IHTC course Online and Mail 

We have been very busy with many new programs and our incredible Immersion program held in October was fantastic. People from around the world attended. Link in newsletter to view slideshow of the event. We will be holding another one in October 2014. 

We have a new working student program with our IHTC members and months are filling up fast. We are excited to continue the expansion of sharing knowledge and skills with our members. The private IHTC group on FB has become a daily discussion and sharing of a wealth of information from Jean Luc as well as our members. 

Time to book your clinics with Jean Luc for 2014 so please email helyn@scienceofmtoion.com for dates available. 2013 was extremely busy for clinics for us, and we look forward to working with you again and meeting new hosts this year. Please read updated information for our clinics in newsletter.

 

We will have an opening in one month for one horse for training with Jean Luc at our SOM farm.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

 Helyn and Jean Luc

Editor Helyn Cornille
Science Of Motion

 

An eminent professor in human eye scientific research told me one day, "Even if all scientific researches on human eye were halted suddenly, the practical application of actual knowledge would be ten years ahead of current practices." The remark applies to the equestrian world and the Science of Motion fills the gap between advanced research studies and the practical application of new knowledge.  In this line of thought, the first IHTC international conference presented the best of actual practices and then went further with the findings of advanced research studies as well as the practical application of new knowledge. You are already familiar with concepts such as, "Do not concentrate exclusively on the lesion; focus on the root cause." You already knew that cartilage issues commence within the bone bellow the cartilage and problem in cartilages, (degenerative joints diseases), could be prevented focusing on the forces acting on the bones. You are familiar with the concept of biomechanics, interaction of forces and consequent actions. You already knew that proper training was not about teaching gestures but instead developing and coordinating the horse's physique for the athletic demand of the performances. You were already aware of the stretching heresies, commencing by the lowering of the neck and during these two days pertinent professionals and researchers make you realize that these advanced concept are indeed what new knowledge is about. In their own fields advanced specialists talked about concepts such as forces, frequency, compensatory mechanisms, feeling comfortable by the fact that you were aware of these concepts and asking educated questions. 

The fist IHTC International Conference accredited the thought behind the Science of Motion online course; "provide advance knowledge and intelligent peoples will evolve." Albert Einstein Magisterially described the practical application of such new knowledge; "After a certain high level of technical skill is achieved, science and art tend to coalesce in esthetics, plasticity, and form. The greatest scientists are always artists as well." Our art is the equestrian art and in the conquest of such art, you are in line with your time. It is the others who are ten years behind.

 

Seriously; people really believe that if they properly apply the correct aids, we will execute a perfect performance? He looked at me in oblique, smiling like Yoda and responded, "BS is and BS they believe." Sometime, members of the Science of Motion's online course refer to him as Yoda. The nick name is in reference to his advanced research on forces acting on the horse physique. He is amused by the reference and plays with it occasionally. He does have longer hairs, at least on the front, he cannot move his ears as Yoda does, but he picked up the oblique look and the British smile quite well.

We horses, have a greater capacity of anticipation than most scientific studies want to believe, but we react intuitively in the present time. We interpret any stimulus or combination of stimuli such as the so-called "correct aids," protecting our current body state. If for instance, we have some muscle soreness on the left side, we will execute circle left, straight line, or circle right protecting our muscular tenderness.  The rider might places and act with the legs and hands and seat as described in the book, but our reaction will not be the one promised in the text. The concept that proper aids should stimulate correct movement demeans the equestrian art at the level of formulas that we are supposed to know by birth. This concept creates a dialogue of deaf. The rider applies the aids expecting a response and we react to the aids protecting whatever muscle balance, or soreness, or other issue that is part of our actual body situation. In one of his studies, he wrote, "the equestrian art, is about two intelligences working together at their respective level. The horse brain, which processes the most efficient possible response, and the rider's brain which analyzes our difficulties in search of the root cause."  This is effectively how human and equine partnership can be efficient. Our mental processing is always influenced by two contradictory priorities. One is protecting whatever morphological flaw, muscle imbalance, neuro-muscular problem, or other issue affecting our body at the instant where the "correct aids" are applied. The other priority is that down to microscopic level, we are designed for efficiency, minimum effort, and maximum movement. For instance, we have small muscles and long tendons moving our legs. This is because the metabolic cost of locomotion is lesser using the elastic strain energy stored in long tendons than shortening a muscle. We are fundamentally designed for efficiency and if the rider is capable of understanding our initial protective reflex reaction instead of interpreting as behavior, and if the rider is capable of guiding our brain toward a most efficient body coordination, our mental processing works in favor of such achievement.

