florida sporthorse winter 2014

7/22/2019 Florida Sporthorse Winter 2014

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www.highbarfarm.com


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4 From the editor

About the cover

Visit us on the web!floridasporthorsemagazine.com

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Florida Sporthorse Magazineis committed to providinga quarterly publicationthat presents contentencompassing a broad range of

topics of interest to Floridasdressage, eventing, combineddriving, hunter/jumperand sport horse breedingcommunities.

It includes proles of riders,trainers and breeders who areinuential around the stateand beyond, as well as productreviews of items of particularinterest to Florida equestrians.

Florida Sporthorse

Magazine accepts freelancematerial on subjects thatsupport our mission.Submission informationis available at www.floridasporthorsemagazine.com or by calling or writingthe editorial ofce.

Come along for the ride!

CHRISTIEGOLD

Three resolutions for the Year of the Horse FLORIDASporthorsedressage+hunters+jumpers+eventing+combineddriving +sporthorse breeding

www.floridasporthorsemagazine.com

Come along for the ride!

EDITORANDPUBLISHER

Christie R. Gold

ADVERTISINGMANAGER

Sara Scozzafava

(352) 585-6143

[email protected]

EDITORIALOFFICE

8205 Quail Run Dr.

Wesley Chapel, FL 33544

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email:

[email protected]

website:

foridasporthorsemagazine.com

Andalusian P.R.E. stallion, Pecos,

owned by Matt McLaughlin.Pecos was trained to

Intermediare dressage and was

the 2011 Celebration Horse forBreyerfest.

Photo by Deirdre Teasley

All back issues of Florida Sporthorse

available for download from ISSUU.

www.issuu.com

By the time most readers hold this

issue in their hands, resolutions

made over midnight sips of

champagne will be a distant memory,

replaced by bright red heart-shaped

boxes of candy and gym equipment

gathering dust in the corner.

Fortunately, the Chinese New

Year begins in February, and since

2014 is the Year of the Horse, it seems

appropriate to re-resolve...this time

in the name of our horses and for the

sake of our riding. Here are a few that

most of us can probably agree upon.

1. Treat yourself like an athlete

Forget it, you are NEVER going to

look great in white breeches. Nobody

does. Im not going to use the D word

(diet) or the equally horrifying W

word (weight) because Ive divorced

them both. Ive spent too much time

staring at the dreadful BMI chart in

the doctors ofice and eating like a

caveman or a French Debutante or

stressing over carbs, fat and calories.

The fact is that I am more of a Quarter

Horse than a Thoroughbred. I will

never be long and lean, but I can be it,

and the formula for that is easy: Eat

right and exercise.

We horse people painstakingly

pour over every aspect of our horses

diets. Too much fat? Not enough

protein? Whole grains or complete

feeds? Which supplements? Yet

we dont pay attention to our own

nutritional needs. In simple terms,

go fresh whenever possible, shop the

perimeter at your local grocery and

skip the fast food.

If you are like me, you probably

spend more time in your ofice cubicle

or your car than on the back of a horse.

Newslash: Riding one horse four or

ive times a week will not keep you

it. Even if you have the privilege of

riding more than this, cross training

is important. Greater itness will get

you through all of that sitting trot in

your dressage test or around the cross

country or stadium course without the

need for supplemental oxygen.

While this goal requires little more

than a good pair of athletic shoes and

some hand weights, joining a gym

or working with a personal trainer

can yield not only physical results

but greater insight into our how we

condition our horses. Group cycling

classes at my local gym remind me of

the need to train for stamina as well

as strength and the need for active

recovery (rather than idle rest) during

my workout.

2. Be gracious and be grateful

Have an attitude of gratitude

is a nice saying for a bumper sticker,

but its the practice of gratitude thats

important. The horse world is full of

people who work hard for little or no

money. Yes, its the stable hands job

to blanket your horse on a cold day,

but that doesnt mean he doesnt need

to hear thank you.

The same goes for our trainers,

farriers and vets, the guy who delivers

your hay or runs the local feed store.

If you want to attract good people,

you must be a good person. Paying

your board, vet or farrier bill on time;

cleaning the wash rack when you

are inished grooming your horse;

avoiding the temptation to ride your

drama llama to the barn ; telling the

professionals in your life how much

you appreciate them...these are the

keys to creating good karma and a

happy horse life.

3. Educate yourself.

While Im not a fan of riding with

multiple instructors (its just too

much for my pea brain to process), I

am a proponent of lifelong learning.

Its show season in Florida, and

opportunities abound. Hanging out at

the warm-up ring at a show is often

more valuable than seeing an actual

performance. Clnics abound, and

whether you are a rider or an auditor,

there opportunities to hone your skills

or increase your knowledge.

If leaving home is problematic,

switch on your computer.

During Floridas Bi-polar Vortex,

I dug through USEFs archives.

Stuck inside one day, I found myself

watching George Morris master clinic.

The episode where he tortureder,

asked, the riders to go sans stirrups

caught my interest. Too often, I think

hunters and dressage riders live

in different worlds, but there was

Mr. Morris talking about collection,

proper bend in the half-pass and luid

lying changes.

Fortunately for our horses and

ourselves, its never too late to make

a change. From all of us at Florida

Sporthorse, heres to a healthy and

happy 2014.


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4 Editors NoteThree Resoluons for the Year of the Horse

10 John and Margy CoxOcalas CDE and Pleasure Driving Couple

12 One Smart CookieSneak-e-Snacks Tina Halsteter and her recipe for success

14 Hometown HeroSharon Jerdeman on her homebred horses and love of amateurs

18 Walk this WayPraccal advice for improving the most basic gait

20 Dare to go ThereInsights from Kyra Kyrklands clinic in Wellington

22 To Regulate or not to RegulateDetermining whats safe begins with understanding regulaons

24 Hindquarter HelpHindend weakness is not always from EPM

26 Going ProLessons learned in the transion from amateur to professional

28 Gold RushOne riders educaon in the quest for USDFs highest rider award

22 Imagine ThatPosive imaging can improve performance

Inside Florida Sporthorse

22

14

12

22

WINTER 2014

SporthorseFLORIDA

10


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10/32

When I met with Margy and John Cox at

Starbucks in Ocala, Margy was her quite

composed self and John, outgoing and

enthusiastic. In their usual helpful and gracious

manner, they had agreed to meet me for this

interview the same day in which I had called to make

the request.

Such a supportive and helpful attitude is typical

of this couple who are known throughout theFlorida carriage driving community for their elegant,

mannerly and successful single carriage driving

horses, whether they are competing at a combined

driving event (CDE) or a carriage pleasure show.

FS: Margy, how did you get involved with horses?

M: I grew up near Seattle, Washington and was a

horse crazy kid from the start. I tried it all, Western,

English, jumping.

FS:John, how did you get into the world of horses and

competition?

J:I married into it and was soon outnumbered when

our daughter got the bug and started into pony club.

I did some Arab breed showing, even native costume,

as well as jumping, and driving.

M:And now hes my navigator and groom.

FS: When and why did you two get into driving?

M: I went to some driving events and saw all kinds

of wrecks and problems. That was back in the 80s.

I decided I wanted to take on the challenge of doing

it well. I like a good challenge. We had bred a half-

Arab/ half-Percheron named Pete. I consulted alocal draft horse trainer who taught me how to drive

and helped me train Pete.

My irst vehicle was the manure spreader. We

showed him quite successfully in single draft classes

because he made the weight requirement which was

all the geldings had to do. Papers were traditionally

thrown away once a draft horse was gelded.

J: In those early days of CDEs we would show up

for the event and build the hazards out of bales

of hay from the local farmer, set up the dressage

ring and cones course, compete all weekend, then

tear everything down and go home. It could be

exhausting, but fun.

