These two pictures that we loop for better visual impression are showing first where the horse does lift the back. It is not in the lumbar area as it was pretended in a recent video, but instead under the rider in the thoracic area. The horse does intermittently flex the lumbar vertebrae during specific sequences of different gaits such as during the flight period of the canter or during high collection of the piaff. However if the lumbar flexion occurs without first thoracic flexion and strong work of the extrinsic muscles of the forelegs which are supporting the trunk between the forelegs, lumbar flexion would shift the weight on the forelegs. 

 

The second point is that thoracolumbar flexion is a horse's response to the rider's back. There is no need of lowering of the neck. Back flexion is created by the coordination of back muscles situated above the vertebrae and therefore directly influenced by the rider's back muscles. Here is how it is done. On the first frame, I adjust the reins and straighten my vertebral column. The response comes immediately as demonstrated by the second picture which is a fraction of a second after the first one. 

 

In the study, Hind Legs Engagement, Stifle Problems, we explain that if the rider does not ask first for a lift of the thoracic vertebrae allowing the horse to work properly with the dorso-ventral rotation of the pelvis, the hind legs might engage at the cost of kinematics abnormalities that could engender over a period of time, stifle problems. These two pictures are the two first stride of a working session. Before asking any engagement of the hind legs I ask first to Chazot to lift his back. The neck is long but not low. In fact, if the neck was low, Chazot, as well as any horse, would not be physically capable to lift his back. Jean Luc Cornille

 

Jean Luc  with your video will give analysis and evalution of a horse you are looking to buy or have if you have a horse with problems.

Fee is $45.00 Per video.

Videos must be clear, no shaking , horse in walk, trot and canter on lead and/or being ridden Complete front, side and back views.  History of the problem and eventual treatment. (If any)

We do not diagnosed, we provide analysis, working hypothosis,  reeducation program and follow up.

Below is an example of Jean Luc response to a video he viewed of a horse being considered for purchase:

Asking price of horse below $40,000.

 

Read a few of his evaluations and learn how to have your horse evaluated. 

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We have been very busy at SOM with horses in training, One on One Immersion and getting ready for Feb Immersion 5! 

We have a new section Stable Chatter with Susan Hopf be sure to leave a comment. 

Jean Luc and I look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones at Immersion 5!

Sincerely,
Editor Helyn Cornille
Science Of Motion

 

Feb 17th, 18th and 19th 2012

Prices are $225.00 per day

Immersion 5

Friday February 17th  Saturday 18th &  Sunday 19th

Biomechanics of SI Injuries

At the 19th century, the Prussian cavalry elevated the horses' head and neck completely. The experiment lasted a few decades and was then abandoned. The untold story is that the total elevation of the horses' neck engendered an alarming level of back injuries. Today, an equally alarming level of sacroiliac injuries is affecting modern horses. Would it be possible that rushing the horse forward onto a low neck posture could induce Sacroiliac strain? 

Friday February 17th is SI Day.

 

Sacroiliac strains result in most instances from repetitive abnormal stresses.

In the class room, manipulating the skeletons, and working the horses in hand or under the saddle, Jean Luc is going to guide you through;

- Understanding the kinematics abnormalities inducing dangerous stresses,

- Feeling or identifying visually the kinematics abnormalities leading to SI problems.

- Learning how to correct or avoid these kinematics abnormalities.

 

Saturday February 18th is Horse Shoeing Day.

 

Everyone knows the terminology, break over, egg-bar shoes, medio-lateral balance, clips, etc. Do you know that different techniques can be applied for each one of these shoeing peculiarities? Would you like to know how each technique does influence the hoof capsule? What about a full day with an experienced farrier willing to explain?

 

Mike Gallagher has spent decades on the shoeing stand of the show ring making time after time, the miracles allowing doubtful horses to perform well in their next class. The miracles are in fact shoeing techniques modifying the dynamics involved in the hoof and lower leg. When Mike meet Jean Luc he was delighted to have, from the perspective of the horse limbs' kinematics and explanation of what he was doing out of intuition, skill, and experience. 

 

Mike will explain you the break over phenomenon from the shoer perspective. Jean Luc will explain at which instant of the stride the break over occur and how longer toe or too short toe might disrupt the horse's capacity to push off.

