, EVENTING, HUNTERS, JUMPERS VOL. 23

PHILLIP DUTTON ‘DO SIMPLE THINGS WELL’ 3 Steps to Stronger Stifles

Phillip Dutton and Z

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2 PRACTICAL HORSEMAN EXTRA VOL. 23 | TRAINING From Practical Horseman Archives

with Phillip Dutton

hair and makeup, Contest winner Nine friends get though, they buzzed Shannon Brown keeps her Black the chance of a around making sure Jack straight and tack and horses centered over lifetime—riding with would gleam for a vertical in a their face-to-face bending “S” line of three verticals. an Olympic gold meeting with their medalist and own superstar. When the clinic day dawned rainy and renowned three- gray, the riders’ smiles and the white patches on Paint horses were the brightest day event trainer. things in sight—an outward sign not only of their excitement and desire to make a By Melissa Roddy Wright good impression but also of their dedica- Photos by Amy K. Dragoo tion to give and get 100 percent out of the clinic experience. That meant showing he challenge: Take a small group of novice but determined eventers with up for every session and listening to every no regular access to professional event training and give them eight hours word Phillip shared with them. The infor- with one of the country’s best riders and coaches. How do you make the mation was stashed away so they could most of it as a rider? How do you make the most of it as the coach? remind each other of his tips once they re- That was the scenario when a close-knit group of friends and barn- turned home, where they serve as eyes on mates from the Savannah, Georgia, area won a clinic with six-time Olym- the ground to help each other improve. pianT Phillip Dutton through Practical Horseman’s “Training with the Stars: Win a Day with For Phillip, more accustomed to Phillip Dutton,” presented in partnership with Cosequin. The clinic was in March 2014. coaching Young Riders or short-listed The contest winner, Shannon Brown of Guyton, Georgia, brought a group of eight U.S. Equestrian Team hopefuls, the day friends who call themselves “Team Misfits”—a barn family ranging from preteen to mid- meant delivering instruction that provided dle-aged, who hail from a variety of equestrian backgrounds but share a common love of the most bang, with an eminently take- horses and help each other improve as riders (see “Team Misfits,” page 5). awayable bottom line: “Do the simple, The night before the clinic, the sense of giddy anticipation among the friends made important things really well.” the barn aisle feel more like backstage at a Justin Bieber concert. Instead of fussing over The “simple things” Phillip focused on

3 PRACTICAL HORSEMAN EXTRA VOL. 23 | TRAINING ABOVE: Phillip shows Macy Harden how leg or cut corners because you’re on “just” to ask Cherry for leg-yield. an informal ride. “Horses are creatures of habit, they learn by repetition,” Phillip LEFT: Beth Huddleston rides Inis up centerline changing flexion several times. said. “Every time you get on, you should re-introduce the correctness of your riding. lie Ward’s Paradise Farm in Aiken, South Keep it simple but the same every day: He Carolina. The riders were divided into should be obedient to the leg, going for- three groups for the morning session, ward and coming back easily, and should roughly based on the horse’s eventing be connected from inside leg to outside experience level: never-evented/Starter, . He should know when you get on Beginner Novice and Novice. that it’s time to get into work mode.” The arena sessions began with a speech from Phillip about the importance of hav- First Priority: Forward ing clear goals for every ride and under- Phillip underscored the importance of standing that everything you do on your good habits from the moment he sent horse is training in some way. riders out to the rail with their first assign- were fundamentals to help the riders and “Every time you ride your horse, you ment: Create a forward walk. Every step horses, most of whom were relatively should be creating good habits. You can’t counted, and those who ambled away new to the sport of eventing, build correct just pick and choose when you are going from the center of the arena were admon- foundations: First, teach the horse to go to ride the horse correctly,” he said. “Train- ished to get their horses marching. forward from the leg; second, connect him ing is all the time.” Kick him or use your stick if he doesn’t from inside leg to outside rein; and third, That doesn’t mean your horse must immediately move forward from your leg, teach him to stay on the line you ride. be on the every ride. Instead, it means Phillip told a rider whose horse moved that whether you are doing a formal dres- off lazily. When the horse cantered in ‘Training Is All sage school or on a relaxing hack, you response, Phillip instructed his rider to try the Time’ always insist that the horse respect certain again. “The canter isn’t wrong. He went Each participant rode in a morning arena parameters, like going forward when you forward from your leg,” he said. “Now session of flatwork and jumping and in put your leg on and following your steer- walk again and try to make the walk more an afternoon cross-country school at Lel- ing aids. Don’t allow him to ignore your forward and active.”