M:During those years we brought in some of the top

driving clinicians like Bill Long and Bill Lower. We

had judges like Jill Ryder and Leslie Kozsely.

It soon became a family thing with me driving

Pete, John driving a Shetland pony, and our daughter,

Lindzi, driving the Fjord. Yes, the same Fjord, now 25,

that we used when the TV reality show The Bachelor

came to our farm here in Florida in October 2011

to ilm Lindzis at home with the family segment.

(Lindzi, who works in Seattle as an IT recruiter, was

one of the two inalists on the 16th season of TheBachelor.)

FS: What brought you all the way from Washington

State to Florida?

M:We moved from the Seattle area in 2003 when our

30-stall boarding facility was sold for development.

At that time I was selling Glycerin Gardens Soapie

Ponies, the horsey novelty clear soap with a toy horse

inside. John was retired by then.

J:We traveled around the USA looking for a place to

live. We stayed in Carmel, California, and competed

in some CDEs in that area for awhile.

M: We were going to move to Holland and then we

Grace and gratitude characterize Ocalas combined driving couple

JANEANEREAGAN, PHD

Margy Cox and Andy Go Dandy. With me and paence, the half Arab became a naonal champion. Photo courtesy of Margy Cox.


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discovered Black Prong Equestrian Center, a carriage

driving facility in Bronson that was the perfect it for

our life style. Our farm, near Black Prong, borders on

The Goethe Forrest so we have miles of trails right

out our back gate.

FS: I have heard that the elegant half-Arab/half-

Saddlebred that you have been showing in recent yearshad quite a history.

M: Thats Andy, he was a freebee horse. His owner

had given him away three times prior to our taking

him. He had been given back all three times. Andy

had some tough issues. You could not catch him

in the pasture, could not walk up on his right side,

could not put a bit in his mouth, and he spooked at

everything.

At the end of a year of trying to win his

conidence, we were about ready to send him back

too, but I just could not do that to an animal I had

made a commitment to.

J: At that point we had tried everything including

acupuncture and chiropractic treatments.

M:Then he colicked and we almost lost him. With

the help of our vet, Dr. Ann Christorpherson, we

stayed with Andy day and night until he got through

it.

When he recovered he was a different horse.

Now he knickers when he sees us coming, comes

when he is called, and loves to work, particularly inhazards.

Andy has given us some of our most memorable

accomplishments in driving.

In 2013 he was National Champion Half Arabian

Sport Horse at the Arabian Nationals. That same

year he won the Florida State Pleasure Driving

Championship which is based on performances

across three different carriage pleasure shows.

The other exciting success with Andy was when

we won the Intermediate Level Marathon at Live

Oak CDE in the spring of 2012.

FS: You have brought Andy along so far, are you

planning to go on to Advanced FEI with him?

J: No we are not.M: No, we already did that with another horse a

few years ago. We even qualiied for the World

Championships in Europe but that was enough for

us. We do it for the fun. I would rather just compete

against myself for the most part more than against

the other drivers. I get a lot of satisfaction out of

driving a smooth marathon without the yelling, just

doing it in style, my way.

FS: What are your plans for the future?

M: We have a young horse that we have raised. He is

a mixed Warmblood named River Trip. We are just

getting him out there to some competitions. Andy

can keep doing the higher level stuff.

FS: Margy, to what do you attribute the success you

and John have had with your driving horses?

M: I think patience and love have been the key

ingredients. We have also had the help of very good

friends and clinicians along the way.

FS: Any advice you would like to give to drivers

who are just getting started or who are facing some

challenges with their own horses?

M:The best advice we could share with drivers just

starting out is to be safe and take advantage of the

wonderful trainers, organizations and competitions

in our area.

It also helps to volunteer at driving events and

meet new friends and ind good mentors.

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Margy Cox with husband John as navigator. Along with their daughter, Lindzi, they have made driving a family aair.

Photo courtesy of Margy Cox.

Florida Sporthorse Magazine 11


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12 Florida Sporthorse Magazine

The recipe for success calls for one part vision,

one part opportunity and heaping measures

of passion and hard work.

Helpful and hardworking family and friends,

strict quality control and word-of-mouth

recommendations from a host of veterinarians,

trainers, riders and tack shop owners are also key

ingredients for Sneak-e-Snacks, a brand of all-

natural horse treats baked every day in the heart of

Ocalas horse country.

Owner Tina Halsteters belief that the

wholesome treats, once baked in mufin tins in

founder Jennifer Halls oven, led to the purchase

of the recipe and brand in 2009. Hall had brandedSneak E Snacks but wasnt interested in developing

it into a business. Halsteter, who worked as Halls

personal assistant, saw possibility in the product,

which is now sold online and in 20 retail outlets.

In a ield crowded with competition mostly

from big-name feed suppliers, Halsteter has carved

a niche among horse people who demand fresh, all

natural ingredients. Her high standards for quality

control are evident her products ongoing analysis.

Halsteter follows national agricultural guidelines for

pet foods and treats and is attentive to each states

individual regulations. The discovery that some

ingredients in the original formula could mask the

use of drugs that are illegal at competitions led to

the development of a show safe alternative, and

requests from both horse owners and veterinarians

are leading to a new insulin- resistant formula.

Quality control is key in the production of

Sneak-e-Snacks. Were fresh and all natural. I buy

the best premium quality products and put them

into the treat. We self-regulate so that the consumerknows that what they are getting is consistent from

batch to batch, Halsteter said.

Rigorous attention to detail consumes much

of Halteters time. Her daughter helps after school,

and her husband, who works full time for Closet

Maid, pitches in after work and on weekends. With

additional assistance from one part-time employee,

the Halteters bake, package and distribute 18,000

treats each week.

The ovens begin rolling at ive a.m. Halsteter

pulls orders off of the web, determines what needs

to be delivered, returns phone calls and works on

expanding her marketing efforts.

When I started, I would receive 10 rejections for

every one store that would agree to carry the treats,

she said. Now people come to me.

Despite a new website and increased marketing,

passing out samples is still the way to horsesand

their ownershearts. Early on, Halsteter madeconnections with local vets and popular trainers and

clinicians such as Lynn Palm and Pat Parelli. Horse

people come to Ocala with their horses, discover

Sneak-e-Snacks and return home with buckets of

the treats to share with fellow equestrians creating

residual business that has led to out of state sales of

30-40 percent.

Halsteter also looks for creative ways to increase

awareness of her product. Two years ago, Sneak-e-

Snacks became the oficial fundraiser of the United

States Pony Clubs. Just as Girl Scouts bank on boxes

of Thin Mints and Tagalongs, Halsteter sees Pony

Club members earning funds through sales of horse

cookies. This ideas has expanded to other equine

groups. The Central Florida Equestrian Team andother groups have also started selling Sneak-e-

Snacks as part of their fundraising efforts.

As the business grows, Halsteter hopes to create

Destination Sneak-e-Snacks.

January 2014 was our best month yet, Halsteter

said, and this year will be pivotal.

Currently, the family home and garage-turned-

bakery hold inventory and the commercial ovens.

Success has caused growing painsand not just in

terms of available square footage. While horses and

their owners may love the smell of molasses and

whole grains wafting through the air, Halsteter admits

that not everyone in her suburban neighborhood

inds the scent appealing. She wants to relocate to a

farm closer to HITS with six times the space, different

zoning and proximity to the active winter show

circuit.

To move forward, we need to be close to like-

minded people. We want to continue to diversifyand to integrate the snacks more fully into the horse

world, she said.

Halsteters motto is to dream big and aim high

without losing local connection. She works closely

with the Marion Therapeutic Riding Association,

Williston Animal Rescue and Paso Fino Youth. She

actively participates in the Ocala community, buying

as many local ingredients as possible and personally

visiting tack and feed stores in the area.

