The College of Saddle Fitting

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☀️💥Please beware of the hard ground... think and plan wherever you can…💥☀️

We always see an increase in lameness’s when the land is hard and dry, and with no rainfall forecast we urge you to be mindful.

Many lameness’s are associated with increased concussion or slipping due to the hard conditions. As we move to the season where many outdoor competitions are being held on grass, think about how hard the ground is - not just at the show but in your horse / pony’s paddock too.

If they are constantly moving, playing, being ridden, jumping on hard ground, particularly with shoes on, then they will be at high risk of concussion injuries.

Common injuries associated with hard ground:
• Concussion and jarring
• Bruised soles
• Splints
• Tendon injuries
• Laminitis - as a result of concussion, which traumatises the sensitive laminae in the foot.
• Sore shins - the signs are swelling to the front of the cannon bone, which may lead to fractures within the bone if the horse is not rested

We can look out for early signs that a horse may be jarring up. They may not be obviously lame yet, but it is time to act and rest:
• Shortening of the stride: a horse may lose the swing and spring in its step as it tries to minimise jarring when its feet hit the ground
• Tension: muscles change their function on hard ground to help reduce concussion. This means they reduce their ability to work independently and compromise overall performance
• Refusing: they may be reluctant to land after a fence, so may start stopping
• Flattening and rushing over a fence: to minimise concussion on landing the horse adjusts its technique to prevent it landing so hard

How can you reduce the risk?
• Good conformation in the first instance
• They must be FIT for the work being asked of them
• Well shod with correct foot balance
• Not carrying excess weight
• Aim to do all ridden preparation including warm ups, on surfaced arenas if this is possible.
• Discuss the pros and cons of anti-concussive pads with your vet or farrier.

Many venues make a real effort to improve the ground, but there is a limit to what can be done in dry conditions. If it feels like concrete underfoot and you can save your horse for another day, you probably should.

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Why you will not see me being spectacular on a young horse:

Klaus Balkenhol explains, "Although breeders have created a better horse, the market has created a demand for a stronger, healthier, more powerful horse. It's easier to sell a horse that looks like a carefully developed eight-year-old, and not like a three- or four-year-old just beginning his career. If you force it, you can get a three-year-old to physically look like a developed eight-year-old. Too many colts remain stallions which, if approved, promise breeders higher prices as three-year-olds. Now 250 to 300 young stallions are presented each year, when only 40 or 50 will be approved.
Few breeders have the sense to geld the yearling stallions and leave them on the pasture to mature naturally. Instead, yearling stallions are brought into a stall, fed too much grain, and at three, look like six- or seven-year-olds. They have muscle mass, but not enough bone structure to support it. They look mature from the outside but aren't . . . and when started to work, degeneration sets in. Competitions also create pressure to push horses too fast as competitions are now scheduled throughout the year without any breaks."
Common Mistakes In Pushing Too Fast
Tightening the noseband: "A horse resists by sticking out his tongue. Tightening the noseband too much puts pressure on the nose and on the poll. If it is necessary to tighten the noseband very tightly, then something has gone very wrong in the basic training of the horse. The horse cannot be relaxed, the first step on the training scale," warns Klaus.
Specializing too early: "Drilling every day in the indoor arena is too intense for the young horse. It's very important, especially in the first two years of training, not to specialize the young horse. Training should include a variety of activities, including trail riding, which is good for the mind as well as building strength with hill work. It should include jumping, either free or low jumps under saddle, including small natural obstacles on the trail, and cavaletti. A variety of work will allow the horse to stay mentally fresh and to enjoy his work. Only when the horse is happy can dressage become art."
Not checking tack frequently: "Saddle and tack need to be checked constantly for proper fit and adjusted as the horse's body changes with growth, and as his fitness improves with the training. If the noseband gets too low, for example, and the skin between the noseband and the bit is rubbed and becomes sore, this causes the horse discomfort and loss of relaxation. Regularly check for sharp edges and bit problems in the horse's mouth and teeth."
Working too long: "The goal of our training is to build the horse's mind and his muscles. Suppleness and relaxation require adequate muscle strength. strengthening requires both contraction and relaxation. Blood flow and oxygenation occur when the muscle relaxes. If the muscle is kept in a constant state of contraction, it loses power and strength, and actually becomes smaller. Frequent rest periods, especially for a young horse at a free walk on a long rein, are necessary. The rest periods are not for a rider's fatigue, but to allow the horse to stretch and relax his muscles. The rest breaks will give you a completely new horse. This is the systematic gymnasticizing of the horse."
Riding when the horseman is tense: "Horses are particularly sensitive to the rider's mood. A rider shouldn't ride if she is under undue stress or doesn't have the time to ride. If the rider has a bad day, give the horse a rest day or go for a relaxing trail ride; don't work in the arena. The horse mirrors the rider's mood."
Not praising the horse enough: "The horse must perform from joy, not subservience. Praising a horse frequently with voice, a gentle pat, or relaxing the reins is very important to keep the horse interested and willing. If the horse offers piaffe, for instance, because he's excited, praise him for it. You shouldn't stop the lesson at that point nor make a big deal out of it. If you don't want piaffe, quietly urge him forward into trot, but you should NEVER punish him for offering the piaffe. - Klaus Blakenhol

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