North Carolina

Contact-Pamela A. McKnight 

pamela.mcknight@prosperitymortgage.com

phone-910-629-3099

2012 Commences with a new and fascinating program, the Motion Microscope Therapy.                                                                   

Analyzing the horse's motion like under the microscope is of course a figure of style but which describes quite well the deepness of the analysis.

In 1976, James Rooney identified the kinematics abnormalities causing injuries. Biomechanics of lameness in horseswas a magisterial work allowing understanding how most common injuries develop. However, nobody followed up on the pathologist's work because traditional equitation does not permit to efficiently modify vertebral column and limbs kinematics. An intense work needed to be done about the practical application of advanced scientific knowledge on riding techniques. The result is an equitation preparing efficiently the horse's physique for the athletic demand of the performances. This equitation leads to better performances and above all, allows the horse to walk soundly in and out of the show ring.

One per one we are going to study the kinematics abnormalities causing injuries, the riding misconception creating the anomalies and the equitation correcting the source of the malfunctions. 

We have limited capacities in terms of participants. Reserve your place early and benefit from our early reservation special price.  

How shoeing techniques influence limbs kinematics, how Sacroiliac Strain occurs, how Navicular Syndrome develops. Three specialists. Betsy Uhl DVM. PhD. Mike Gallagher Shoeing and Jean Luc Cornille science of motion,  who appreciate each other's competence and can discuss openly in a friendly atmosphere

I will be editing out names on our newsletter due to non usage as it costs per person to send out emails and if you are not opening nor clicking then no need to be signed up for newsletter. As always information is on our website and archives of newsletter. 

The thought that the horse's gait could actually be changed to rehab or prevent injuries is almost completely foreign to veterinarians as well as trainers." (Betsy Uhl, DVM, PhD. 2011)

When equine locomotion and athletic performances are analyzed in great details, like under the microscope, limb kinematics abnormalities causing injuries can actually be corrected. The horse's physique can actually be optimally coordinated for the athletic demand of the performance. This evolution is made possible by updated understanding of the horse's physiology.

Born with advanced research studies, the Motion Microscope Therapy has mature into a different field of research; the training ring. The result is a powerful therapy identifying and addressing the source of the kinematics abnormality causing the injury. 

"A major cause of lameness is lameness." Rooney's famous idea is that when it is repeated every stride a mild kinematics abnormality causes injury. Kinematics abnormalities may originate from morphological flaw or muscle imbalance, but also from training misconceptions. Lacking the support of adequate scientific knowledge great authors' thoughts have been distorted over time and simplified to the point of meaningless formulas. In fact simplistic formulas are the main cause of equine injuries. In this series, we review, one by one, the kinematics abnormalities causing injuries and how training misconceptions can create such abnormalities. 

Hind Legs' Engagement.

Whatever the horse's specialty, the base of all equine athletic performance is the engagement of the hind legs. The point here is not to question the need for hind legs' engagement but instead to underline the fact that focusing on the hoof placement is a simplification, which places the horse at risk of injury. Sound locomotion demands precise coordination between forward swing of the hind limb around the hip joint and dorso-ventral rotation of the pelvis. In his quantitative study on Swedish Warmbloods comparing back and limbs kinematics of good and bad movers, Mikael Holmstr�m observed greater pelvis rotation on above average movers. "The undulation of the pelvis was larger in the horses with good trot and increased in passage." (1)

The hind limbs and the pelvis have to move in the same direction. When the hind limb swings forward, the pelvis rotates dorso-ventrally. When the hind leg moves backward into the pushing phase, the pelvis returns into a more horizontal position. Pelvis and limb movements are proportional but soundness demands their precise synchronization. The problem is that it is possible through whip or spurs to create deeper engagement of the hind leg without adequate pelvis rotation. The kinematics abnormality might please uneducated eyes but places the horse at risk of sacroiliac (SI) strain and stifle problem.

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Training Program

(Impossible is only impossible within the limits of conventional thinking).

Instead of sending your horse to be crippled at Wellington or Ocala, use the winter to upgrade your horse at the next level, resolve problems hampering the horse's performances, or restore soundness.

Only three horses at the time. Training is a demanding business. There is the time spent on the horse's back for gymnastic and the time spent with the horse. Nurturing is part of the education. A horse properly trained is asked to think and challenge his physique. The horse needs to feel special and confident.

Such is our strong belief and the reason why, when Jean Luc's clinic program become extremely busy, we placed the training program in standby. We knew that we will not have the time to do it properly. With the winter, the clinics in the North are slowing down allowing saving the week days for the horses.

With a training program focusing on the root cause of the horse's difficulties, progresses are rapid and beyond the scope of conventional approaches. Distance and occupation permitting, we are encouraging the rider to closely follow the horse's progresses. We have the capacity to host comfortably both, the horse and the rider (guest house) $35. per day. (Please note we are not a bed and breakfast and limit stay on farm unless special arrangements are made in advance with us.)

In average, the horse is trained 5 days per week. The training occurs from early morning to early afternoon. As much as possible, the same horse works at the same hour every day. Regularity is the trademark of our training program. Feeding schedule, turn out, special cares, are all part of a routine that the horse knows and is comfortable with.

Due to the limited number of availabilities, we encourage you to contact us rapidly for scheduling.