Im blessed, and I love my job. I am happy that

we are starting to see such success, but I also want

to be a brand that leaves a legacy, something my

children will be proud of.

One Smart CookieSneak-e-Snacks Tina Halsteter treats horses naturally

...I ALSO WANT TO BEA BRAND THAT LEAVESA LEGACY, SOMETHING

MY CHILDREN WILL BEPROUD OF.

CHRISTIE

GOLD

Sneak-e-Snacks owner Tina Halsteter with the product line. The all-natural horse treats are gaining popularity

naonwide. Photos courtesy of Tina Halsteter.


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2011 USDF GOV Horse of the Year Yearling Colt

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2013 USDF & GOV Horse Of the Year 3 yo Colt

2013 GOV 3 yo Colt Materiale National Champion

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The sun was shining on the outdoor arena atCanterbury Showplace where we all watched

the big mare power around the second level

test guided by a rider who, although slight in stature,

held a strong, effective posture with complete

command of the XXL horse she was riding. Then

the crupper popped off. The mare screeched to a

halt and stood stock still, clamping her tail tightly

to her hindquarters as the crupper dangled like an

ornament from the tailhead.

The rider glanced back, assessed the problem,

dismounted, stripped the crupper down and off

the tail then tossed it out of the ring. She walked

back to the shoulder of the still obediently standing

mare, threw her foot up to her eye level and into the

stirrup then climbed back on board to resume herride while the rest of us just gaped in astonishment

and admiration: grace under pressure with a large

helping of down to earth pragmatism and get-it-done

attitude.

This is what Sharon Jerdeman-Bates is all about.

A Florida native born in Stuart (where her

parents still reside in the family home) Jerdeman had

her irst pony ride at the age of three, her irst lessons

by a demanding hunter-jumper instructor at 10, her

irst dressage skills at 16 years and then a successful

25 yearlong professional training career all unfolded

here in Florida, except for a year in Germany that put

a gleam on an already well-polished education.

Jerdeman originally had no intention of being

a professional dressage trainer. The only reasonI ever went to Germany was to learn how to train a

horse because I could not foresee ever having enough

money to buy a trained horse. I did not think I was

going to be a professional, she said. So when people

started offering to pay me to train their horse I said,

Okay, I will do this until they stop wanting to pay me

for training their horse. Twenty years later Im still

doing it. I didnt expect that. It was not my li fe plan. If

it were my life plan I would have stayed with that irst

working student job.

Jerdemans irst working student job was with

the renowned dressage trainer Alex Konyot.

When the 16-year-old Jerdeman decided to work

in the mall instead of more time with Alex Konyot,

his wife Fina Konyot told her, You do not know whatyou are getting (riding FEI school masters that know

levade with Konyot).

Jerdeman continued to ride as a hobby while she

pursued an education in art. She graduated from the

University of Florida with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.

Her skills came in handy when her custom

horse portraits helped to support her while studying

dressage in Herbert Rehbeins barn in Germany.

Jerdeman hopes to get back into her Art eventually.

Talented riders are not always talented teachers,

yet Jerdemans track record with successful Amateurs

equals if not exceeds her success with FEI horses. To

date, six students have earned their USDF Bronze

Rider Medal and ive have earned their USDF Silver

Rider Medal under Jerdemans coaching.

Amy Nannick, owner of Skywalker, earned her

USDF Bronze Rider Medal with Jerdemans guidence.

Kris Kuchinski Broome, a Jerdeman student of

15 years, stood sixth with a 64 percent at AA PSG

Championships at the 2013 Region 3 Championships

with her self- trained Lauren FS.

Riding her second horse, Nightlife, at the same

championships, Broome took eighth in Third Level

Freestyle.

Renee Genther has also been a Jerdeman student

of 15 years. Genter won the Region 3 Second Level

Freestyle Championship and went on the next

month to compete at the Inaugural USDF National

Championships placing 10th nationally at second

Level AA Freestyle.

What makes her successful with the many

amateurs riding the different levels of training and

different breeds of horses? First I identify the goals.

If they have lofty goals such as an amateur with a

young horse who wants to do the work herself, go

to the show and get high scores I put the pair in full

training. It takes a year. I ride the horse irst part of

the year and then I start putting her on the horse and

then she turns into the primary rider. This requires

Hometown HeroFlorida native Sharon Jerdeman serves as a shining example for her students

CAROLBULMER

Renee Gentner and Sharon Jerdeman at the USDF Region 3 Championships. Gentner and her horse Tomson were

the Second Level Freestyle Champions and went on to compete at the Naonal Finals.


15/32

1. Charleston out of Hannah (of the notable crupper incident) by

Navarone breeder Sharon Jerdeman Bates.

2. Nauka bred by Pat Sullivan of Gainesville, by LeSanto out of

Britannia by Rantares. The mare progressed from Training Level to

Grand Prix and was Jerdemans rst self-trained Grand Prix horse.

3. Falconer, bred by Masu Hammacher was bought by Jerdeman

as a three-month-old and is now showing PSG and schooling Grand

Prix

4. Skywalker, a gelding out of Ladyhawke (a brood mare owned

by Masu Hammocker) is shown here as a yearling and then as an

adult, compeng in the Region 3 Championships with Jerdeman.

5. Jerdemans up and coming young horse, 6-year-old Dutelmi

SCF a Dutch Warmblood mare by Sir Donnerhall out of Otelmi

by Jazz. Bred in the USA by Lana Sneddon of Stonecrest Farm,

Jerdeman purchased her as a weanling.

1

2

3

4

5

Sharons Success Stories

Dana Rasmussen

Equine Media Project

Horse Sports Photography

Horse Sports Photography

Michael Bradtke



16/32


a rider who already has some riding skill, Jerdeman

said.

Jerdeman works on the basic riding skills of the

amateur riders in her care irst. She uses the Training

Scale principles in her teaching every day until the

rider is competent with those basics. Then she will

focus on the skills needed to compete well. Again,

short-term goal setting is crucial to the success of the

team.

Jerdeman expects her students to be very self-

suficient at shows. They do their own entries,

shipping, feeding, stall mucking and braiding. She

believes that to be successful, the amateur has to

have a positive attitude even when things are not

going the way they like.

Athleticism is secondary to the desire to learn

and being positive. Jerdeman observes that teaching

amateurs requires a lot of patience. I repeat myself

a lot, she said.

Her passion for teaching amateurs is evident.

There is nothing better than to see someone get

better or have that light bulb moment. It really makes

you feel successful. Almost more successful than if

you were doing it yourself.

In regards to her system of training horses

Jerdeman said, I got a feeling for the system of

training there (in Germany) and what I should

be aspiring to. Going to Mr. Rehbeins stable and

watching the riders from all over the world prepare

for the Olympics that year was a once-in- a-lifetime

experience. You could see all levels of horses schooling

in the same ring and get a feel for how training starts

and how it develops with many different horses.

Jerdeman listed the pivotal points in her own

education. First is her hunter jumper instructor who

made her work without stirrups at age 10, then Alex

Konyot who introduced dressage training to her,

then her year in Germany with Frank Agne, student

of Herbert Rehbein. Since then, Jos Severiens, who

taught her how to ride a horses back up, round and

through, as well as Gunner Ostergaard who brought

her to Grand Prix and of course the inimitable

horsewoman, Jennie Loriston Clark with whom she

continues to clinic annually.

If there is one theme to my career I would say

that I am focused on progress. The progress of the

horse with consideration of any physical challenges

the horse may have and the progress of the student

as long as the student has the willingness to learn.