Shoeing is the platform of proper movement. However kinematics peculiarities demands specific adaptations of the shoeing technique. For instance, Mike will explain the dynamics of egg-bar shoes, Jean Luc will explain why some kinematics peculiarities cannot deal with egg-bar shoes. For once a horse shoer and a trainer can sustain simple as well as highly technical discussions staying in their own field of knowledge and respecting each other expertise. 

 

Mike and Jean Luc have developed a strong friendship. The only field where they compete all the time is humor.  

 

Sunday February 19th is Navicular Syndrome Day

 

Betsy Uhl, DVM, PhD, dip, is inviting you inside the navicular bone. In her brilliant previous presentation, (Immersion 4) Betsy emphasized the fact that instead of focusing on the cartilages, one should focus on abnormal stresses on the bones. More and more, studies demonstrate that lesions appear on the bones before altering the cartilages.

 

With Immersion 5, Betsy is furthering the discussion by showing how the inside of the distal sesamoid bone deteriorate before lesions appears on the surface, creating navicular disease. Abnormal stresses are the root cause of navicular syndrome and the best prevention as well as the best therapy is an equitation and training technique focusing on creating proper kinematics. The purity of the gait has always been Great authors' focus. However, the purity of the gait have been distorted by judging standards evolving further and further away from the horse's biological mechanism. The truth lies in the horse's physiology, the knowledge of which evolves constantly. With an advanced specialist such as Betsy, one does have the opportunity to learn the horse's physique effectively functions.  

 

As a rider with classical training Betsy has learned to feel the difference between proper and improper movement. As a Pathologist, Betsy has the opportunity to study pathological changes created by uneducated training techniques. Betsy and Jean Luc are actively working together to understand how abnormal stresses can be prevented allowing new cells to be properly specialized and therefore, allowing the remodeling process to operate efficiently.

We have limited capacities in terms of participants. Reserve your place early.

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. 

Since the inception of the Immersion Programs I have observed that going through the history of equine research studies has better helped riders, trainers and therapists to understand how the horse's vertebral column effectively functions. This history affords the participants a greater accuracy as well as an evolution from the simplicity of past theories to the complexity of actual knowledge. Studying the past also reveals from where and when the theories, that are still promoted in these present days come from, and just how long it has been since they have progressed. This text is, of course, just a brief summary of the original lecture.

It is true that the fascicles of the main back muscles are inserted obliquely on the dorsal spines The fascicles of the longissimus dorsi muscles are oriented oblique, down and forward while the fascicles of the spinaleus dorsi and more exactly the multifidius, are oriented oblique, down and backward. Their action induces rotary forces on the dorsal spines and correspondent vertebrae. This was explained by E. J. Slijper in 1946. The Dutch scientist also described the horse's vertebral column functioning as a "bow" that can be flexed by the action of the "string", which is composed of pectoral and abdominal muscles. The theory was referred to as the "bow and string concept." With some variables, this is basically the concept behind most actual riding techniques as well as the concept supported in the video that started the discussion. The problem is that the concept was presented in 1946. Scientific findings and therefore knowledge has greatly evolved since 1946. 

In 1964 Richard Tucker explored the thought that acting on the dorsal spines, the back muscles were allowing the vertebrae to transmit the thrust generated by the hind legs into horizontal forces, (forward movement), and to create vertical forces resisting gravity and therefore permitting balance control. Tucker furthered Slijper's description explaining how, through their insertion on the dorsal spines, the muscles were compressing the vertebrae against each other favoring forward transmission of horizontal forces, (forward movement.) Simultaneously back muscles are inducing rotary movements of the vertebrae creating vertical forces, (resistance to gravity and balance control.) Tucker moved away from the simplistic idea that the thoracoumbar column was flexing and extending as a whole. The Polish scientist pointed out that due to the curvature that characterizes the shape of the horse's thoracolumbar spine, the vertebrae and muscles situated on the ascending side of the curvature were working in the opposite way than the vertebrae and muscles situated on the descending side of the thoracolumbar curvature.

