"Science literacy is a vaccine against the charlatans of the world that would exploit your ignorance." Neil de Grasse Tyson 

	Location: PA
	Science of Motion Dates: Saturday & Sunday, May 25th & 26th 2013 Place: Blue Rock Farm, 1104 Allerton Rd., West Chester, PA 19382

East Greenwich RI

East Greenwich RI

Contact Debrah

marshpoint31@cox.net

 

Conventional equitation attempts to influence the biomechanical properties of the horse's thoracolumbar spine by acting on the extremities: the hind legs at one end and the flexion of the neck at the other. Considering that the normal numeration of the horse's vertebral column is 6 lumbar vertebrae, 18 thoracic and 7 cervical, there are at least, 31 reasons why acting on the extremities may end with a dysfunctional thoracolumbar spine. Considering that the rider's back and seat are in direct contact with the horse's vertebral column, a more rational approach is to act directly on the horse thoracolumbar spine, matching the biomechanical properties of both the rider and the horse's vertebral column. "The biomechanics of the vertebral column, although very complex, are of vital importance because they form the basis of all body's movements," (Leo B. Jeffcott, Natural rigidity of the horse's backbone, 1980)

Sincerely,
Editor Helyn Cornille
Science Of Motion

The work of the horse's back muscles is very complex further exposing the naivety and inaccuracy of stretching theories. The complexity also underline the importance of the horse's mental processing. The subtle orchestration of the back muscles is created in the horse's brain and the first aim of academic equitation is training the horse brain to think in terms of body coordination instead of gesture. 

 

Albert Einstein wrote, "The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift." The thought applies to both, the horse and the rider. Instead of supporting the horse's gift with advanced knowledge and innovative techniques, we submit the horse's talent to a system. Instead of supporting the rider's skill, equestrian education downgrade the rider's intuition to the studious application of "correct aids". Einstein also wrote, "Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think". When the purpose of the riding technique became the application of correct aids, the education annihilates the rider's intuition. Factual documentation allows researcher to think further. So are correct aids. They are not the finality of riding but instead a teaching tool aiming at a subtle coordination of the riders body. When such precise coordination is achieved, the rider's body became the language through subtle nuances in muscles tone. There is no longer "aids". The phenomenon is not exclusive to riding. In 1992, the founder or Aikido wrote, "Ultimately, you must forget about technique. The further you progress, the fewer teaching there are. The great path is really no path."( Morihei Ueshiba) 

 

There is a lot to learn from the re-education of damaged horses simply because the re-education is exactly that which, if done initially, would have allowed the horse to perform to his full potential and remain sound. In many instances, soundness could be restored, and horses could return to a successful life. Very few though, are given a chance because it is difficult for the rider to face the thought that one may have caused the problem. The guilt is misplaced. In most instances, it is not one's skill or lack of skill that lead the horse to lameness but rather the system that emphasizes riding and training principles unrelated to the horse's physiology.

James Crook wrote, "A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd". Once again, the metaphor applies to the horse. The system wants you to believe that equine athletic performances can be enhanced by increasing the amplitude of the horse vertebral column's movements. In reality, while in motion, the range of movement of the equine spine is very limited and the primary function of the back muscles is precisely to protect the vertebral column's structure from any amplitude of movements which would exceed the vertebral column's possible range of motion. Efficiency is not about greater amplitude of vertebral column movements but rather better orchestration of numerous but minuscule muscle contractions and compensatory contractions.

When a horse is crippled as a result of having been trained deep and low, and heavily on the forehand, soundness cannot be restored by working the horse lower and more forward. The problem is that by questioning the theory, one stands against the crowd. The thought might be scary at first, but after all, if one truly likes music, it is more pleasant to face and direct skilled artists that are creating the music than to face a crowd that is quick to criticize but does not have any idea on how to play the violin. 