Jerdeman warns against the win at all cost trap

that many ambitious trainers and riders fall into. She

inds the way to make progress without ultimately

destructive methods that eventually harm the horse.

It just takes longer, but it is better for the horse

in the long run Jerdeman said.

Alternately, she says that any student who is not

ready or willing to learn will not learn no matter how

diligent the teacher.

Years after riding with an instructor, even 30

years later,the things I felt and did come back to me.

Oh thats what that meant! I think to myself. The

best thing a student can do is to learn to take criticism

with a positive attitude. That is one good thing about

getting a college degree. You learn to receive criticism

and grow, she said.

As Jerdemans business has grown, she has

tempered the growth with a balance between her

family, her husband and her farm. The barn is small--

just eight stalls so that if her barn help does not show

up she can still do all work by herself. Her husband of

eight years, JB, has his own business and Jerdeman

does not expect his assistance in the day-to-day

operations. That said JB built the barn, the above

barn residence and serves as facility maintenance

honcho for the 15-acre farm in Reddick. Free time

is spent scalloping, water skiing, wake boarding and

even snow skiing from as well as spending time with

her sisters, nieces and parents.

The next 10 years Jerdeman has two career goals:

Train more horses to Grand Prix and train and show a

CDI quality horse.

The short-term goal setting is important to

Jerdeman for the long-term progress. History has

proven that this rider will stand the test of time.

Standing ringside with her will be Jerdemans

hometown students and Central Florida admirers

cheering on this hardworking Hometown Hero and

her Homebred Horses. Kris Kuchinski Broome,Her

student of 15 years said, We could not ask for a

better role model.

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18/32


The walk is easy to take for granted. Its slow

and unassuming. Its the irst gait we feelwhen we learn to ride. Soon after learning to

sit astride the horse, we want to go faster and ride

more seemingly dificult exercises. This desire to

master the trot and canter movements stays with us

for our entire riding career but the walk shouldnt be

forgotten or ignored.

The most obvious reason to pay attention to

the walk is the fact that in every dressage test from

training level to Grand Prix, the walk is scored.

Ignoring the walk could cause the horse and rider

to have lower scores and place lower in the ribbons.

More importantly though, the quality of the walk will

most often mirror the horses state of relaxation. If

there are low walk scores in your tests, its wise to

take a closer look at your training program. The walk is a four beat gait with no moment of

suspension. The horse repeats a pattern of footfalls

that are evenly spaced in time. That means that if you

were to lead a horse in walk a horse across a hard

surface, ideally, you would hear a steady one-two-

three-four beat with no long pauses between any of

the foot falls.

Viewed from the side, you would see that each

foot rises off of the ground separately. Starting with

the left hind leg, the pattern would go left hind, left

fore, right hind, right fore, left hind, left fore and so

on. You would see that the hind foot comes very close

to the fore foot as it is landing, the legs on the same

side form a V shape as they get closer together. The

fore foot moves off the ground just in time for the hindfoot to land. In a good, unrestricted walk, the hind

foot will land in front of the print of the front foot.

This is referred to as over-tracking or over stepping.

Most horses have no problem demonstrating this

while walking down the barn aisle. Problems mostly

arise when humans saddle them up and head to the

arena.

Trouble is underway when the walk starts to

lose the clear, four beat rhythm. Viewed from the

side, the legs lose the V pattern. Instead of each

leg leaving the ground separately, the legs on each

side start to lift off of the ground closer to the same

time. When this happens, its called a lateral walk.

In an extremely lateral walk, the legs on the left

will rise and land at the same time then the legson the right will rise and land together. This is also

referred to as a pace.

The lateral walk is mostly rider created. It

does happen, rarely, that one comes across a horse

that happily paces across his paddock on his own.

Mostly though, the lateral walk is only seen when the

rider sits on the horse and picks up the reins.

Another way the walk can lose correct rhythm

is commonly referred to as jigging. Jigging is when a

horse starts to bring the legs together diagonally, as if

starting to trot. Sometimes the jig is a messy mix up

of beats, sometimes its simply a very lat, short trot.

Jigging is usually caused by anticipation and is often

seen in dressage tests when the horse is thinking

he may need to trot or canter soon. Regardless of

the type of rhythm loss the horse may exhibit, the

underlying cause of walk issues is usually tension.

The best walk the horse will ever have under

saddle is on a completely loose rein when he is in total

relaxation. This is most evident if you watch sometests at a show. During a test, a horse might show

some rhythm issues in the medium and collected

walks when the pressure of the competition is high.

At the end of the test though, when the rider pats the

horse and walks out of the ring on a loose rein, the

horse will often demonstrate a beautiful, rhythmic,

energetic walk.

When riding a horse which exhibits rhythm

issues in the walk, it is very helpful to know in

which portion of the ride he typically has the most

relaxation. This is the time to work on the walk. If

the horse comes out of the stable with a lot of energy

and tension, walk on a totally loose rein until its time

to trot. If he is very nervous, its better to go straight

into the trot or to lunge him, rather than to wrestle

with him in the walk on contact. Once his energy

level has subsided, you can begin to work on the walk.

Other horses, however, are more like wind-up

toys. They come out of the stable relaxed, even lazy,

but the energy builds in them as the work progresses

and they can end up with more tension later on. For

these horses, the best time to work in the walk is at

the start of the ride when they are calm and relaxed.

One of the easiest ways to help the rhythm is

to walk over a series of evenly spaced poles. I liketo keep walk poles set up on the outside of the arena

for the horses to step over when they are cooling out

or warming up. The poles encourage the horse to lift

each hoof separately so he maintains the clear four

beat rhythm.

Start with just one pole until the horse has no

reservations about stepping over it. Evenly space

four to six jump poles or landscape timbers on the

ground, just under three feet apart.

Once the horse walks over the poles once

or twice you can see how you need to adjust the

spacing to suit the horses natural stride length.

Walk over the poles a couple times on a loose rein.

When hes relaxed and ready, ask the horse to step

over the poles while you maintain good soft, lightcontact on the reins. Encourage the horse to step

forward into the bridle while he goes over the

poles.

To help the horse understand how maintain

clear rhythm between transitions, you can trot or

canter until you are close to the poles. Make sure

you have a good, balanced approach to the middle of

the line of poles then do a transition to the walk just

before you reach the poles. Walk over the poles on

contact, then, when you reach the other side make

a transition back into trot or canter. This helps the

horse maintain rhythm without a lot of effort from

the rider.

Walk this Way Improve this overlooked but tell-tale gait

THE WALK IS A TATTLETALE.WHEN ISSUES ARISE IN THE WALK,THERE IS LIKELY AN UNDERLYINGPROBLEM IN THE REST OF THEWORK AS WELL.

AMBERKIMBALL

Petra, ridden by Sandy Wagner, demonstrates a good four beat walk. The legs make a V paern as

the front foot leaves the ground and the hind foot lands.All photos by Amber Kimball.


19/32


Sometimes, a horses walk issues only arise for

the irst three or ive strides after the rider picks up

the reins because the horse is anticipating the work

ahead.

To help ease the tension caused by anticipation,

practice carefully picking up the reins, walking on

contact for a few strides then while you encourage

the horse to stretch forward into the contact and

then releasing the reins again to let the horse walk

on the buckle. Only do this while the horse in a

relaxed state as working on the walk while the horse

is tense only exacerbates rhythm issues. The rider

must be conident. Be sure not to transfer your own

insecurities to the horse. The rider must be consistent

in the contact. Reins that are too tight are restricting

and uncomfortable for the horse. However, trying to

be too light can be irritating to the horse as he never

knows if the bit pressure will be on his mouth or if the

reins will be loose. Consistency is the key.

The easiest walk issue to remedy is the lazy walk.