"Correct aids equal correct movements" is infantile psychology and archaic equitation. If instead of analyzing our difficulty in search of the root cause, the rider believes that the studious application of correct aids should stimulate a specific response and the rider judges our reactions in respect of his theory. The rider is then totally missing our physical reality. Such rider is incapable of thinking in terms of muscles, tendons, ligaments, nervous impulses and other components of our athletic performance. We will be judged as lazy, disobedient, unwilling, or other stereotypes and will be unable to go beyond our initial protective reflex mechanism. Manchester spent eight years of his life responding to the "correct aids" protecting his weak left stifle. The dialogue of deaf furthered Manchester's lameness creating severe damages of the cruciate ligaments. "He" instead, analyzed Manchester's locomotion, identified the vertebral column abnormality inducing abnormal stresses on the left stifle and corrected it. One may argue that "he" completed the reeducation applying correct aids and I will respond to one, please do not demean the real classic equitation to the level of stereotypes.  "He" started the reeducation respecting where Manchester's mind was. "He" did not applied "correct aids" he sustained an intelligent and respectful conversation. Your "aids" are just words. They are part of the language but they are not the languages. "He" did not submitted Manchester to words; "he" conversed using phrases, questions, rephrasing the questions in respect of Manchester's response.

"Correct aids" are only teaching  CLICK HERE TO READ ON

This is JLC response to a question about classic verses competitive dressage, Speed, endurance and higher difficulties movements. The thought was that higher difficulty movements are the ones executed by the Rejeneo. 

You take quite extremes examples which are in fact specialties for which a horse can be prepared. Technically, speed is faster than the horse's natural cadence. There is a natural cadence for each gait above which the back muscles stiffen the thoracolumbar spine converting the thrust generated by the hind legs into speed. Balance control demands instead that the thrust generated by the hind legs been converted through the back muscles into horizontal forces, (speed) and vertical forces, (balance control. A horse can generate speed at the walk. Endurance is stamina, but also it is enhanced by optimum coordination of the horse's physique. You will learn in the course about the phenomenon known as " stretch- shorten contraction," that is a very efficient way of creating movement with minimum muscular effort. Most difficult dressage movements are Collected walk properly done, Piaff and Passage for the trotting gaits,Tempi one and Canter Pirouette for the canter work. The performances executed by the Rejeneo are a combination of these movements and other moves. I do not see that as classical, nor artistic. It is impressive watching the moves executed in front of a charging bull, but I do not see any art in killing a bull, and sometime the horse, through atrocious suffering. Beside, observed in detail, each move is definitively not executed with a body coordination reducing the stresses on the horse physique. 

The science of motion is about respecting the horse and through the horse, respecting all animals. We can work with animals in exchange of good care, good food, protection and love. We owe to the horse to properly coordinate his physique for the athletic demand of the performance. This is an ethic that many horse persons do not have as well as many persons do not have in respect of animals. 