The horse is a skilled artist, which by nature and also by intelligence enjoys using his physique. Comfort is a main concern of the horse's self preservation instinct and performing at ease is naturally more attractive for the horse than under painful constraints. If one truly loves the horse, the pleasure of a performance achieved in great harmony and ease and accuracy and soundness, is unmatchable even if the blue ribbon goes to someone going faster, riding a horse addicted to anti-inflammatories and hyaluronic acid. 

Molly Ivins says, "The first rule of holes: When you're in one, stop digging". Walter Zettl wrote, "Ride your horse into heaven and not into the ground". When your horse is in the hole, stop digging his grave. Heaven is higher and I do not refer solely to the neck posture but also to the rider's standards. Look at what needs to be done to allow a horse once driven into a hole to breathe again and you will understand how to educate your horse in the first place.


Judging standards, riding principles, training techniques, books, practical application of scientific findings, and panel discussions all follow the thought that the horse's lower line, which includes abdominal, pectoral, and neck muscles, flexes the horse's upper line, the vertebral column and surrounding muscles. We have explored instead the thought suggested by Richard Tucker and James Rooney, as well as that in the works of Leo Jeffcott, Jean Marie Denoix, Kevin Haussler and many others. Also considered were the researches based on dynamics models that were executed by Anton J. van den Bogert and many others. The working hypothesis was that while the muscles of the horse's lower line are definitively involved in locomotion and athletic achievements, their influence on the horse's vertebral column are elementary, and therefore ill adapted to the sophistication required by modern performances. Instead, the muscular system situated directly above the vertebral bodies has the capacity to orchestrate the vertebral column mechanism at a higher level of sophistication.

This muscular system is extremely complex and cannot be efficiently influenced by acting, at one end on the engagement of the hind legs, and at the other end on the neck posture. It was then necessary to figure how the rider could access and influence the horse's vertebral column's biomechanical properties. The Science of Motion response comes by combining an actual understanding of the vertebral column mechanism and the teaching of great masters. The biokinematics of the equine vertebral column, and consequently the kinematics of the limbs, (quality of the gaits) and the horse's ability to perform at its utmost potential, while remaining sound, can be influenced by the biomechanical properties of the rider's vertebral column.

This is a fundamentally new approach and of course like everything new, we are encountering panic and heavy resistance. Panic results from the fact that the most aggressive opponents know deep in their mind of the short cuts of their beliefs and their application and are afraid to face the thought that they might have to evolve. The response to skepticism is the horse's soundness. Correct orchestration of the horse vertebral column properties not only allows the horse to perform better and remain sound, but re-educations once not even considered are now truly possible. Lameness issues that cannot be solved through traditional and alternative therapies can be resolved by acting on the source of all body movements, the horse's vertebral column.

We document these impossible re-educations and publish the documentation in DVD format once the re-education has been successfully completed. The DVDs contain pertinent but proven information. The horse was lame and the horse is now sound. The horse was a mediocre mover and turns into a world class athlete. The horse cannot piaff and he does. The horse cannot jump the water and he jumps the water. There is no cure for kissing spine and the 'kissing spine' horse returns to normal life and performances. Jean Luc Cornille/Science Of Motion

"The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life." (Muhammad Ali)

Many equestrians are wasting decades of their life perpetuating postural equitation, neck position, limbs placements, rider position, correct aids, etc., instead of evolving with actual understanding of the dynamics involved.

About two decades ago, a German trainer promised the mastery of the piaff activating the horse's hind legs with a dressage whip and the horse's forelegs with a bamboo pole. This was a perfect oxymoron; touching the forelegs with a bamboo pole, the trainer attempted correcting the front limbs' kinematics abnormalities that he created activating the hind legs with a dressage whip. When the dynamics of equine athletic performances is not understood, and therefore, trainers are unable to develop and coordinate efficiently the horse's physique for the athletic demand of the performance, they simulate limbs gestures mimicking the performances. Instead of furthering their equitation and education in the light of new knowledge, they return to archaism wasting decades of their students' life and the horses' entire life.   