4 PRACTICAL HORSEMAN EXTRA VOL. 23 | TRAINING Meet Team Misfits Amy Collins: Primarily a hunter/ warmblood transitioning from jumpers to Rider descriptions from time of clinic in jumper rider, Amy rode her 4-year-old hunter derbies. Forwin had not jumped March 2014. Shannon Brown (fourth Canadian warmblood, Ruger. A jumper, cross country before the clinic and initial- from right): Contest winner Shannon Ruger had never seen a cross-country ly acted up when asked to canter in the Brown is finishing her master’s degree fence before the clinic but calmly tackled open. The only horse Phillip rode during in sport psychology and hopes to work them all. Like other noneventers and mul- the clinic, he abandoned his shenani- with equestrians in the future. She also tidiscipline riders in the clinic, Amy said gans quickly once the master got on and teaches beginning riders and takes on she was eager to learn from someone of demanded the horse go forward. After occasional horses for basic riding and Phillip’s caliber and happy to give her a brief gallop to establish that leg meant desensitization training. young horse a variety of experiences. forward, Phillip jumped the horse easily She has owned her 7-year-old Black over an impromptu course, building from Jack, a presumed Standardbred/Quar- Ann Boese: A friend from nearby a small log to a Preliminary-level roll-top, ter Horse cross, since he was about 8 Richmond Hill, Georgia, Ann got back much to the spectators’ delight. months old, when a family member in into riding five years ago, after a long law enforcement found him living tied to break. She brought her Artisan’s Mark, Beth Huddleston: A friend who lives a tree, covered in rope burns and lice, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred whom she in Aiken, South Carolina, Beth currently in a suburban backyard. She - has competed at the Beginner Novice competes at the CCI* level. To stay with broke him as a 4-year-old, discovered level. “I don’t pay attention to striding,” the clinic groupings, she brought her he loved to jump and did jumpers and she observed after her morning session. Irish-bred 4-year-old, Inis, who has com- eventing with him, progressing to the “I need to push myself to be a more peted through Beginner Novice. Novice level before an accident at a thinking rider and use my dressage dur- cross-country ditch in 2011 shattered ing jumping.” Katy White: A friend of Shannon’s, Shannon’s arm and Black Jack’s confi- Katy brought her 6-year-old Thorough- dence about ditches. Abbie Jones: Also from Richmond bred, Monty. An athletic jumper and After rebuilding slowly, they now Hill, Abbie met Shannon through clinics one of the more excitable horses of the are competing successfully again at the and schooling sessions they attended to- group, he rushed fences and overshot Novice level and hope to move up to gether. She rode Bellagio, an 8-year-old turns in the morning gymnastic, so Phillip Training soon. During the clinic, Phillip dressage horse who only recently had her halt him after each fence (rather praised Black Jack’s “great attitude” and began jumping. than pull on him in front of the jump), desire to please as they tackled every- then pick up a canter and turn to jump thing Phillip asked of them—including an Macy Harden: The youngest of the the next. By learning to wait and listen intimidating Training-level ditch. clinic participants at age 12, Macy is between fences, he improved greatly. “I’m still a little star-struck,” Shannon one of Shannon’s students at Dove Field. said after the clinic. “I’ve got a lot of She rode Shannon’s lesson pony Cherry, Courtney Goss: Courtney lives on a good stuff to work on. Phillip was awe- whom she has competed at a Starter farm next door to Dove Field and saddle- some: He’s very precise and to the point. event. Cherry started the day in lazy breaks young horses. She rode Hootie, He doesn’t flood you with information. walk–trot lesson–pony mode and ended her own 4-year-old Paint stallion, who He lets you work through it, he lets you it in forward-thinking eventer mode, gal- has been under-saddle less than a year think and then he tells you to get on loping to his fences. and has competed at a Starter event and with it.” 2-foot-6 jumpers. The pair ended the Shannon currently boards Black Jack Haley Zimmerman: A friend of clinic jumping Novice level cross coun- at Dove Field Farm, which is owned by Shannon’s from a previous horse job, try and left with advice to focus on the fellow clinic participant Amy Collins and Haley is an assistant trainer at the In- straight approaches and landings. her family. ternational Riding Academy in Hilton “I think so much of Phillip,” she said The following riders are pictured Head, South Carolina. She brought before the clinic. “I just want to go into above from left. the academy’s Forwin, a 7-year-old this being a sponge and learn all I can.”

