Preventing Injury in Performance Horses
Tracey L. Scott, MS, AbD • President, Crestview Farm, Inc.

The famous 20th century instructor, Vladimir Littauer once said, "For our romanticizing of ourselves on his back, the horse has continuously suffered." Riding today has become a quest for ribbons, medals, and awards. Getting to the next level often threatens true horsemanship and is significantly reducing the level of performance of which our horses are capable.

In this article, we want to challenge you to think about your equine partner, your riding, and your training in a new way. We will review some of the latest information from the sports medicine research and explore what it tell us about how our horses’ bodies truly work and develop. We will then take a look at how our riding impacts soundness and performance.

Balance without Rider
A horse that is moving around freely without a rider is able to find and maintain its balance quite easily. It automatically uses those muscles, tendons, joints, etc. which make movement most efficient. It balances itself around its center of gravity (the shoulders) with essentially half its weight in front of the shoulders and half behind. 60% of the horses weight is carried in the forelegs.

The horse’s movement is reliant upon the articulation between its muscles, tendons and joints. As the horse moves, the muscles move the joints then the tendons and ligaments, act as springs that carry the motion through. This enables the horse to conserve energy by recycling that energy back to the next stride. When a horse is moving, it has a system of nerve impulses that monitor ground force (e.g., concussion) on the legs and tell the horse when it needs to change its gait. If the horse is trotting faster than is optimum, the nerve impulses indicate that the ground force is too high and tell the horse to either move up to the next gait (e.g., canter) or to slow down.

Balance with Rider
When we add the rider’s weight to the horse, his center of gravity is moved back several inches. His nerve impulses note higher ground force at lower speeds and his muscles, joints, and tendons must now carry 15 to 20% more weight and stress. And that weight is not a static weight, but rather an ever-shifting one that constantly interferes with the horse’s balance and body control.

Because the horse must adjust the way he carries himself to compensate for the rider, it is our job to help him find the correct muscles, tendons, and ligaments to get the job done with the least amount of effort, stress, and concussion. This requires a thorough understanding of the horse’s biomechanics, the interdependencies between his parts, and the impact our aids have on him.

Anatomy and Biomechanics
There are volumes of research that discuss equine anatomy and biomechanics. What we will try to do here is introduce you to some of the basic concepts. To truly understand how we must ride and develop our horses to both maximize performance and minimize injury, we have to understand the major elements that enable the horse to carry a rider safely.

We all know that to work, a horse must relax, have a comfortable mouth, a good fitting saddle, and a balanced rider. But that is just the beginning. There are five interdependent parts that make up the horse’s carrying capacity. We must not only understand what those are, but exactly how they work together.

The most recent equine sports medicine re-search has found that there is a very definite order for which parts of the horse we develop first. If we ignore this order, we damage the horse’s body. Here we will take a quick look at each of the parts and briefly discuss their interrelationship.

The five main parts of this carrying system and their order of development are:

1. Jaw
2. Neck and shoulders
3. Back 4. Abdomen
5. Hindquarters

Jaw
The first part of the system is the jaw. The jaw is the starting point for the horse’s sports development. Without a relaxed, comfortable jaw, the horse is not able to completely control the rest of his body. Because of its connection to the supporting structures of the neck (nuchal ligament and muscles) and back (supraspinous ligament), a tight jaw (or a poll that is pulled into flexion) forces the neck to compress and invert. As a consequence the horse loses body control (more on this later), his back hollows and soft tissues and joints are strained. The horse’s teeth play a dramatic role in his comfort and balance. Improper balance in the teeth not only cause mouth soreness and bitting complications, but also interfere with the horse’s general biomechanics, balance, and movement.

Neck and Shoulders
The second part of the system is the neck and shoulders. The neck is a major source of balance for the horse. It must lengthen and be supported by the nuchal ligament that runs along the top of the neck and connects at the base of the withers. In order to have a relaxed neck and use it’s back properly, the horse must relax his jaw and lift his shoulder. He lifts the shoulders using the band of muscles surrounding the chest and scapula and by flexing the vertebrae. The nuchal ligament’s job is to support the head and neck and flex the cervical and front thoracic vertebrae. If the horse does not use the nuchal ligament, both the nuchal and supraspinous ligaments are not properly tensioned and prevent the spine from flexing correctly. Instead the horse overuse the muscles at the base of the neck. This presses down the shoulder and wither, places stress at the base of the neck and on the forelegs, and strains the lower back and hindquarters.

Back
The third part of the system is the back. A complex system of vertebrae, muscles, and ligaments, the back is responsible for protecting joints, recycling energy, and controlling proprioception (the ability of the horse to control the placement of his feet). The main ligament, the supraspinous ligament is responsible for pulling the vertebrae of the back into flexion and creating the pelvic tilt that pulls hindquarters under the horse. Small, type I muscle fibers responsible for proprioception control subtle spinal movements and posture. It is these small muscles that enable the horse to respond to the rider’s subtle cues. These fibers fatigue very quickly when the horse is tense or does repetitive movement (such as too much circling in one direction, drilling on an exercise, lunging, etc.) and set the horse up for muscle and ligament injuries. When a horse is tense, frightened, or not properly using his jaw, neck, and shoulders, the main ligament supporting the back fails to work and the tiny muscles responsible for proprioception fail. As this happens, larger type II muscles of the hindquarters, back, etc. take charge to propel the horse forward. The result is a loss of control and proprioceptive awareness horse as well as a sore back and hindquarter setting the horse up for injury. This is also often the underlying cause of resistance in training.