The twenty first Century started with a new line of thinking. Under the title, "Horses damper their spring in their stride," Allan Wilson and Antony von den Booger wrote, ""The muscular work of galloping in horses is halved by storing and returning elastic strain energy in spring-like muscle-tendon units." (Alan M. Wilson, M. Polly McGulgan, Anne Su & Anton J. van den Bogertt, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland Clinic Foundation - 2001)  Originally, elastic properties were believed to be exclusively at the level of the distal limbs' long tendons; deep digital, superficial flexor tendons and suspensory ligaments, store energy when they elongate, which they release when they return to their normal length. Further studies have demonstrated a much advanced usage of elastic strain energy through the whole muscular system. Muscles are composed of cells and connective tissues often referred to as "tendinous material" and elastic strain energy occurs within the muscle in the absence of tendon. A great part of the limbs protraction, elevation and amplitude are the outcome of elastic strain energy produced during the stance or support phase. This of course is related to adequate coordination of the horse's whole physique. Trainers who are unable to achieve appropriated coordination of the horse's physique try faking hind and front legs movements touching or hitting the limbs with a bamboo perch or a dressage whip.   

The pantomime is not harmless. From neck oscillations to thoracolumbar movements, limbs and vertebral column have to work in harmony. When instead of maximizing the elastic recoil of the forelegs, trainers try creating elevation touching the front limbs with a bamboo pole, they alter elastic recoil forcing the horse less efficient locomotion and more intense muscular work. Gaits and performances are like an artistic event. They are sublime orchestration of kinematics energy, creating kinetic energy, enhancing kinematics energy. When a whip or a bamboo pole comes in the story is like a perch placed in the middle of a complex gearing. It disrupts the whole mechanism. One just has to look at the swing phase of the hind legs of a horse working over cavalettis. A great part of the hind legs' forward swing results from the elastic stain energy accumulated during the stance. The limb swing forward and the hoof flies low above the ground. If a pole is on the ground, and therefore, on the trajectory of the forward swing of the hoof, the swing is compromised and the horse contracts the gastrocnemian muscles which lift the hock up and back. The kinematics of the hind limbs is then totally different. Instead of swinging energetically forward, the hind limb executes an upward movement at the level of the hocks that flattens the pelvis.

 

READ ON

In Hand Therapy Course

(Having "In Hand" the knowledge necessary for a successful reeducation).

A New Idea

When you enter the IHTC, you feel that you are one century ahead of all other programs. But when you realize that the IHTC program is about the practical application of actual knowledge, you take conscience that the other programs are indeed, one century behind.

Also availible as an online courseHERE 

Contact helyn for information on the online course

helyn@scienceofmotion.com

The thought was to have "In Hand", all the knowledge necessary for the complex task of educating or reeducating a horse. When we move from conception to creation, it became apparent that precisely, in order to have "In Hand" all the knowledge necessary for a successful reeducation, it was essential for the therapists to understand how riding techniques create injuries. It was also critical for the rider to explore in hand techniques where limbs kinematics abnormalities are corrected through sophisticated education of the horse's vertebral column mechanism. To be complete, the course needs to provide simultaneously both, the in hand and riding perspective and this is the direction that we are taking. 

Not only principles and formulas scleroses the riders' talent but doctrines and clich�s also alter the horse's potential. Albert Einstein wrote, "if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing that it is stupid." As well, if you train a horse for sophisticated athletic performances with simplistic training techniques, the horse will spend his whole life struggling with performances for which he is not athletically prepared. Einstein also reflected,

"Everything should be made as simple as possible but not simpler." Most equestrian theories are simpler counting on the horse's talent to compensate for the inaptness of the horse's education. The outcome of course is lameness. Instead, why not enhance the horse's talent and also propensity to remain sound upgrading riding and training techniques to actual knowledge of the equine physiology?