5 PRACTICAL HORSEMAN EXTRA VOL. 23 | TRAINING ABOVE: Phillip has test, show jump successfully or go cross- Haley Zimmerman country, where it’s so important to have lengthen and shorten your horse in front of your leg because Forwin’s stride to there’s so much more out there to back make him more adjustable. him off.” For most of the riders, opening their LEFT: Phillip taught horses’ stride and having them respond riders, including Amy quickly to the leg proved a bigger chal- Collins and Ruger, how to use the lenge than shortening the stride. After 20 correctly because minutes of Phillip’s instruction to “find a “an important part new gear” (a bigger stride within the gait), of keeping the horse however, there was a visible change in the in front of the leg is lazier horses as they became sharper to knowing how and when to use the the leg and more forward-thinking with- whip,” he said. out getting anxious.

Once the forward walk was estab- his ears and bolt,” Phillip said. “As he gets Add Flexion and lished, Phillip asked for the same exercise more trained, you’ll use the leg to move Connection in trot and canter. At each gait, riders were him laterally or slow down by coming un- Once riders had established that leg meant told to lengthen and shorten the strides to der himself and collecting.” forward, Phillip asked them to create a make their horses adjustable. For the green Asking for forward and back in the connection from inside leg to outside rein. horses and riders, this translated to “big canter, Phillip noted that the ability to He first had each rider ask the horse trot” and “trot on the spot.” Phillip wanted control the canter stride is a cornerstone to flex around her inside leg, applied at the horses to respond quickly to the for- to success in all three phases of event- the , while on the rail. Cueing the ward aid and shorten again willingly. ing: “You want to have lots of options riders to “see the horse’s inside eye,” he “The horse needs to understand and in your canter, so you can ride an 8-foot explained that flexion involves softening be obedient to the leg, so that when you or a 14-foot stride,” he said. “If you can’t the horse’s jaw and neck by using the put your leg on, he doesn’t ignore it or pin do that, you can’t do a proper dressage inside leg to create a better connection