Monthly fee of $2800. includes riders education. A deposit of $500. upon reservation. Balance due on arrival with coggins and vaccination papers.

We have openings in March, April and May.

Click here for webpage  OR contact helyn@scienceofmotion.com

941-539-6207

Register for IMMERSION 5

Feb 17th, 18th and 19th 2012

Prices are $225.00 per day with discount if registerd by Jan 9th 2012

Friday February 17, Farrier Day                                                          with Mike Gallagher

Saturday February 18, The biomechanics of Sacroiliac (SI) strain      with Jean Luc Cornille

Sunday February 19. The Pathology of Navicular Syndrome            With Betsy Uhl D.V.M., Ph.D. Dip ACVP

Farrier Day. Friday February 17. Mike Gallagher is one of the miracle makers who allow a horse to enter the show ring sound when he exited the previous class questionable. Mike will explain and demonstrate the techniques applied. Jean Luc will explain how the shoeing technique influences the horse's kinematics. A very simple example is the brake over phenomenon. Mike will explain the different techniques. Jean Luc will explain at which instant of the stance the brake over occurs. (The stance is the sequence of the stride where the hoof is on the ground.) The discussion will underline the positive effects when the shoeing technique is properly done, but also the negative effects when the shoeing technique is exaggerated or incorrect.

Sacroiliac Strain. Saturday February 18. In the class room, Jean Luc will manipulate the horse's vertebral column explaining the biomechanics of SI strain. In the training ring, Jean Luc will explain and demonstrate in hand as well as riding different horses, the training misconceptions that can lead to SI issues. Sacroiliac Strain can be the result of a single and dramatic event. However, quite often, SI problems result from repetitive abnormal stresses. Understanding the kinematics abnormality causing the stresses allows preventing the problem. SI mild strains can be resolved, but the problem is dangerous as it can be the end of the horse career. The timing for this Sacroiliac session is opportune since there is currently a resurgence of SI problems and in most instances the problem can be prevented.

Navicular Syndrome. Sunday Feb 19th The highlight of Immersion 4 was Betsy Uhl's brilliant presentation on the pathology of cartilage issues. With Immersion 5 Betsy is furthering her discussion concentrating on the development of navicular syndrome. The disease is primarily a remodeling disease which can be reversed if addressed early enough and through the right approach. Working together, Betsy and Jean Luc provide a comprehensive view of the problem. How the disease develops, which kinematics abnormalities cause excessive pressure between the distal sesamoid bone and the deep digital flexor tendon, how to rehabilitate the affected horse and above all, how to prevent the problem.

We have limited capacities in terms of participants. Reserve your place early and benefit from our early reservation special price.  

How shoeing techniques influence limbs kinematics, how Sacroiliac Strain occurs, how Navicular Syndrome develops. Three specialists. Betsy Uhl DVM. PhD. Mike Gallagher Shoeing and Jean Luc Cornille science of motion,  who appreciate each other's competence and can discuss openly in a friendly atmosphere. 

Hotels close to farm:

La Quinta Inn And Suites Snellville

Snellville, GA

Book By Phone: 877-477-8004

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Lawrenceville

Lawrenceville, GA

Book By Phone: 877-477-8004

Helyn told me, your mom is coming back. So I ran through the field screaming my mom is coming. I did not really know the meaning of what I was saying but it is very common in the horse business that trainers repeat phrases and quotations without having any idea of their meaning. I knew that Helyn worked on the project for many months. He arrived one morning at the barn, rested his forearms on my window giving me carrots like he does every morning when he is home. He then told me,Helyn found your mother on the Internet. Don't ask me how. I know that your mom is currently living in Canada nursing her last foal. She is 17 years old and I will bet you that she will be here soon. I have no idea how Helyn is going to do it but I can guarantee you that your mother will be here one day.

One night he worked quite late in the barn finishing the construction of a stall on the other side of the alleyway. Two days later, a trailer arrived and a beautiful black equine athlete entered the barn. I was shocked that my mother would be black. I was even more surprised to realize that my mother was a gelding. Progress has been made in genetics but I decided that more than likely, he was not my mother. The next day, he came back from a clinic asking, did you meet Disco? Nice horse. He is also a very good mover in freedom. Under the saddle, he needs to learn how to control his balance. This is why he is here. That same evening, he worked late at night again, finishing the second stall. At one moment he had difficulty with a screw. The drill jumped smashing his fingers. He went on with a loud tirade in French, which included the word Mother!!! That is how I knew that she was coming.

As he was drilling the last screw, Helyn arrived saying, She is here. Helyn was holding the video camera in one hand and the still-shot camera in the other, already planning her photo session. Then, Helyn was so excited that she ran toward the front gate leaving both cameras in the tack room. He grabbed the video camera and walked toward the gate. The rig was so big that it could not enter the farm. Minutes later she arrived. My first thought was that she was too small. I could not have nursed on so small a mother. Manchester reminded me that I was smaller at birth. She looked tired but very kind. She almost missed me as she entered the barn but he turned her around so she could meet me. The general consensus is that we do not remember our parents. However, as we stayed nose to nose for a few seconds, I had confused feelings. I knew that she was a female but there was this smell that was vaguely familiar. The beautiful black athlete was acting like a stallion rounding his neck above his stall door and calling frantically. He was feeling her as a female. I was feeling her differently. As she walked toward her stall, I smelled her body. There was something familiar with the smell.

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