PDF Download 

$35.00

Order Powerpoint presentation

$50.00

A complete work out for the horse, when executed under the saddle. An effective weight loss program for the trainer, when executed at the lunge line. The work in hand-lunge line version is presented here. The ground configuration is used to work main limbs and back muscles both eccentrically and concentrically. Eccentric contraction is a high power muscle contraction, which, if immediately followed by concentric contraction greatly increases the power of the contraction.. The concept is referred to as stretch-shorten contraction. The storage and recovery of elastic strain energy during a stretch-shorten contraction is an important element of success in equine athletic performances. The energy stored during the eccentric contraction can substantially amplify force and power production in the subsequent concentric contraction. This video is a short extract of the material used for Immersion II. 

While recently, new surgical techniques are offering a solution to the problem of "Kissing Spine," The aftermaths of invasive surgery are raising serious questions by comparison to a non-invasive approach that only take a few months.

 

This horse was diagnosed with kissing spine between L4 and L5. As a result of the pain related to the situation, the horse had developed serious behavior problems. The kissing spine situation was approached addressing the back muscle imbalance that placed the spine into damaging alignment. The reeducation was fully done in motion. It was physical therapy.

 

The problem of kissing spine is often a combination of genetic predisposition placing the dorsal spines dangerously close, and a working attitude closing the dorsal spinous processes even more. The solution is to figure out the elements that are generating the wrong working attitude and create a functional vertebral column alignment.

 

Dressage-Jumpers-3 Day Eventers

HERE

Friday July 22, Saturday July 23, Sunday July 24, 2011.

 

One can come for one day or two or three.

The trademark of the Immersion program is to provide the knowledge that supports efficient practical application. Friendly, casual, informative and always with humor.

 

 

 

Friday July 22

Shoulder In

 

The root cause of all the horses we have reeducated with Kissing Spine were always a combination of spine extension or contraction and lateral bending and inverted rotation.

 

The nuances were different for each horse but gymnastic exercises combining lateral bending, transversal rotation and dorso-ventral flexion, such as shoulder in, and half pass, were abundantly used.

 

The evidence prompted the thought that analyzing the shoulder in, not only from the performance perspective, but from the therapeutic angle would be a perfect introduction to the reeducation of the kissing spine.

 

Saturday July 23

Kissing Spine

 

Kissing spine often results from genetic predisposition and working attitude. The dorsal spinous processes are inherently too close and the horse adopts a working attitude leading the dorsal spines to touch either permanently or intermittently. 

 

Beside violent reactions such as bucking or rearing, the most common symptoms are neck tossing, tail spinning, teeth grinding, and instability in both working attitude and gaits. The horse is looking for less discomfort by constantly changing the cadence, the length of the strides, the body posture, the contact on the bit, etc.  

 

The genetic abnormality itself cannot be changed, but the section of vertebral column creating the problem can be reeducated by working. A horse can learn to live and perform quite well with dorsal spines inherently too close. Once the working attitude creating the problem has been identified, the gymnastic program focuses on developing and coordinating the horse's physique efficiently.

 

 

 

Sunday July 24

Long but not Low

 

Any forced neck posture hampers the horse's ability to perform. However, there is for each horse a neck position that enhances the vertebral column mechanism. With so may theories relative to neck postures, horses are often adopting a learned neck position instead of the position that would gave them greater efficiency. The second topic of the journey(s) about kissing spine, is to understand what really happens inside the neck when the horse lengthens or lowers the cervical appendage, and how neck posture enhances or affects the vertebral column mechanism. 

 

We will work with 3 horses diagnosed with Kissing Spine, they will be evaluated and a gymnastic program will be created for each. Contact us for information to have your horse included. helyn@scienceofmotion.com or 941-539-6207. (There is no added expense to have your horse in the program)

 

Prices: Each day is $300.00

Book three days for $250.00 Per day.

early registration price reduction

Lunch and materials are included

10AM to 3 PM

 

REGISTER HERE

 

Limited enrollment!

 

Immersion Four is  scheduled August 16, 17 and 18, 2011

 

The waspish ghosts of theological thinking.

Part IV

The Ghost Piaff

Jan Luc Cornille

A proliferation of, almost piaff, first step of piaff, baby piaff, soon piaff, etc., are drowning youtube, facebook and other social networks. The pictures illustrating these almost piaff, soon piaff, or fist step of piaff, are not piaff at all. They are taken during a up or down trot transition. One was even taken during a down transition from canter to trot. At the instant the picture is taken, the legs might look like being in the position of piaff but the kinematics of the vertebral column, the weight distribution and even the kinematics of the limbs in relation to the body do not match. Theses pictures are fakes. They illustrate what their author believe about the piaff but they show in reality a severe ignorance of the athletic demand of the piaff. 

Some are showing a bamboo pole activating the forelegs. The FEI banned the bamboo pole decades ago from the jumping ring. Studies have since demonstrated that hitting the front legs, trainers were hitting the wrong end of the problem. Researches have demonstrated that faults of the forelegs originated in fact from insufficient propulsive activity of the hind legs in the early phase of the take off. Dusting off the bamboo pole from the attic, dressage trainers are showing the same ignorance. The elevation of the front leg results from the capacity of the hind legs to decelerates the horse's body during the piaff avoiding forward shift of the weight over the forelegs. Perhaps a better use of the bamboo pole would be hitting the ghosts on the head. READ ON (Video also on page)

It used to be that any horse over 10 years old was considered "aged". That was the definition when I was in 4-H and although I personally don't like to think about how long ago that was, it is not, in the course of equine evolution, very long ago at all - 40 years or so.

Many horses easily live into their 30s these days with an active riding schedule as part of that extended life. However as our horses age we must alter our expectations and our schooling programs. For the mental health of both human and equine you need to look at working with your older horse from a different point of view - enjoying their good days, accepting their bad and simply finding joy in their company when riding is not an option on any given day. 

Those of us humans that are a bit long in the tooth understand how important it is to stay active. The weekend warrior approach to physical activities takes a bigger toll on older bodies - both human and equine. A far better approach is to school the older horse lightly everyday. If this is not possible then at least 3-4 times a week. Any less than that allows the aging process to take a bigger bite. Arthritic joints become stiff, muscles first tighten and then lose tone, cardiovascular endurance is diminished and recovery time when you do ride becomes increasing longer. READ ON