6 PRACTICAL HORSEMAN EXTRA VOL. 23 | TRAINING to the outside rein. (With greener horses, Phillip said, he asks for flexion only; as the A Far-Reaching horse’s education and suppleness increase, he asks for bend through the entire body.) Impact Next, he asked them to trot up the Clinic winner Shannon centerline and leg-yield to the track begin- Brown was chosen from ning at X, all on the same rein. The tighter more than 450 entries in part turn onto the centerline gave riders an because she and her friends opportunity to emphasize flexion around do not have eventing train- the inside leg and feel the push into the ers near their home, and the outside rein as the horse straightened selection committee hoped a onto the centerline. The leg-yield to the day of training would help rail helped further establish the connec- boost eventing at the grass- tion from inside leg to outside rein, while roots level. also encouraging the horses to step under “She conveyed a strong themselves with the inside hind leg for a sense of camaraderie among more engaged, powerful stride. the riders at her barn,” Practical Horseman Editor Sandra Oliynyk said. “With a green horse, we don’t expect “There aren’t a lot of training opportunities in her area, so she and her anything too marvelous in terms of lat- friends work to be each others’ ‘eyes on the ground.’ This made us think eral work, but we do expect a reaction,” that Phillip’s teaching would have a far-reaching impact. For these reasons, Phillip explained. “The first priority is for- we, along with Phillip, felt that Shannon was the best recipient for a day of ward, then we add flexion to the inside, his training.” then connection.” Phillip’s clinic teachings were designed and delivered to be portable— advice the group could take back and help each other with easily. “If Flexed and Straight there’s one thing I want you to remember, it is doing simple, important After the leg-yields, Phillip asked riders to things really well,” he said often. “Do your transitions well, jump your trot straight down the entire length of the fences straight. Give your horse every chance you can to fulfill his potential centerline while changing flexion several by being diligent about his training, his fitness, his care and his preparation times. Riders had to focus on staying for competition.” straight and keeping their horses forward and in front of the leg through the chang- es in bend. “Flexion doesn’t just happen on a square corners, for example. strides, depending on the canter stride the bend or circle. Your horse also needs to Those who allowed their horses to cut rider created. be able to stay straight on the long side or the corners or overshoot the turn onto Phillip started riders over a single small centerline,” Phillip said. “Having the ability centerline were reminded about establish- vertical in the center of the arena, asking to ride the line you want is so important. ing good habits: A horse allowed to veer them to trot in and canter away, flexing Your horse needs to stay forward and off his line on the flat is more likely to do the horse to whichever he landed on, straight when you change flexion.” the same thing over fences, where it could then turning that direction at the rail. When Phillip noticed the occasional translate to a run-out or bad jump. A The exercise seemed simple, but it rider depending too much on the horse allowed to cut corners at home will helped Phillip make two major points: and pulling the horse into a frame, he be confused and less willing to ride deep First, the horse must stay forward and gave her a visualization to focus on: “Imag- into those corners when asked during a in front of the leg. For those horses who ine the bit being in front of your horse’s dressage test at a competition. wanted to stall and land trotting, riders mouth,” he said. “Instead of pulling back, were instructed to give a tap with the stick you want to push him forward into the bit Hold the Line over the fence to remind them to land for a softer, springier horse.” Over fences, Phillip used two basic exer- and go forward. Second, the horse must And while his emphasis was on the cises to reinforce the lessons of forward, stay straight over and after the fences, exercises happening on the centerline, connected and straight: a bending “S” line then flex properly around the turns rather Phillip also instructed riders to “do simple of three verticals that required riders to be than collapse into them. things well” around the rest of the arena— disciplined about their line and a vertical- From the first vertical in the center of stay straight along the rail and ride deep, to-oxer line that rode in five to seven the arena, Phillip added a second vertical