A horse which demonstrates a clear four beat walk

but simply lacks impulsion can be sparked up quite

easily. One of the best ways to energize the walk is to

get out of the ring. Hacking, especially in company,

livens up most horses. Long, brisk walks on a loose

rein help the horse to walk forward freely on his own

accord. Remember the energy you feel in the walk

when you turn your horse around and head back to

the barn.

Ride the walk in the ring so it feels as if your

horse has a destination in mind and hed like to take

you there. If a horse is behind the leg in the walk,

he likely needs to be sharper to the leg in the other

gaits too.

The walk is a tattletale. When issues arise in

the walk, there is likely an underlying problem in the

rest of the work as well. Use the walk as a test of

your horses basic training. It just might bring you

a blue ribbon.

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Lynn S. Peck, DVM, MS

Work over poles has encouraged the horse to

maintain relaxaon and rhythm and the rider

can now maintain it in the arena.

Improving the walk

Tension in the horse and rider have created

a lateral walk. The front and hind hooves on

the le side are landing almost at the same

me.

Stepping over poles, the horse is encouraged to li

each foot separately to produce a four beat walk. The

V paern is seen as the horse moves over the rails.


20/32


I

recently checked an item off my Bucket List.

Seeing Kyra Kyrklund live in a clinic situation has

always been something I wanted to do, and she didnot disappoint. Cheeky, funny, practical and humble

describe this amazing master of dressage.

It was a dificult choice (after going through

my pages and pages of notes) to condense the

information for an article, so Ive compiled a list of

her best tips that can apply to us all.

Although they are in no particular order, they

build on each other, much like ingredients in a recipe,

improving the horses ability to carry himself thus

increasing collection.

At the beginning of the irst day, Kyra spent a few

moments speaking with (and I say with because

I truly felt like it was a conversation not a lecture)

the audience and outlining her plans for the two-day

experience. She explained that a clinic situation isdificult sometimes because she cannot address every

problem or issue for each rider so she must choose

one weak area.

After evaluating the riders ahead of time, she

chose a theme for the clinic and identiied a weakness

in each horse/rider combo that she wanted to tackle.

Comparing horse training to baking, Kyra spoke

of required ingredients and optional variables and

how the results can be different but still tasty. The

recipe for the weekend was improving collection and

the menu was a la carte.

Lower Leg Near the Girth

Every rider in the clinic heard this. This

suggestion by itself can be misleading. The leg arrivesthere not by bracing, pushing or shoving your heel

down. Kyra explained that the rider needs to draw

the entire leg forward from the hip area. The famed

Shoulder/Hip/Heel line we have heard forever is

interpreted by Kyra as the front hip bone, not the side

joint. If you sit in this alignment your leg falls into

position right behind the girth.

Another analogy to help the understanding of

this concept and encourage riders to not fall forward

was to sit behind your knee.

Kyra explained that when your lower leg drifts

back several things happen but speciically you fall

forward with your upper body and you cue the horse

too far back with your lower leg. If one is constantly

aiding the horse so far back, Kyra feels that the result

is speeding up the hind end without lifting the back

and lightening the front end. She explained a sweetspot right behind the girth which is basically the

midpoint of the underline.

To create an Arched Bridge instead of a Hanging

Bridge (referencing the horses back) the leg aids

are most effective here. In this position, the rider

is able to inluence (a term heard throughout the

weekend) both the front end and hind end.

Most horses in the clinic had active hind legs but

slow front legs. Kyras wish is that the horse has an

active and light front end and a reaching hind end

which can only be achieved when the back lifts and

makes room for the hind legs to come forward. The

front legs are the transmission and the hind legs are

the motor, she said.

The leg aid she prefers and describes is nothingmore than a tapping of the riders leg just below

the knee--not the heel, rather the inside of the upper

third of the boot. Leg aids must go on and off and it

is important to give the horse a chance to respond to

the aid. If the horse didnt respond to the leg aid, she

gave swift taps of the leg or whip.

On one horse, she had the rider remov her whole

leg as a warning and then applied a light aid. This

was particularly effective for this horse. Use of the

spur is only a reminder and continued squeezing

was discouraged as Kyra feels it makes horses stop

listening. She suggested to riders who practiced at

home without an instructor to ask someone to be

eyes on the ground reminding them to sit correctly.

Rein Aids

Much time was spent explaining the subtleties of

reins and how to use them to ones best advantage.

Kyras explanation of how to use the reins

properly improved everyones contact. Describing

the rein as a stick, for example, gave riders a concrete

example of how contact must be consistent. She

described how the hand is only a hook connecting

the riders elbow to the horses mouth. Fiddling

ingers and a loose grip will compromise the integrity

of the contact.

She told riders to feel the contact in the elbow

and to activate the rein aid from the elbow. When

the horse would lean on contact, she instructed

riders to resist in the elbow not take back.

At this point she mentioned core strength and

how increasing our bear down or core strength

allows riders the ability to resist the pull/lean of

the horse without drawing back with the arms or

creating a tug-of-war. She strongly insisted that this

be done without squeezing or gripping the leg and

that the horse must balance himself in contact.

A very powerful analogy Kyra gave is that the

rider is a girth and the arms are like sidereins. Let

the horse pull against himself, she said.

A Bouncing Bum

Our bum is a cushion, Kyra explained...bounce on

it. This was the main analogy given to riders while

sitting the trot. The bounce helps control the tempo

of the trot. Quicker bounces = quicker steps. If the

rider squeezes or grips the leg to increase tempo,

their seat risks coming out of the saddle therefor not

being able to inluence the tempo. Once the horse

changes the tempo to the riders liking- the rider sits

quietly.

This became very important when she worked

on passage and piaffe- the horse must do the work

while the rider sits on top. Kyra explained sitting the

trot should be like bouncing/dribbling a ball: Thehand can increase or decrease the tempo at the top of

the bounce but doesnt need a lot of force. The rider

lightly pushes the ball back down.

A Buffet of Rein Positions

The double bridle is a complicated device to be

sure. Watching Kyra ride one horse in all possible

combinations was amazing. Her preferred position is

with the bradoon rein on top and curb on the bottom

or uncrossed.

The more distance between the reins makes the

effect of the bits more clear. If the horse elevates his

head, the curb engages and if the horses head drops

DAREto go THERE

Kyra Kyrkland shares her

with and wisdom at the

Wellington Classic DressageMasters Symposium

LAURIESALMI


21/32

too low the bradoon engages. Crossing the reins

engages both bits offering less relief to the horse.

She also demonstrated the 3 + 1 which is when the

rider carries one bradoon and both curb reins in

one hand and only the bradoon rein in the other.

This was very effective when Kyra was schooling

positioning for the piourette. She had three reins

in the inside hand and one in the outside hand

allowing her to half halt with the outside rein using

the bradoon alone. This position also increases

the stability of the curb rein and allows the rider

to use the bradoon on the horses hard side (Kyra

encourages lots of half halts and leg aids on the

horses hard side which gets the horse to commit

to the inside rein).

On one horse, Kyra rode with the Fillis Position

of the double. The bradoon rein comes over the top

of the ingers like a driving rein with the curb under

the hand.

This was very effective for this horse as the

mare was both strong in the mouth and also

resistant to contact. Shes not lazy, she just doesnt

want to change, was Kyras observation of this

particular horse.

Regardless of the horses head position, the

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appropriate bit action was instant. It was in this

lesson that Kyra said to ride the horse in the bit or bits

that work best and that riders need to learn how to

ride in a double bridle. Kyra also noted that the Fillis

position helps lighten the front end and soften the

underside of the neck. Several times she mentioned

the concept of imagine the rein around the horses

neck to further illustrate lifting the front end.