The answer is a course which is not about making the horse do it but instead how the horse does it. The IHTC focusses on preparing efficiently the horse's physique for the athletic demands of the performance. The outcome is a horse performing at its utmost potential and remaining sound. When a performance is thought in terms of optimal muscular development and coordination, the outcome is not only preserving soundness but also restoring soundness. Repetitive abnormal stress causes injury and correcting the root cause of the abnormal stress is the most efficient therapy. "The gait abnormality created by a specific lesion is the gait abnormality that causes the lesion." (James Rooney, Biomechanics of lameness in horses - 1969).

The IHTC condenses decades or researches, experiments and practical applications. There is only one syllable between simple and simpler and without adequate knowledge simple is simpler. We do not pretend that the horse's biological mechanism is simple, but it can be clearly explained. We do not pretend that riding efficiently is simple but it can be learned. We do not pretend that reeducating a horse is simple. Accepting the complexity of a problem is a decisive step toward resolving it. In most instances a horse's can be reeducated if we move away from the riding and training principles that created the problem.

The IHTC approaches your education from three different angles, biomechanics, practical application, and cases studies. The cases studies demonstrate how reeducations are achieved addressing the root causes of abnormal stresses. The main course, the practical application working in hand and/or riding the horse, familiarizes you with advanced concept, demonstrating that these advanced concepts are not out of reach but instead, are easily understandable with concentration and ethic. The word ethic is used in reference to the fact that the horse will suffer if we don't have a sound understanding of the horse's functional anatomy and therefore, the ability to prepare the horse's physique for the athletic demand of the performance. This education is the task of the biomechanical study presented with each installment.

I recommend IHTC to anyone who will listen and even to some that won't! Why? Because the "proof is in the pudding". I was introduced to JLC by a friend who had seen my horse struggle with lameness issues over many years. My favorite phrase to my horse was "pick a leg" I have spent many thousands of dollars with vets and trainers and not one of them could look at the "whole horse" I knew what I was seeing, even at the highest levels was wrong. I took my mare to JLC to see if he could help me develop a rehabilitation program for her after two very bad injuries and almost two years of down time. When I got to his farm, he had three of the most beautiful, fit and well maintained horses I've ever seen. They made my horse look like a runt! She is almost 18 hands! JLC's horses were huge and fit!! After spending a week at JLC's farm riding and learning, I realized I had only scratched the surface. That time spent with JLC awakened a thirst in me to learn more. I joined IHTC shortly there after, and I have been transformed. JLC has been so generous with me in regards to his time and knowledge and the Facebook group is a continuos source of information. Its like getting a lesson every day. My understanding of the biomechanics has improved my riding ten fold. My horse is sound for the first time in two years and she looks amazing. April Taylor.

I sing the praises of IHTC to anyone who will listen. I firmly believe that anyone that teaches or trains should be required to have this level of education - as well as become licensed in some way. Those that teach themselves can only benefit from such an advanced education. Since horses are no longer required to carry our burdens it is folly to expect them to carry our egos. (I have stated this many times in much of my writings) Science such as presented in IHTC assures us that when we school our horses we are first doing no harm and are, in fact, developing horses' bodies and minds in order to ease their burden while carrying a rider - to bring less than that to any horse, in this age when riding is a pursuit of pleasure or sport, denies the horse a life of comfort and true partnership. IHTC is the future of equine stewardship - but available now. Susan Hopf