7 PRACTICAL HORSEMAN EXTRA VOL. 23 | TRAINING ABOVE LEFT: Katy White makes sure ing cross-country accuracy questions that it in one more (for either five, six or seven Monty stays in front of her leg and straight are half that width or less. strides). over a bank. “Attention to detail is how good ath- Getting the right number of strides in letes get great,” Phillip told a rider whose the line started by establishing an appropri- ABOVE: After the clinic, Ann Boese, riding her Artisan’s Mark, said, “I need to push horse, who had been cutting arena corners ate canter beforehand. Although you may myself to be a more thinking rider and use on the flat, repeatedly drifted over jumps need to push or hold between the two my dressage during jumping.” and collapsed through the turns. “Make fences if you realize you’ve misread the him bend correctly around the turn and canter, your focus should be getting the on a 90-degree turn, then a third vertical stay straight after the jump. On his own, job done on the approach, he said. on the opposite side of the center fence he’ll do what’s easiest. He’s not going to For a short-strided, unhurried Paint po- to complete the full “S” line. Riders were improve unless you take the lead.” ny whom Shannon uses for walk-trot les- instructed to approach the line at a canter sons, that meant his 12-year-old rider had and jump the fences center to center, rid- ‘Options in the Canter’ to use the full arena to get a true gallop ing straight after the first fence, bending Riders next moved to an oxer-to-vertical before successfully attempting the line in their horses around a left-hand turn, riding line set at 60 feet. The distance offered a six strides. (Over the course of the day, the straight to the second, then riding the right- range of striding options, challenging riders pony appeared to discover extra forward hand turn to the final fence. The focus was to test the adjustability they’d developed gears he didn’t have at the beginning of the on riding a straight approach and depar- on the flat. day, prompting Shannon to joke that her ture and a good turn, as opposed to getting In their first trip, riders were asked to beginner riders back home would be in a specific number of strides. count their strides in the line, a simple ex- For those who didn’t jump the center ercise in building awareness of what their BELOW: Abbie Jones also practices of a fence, Phillip again emphasized doing horses were doing underneath them. Later, forward and straight as she introduces simple things well: Discipline yourself to Phillip challenged them to develop a more Bellagio to jumping down a small bank. build the good habit of jumping 12-foot- sophisticated feel for how forward the wide fences in exactly the spot you want, horse was, asking the riders first to jump BELOW RIGHT: Phillip Dutton told clinic contest winner Shannon Brown and and you and your horse will be much bet- the line in one fewer stride than the horse eight of her friends to “do the simple, ter prepared when you progress to jump- got naturally in the first pass, then to jump important things really well.”

8 PRACTICAL HORSEMAN EXTRA VOL. 23 | TRAINING staying in front of your leg and jumping out of stride,” Phillip said. “You want to have your horse in front of your leg and then have the jump to hold the horse, rather than you pulling as you approach the fence. On a really well-trained horse, you could drop the reins and the horse will keep coming, shorten his stride if nec- essary, and jump.” Phillip had the riders practice using their correctly, by bridging the reins in one hand and using the stick behind their leg in the last stride before the jump. “An important part of keeping the horse in front of the leg is knowing how and when to use the whip,” he told them, asking them to practice the hand motions over several fences. “If you use the whip too far away from the fence, your horse rushes. If you use it in the last stride, the fence holds the horse and the whip keeps him in front of the leg.” Occasional run-outs gave Phillip a chance to re-emphasize the morning les- son about jumping straight and holding a line. Most riders’ natural, but incorrect, re- action to a run-out was to circle the horse in the direction he ran out. “If he runs out to the left and you circle to the left, you are training him that he decides where you go,” Phillip said. “Like staying straight over the fences in the arena, if your horse always drifts left, make Courtney Goss for a surprise at their nected enough to jump from? And if the him stay straight. If he runs out to the left, and her Starter- next lesson.) For other answer is no, fix it before the first fence.” turn him right to correct him.” level Hootie ended riders, that meant ap- The riders finished the clinic with a the clinic jumping Novice-level cross- proaching in a slightly Taking It Outside wealth of knowledge that they planned to country fences. collected canter to Riders were divided into two groups for bring back to their barn and practice, while get six strides in what the afternoon’s cross-country school: Be- helping each other. During an unmounted rode naturally as a five for their bigger- ginner Novice/Novice and never-ever/ session earlier in the day, Phillip said this strided horses. Starter, the latter of which included two was a great asset. “Eventing is an individual As a final challenge, Phillip asked riders jumpers who had never seen cross-country sport, but when I have other great riders to ride down the line in six strides, turn fences before. at my barn, I watch what they are doing around and immediately jump it in reverse For the relatively green horses, much and it pushes me to be better. You can do in five strides. For the more experienced of the school was about gaining experi- that for each other. It’s great that you guys Novice-level riders, he asked for a bigger ence with banks, water, ditches and vary- work together. If you can encourage each difference in pace, riding it first in seven ing terrain. In that context, “do simple other and push each other, everyone will strides and back in five. things well” echoed again: Keep the horse continue to improve.” “You need to have a feel for what’s in front of the leg, make the horse stay underneath you,” Phillip said. “Go through straight over fences and demand that he For more about the clinic, go to go to PracticalHorseman a checklist when you start—is he forward ride the line you dictate. Mag.com. Search for “Phillip or connected enough? Is the canter con- “Cross country is all about the horse Dutton, Shannon Brown.”