Classic verses modern, this is a division that has been created to protect ignorance. Modern competitions abuses horses because the training techniques have not evolve. Modern performances are more demanding and training techniques are not capable of preparing the horses efficiently. As a results modern training techniques forcefully exploit the talent of better horses but do not better prepare their physique for the athletic demands of modern performances. By reaction against the abuses, classic riders claim that they perpetuate tradition. This would be true if, as we do, they were analyzing the teaching of great authors in the light of new knowledge. Colonel Danloux perfectly resumes the thought saying, "Respect for tradition should not prevent the love of progress." The SOM is more classic than most classical trainers and yet, the SOM updates the wisdom of centuries to better prepare better horses for the athletic demands of modern competitions. Jean Luc Cornille 11/19/13

Jean Luc was asked by a new Member in our IHTC what is Science Of Motion...his answer: 

This is a good question. A horse is designed for great efficiency. In spite of a large size and heavy weight, a horse can run faster than most of his predators and a longer time. This survival necessity demands sophisticate adaptation. This is why the lower legs have long tendons. The muscles do not directly move the limbs but instead increase the tension of the long tendons achieving greater elastic strain energy. The metabolic cost of locomotion is evidently less when tendons move the limbs that when muscles move the legs. The horse entire physique is highly sophisticated with of course some morphological flaw, muscles imbalance or other defects. The horse reacts under the rider and executes movements protecting whatever problem exist. Then, the performance is therefore a compromise that alters the quality of the performance and, over a period of time, induces lameness. The science of motion is about creating a functional athlete. educating the horse to properly coordinate his physique for the athletic demand of the performance. The extension to rehabilitation is that the veterinary world focus on the legion. 

The science of motion focus on the source of the abnormal stress creating the lesion. In the forum, we will talk a little further about Victoria's mare, named Diva. It is a severe case of ring bones inducing intense lameness. The veterinary approach was hopeless. Members of the IHTC so her when they came for the International Conference. At this time she was showing only a few steps sound. Today she is sound in hand and under the saddle about 70% of the time. Any vet watching the X-ray will say and in fact say, this is impossible. Yes it is impossible focusing on the lesion but obviously, it is possible focusing on the source of the abnormal stress. This, demands advanced understanding of the equine physiology and in particular, kinematics and dynamics. This is treated during the first half of the course. The second half is about the coordination of the horse's physique precisely adapted to the athletic demand of each dressage movement. The science of motion is about creating the most efficient body coordination allowing the horse to perform at his utmost potential and remain sound. The rider is very important and the rider education and evolution is based on new knowledge. Because of better knowledge of the horse's physique, old theories are no longer accurate . The science of motion is about the practical application of advanced research studies for both, the horse and the rider. JLC 2013

Whatever his body angle, a chicken controls balance maintaining his head and neck perfectly vertical. Hence, stabilizing the horse head and neck with side reins is a chicken theory. The horse instead, controls balance moving his head and neck.

Recently, we had an interesting discussion in facebook involving the use of side reins. It was about a deadly accident due to the use of the system and side reins proponents get offended affirming their faith in the system. Enthrallingly, not a single side reins' believer ever addressed the effects of side reins. Their only references were, "everybody does it" or "my trainer uses it." The statement was then followed by a long anthology of the trainer, like if emphasizing the trainer's value would prove the validity of side reins.  

It was of course the usual catch phrases, "engaging the hind legs," "muscling the back", " putting the horse on the bit," etc., but these stereotypes are part of an equestrian language that is repeated over and over without any understanding of the underlining biomechanics factors. Whatever it is about selling alternative bending of the neck, touching the limbs with one or two whips, lowering the neck, or rushing the horse on the forehand, the same phrases as used promising results that never go beyond the rider's wish. 

Members of the Science of Motion's  course, (IHTC), opposed pertinent observations, proposing better solutions and it was interesting to see how members of the IHTC were comfortable with the evolution of knowledge, while by contrast, side reins proponents were afraid of new knowledge becoming aggressive when they were technically cornered. It was obvious that while many people use side-reins, very few truly understand or even know how the system effects or more exactly affects the horses' physique.  My trainer uses them," might be sufficient for riders who select their training technique based on faith rather than on facts. The problem with all these restrictive systems, side reins, draw reins, shambon, gogue, etc., is that they theorize a reaction omitting a fundamental fact. A horse does not work a muscle imbalance, reflex contraction or morphological flaw, but instead, protects it. Whatever the system applied, a horse deals with neck posture protecting his actual muscles imbalance, weaknesses, morphological flaw or other issue.