Abdomen
The fourth element in our carrying system is the abdomen. Often overlooked in training, a strong abdomen is imperative to support flexion of the back and the pelvic tilt. Until the abdomen is strong enough to support the weight of the back and hold the pelvic tilt, the horse cannot properly use the back or hindquarters. So many training programs stress the hindquarters before the abdomen is strong enough to support the pelvic tilt. This leads to some very sore backs and joints.

Hindquarters
The last piece of our system is the hindquarters. This includes the large muscles of the pelvic region and the joints and soft tissue structures of the hind legs. One of the most focused areas for training, the hindquarters are clearly the engine of the horse. However, the hindquarters cannot work properly unless the jaw and neck are relaxed, the shoulder and back are lifted, and the abdomen is strong enough to support the back flexion and pelvic tilt.

Sport Development Cycle
Before discussing the impact of riding on the horse, we need to talk briefly about the development cycle of the equine athlete. Horses’ bodies develop in stages. If a horse is in consistent training (30 - 40 minutes of work a day for 4 or more days per week), the horse will plateau every 4 to 6 weeks. During this time, the horse’s tissues are rebuilding to better handle the demands of its training activities. The horse will become slightly stiff and muscle sore and may seem a little sluggish or tight.

Plateaus are your opportunity to either push your horse up to a higher level of work or to cause injury and lose range of motion. How you ride during this five to seven day period will determine which result you attain.

During a plateau, it is critical to back off on your training program. Introduce nothing new, do not drill exercises or do much concussive work. Instead, focus on stretching and hacking. This helps rid the body of the toxins that build up as tissues break down and replenish themselves. If you push your horse during a plateau, he will become sore and actually lose ground in his program. His range of motion decreases as already strained and vulnerable tissues are not allowed time to rebuild. Instead, tiny mircotraumas develop that accumulate over time and begin to stagnate training or lead to resistance and/or lameness.

Rider influence on soundness
So far, we have discussed how the five carrying components are related and interdependent. We also discussed how tissues develop during training and how you can contribute to proper development. Now we’ll take a look at what that means for how we ride. In this section, we will discuss common training assumptions and methods and look at how they work with the horse’s anatomical make up and biomechanics. One of our major challenges as riders is the limited language we have to describe what we feel and see in our horses. The language we use ultimately influences how we perceive and respond to our horses. Here are some of the most common terms and phrases I hear from riders and trainers when they first come to work with me:

In my practice, I have never seen a persistent resistance or behavioral problem that did not have pain as its primary cause. In order to understand the interplay between soundness and how we ride and develop equine athletes, we have to understand the natural balance and biomechanics of the horse. This includes the interrelationship between the jaw, neck, back, abdomen, and hindquarters and what happens to the horse when a rider tries to influence him.

The terms "resistance," "push through," "normal soreness" describe symptoms—not causes. The causes lie in understanding how the horse’s body moves, develops, and breaks down. As riders gain a more accurate understanding of their horses’ anatomy, biomechanics, and developmental stages—and how as a rider they impact that system—their language (and the problems they were having with their horses) often quickly resolve.

Influencing the Carrying System
It is very rare to see a horse under saddle that is completely relaxed and happy in his work. Most horses are tense in their jaws and necks, producing an artificial flame. It may look "pretty" but that look is being created using the wrong ligaments and muscles. At every show—even at the FEI level—I consistently see horses over-flexed at the poll and compressed in their necks. We are actually finding that many of these horses are developing degenerative arthritis in the lower vertebrae of the neck as a result. The horse’s head may be on the vertical and his poll may be the highest point, but the horse is not truly carrying himself properly.

A horse that is using the correct muscles to carry himself and his rider has a very loose neck. The muscles in front of the shoulder and all along the bottom of the neck swing or jiggle when the horse moves. His jaw clicks as the head dangles from the nuchal ligament and the muscles of the jaw relax. If the horse’s neck and jaw are not loose, the movement in the shoulder is hindered, the horse cannot work properly through the back and abdomen, and the stifles are pressed out behind the horse. He may still be stepping deeply underneath himself, but he is not using the correct muscles to do it. In these horses you will see that the scapula is low, the distance between the stifle and elbow is not decreased and the back right behind the saddle is very flat. We know that when the horse carries himself this way, he fatigues, loses body control (proprioception) and is putting tremendous stress on his joints and soft tissues.