9 PRACTICAL HORSEMAN EXTRA VOL. 23 | TRAINING NEW PELLETS FORNEW EASY PELLETS FEEDING! FOR EASY FEEDING! When Performance Matters, Choose When Performance Matters, Choose

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DISCOVER COSEQUIN PELLETS AT COSEQUINEQUINE.COM/PELLETS DISCOVER COSEQUIN PELLETS AT COSEQUINEQUINE.COM/PELLETSSurvey conducted among equine veterinarians who recommended oral joint health supplements. Survey conducted among equine veterinarians who recommended oral joint health supplements. he equine stifle is similar, ana- 3 STEPS TO tomically and physiologically, to the human knee but a bit more complex and generally more . Both joints use cruciate STRONGER and patella ligaments, along with otherT stabilizing structures, to connect the bony framework that make up the joint: the tibia, fibula, femur and patella (knee cap). Horses, however, have much bigger quadriceps, the large muscles above the knee that make up the thigh, and three patella ligaments compared to only STIFLES one in humans. These extra ligaments factor into Progressive stretching and strengthening the unique biomechanics that allow the horse to exercises that target specific muscles and “lock” his knee cap and achieve a deep resting state while standing up, which was an important ligaments can keep this important joint in evolutionary advantage for a prey animal. Even so, the stifle is susceptible to arthritis, peak condition. resulting from a slow process of wear and tear occurring as a normal consequence of athletic By Kenneth L. Marcella, DVM activity, and/or more acute, traumatic soft-tissue strains and tears. Soft-tissue damage, such as cru- ciate-ligament tears and meniscal (fibrocartilage discs between the femur and tibia) injuries, are generally less common in horses than in humans because of the increased stability of the equine stifle. These types of problems, however, are se- rious and can end a horse’s athletic career.

Who’s at Risk Injuries to the ligaments of the equine stifle generally result from a combination of speed and rotation: awkward takeoffs or landings from jumps, sudden stops, quick changes of direction and other missteps a horse may take when trav- eling at speed or when out of balance. In these instances, a horse’s attempt to unevenly load isolated parts of the stifle can overstress some of the joint’s stabilizing structures, causing injury. Dressage horses, who do not perform at speed like jumpers and eventers, may also be suscep- tible to stifle injuries because the requirements of their sport necessitate bending and rotating their upper bodies, which can also place the stifle

Careful progressive >>> TIP: Injuries to the ligaments of the strengthening work, equine stifle generally result from a com- such as stretching bination of speed and rotation. Dressage exercises, can help protect your horse’s horses may also be susceptible because stifles against the bending and rotating of their upper injury. bodies can put the stifle at risk. COURTESY © KLM EQUINE

11 PRACTICAL HORSEMAN EXTRA VOL. 23 | HEALTH Femur

Patella out behind; and their stifle joints may Medial even make popping or clicking noises. patellar When going downhill, riders on these Middle growing youngsters may experience a patellar general unwillingness and inability to ligament maintain a straight line (the horse will Medial try to proceed downhill at an angle) and Femur Lateral even intermittent near-collapse in severe cases. Although these symptoms occa- sionally indicate structural problems, they Patella Tibia are most often signs of weakness.

Fibula Turnout and Stretching Careful progressive strengthening work can help protect your horse’s stifles against Tibia injury, especially if that area is already weaker due to conformation, lack of con- ditioning or other factors. If he is obviously lame or if a joint is swollen, tender and/or The equine stifle uses painful, then seek veterinary attention to cruciate and patella rule out any medical causes before starting ligaments, along with a strengthening program. Once you are other stabilizing structures, to connect the bony sure he is capable of tolerating a fitness framework that makes program, however, then the more you up the joint: the tibia, sensibly condition him, the fewer injuries fibula, femur and patella he will likely experience. This is especially (knee cap). true for the stifle joint. Here are two gen-