It is understandable that marketing strategies theorize effects that may sell their products. It is the rider's duty to differentiate marketing strategy and reality. There are, for instance, 21 pairs of muscles that can move the horse head. Hence, there are at the least 21 reasons why the horse reaction might not be the one promised by the advertising. The horse can adapt to the restriction of the side reins bending the neck, twisting the neck, lowering the trunk between the shoulder blades, bending or twisting the thoracic spine, arching the thoracic vertebrae and so on. Side reins proponents will tell you that "this is because the side reins are not properly adjusted." Truly, this is a preposterous form of denial. Such denial was easy to defend when knowledge of the equine physiology was at its infancy. With todays' knowledge a much better analysis of the horses' reaction can be made. Here are the reasons why we do not use side reins.     

The combined head and neck segment executes characteristic oscillations at the walk, trot, or canter that are closely linked to the movement patterns of the limbs. The main muscles creating neck movements are the upper neck muscles, the splenius and the semispinalis capitis. The splenius covers the whole length of the neck. The muscle inserts at the level of T3, T5 and is attached at the other end on

  

(Drawing from Michael A Simmons. Mas44@cornell.edu).

the nuchal crest behind the skull. During locomotion, the splenius exhibits bilateral activity during each forelimb stance. At the trot, the head and neck are at their lowest position in the oscillation cycle half way through the support phase of each forelimb. The splenius decelerates the downward oscillation of the head and neck that is pulled down to earth by the attraction of gravity. At impact of each front leg, the splenius contracts, resisting accelerations of gravity that are created by impact forces. At the walk, splenius activation commences before the head reaches its lower position and continue until after the head has begun rising.  When, up and down oscillation of the head and neck are restricted by the use of side reins,  the horse will likely compensate for the restricted oscillation of his neck leaning on the bit. Often, horses use the support of the side reins leaning on the bit instead of coordinating their upper neck muscles.  

The semispinalis capitis is also inserted on the cranial thoracic vertebrae and ribs

(Drawing from Michael A Simmons. Mas44@cornell.edu).

and is attached on the crest of the skull. The semispinalis capitis is compartmented. This type of architecture allows a large diversity of movements, rotations, bending, etc.  The muscle does have an internal central tendon that covers two third of the length of the muscle. There are 7 compartments above the central tendon and 6 compartments below the central tendon. Most of the alternative lateral bending and transversal rotations of the neck occurring during locomotion, are created by the semispinalis capitis.  One can easily conceive that any system restricting or modifying the normal cycle of head and neck movements is going to modify limbs kinematics and vertebral column mechanism.  The horse's adaptation can be beneficial, but also damaging. It is true that some good horses are capable of sustaining suspension, cadence, a round neck and round back while working with side reins, but these horses are exception and truly do not need side reins. Bob Hope joked one day, "A bank is an institution that loans you money if you can prove that you don't need it." The same can be said with side reins. If a horse can adapt to the restriction of the side reins and remain functional, the horse does not need side reins.  

Common reactions are illustrated in this picture. CLICK HERE TO READ ON AND VIEW IMAGES

WHEN DUANE KNUDSON, a professor of kinesiology at California State University, Chico, looks around campus at athletes warming up before practice, he sees one dangerous mistake after another. "They're stretching, touching their toes. . . . " He sighs. "It's discouraging."

If you're like most of us, you were taught the importance of warm-up exercises back in grade school, and you've likely continued with pretty much the same routine ever since. Science, however, has moved on. Researchers now believe that some of the more entrenched elements of many athletes' warm-up regimens are not only a waste of time but actually bad for you. The old presumption that holding a stretch for 20 to 30 seconds - known as static stretching - primes muscles for a workout is dead wrong. It actually weakens them. In a recent study conducted at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, athletes generated less force from their leg muscles after static stretching than they did after not stretching at all. Other studies have found that this stretching decreases muscle strength by as much as 30 percent. Also, stretching one leg's muscles can reduce strength in the other leg as well, probably because the central nervous system rebels against the movements.