Until the rider learns to use the thigh to help influence the scapula and the outside aids to keep the outside stifle under the horse, the horse is not truly straight or balanced. He has difficulty carrying himself, loses impulsion and suspension, gets quick or awkward in his jumping, and becomes difficult to control through turns or at a gallop. Overuse of the inside aids, over emphasis on the hindquarters before the rest of the system is developed, overuse of circling, improper use of exercises, and the rider confusing locked vertebrae in the neck as resistance lead to horses that are sore and lack confidence both on the flat and over fences.

Here are some examples of unclear, but very common and damaging practices:

• Holding the rein (or half halt) until the rider get the response she wants (give in poll or neck, rebalance, etc.). In this case, the horse is not sure what the rider wants. His natural response is to pull back against the rider just as your natural response is to brace against someone when they pull on lightly on your arm. When the horse does finally "let go," he is not doing so because he has rebalanced his body, but due to fatigue in small muscles of jaw and spine. We know that when that happens he hollows, comes over his shoulder and loses balance. Stress is placed on the poll, shoulders, tendons, back, and hocks. Plus he loses proprioception, body control, and confidence.

• Over-training on circles or round pens and working in the same frame for extended periods of time. Working on a circle or maintaining the same frame for the horse is like us doing repetitive lunges or holding ourselves in the exact same position for an extended period. When a human body builder does strength building to develop, she does sets of 10 to 15 repetitions with breaks in between. A set takes less than 30 seconds to complete. This interval training stresses muscles for brief periods, then al-lows some recovery time before stressing the muscles again.

A horse that is kept on a circle for more than a few repetitions begins to fatigue. The large muscles of the hindquarters may be strong, but the small proprioception muscles of the spine (and likely the abdominal muscles) are not. If the rider does not frequently change direction and frame (even subtle changes), the horse begins to use the wrong muscles for the job. He may look like he’s working properly, but upon very close observation, you can see that he is not. Undue stress and discomfort is being placed on the joints, the neck and sacrum, and tendons/ligaments. The horse is losing confidence in his rider as he loses control of his body and begins experiencing discomfort.

Very often the resistance that riders feel is not the horse refusing to do the work, it’s the horse being unable to do the work without injury. Riding a horse is a gift from the horse to us. It is the rider’s job to find the underlying cause of the "resistance" and find a clear, gentle way to help the horse gain confidence to try.

The rider must create a space in which the horse can find his true balance, using the correct parts of his body. When this is done correctly, the horse enjoys his work, develops very quickly, experiences much less injury, and becomes a true joy to ride. The rider needs fewer cues not because the horse has memorized his job, but because he has discovered a new, easier way to use his body.

Putting it All Together
Building a comprehensive development plan

1. Conduct a reflective, honest appraisal of your training program. Have you been stalled for a while? Do you see the same resistances over and over? Is your horse sore? Are you having to work harder as your training progresses or use stronger aids? Do you have to push your horse through to get the work? Does your horse delight in its work?

2. If you are a serious rider, have your vet complete a thorough soundness exam every three to six months. Remember to include a dental once or twice a year.

3. Check your horse’s legs daily. Feel for any heat, filling, or pulse and stay to a regular farrier schedule. 4. Check your horse’s muscles and ligaments. Incorporate stretching exercises into your program.

5. Create a comprehensive, integrated sports development program for your horse including correct training, vet support, nutrition, and complimentary care. Remember, if your training stalls for more than a week or two, you have a problem!

Words to Ride By...
1. Your horse’s development, comfort, and success are in your hands. Be a compassionate teacher, don’t be afraid to say "No" to something that doesn’t feel right, and follow a comprehensive development plan.

2. Tension, force, or restriction anywhere in your body creates stress and fatigue in your horse (fatigue leads to lost proprioception), which leads to soreness, injury, lost confidence and reduced range of motion. 3. Soreness that lasts more than a few days signals a problem. Have your vet check it out.

4. Learn to recognize and work with plateaus. If used correctly, they are your opportunity to move to the next level. Treated incorrectly, they will set you back.

5. Resistance is not disobedience but rather lack of confidence. Find the cause and you eliminate the resistance.

6. Learn to replace loud cues with quiet ones. They work just as well and will improve your competitive performance.

7. Teach your horse to find his own balance and relaxation and his performance will soar.

8. Micro-traumas accumulate. Don’t ignore the little signs.

Dare to think differently Challenge yourself to change the way you think about your horse and riding. Strive to be the best horseman you can be. It will take you further and improve your relationship with your horse.

True horsemanship ignores the politics of what or who wins. It is, instead, the complete dedication to the horse where his comfort, confidence, and joy come before your own. Live by that credo, and I promise you will find a whole new level of success and joy in your riding.

About the Author
Tracey Scott, MS, AbD is an Equine Sports Development expert in Harvard, IL. She owns and operates Crestview Farm, Inc. ?an equine training and rehabilitation center dedicated to developing elite equine athletes who are happy, sound and successful in their performance. A member of the Association for Equine Sports Medicine and the International Association of Animal Therapy and Healing, Ms. Scott is sought after for her expertise in developing comprehensive sports development and physical therapy programs that improve performance and soundness as well as return injured or ill horses to successful competition. She is available for training, assessments, clinics, and educational seminars throughout the country.