E.M.T. HORSES - CASE STUDIES

INITIAL assessment highlighted several "sore" areas which required the attention of our chiropractor, Georgina Sim.

DYLAN had been quite "stressy" in his ridden behaviour so that and being uncomfortable in his body not only accounedt for the jumping difficulties he and his owner were having but also, despite his owner's best efforts, the ability to keep weight on Dylan.

WE set to work building up Dylan's muscles and improving his flatwork so that he found jumping altogether more comfortable and, most importantly, fun!

THIS photograph illustrates Dylan's typical headcarriage.

IT was taken after Georgina's second visit so there is already significant improvement in Dylan's muscle tone and development.

DYLAN had been ridden in a vulcanite pelham which, coupled with his physical problems and lively nature, had resulted in him breaking at the poll and drawing himself up and in rather than flexing correctly. He also had a shortened stride and that, combined with him drawing himself in, resulted in a horse that just did not go anywhere.

WE had to encourage Dylan to take a contact and go into the bridle as well as use his back.

SO now, 5 weeks on from the day Dylan arrived, when asked to "come up ",we have a horse that is taking a contact whilst remaining relaxed.

THIS sequence of photographs was taken on the same day to show that even though Dylan still comes out in his "old Dylan" style, with correct loosening work within minutes the "new Dylan" emerges.

BY continuing to ask Dylan to take more contact and work off the leg, his stride has lengthened considerably yet a more acceptable outline has remained intact.

CANTER work then got underway having had the "all clear" from Georgina. At first Dylan thought he could not canter unless he either went fast or drew himself in but as with the walk and trot work, we encouraged a forward, stretched outline to strengthen the back and engage the hind leg then gradually ask Dylan to come up.

DYLAN proved to be a real star; he tried so hard. In such a short space of time - just 8 weeks - he had changed both physically and mentally.

HE happily negotiaed trotting poles and small jumps with confidence and enthusiasm but at the same time allowed us to regulate his speed - no more rushing in as if his life depended on getting to the other side as fast as possible. Dylan developed a canter that was smooth and rythmical, a canter than you could really sit into and feel his back lifting beneath you.

DYLAN'S whole shape and way he carried himself is improved almost by the day.

SUCH was his new-found suppleness we were able to place his head in various positions depending on the particular exercise we were doing.

THERE is still plenty of work to do but then there always is with horses; schooling and training is an on-going journey with always room for improvement and better performance.

DYLAN will now be transitioned from the Myler Combination bit that has given him the confidence over the past weeks to seek and take the contact.

AS always, when a horse leaves us, how work progresses is up to the owner. We have absolute confidence that Laura and Dylan will rebuild their bond and have a better understanding of each other.

LAURA has already worked very hard on improving her position and way of riding so as to give clearer aids and use her back and lower legs more effectively.

DYLAN had to come back for a few days as there were difficulties with his saddle causing him to become upset. These now resolved, Dylan is a happy horse once again and he and Laura are progressing very well.

LAURA has been working incredibly hard on her position as can be seen by this photograph - a lovely upright body, straight back, a nice bend to her elbow, good legs.

WHAT a pity the camera had not been clicked a second or two later when Dylan's hind leg was better placed.

DYLAN is very sensitive despite his appearance and although Laura had been trying really hard, she effectively had been trying too hard putting both herself and Dylan under pressure. Consequently this has had a negative effect on Laura's position - she was sitting in more of an armchair seat rather than "up" and light so her legs were going too far back. An inside leg which is too far back in canter can readily push a horse onto outside foreleg thus the canter becomes disunited. And because Dylan was now so much stronger, Laura needed to be that much more secure through her seat and legs to "hold" Dylan but with the canter problem Laura couldn't "sit" resulting in her having a much firmer hold of the reins that is ideal for a horse like Dylan; this has lead to the head-tossing - Dylan's way of objecting to a restraining rather than a flexible hand.

Pictures to follow