  

 

"There is a neuromuscular inhibitory response to static stretching," says Malachy McHugh, the director of research at the Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. The straining muscle becomes less responsive and stays weakened for up to 30 minutes after stretching, which is not how an athlete wants to begin a workout.

THE RIGHT WARM-UP should do two things: loosen muscles and tendons to increase the range of motion of various joints, and literally warm up the body. When you're at rest, there's less blood flow to muscles and tendons, and they stiffen. "You need to make tissues and tendons compliant before beginning exercise," Knudson says.

 

A well-designed warm-up starts by increasing body heat and blood flow. Warm muscles and dilated blood vessels pull oxygen from the bloodstream more efficiently and use stored muscle fuel more effectively. They also withstand loads better. One significant if gruesome study found that the leg-muscle tissue of laboratory rabbits could be stretched farther before ripping if it had been electronically stimulated - that is, warmed up.

 

CLICK HERE TO READ ON 

 

 

In Hand Therapy Course

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

The course has no time limit , start anytime proceed at your own pace.

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.

Click HERE for details 

(Introduction from the  transcript for a video from  IHTC 6 which is on shoulder-in and shoulder-fore)

IHTC 6

"Unfortunately, it is much easier to turn to false practice than to achieve what is correct." Fran�ois Robichon de la Gueriniere (1688-1751)

If Monsieur de la Gueriniere felt that he had to address the "false practice" issue, it is that already at the eighteen century, trainers focused on the gesture instead of coordinating efficiently the horse physique for the athletic demand of the performance.  However, at the eighteen as well as the nineteen centuries, the knowledge of equine physiology was at its infancy and therefore, "what is correct" was mostly what the author believe and "false practice" was everybody else's opinion. Advances in scientific knowledge provide a more accurate definition of  "what is correct" verses "false practice." False practice is making dysfunctional athletes executing movements for which their physique is not adequately coordinated. What is correct is preparing efficiently the horse's physique for the athletic demand of the performance. 

Recently, a team of brilliant scientists introduced a new and pertinent concept of equine locomotion as well as performances. "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) Moving away from the classical perception, "muscles move bones," new generations of studies demonstrate that a great part of the horse's locomotion and performances results from the recoil of elastic strain energy stored in the long tendons. "Most of the length change required for the work of locomotion, occurs not in the muscle fibre themselves but by elastic recoil of the associated tendons and muscles aponeurosis." (The role of the extrinsic thoracic limbmuscles in equine locomotion. R. C. Payne, P. Veenman and A. M. Wilson. J. Anat. (2005) 206, pp 193-404)

The long tendons of the equine lower limbs are ideal for explanation. Under the strain of impact forces and during the first half of the stride, the tendons elongate storing energy that is used propelling the limb into the swing phase. During this work, the muscles connected to the long tendons resist elongation increasing the strain on the tendons and therefore their capacity to store elastic strain energy. For a great part the amplitude of the hind and front limbs action is the outcome of this dynamic phenomenon. What is correct is a coordination of the whole physique optimizing the magnitude of elastic recoils. False practice is stimulating artificial limbs action with one or two whips, or having the horse mimicking a trainer lifting his or her knees or any other body gesture. These false practices are not harmless. They dissociate limbs movements from vertebral column mechanism, creating dysfunction and altering the whole dynamics of the locomotor system.

The beauty and the soundness of proper locomotion as well as performances demand precise synchronization between limbs kinematics and vertebral column mechanism. Altering such coordination induces abnormal stresses on the limbs joints which, over a period of time cause failure. The concept is easy to understand looking at the hock joints. The hock is composed of four joints placed one above the other.  As the hock flexes and extends, inward rotation occurs within the different joints in the direction medial to lateral and lateral to medial.   

Inward rotations of the two upper joint are 

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