Caesar's thought applies to the lowering of the neck. The horse's neck, stretching out to reach the bit, is a perception commonly associated with the lowering of the neck but the concept is in opposition of the muscular work actually achieved by the upper neck muscles when the neck is lowered. Creating a functional horse, athletically ready to perform, should definitively be the aim of all training techniques. However, appropriate body coordination does not result from metaphors that envision the stretching or telescopic action of the neck. These theories are fairytales. They mean well, in the sense that they wish to create a horse's physique that functions effortlessly, but they are theorizing that the neck muscles work in a fashion that does not even come close to reality.

The wishing of good things for the horse is a great emotion but when the relationship with the horse is based on athletic performance a sound understanding of how the horse truly functions, and for this article specifically how muscles of the upper neck work, is a prerequisite. The main upper neck muscles are the splenius and semispinalis capitis. Both muscles are involved in the lifting of the neck and the resistance to its lowering. The head and neck weigh-in at approximately 10% of the horse's body mass. This is a significant burden that is submitted to the attraction of gravity. Without the resistance of the upper neck muscles, the horse's head would hang down only as far as the limit of compliance of the nuchal ligament. This is what happens when a horse is under sedation; when the upper neck muscles no longer resist the attraction of gravity the nuchal ligament takes over the support. At its maximum elastic compliance, the nuchal ligament keeps the horse head a few inches above the ground. This is why horses separate their front legs to graze; so they can reach the ground.

 

Looking at the muscles' basic architecture, the lack of single contractile units spanning from origin to insertion contradicts the theory that an action exerted at one end of the muscles would be transmitted to the other end. This simplistic thinking often directs equestrian theories such as those that believe the lowering of the neck elongates the back muscles. Inside the muscle's body, cells are producing forces that are transmitted to other cells via connective tissues and so on. Muscle cells can create simultaneous forces acting in different directions. Connective tissues are also arranged within the muscle, to permit simultaneous multiple tasks. "Connective tissue division can facilitate neuromuscular compartmentalization for differential function along a long muscle." (1)

The morphology of the semispinalis capitis muscle implies different functions between its dorsal and ventral region. The muscle does have a strong central tendon within its body, which divides between the dorsal region situated above the tendon, and the ventral region situated below the tendon. This type of different architecture between the dorsal and ventral part of the same muscle is often seen when the function of the muscle cells is to enhance the tension of the central tendon. When the neck is lowered, the central tendon stretches and the muscle cells work to increase the central tendon's elastic resistance. One needs to remember that the horse's head weighs about 10% of the horse's body mass. As the neck lowers, upper neck muscles, tendons and ligaments resist the burden of the head as it is pulled down by the attraction of gravity.

 

A very simple experiment can be made, which requires a large bucket full of water, a broom and two bungee cords. The weight of the water bucket illustrates the weight of the horse's head. The handle of the broom represents the column of the cervical vertebrae. One bungee cord represents the upper neck muscles. The other bungee cord is used to attach the water bucket on the tip of the broom handle. You attach one end of the bungee cord on the tip of the broom handle and hold the other end in your right or left hand. The bungee cord illustrates the central tendon of the semispinalis capitis and your arm acts like the muscle's cells and connective tissues of the semispinalis capitis muscle. You block the base of the broom with your foot and pull on the bungee cord to lift the upper end of the broom and the water bucket. Doing so, your arm is working as the horse's upper neck splenius muscles work, as well as the dorsal element of the semispinalis capitis when they lift the horse's neck. Then you lower the horse's head, which in the experiment is the water bucket. According to the stretching theories, your arm should be stretching. Of course, it is not. You are pulling hard on the bungee cord otherwise the water bucket would crash onto the ground. So you are doing the work of the horse's upper neck muscles. The lower you place the water bucket, the heavier is the pull on the central tendon, the bungee cord, and the stronger is the work of the muscle cells, which in the experiment are your arm's muscles. 

READ ON

Equine Herbal Remedies

As with human medicine, alternative remedies and therapies have flooded the equine market. And, again, as with human medicine some work and others do not. The major difference comes from proof of the claims that come with such therapies - humans can talk and, of course, horses cannot unless, of course, your horse is the famous Mr. Ed.

How to sort through all those hopeful sounding claims is almost a full-time job. To save you some time I offer my personal (current) recommendations based on years and years   (and yes years) of experience.