A Word (or several) about Contact

Do not compromise contact (my new mantra).

Dare to meet your horse at contact and stay there! As

mentioned earlier, a iddling hand or weak wrist will

compromise the contact. Keep your hands still was

a comment repeated several times.

For riders who struggled with this, Kyra had

several exercises to help riders ind a quiet, consistent

contact.

One suggestion was to hold the whip horizontally

over the top of the hands holding the whip with the

thumbs. This way, the rider couldnt pull back or give

away one rein only.

Another suggestion was to bridge the reins.

This suggestion helps steady the hand but is also

especially good to help the rider determine which

side of the horse wont go into contact.

Kyra explained that contact neednt be heavy;

rather, light contact is desirable.

The horse should carry himself rather than the

rider holding the horse up, just as the horse should

carry the forward without the rider pushing every

stride.

Keep the Horse Upright

Straightness was a common thread in the

sessions. Besides the obvious concept of straightness-

-the horse traveling straight head to tail, the horse

using both sides of the body equally, equal contact

in both reins indicating straightness, the rider sittingstraight or evenly on the horse- straightness also

means that the horse is upright in his rib cage and

not leaning in or tipping over.

Kyra noted that horses are very good at physical

compensation. It is the riders responsibility to

identify the weak side of the horse and methodically

increase their strength.

When she was riding the horses, she held the

desired position just past the point of comfort,

then she rode forward or had a walk break or did a

stretchy circle.

She was quick with praise for both horse and

rider. She insisted that riders not drift into the

horses weakness but stay on top and have the horse

meet the rider.

Final Thoughts and Tasty Bites

Kyra explained its best to carry the whip in the

outside hand in the canter so as not to confuse a

horse that already knows changes and because the

outside hind leg is the irst step of the canter.

Kyra mentioned that a good indication of ones

achievement/readiness of a level is their average

percentage of the combined scores. She discussed

analyzing scores as a way to identify weaknesses and

strengths.

Kyra described feel as a sense much like sight or

sound and that it can be developed. She encouraged

riders to ride many horses or school master types as

possible so that they can taste the correct feeling.When riders feel a big difference, they will get

hooked on the change, she said.

She challenged riders. Dont be afraid of things

going wrong- it happens to everyone! she said. Its

at this point that improvement or change takes place.

When we as riders dare to go to the dificult places

we rely less on luck and more on our ability because

we are conident that we are effective.



22/32

To regulate

or not to regulate

Keeping our competitive sport horses in top

condition requires a myriad of products.Some are traditional nutrients, like protein,

carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, provided

mainly by the forage and grain supplements

given daily. Others are nutraceuticals or dietary

supplements, provided according to the horses

need and what our checkbook can afford. Some are

traditional drugs, prescribed by our veterinarian

and administered orally or via injection. Finally,

some are complex in classiication, such as generics

or compounded drugs. Gaining an understanding of

the regulatory world of these helpful compounds can

help the horse owner utilize effective products and

avoid using unsafe or illegal products.

A warning however; the regulatory world of

animal products is always a good cure for insomnia,so get a cup of strong coffee as we proceed!

What is a drug?

Any compound that treats, cures, mitigates

or prevents disease is a drug, as deined by the

Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is not the

route of administration that deines a drug, but the

labeling and promotional literature produced to

support the compound. Alleviates pain associated

with osteoarthritis is a drug claim, so therefore, the

compound is a drug, regardless if it is administered

orally, intramuscularly or topically.

All drugs must be approved by the FDA after

undergoing extensive testing for target animal

safety, eficacy, toxicology, manufacturing safety andstability of the formulated product. If the product is

administered to food producing animals, extensive

testing is also performed to ensure there are no

harmful residues or metabolites of the compound

in edible tissues. But since we do not eat horses in

the US, equine drugs are not required to undergo this

step. Testing to obtain FDA approval of a new animal

drug runs into the hundreds of thousands of dollars

and sometimes more.

Once approved, the labeling and packaging

will clearly indicate the product is FDA approved

by having a NADA number, indicating it is a new

animal drug. A freedom of information summary is

also published and included in the package, listing

the results of the regulatory testing and instructing

how to use the product safely and effectively.

Very old compounds, that have years and years ofsafe and effective use, may be classiied as Generally

Recognized as Safe or GRAS. These compounds do

not need to undergo FDA testing and obtain a NADA.

They can be formulated into products for animal

(or human) use. Examples of GRAS compounds are

aspirin, vitamins and corn syrup.

What about vaccines?

In the US, vaccines (and related biological,

such as diagnostic kits like the IgG kit used with

newborn foals to test for adequate maternal transfer

of antibodies) are regulated by the United States

Department of Agriculture (USDA). They undergo

similar testing as animal drugs. In the rest of the

world, the same agency that regulates animal drugsincludes biologics.

Each country has its own regulatory agency, but

an agreement was reached in the 90s between the US,

Japan, Australia, Canada and the European Union to

accept research performed in any of these countries

as mutually acceptable. This should have reduced

the cost of testing and registering new animal drugs;

however, the regulatory standards have increased,

negating the cost beneit of harmonization.

What is a generic drug?

A generic drug is an identical copy of the active

ingredient of an previously approved drug (pioneer

drug). This is only permitted when the pioneer drug

is off patent. Studies are performed to ensure thegeneric performs identically to the pioneer (blood

pharmacokinetic or animal eficacy) and only minor

changes to the inactive ingredients in the formulation

are permitted.

Once approved, the labeling and packaging

of a generic drug contains a ANADA number, or

abbreviated new animal drug application. The

generic must be administered identically to the

pioneer. Consumers can rest assured that a true

generic drug will work identically to the pioneer

drug.

The makers of Adequan are correct when they

say there is no generic Adequan. What is marketed

as a competitive product to Adequan is labeled as a

topical product, even though it is packaged in a vial

for injection.

What is the risk of using an unapproved animal

drug?

The worst case scenario is damage to the horse

due to lack of safety testing. The active ingredient

could be over supplied, creating a toxicity. A

contaminant in the inert ingredients might be

infectious or damaging. Even if safety is not an issue,

lost money and time is a problem if the unapproved

drug is not even effective. All of these scenarios

have occurred with unapproved animal drugs in the

marketplace.

What are compounded products?

Sometimes, a veterinarian wants to use a drug

that is not approved for equine use. Perhaps it is ahuman drug. Sometimes the veterinarian would

prefer a different formulation of an approved drug,

or a different concentration of active ingredient

Under these conditions, the veterinarian instructs a

compounding pharmacy to prepare a product for a

speciic horse.

Generally, compounded products should not be

prepared in large quantities for future sales, however,

the FDA has not been strict about enforcing this aspect

of the compounding laws. Pergolide (for Cushings

Disease) is an example of this last point, at least until

an approved equine drug containing pergolide was

put on the market. Taking unformulated omeprazole

and creating a paste for oral administration to

horses is NOT a legal action for a veterinarian or acompounding laboratory, since there is an approved

animal drug containing this active ingredient in a

paste formulation for treatment of equine ulcers.

The key to compounded products is the

veterinarian/patient relationship; one to one, not

one to many. Under a similar veterinarian/patient

relationship, animal drugs approved outside the US

(but not here) may be imported legally, provided the

veterinarian feels the imported drug will do better

than any drug available here.

What are dietary supplements?

In the 80s, Congress passed the Dietary

JUDYDOWNER, PHD

Determining the safety and effectivenessof products begins with an understandingof how they are regulated



23/32

Supplements Health and Education Act (DSHEA),

which opened the gates for over-the-counter sales

of oral compounds for improved health for humans.

Some restrictions applied (no drug claims for one),

but basically DSHEA created a free-for-all that now

takes up tremendous shelf space in pharmacies and

health stores. DSHEA was never intended to apply to

animals, because animals cannot make a choice about

dietary supplements.

