event about 6 months ago.

This doesn’t change an assessment of instability – quite the opposite, as a fall might have caused ataxia OR it might have resulted from existing ataxia.

And looking closely, it does appear that the some parallel spaced rings are emerging (red arrows). Could this be a developing issue?

And could she be ataxic in front too?

More circumstantial evidence: the mare was unable to place her foot on a ramp while walking freely forwards.

The final images shows what kept happening when she tried placing the foot, without success, before stepping back.

Possible ataxia — *A problem placing the foot. If a horse does this over and over, there may be a proprioceptive issue.*

This she did several times, getting it wrong each time, despite having loaded on this vehicle before. You’d expect her to quickly figure it out after learning where the slope was.

It appears to be a proprioceptive issue, as her timing and spatial awareness are somewhat off.

If Daisy is right here, we can speculate that the hoof rings are reflecting ataxia that currently affects hindlimbs, but is also affecting the forelimbs to a degree. And there’s more than one known pathology that could be causing this.

Where to next?

Daisy Hoofcare summit — *Daisy speaking at the International Hoofcare Summit*

I’m finding this exploration interesting and will keep making my own observations. I really believe that it’s worth checking in with a new idea by looking at how it plays out with your own cases. Even then, it’s important to test the idea and consider it as a possibility rather than gospel truth.

That said, one thing I’ve learned through research is that fresh scientific findings frequently begin not only with published literature, but also with strong anecdotal evidence gathered by experienced observers over a period of time. Sometimes, solely so.

As these professionals then research the literature, further context is provided by previous studies – if they exist, that is.

I truly hope that the data Daisy has generated and the insight she has developed through hoof rehabilitation does find its way into the equine scientific literature.

Horses can only benefit from new findings that bring greater understanding to hoof-body relationships in the domestic horse.

More about Daisy

Daisy Bicking DEP, APF-I, CFGP, CLS, CE/CI is passionate about helping horses and the people who care for them.

Through Daisy Haven Farm, she supports the equine community by providing whole horse hoof care and rehabilitation services, designed to promote physical, mental and emotional well being.

She also spearheads the School of Integrative Hoofcare which provides education about the hoof and horse via in-person workshops, one-on-one mentorships, and virtual educational courses.

10 Tips for the Risk-Free Use of Equine Massage Guns

February 10, 2023 by Jane @ THB Leave a Comment

Wait – you didn’t know there could be risks to your horse when using an equine massage gun? Then you’d best read on.

First, there are certainly benefits to massage guns. They’re easy to use and time friendly when you’re time-poor.

They retail to suit every budget, and there’s no difference between ‘human’ and ‘horse’ devices.

They can help with pre-work warm-up and post-work relaxation, and may help to reduce post-work soreness.

But, but, but – you do need to switch on your mind at the same time as your gun.

And here’s why.

Note: this page includes some links. At no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase, these links may make a small contribution towards the costs of running this site, including my extensive writing time.

1. Check the horse with your hands first.

This way, you can see if there are any adverse reactions to touching in certain areas. It’s better to know in advance, rather discover a problem with a device that isn’t giving you feedback.

Remember, these are designed primarily to be used by humans on themselves – humans know where their own spots are, or can tell you, but horses rely on you to be cautious.

2. Vibration is fantastic for myofascia.

***Hydragun with 7 attachments, including 3 flat heads.***

Soft tissue generally doesn’t need to be hammered.

Hint 1: using the side of the round massage head will achieve more vibration than percussion.

Hint 2: the less intrusive flat head used gently and flat to the surface also creates more vibration.

Please don’t use the hard pointy applicators, which are so much more likely to hit directly into a painful spot, or worse, penetrate an area of torn fascia.

3. Go lightly and keep it moving.

You’re not mashing potatoes here – this is a sensitive body. By minimizing pressure, you’re allowing more of a vibrational effect to happen.

You also don’t risk creating bruises (as can happen in humans, apparently). Your horse can’t tell you until it has already happened.

Don’t work closely over bone – and remember that older horses may have arthritic joints that don’t benefit from heavy percussion.

4. Little and often is better.

*The Mini Atom is travel-sized with USB-C charging*

Too much work starts to cancel out the good work that’s already been achieved through a light approach.

Massage guns are best used on small, targeted areas in short bursts.

And a practical conern is that you don’t want to overheat the device – many have an automatic shut-off after 10-15 minutes for this reason.

5. Check your horse’s responses.

If your horse is showing any signs of tension, stop. The whole point here is relaxation. Tense muscles + percussion = high impact => pain.

If your horse starts leaning into it and groovin’, then fine, turn it up – but only if they say so.

It’s not a goal in itself (question why they’re so tense in that spot – maybe change something in training?). If there’s any flicker of discomfort in their eye, stop right now.

**The Mini Atom Gun enables a focused, smooth and effective approach.**

6. Don’t go higher than the base of neck.

Think about it: you’ll be vibrating the skull. Try that on yourself if you’re not sure why it might be unpleasant!

Lots of horses have tension and pain around the poll and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). It’s always better to do the upper neck with your hands and a whole lot of love.

7. Ask why some muscles are always sore.

There may be muscles that are always sore, particularly as your horse steps up the work.

Maybe that spot would benefit from a gentle hand rub?

And maybe slow down the work pace down as well, if tension keeps developing?

Don’t be the Cozy Powell of massage gun users – think prevention and therapy, not heavy rock!

8. Steer well clear of injuries.

If your horse is injured, don’t try to help with your massage gun. Doing so could likely disrupt the healing process.

Wait until the healing process is well under way and then start really lightly and only in adjacent areas. This is the best time to think about vibration rather than percussion.

9. Take note of fresh pain responses.

If your horse is reactive in an area that was fine yesterday or last time you worked, stop. You may be right above an injury.

Worse, if you’ve been using too much pressure, you may have intensified an issue.

10. Don’t forget nutrition.

If muscles are always super-tight in spite of careful conditioning and therapeutic work, there may be an imbalance in your horse’s nutritional and mineral intake that’s having a metabolic effect.

Interested in equine massage guns?

How do you know which massage guns for horses present really good options?

I don’t believe in buying on the basis of a label alone, but at the same time, demonstrated reliability is a good thing.

And don’t worry about whether it’s called an equine massage gun or not. They’re all the same technologies, whether marketed for human or horse use.

Learn more about the Hydragun’s massage gun and the Atom Mini Massager in The Horse’s Back Store. Renowned for being the quietest devices on the market, these excellent, durable devices are built with smoothly operating components within high-grade aluminimum casing. For the equine bodyworker, they offer a reliable solution that is so lightweight it won’t tax your body.