Herbal anti-inflammatories - these typically consist of White Willow Bark (salicylic acid and the original aspirin) along with a wide array of additional herbs such as Devil's Claw, Nettle, Hawthorn Berry and Boswellia. There are others but these are the most common. Usually you find them mixed with a host of other herbal additions that better help the body assimilate these targeted herbs. The effectiveness of these preparations varies from horse to horse and the best advice is to try whichever you choose for 4-6 weeks and see if it makes a difference for your horse. Some horses do have stomach issues with anti-inflammatory remedies (whether they be traditional or alternative) - if you find this to be true of your horse then look for a product with additional herbs such as Marshmallow and Chamomile to help alleviate any stomach distress.

READ ON

The day commences with a conversation in the barn while tacking up the horse. The discussion is about the horse's history. Jean Luc is asking questions about the progression of discomfort or lameness, the therapies applied, etc.

The first riding or in hand session focus on identifying the root cause of the horse's problem and teaching to the rider how to address the horse's issue.

As the horse rest after his work, the rider and Jean Luc are discussing in the class room, the physiology behind the horse's problem. The conversation is casual but eminently informative. Horses' skeletons as well as computer animations are used to provide a sound picture of the horse's problem and the body coordination likely to restore soundness.

Jean Luc often uses Vincent van Gogh's reflection, "I dream my painting and then I paint my dream." After a visual and intelligent understanding of the horse's problem, (I dream my painting), the rider paints his dream practicing with greater accuracy riding techniques and exercises applied during the first riding session. 

   

In the light of our first One to One Immersion, we feel that the half day option is the most efficient. Several variables are possible.

One rider and one horse. Half day, arriving the day before and leaving the afternoon or the next day.

One rider and two horses. One horse the morning and one horse the afternoon.

 

Two riders and two horses. The riding sessions remain private, one rider the morning and one rider the afternoon, but the discussions referring to each horse's issue can be shared by both riders.    

Not surprisingly, the same approach is used for performance, (see the first One to One Immersion report). The first case of navicular syndrome that we have rehabilitated was initially unable to perform the series of tempi-changes. The back muscle imbalance which created the limb kinematic abnormality causing the injury was primarily hampering the horse's ability to perform. If, instead of being interpreted asbehavior, the horse's difficulties had been scientifically analyzed, the development of navicular syndrome would likely have been prevented.

Immerse yourself into this new technique. , at new home of Science of Motion,  

 2772 Lenora Road, Snellville, 30039, Georgia.

Science Of Motion

www.scienceofmotion.com

  To make reservations contact Helyn 941-539-6207 or email helyn@scienceofmotion.com

 

 

 

Click Image to order DVD 

 

Immersion One was held April 16th at the Science of Motion's training center. The topic was how the horse's body functions in the light of advanced understanding of the equine physiology and how such knowledge can enhance training techniques and therapies. Many have been unable to attempt the event and have asked for the video recording of the different lectures. This DVD is the full recording of the introductory lecture, (1hour).   

 

Any living creature is composed of systems within systems within systems. Most training formulas are acting at superficial level creating problems at deeper levels. This is also true for therapies. In this introductory lecture, Jean Luc explains how the horse's physique effectively works, how the systems interact and how they can be efficiently coordinated through the practical application of advanced research studies.

 

Through the history of the work in hand and in particular the events that lead to the unique work in hand that is practiced at the Science of Motion, Jean Luc explains with humor how and why this unique technique is efficient as training technique as well as therapy.

 

Through powerful videos where Olympic horses demonstrate mediocre piaff and physical suffering in the middle of the Atlanta Olympic ring, Jean Luc exposes the inefficiency of actual training techniques. Showing by comparison the piaff of the Holsteiner Corlandus under the skilled ride of Margit Otto Crepin and the Selle Francais Lafayette, Jean Luc explains the difference between conventional riding and training techniques and training and riding techniques updated to modern understanding of the equine physiology.   

 

Truly entertaining and immensely informative the video-lecture is a journey into a new world. A world free of Rollkur, Deep Work and other abuses, a world that clearly demonstrate the primitivism of swinging back and other inaccurate theories, a world which offers a real and intelligent partnership with the horse.