However, as we all know, hundreds of products

are now sold for animal use. In the absence of any

manufacturing quality standards to ensure that what

is on the label actually appears in the product, this

market becomes a buyer beware.

A study reported that 39% of equine joint health

products contain less than the labeled amount of

active ingredients, and that 17.4% of them contained

less than 30% of label claim (Oke, et al., Eq Vet J, 2006:

38(1): 93-95). A voluntary organization (National

Animal Supplement Council) was formed to ensure

manufacturing quality and animal safety of dietary

supplements. A gold logo is displayed on the label of

products that have met this voluntary standard.

Sometimes, the active ingredient of a dietary

supplement is very similar to that of a drug (chondroitin

sulfate is contained in most dietary supplements for

joint health and a derivative of chondroitin sulfate

is the active ingredient in Adequan). While they

are administered via

different routes (oral

versus IM), Adequan

can make a drug claim

while the dietary

supplements cannot.

In light of the

absence of regulatory

control over dietary

supplements, how can

a consumer choose an

effective product? Ask

for data using their

formulated product.

Ask for a certiicate

of analysis of their

formulated product

(not the raw materials

used to make their

product). Look for the NASC logo. Finally, use

dietary supplements judiciously. They are expensive;

sometimes costing the same or more than the grain

portion, yet may not provide suficient eficacy.

Dietary supplements are unlikely to cure a

disease but may help the horse maintain optimum

health to recover more quickly from an injury or

disease.

When evaluating a product on your horse, try

to avoid the temptation to throw the book at the

horse by trying numerous new products all at once,

but rather evaluate them one at a time for a suficient

period. Sometimes the withdrawal of a product is

more informative than the addition of the product.

A good way to consider use of these varied

products for our sport horses is that dietary

supplements help maintain the horse while drugs

treat or cure a condition or disease.

Sometimes the most cost-effective approach is to

utilize the big guns of pharmaceutical drugs irst,

then follow up with a supportive role of supplements.

When available, generic drugs save money and are

equally effective and safe as the pioneer drug. If

the right drug isnt available, a compounding lab or

another country may provide a legal alternative.

Remember that competitive horses may not be

administered compounds that may alter behavior

or mask pain during competitions. Check the

applicable rules of your organizing body (FEI, AQHA,

USEF) regarding permissible and non-permissible

medications during competition.

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What do a dressage horse who has dificulty with lateral

work, a jumper with stile problems, and a racehorse thatcant change leads have in common? It might be weak

hindquarter muscles NOT due to Equine Protozoal Myelitis (EPM;

from Sarcocystis neuroni infection), herpesvirus, or Lyme Disease,

the three most common reasons for neurologic muscle weakness

(vertebral malformation being a fourth cause). And, it might be

readily correctable!

In many horses with neuro-muscular-based hindquarter

weakness, the veterinary neurological exam may be normal or

reveal few abnormalities except signiicant hindquarter weakness

on the lateral tail pull test.

In this test the veterinarian stands or walks beside the

hindquarters of the horse and pulls sideways on the tail while

the horse is irst standing still, then walking, to check for muscle

strength to resist the sideways pull. Some horses can be pulled

almost 90 degrees laterally (i.e., at right angle to the direction ofmovement) without much effort. (Figures 1A and 1B. ) These horses

are usually then tested and treated for EPM or other conditions,

often with only partial success.

Weakness at only a localized region certainly can be a symptom

of EPM, but can also indicate a local glitch or inhibition in

the spinal cord-nerve-muscle circuit that may be permanently

correctable in a few minutes time. Usually there is no pain

or obvious inlammation. Applied Kinesiology evaluation and

treatment, extrapolated from human use and adapted for horses;

acupuncture, and other alternative medicine approaches provide

additional tools in these cases.

Applied Kinesiology (AK) is a diagnostic and therapeutic

discipline (and a recognized medical specialty in some countries)

that combines knowledge of muscle function and nervous system

function with biochemistry, anatomy, neuroanatomy, nutrition,muscle cell metabolism and other biomedical ields. As such it

provides both a means to detect and correct a wide range of nerve-

muscle circuit (i.e., neuro-muscular) functional abnormalities

stemming from previous injury, or nutritional, biochemical,

metabolic, or even emotional factors.

Applied Kinesiology was discovered and initially developed by

Dr. George Goodheart, a chiropractor, 50 years ago. Dr. Goodheart

was also the irst chiropractor to be an oficial U.S. Olympic Team

doctor.

AK is now an international discipline primarily practiced by

chiropractors, physicians, and acupuncture physicians, although

some veterinarians also employ it.

In AK, muscle-organ relationships have been identiied by

manual muscle testing of individual muscles and inding the organ

relex point or tissue extract that counteracts weakness of thespeciic muscle.

The medial stabilizer muscles of the hindquarter, which help

to resist the lateral pulling of the tail test, include the inner thigh

muscles (adductors, gracilis, and sartorius) and medial muscles

of the lower limb including the gastrocnemius and soleus. These

and the posterior tibial muscle, which becomes part of the deep

digital lexor tendon, are associated with the adrenal glands. This

association means that a problem with the adrenal glands, such

as stress from shipping, hard training and showing, inadequate

nutrition, or environmental chemicals, affects those speciic

muscles, causing dysfunction leading to weakness. The reverse is

also true: weak muscles from injury or other cause can also impact

the associated gland or tissue function.

Hindquarter HelpWeakness may be corrected through applied kinesiology

LYNNPECK, DVM

Figure 1A: A weak lateral tail pull test. Not much strength was needed to pullthis horses hindquarters at least 45 degrees from the direcon of travel

Figure 1B:A strong test. Note the more deeply bent body posion of the tail-

puller, who is exerng nearly maximal force with only slight deviaon of the

horses hindquarters. The two photos were taken nine minutes apart using the

same horse.

Figure 2:This

warmblood gelding

was regularlyridden several

mes a week on

the at. Six weeks

aer applying

the techniques

in this arcle,

he had obvious

signicant muscle

development

without any change

in his roune or

level of acvity.


25/32

Similarly, the lateral stabilizer muscles of the

opposite hind leg include the gluteals, tensor fascia

lata, biceps femoris (lateral hamstrings), and the

lateral muscles below the stile. These muscles are

associated with the large intestine, reproductive

organs (no longer present in geldings and some

mares; or being suppressed by hormone injections).

Both medial and lateral stabilizers are probably

assisted to some extent by the abdominal muscles on

each side (small intestine association; e.g., ulcers in

the upper digestive tract).When the organ-muscle association is the main

reason for neuromuscular weakness, circular rubbing

of the associated neuro-lymphatic relex point can

often bring immediate improvement in muscle

function. Neurolymphatic relex points were

discovered by Dr. Frank Chapman, an osteopath,

in the 1930s. They were observed to cause rapid

improvements in organ or gland function in human

patients when stimulated. Later, Dr. Goodheart

found he was able to cause dramatic improvement

in the associated muscles strength and function by

rubbing the points.

In horses, similar improvement in muscle

strength and nerve-muscle function occurs when the

appropriate neuro-lymphatic relex is stimulated.These points can be rubbed daily for 3-5 minutes

as part of treatment or routine management of an

equine athlete with high performance demands.

Blocked or subluxated hind fetlock joints or

elbow: A single misalignment of a hind fetlock joint

can cause profound weakness (inhibition) in multiple

hindquarter muscles.

In taking human AK training, the author had

the experience of her own upper leg and pelvic

stabilizer muscles being profoundly weak during

manual muscle testing. Noticing that the toe

knuckles (metatarsal-phalangeal joints) were out of

alignment, the tester, a licensed human chiropractor,

adjusted those joints. Immediately the weak muscles

became extremely strong.