I recommend SOM and IHTC to anyone who shows a genuine interest in what I am doing. Although I have zero zip zilch background in anatomy or physiology or biomechanics or anything even remotely related, I find the IHTC material challenging, engaging, accessible and one heck of a ride! I am an educated person, but no genius by any stretch. If someone wants to know a thing strongly enough, they will move heaven and earth to reach it. I wanted a better way. As Rosemary pointed out, I was first attracted by the website. I saw a brief session of a clinic in December, but the sound was not great so I could not understand much of what was being said. It did prompt me to go to the SOM website. Which strangely enough showed me a video I had seen on UTube a couple of years ago of a nice man working his horse in hand. I had always remembered the perfect rhythm they had together (It's that guy!!!, I thought). The website is indeed full of enough information, given freely, that if one is truly interested they will seek more. How could one not want to know more? SOM and IHTC accepts that working with horses is a process of individuals working in partnership. Every relationship is unique. The common framework is the foundation in understanding rider/horse biomechanics, and the integrity of the horse's physiology and its function that must always be respected and shaped with empathy and educated understanding. An added bonus: as students, we are treated with great respect and encouraged to use our minds as well as our intuition that is such a critical part of us that yearns to be in harmony with that of the horse. Ultimately, I believe that the horses will be the proof of the work and what IHTC teaches. Those that are willing to open their eyes and minds will come. I hope that eventually this work will hit critical mass -- a tipping point. New ideas are condemned, dismissed, and then what everybody knows, right? Jennifer Vance

"When we want to believe a proposition, we ask, 'Can I believe it?' and we look only for evidence that the proposition might be true. If we find a single piece of evidence then we are done. We stop. We have a reason we can trot out to support our belief. But if we don't want to believe a proposition, we ask. 'Must I believe it?' and we look for an escape hatch, a single reason why maybe, just maybe, the proposition is false."(Tom Gilovitch)

As well, a horse trots around the training ring with the neck high or low or overly flexed because the rider or the trainer or both have found in classical or modern literature a single piece of evidence that supports their belief. Contemporary with classic equestrian authors, the Marquis of Condorcet (1745-1794) believed that the study of anatomy was already completed. Modern science exposes the naivety of Condorcet's idea and scientific research appears to be the safe reference. After all, Linus Paulin describes fundamental principles of scientific research, analysis of cause to effect, factual documentation of test hypothesis, as "the search for truth." (Linus Pauling, 1954 Nobel Price in Chemistry)

Yet, scientific researches are conceived and executed by human been and therefore, investigations and findings are influenced by human nature. For instance, in their etiology of navicular syndrome, Roy Pool, Dennis Maegher and Susan Stover wrote, "Various theories proposing different specific causes for navicular syndrome generally reflect the particular bias or investigative technique of the proponent." (Roy R. Pool, DVM PhD, Dennis M. Maegher, DVM PhD, Susan M. Stover, DVM, PhD, Pathophysiology of Navicular Syndrome. Veterinary Clinics of North America. Equine Practice - Vol5, No 1, April 1989)

Both, scientific discoveries and never the less, the practical application of scientific findings, are subjected to our intuitive judgment. If we want to believe that scientific conclusions are accrediting the pyramid of training, we will find a single piece of evidence or two that will satisfy our tuition. Even mental and physical abuses such as hyper-flexion of the upper neck can be supported with scientific data. As well, if we rather believe that the true is in the classic approach, we will find evidences supporting our faith. Then, and instead of benefitting from the progresses of science, the horse will be submitted to our school of thought.Jean Luc Cornille

Several metaphors are used emphasizing the thought that the horse neck reach out of the shoulder. The words "telescoping action are often used. One of the illiterate who reacted vehemently against our publication in face book, stated, "stretching out through the bit." I love this one; it is typically the type of cocktail party theory which does not have any meaning but sound like a nice music.

Is it possible for the horse's neck to reach out like a turtle? The response is simple, no. Here is the picture of the cervico-thoracic junction. There are two powerful muscles named scalenus that stabilize the junction. Quite obviously the neck does not have any possibility of reaching out.

Jean Luc Cornille M.A.(M.Phil) has gained worldwide recognition by applying practical science to the training of the equine athlete. Influenced by his background as a gymnast, Jean Luc deeply understands how equine training can be enhanced by contemporary scientific research. A unique combination of riding skill, training experience and extensive knowledge of the equine physiology enables Jean Luc to "translate" scientific insights into a language comprehensible to both horse and rider. This approach has been the trademark of his training. READ ON