Taking this observation into clinical practice, the

author began to check hind fetlock joints routinely.

A simple correction by strumming around the entire

joint again caused profound positive changes inher patients athletic abilities. Signiicant muscle

development also would quickly occur over the

entire body, without any changes in the horses

management or training routine.

In horses that still tested with weak but improved

lateral tail pull tests after addressing the fetlock,

similar treatment of the elbow joint on the sideopposite the tail pull would often bring increased

strength.

Blocked acupuncture meridians are a third

apparent cause of hind limb weakness. These can

occur from old injuries, recent injuries, scar tissue,

and in particular, brands such as many warmbloods

have (scar treatment may also be of help, via Touch

Balancing/Animal Bowen therapy, laser, procaine

injections, wheat germ oil application, or other

means). The Gall Bladder meridian runs through this

exact area, while the Stomach meridian follows a line

over the front of the stile joint. Often stile problems

are present when there are stomach meridian

blockages. The author has frequently observed that a

meridian blockage is usually accompanied by muscle

weakness/inhibition along the entire meridian

pathway following the blockage.

Sometimes this also includes sensory nerve

input being reduced or absent, so that a horse

literally cannot feel the riders leg aids. Unblocking

the meridian by a light strum across the point of

blockage, or needling the beginning and end points

(or using light or sound devices at these locations),

will usually immediately restore nerve-muscle

function of the affected areas, as evaluated by neuro-

muscular function tests and response to the riders

aids. In one case, a horse that had become very

sluggish to the riders legs instantly reverted to his

normal, highly responsive self after clearing a Gall

Bladder meridian block with one or two light strums.

In summary, using Applied Kinesiology and

other techniques, many horses are found to have

local problems in a given nerve-muscle circuit(s) thatcauses a correctable muscle weakness.

These techniques may have success where

medications, acupuncture point treatment, spinal

manipulation (chiropractic), massage, or other

approaches have not worked. Normal nerve-muscle

function can often be permanently and quickly

restored, resulting in improved performance for the

equine athlete.

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THESE TECHNIQUES MAY HAVE

SUCCESS WHERE MEDICATIONS,ACUPUNCTURE POINT TREATMENT,SPINAL MANIPU LATION CHIROPRACTIC,MASSAGE, OR OTHER APPROACHESHAVE NOT WORKED.


26/32

If you are reading this article in this magazine,

theres a better than average chance that you

have a passion for horses. And, like many

equine enthusiasts, perhaps you secretly dream

of a career involving horses. You are not alone. I

used to sit at my desk in my ofice and dream of at

time when I could trade in four walls for barn stalls,

when I could do what I loved for a living. But, give

up a steady paycheck, insurance beneits, and a

retirement plan? That seemed irresponsible, almost

reckless. Equestrian pursuits remained a hobby, and

I continued to climb the corporate ladder, rung by

rung, step by step, a reluctant success with my heart

elsewhere. But, the money was good, and it paid for

horses and clinics and lessons, and I consoled myself

with the thought that one day I would retire and live

my equestrian dream.

Then, one day, in December of 2012, I was told

by the company I worked for that my services were

no longer required. Really? Oh joy! What could have

been disaster was in fact the best day of my life! I was

free, free to do what I wanted, free to be whatever I

wanted to be.

In the United States, there is no formal certiication

required for becoming a professional horse trainer

or instructor. Unlike many European countries,

there are no mandatory licensing procedures and

there is little regulation. While organizations such

as the United States Dressage Federation and The

United States Eventing Association offer Instructor

Certiication programs, they are voluntary in nature

and not required.

Unfortunately, almost anyone can declare

themselves a trainer. All it takes is a phone call and

fax to the United States Equestrian Federation, and,

poof, youre a Professional. Changing your status

from Amateur to Professional is remarkable only in

its understatement and simplicity. A designation that

for me represented such a milestone was remarkably

easy to obtain. I had expected it to be harder, to jump

through hoops, for fanfare. Not so. However, that was

just the beginning, there were other, more dificult

obstacles to overcome. Here are some lessons I

learned during my transition from Amateur to Pro.

Establish Your Credentials

In the absence of any formal certiication

procedures, it is up to you to establish your

credentials. Why should someone take lessons from

you? What sets you apart from the other trainers in

your area? What are your accomplishments?

I began laying the groundwork for my professional

status many years prior to the actual event. Knowing

that teaching and training was my ultimate goal,

every educational opportunity I could take advantage

of as an amateur, I did. If you are going to teach,

you need to love to learn. I admit to having almost

every book on the USDF Recommended Reading List

for Judges and Instructors. I have a video library

that crosses multiple disciplines. When an USDF

Learner Judge Program was offered in Florida, I was

among the irst to send in my application to attend,

graduating with distinction. Ive attended countless

clinics, workshops, symposiums, and seminars. You

can learn something from everyone, so embrace

every opportunity that comes your way.

You also need to show competency in yourdiscipline. While competition can be expensive, its

important to demonstrate your abilities. For me, the

USDF Bronze and Silver Medals and the Silver Musical

Freestyle Bars are tangible assets that demonstrate

proiciency, as do other awards won over the years.

Some advice, keep track of what youve accomplished,

and market it.

Be Honest about Your Skill Set

Not everyone is going to be an FEI trainer, and

thats ok. If you are looking to teach your horse to

piaffe, Im not the right trainer for you; there are other

trainers with far more experience at that than I. But,

if you are an adult amateur with fear or conidence

issues, well, thats another story.When starting out, you may have to take whatever

work comes your way, but be careful. The worst

thing you can do is over-promise and under-deliver.

Your reputation is built by word of mouth. If you are

not comfortable with what is being asked of you, be

up front about that with your clients. Far better to

send that horse and/or rider to someone else, or to

have an open dialogue about what is needed.

I have a woman I teach several times a week

who has Tennessee Walkers. When she contacted

me about lessons, I told her I knew very little about

gaited horses. My focus is dressage. She said that

didnt matter, as long as I was willing to learn. She

has taught me quite a bit about gaited horses, and

I have taught her quite a bit about classical training

principles. Its been tremendous fun, all the more so

because the relationship was built on full disclosure.

I didnt pretend to know something I did not, and so

weve been able to work through training challenges

openly and honestly.

Horse Sense & People Skills

Truly gifted riders do not always make the

best instructors. For them, riding is as effortless as

breathing; they dont think, they just do. When askedto intellectualize, they have dificulty expressing

their actions in words. While communicating with

the horse is easy for them, teaching that skill to

others is more challenging.

In a recent lesson, a student was struggling with

unsteadiness in the bridle. Her mare uses lightness

as an evasion, and avoids true connection by going

above or behind the bit. She asked me to get on the

horse and talk through everything that I was doing.

When did I use my leg? Which leg? How long, how

much? When did I use the reins? How? When?

Why? It was a teachable moment for both of us.

My student had no idea how many connecting

half halts were actually being applied (the answer is

as many as necessary and as little as possible). Toher, it had seemed like I was doing nothing, when in

fact there was a constant dialogue with the mare.

Of equal importance was the explanation of

when I was truly doing nothing, when the mare was

moving correctly from back to front and into the

bridle and I could enjoy a following connection.

Some students learn from words, some from

images, some by watching, and some by doing. It

is important to combine all of the senses in your

teaching. Find many different ways to explain the

same concept; you will need every single one of

them. Remember, you have two students, the rider

and the horse. Teaching a skill that relies so heavily

Going ProLessons learned in the leap

from amateur to professional

KARENABBATTISTA


Karen Abbasta nishes a dressage test on HF Cali

florida sporthorse winter 2014

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