© HORSE ANATOMY: A COLORING ATLAS/ROBERT A. KAINER AND THOMAS O. MCCRACKEN eral ways to strengthen it: joint at risk. at greater risk. Poor foot care and imbal- 1. Increase overall daily movement. But it isn’t only equine athletes whose anced landing and loading can amplify Give your horse as much turnout as pos- stifles are at risk of injury. Any “pasture the uneven forces on the body and po- sible, ideally on pasture with rolling hills potato” can incur a stifle injury from tentially lead to stifle injuries as well. and with tractable companions (horses direct trauma, such as kicks, slips, falls or Young horses are especially vulner- tend to be more active when pastured in problems often associated with bad foot- able during growth spurts (periods of the company of others). If you are feed- ing from wet, muddy or icy conditions. In rapid bone and body-mass develop- ing hay, spread it out in multiple piles so fact, it is often ment, characterized by uneven growth your horse has to be more active in his these weaker, of different structures) as their ligaments eating behavior. >>> TIP: Care- less fit and often become either tighter or more lax 2. Perform stretching exercises. Al- ful progressive overweight depending on the changing bones and ways remember your personal safety and strengthening horses who joint angles. Since the stifle joint consists that of your horse as you attempt these work can help more com- of four bones and various ligaments, this exercises. They are best done in a flat area protect your monly sustain area is frequently involved in growth- with good footing and it is usually neces- horse’s stifles stifle injuries. related problems. As a young horse’s sary, especially initially, to have a helper against injury, Inadequately stifle bones develop, it can take time for hold your haltered horse with a loose but especially if that developed the slower growing ligaments to catch controlled lead. In each of the following area is already abdominal and up and for the quadriceps muscle to exercises, lift your horse’s hind foot off weaker due to core muscling, also grow in size and strength. the ground and stretch as described until conformation, along with a During these periods, riders often you feel slight resistance. Hold the stretch lack of condi- general lack of comment that their previously problem- for 10 to 20 seconds as tolerated, then tioning or other conditioning free horses now feel “weak behind” release. As he becomes more accustomed factors. and tone, place or “not connected.” These horses may to and comfortable with a stretching rou- these horses stumble more frequently; they may fall tine, you will be able to work on gradually

12 PRACTICAL HORSEMAN EXTRA VOL. 23 | HEALTH Stretching

A

B PHOTOS COURTESY © KLM EQUINE Step 1: I flex the horse’s hip and stifle by lifting the hoof upward Step 2: With the hoof still lifted and the hock flexed, push the and forward. As you flex the joints, help the horse maintain his point of the hock (Point A) toward the midline while you pull the balance by keeping the lower leg toward the midline and the foot laterally, or away, from the midline (Point B). This motion horse’s weight centered over the supporting leg. Each stretch rotates the stifle and stresses, and eventually strengthens, the should be held for 10 to 20 seconds initially. As the horse becomes ligaments and supporting structures of the medial, or inside, stifle. more accustomed to the stretching routine, you will be able to Reversing this exercise—pulling the point of the hock outward work on improving his range of motion. and pushing the hoof medially, or inward, rotates the stifle in the opposite direction and serves to strengthen the lateral, or outward, supporting structures. improving his range of motion. farrier would use to trim it. Slow pressure will have difficulty achieving a proper n Flex the hip and stifle by lifting your and your horse’s relaxation will eventu- frame. Consistent, correct slow work will horse’s hoof upward and pushing it in- ally allow you a good deal of extension pay dividends over time, however. ward toward the midline of the body. in this position. (This is similar to the motion veterinarians Another great way to begin getting Strengthening Work use to do a hock flexion test as part of a your horse to stretch and use his stifles is A third way to strengthen the stifle is lameness or prepurchase examination.) with a good-quality working walk, which from exercises you do on the ground and Then, with the hoof still lifted and the requires him to be balanced on each leg in the saddle. hock flexed, pull the leg outward away and to use his quadriceps to push forward. Unmounted from your horse’s body. This, in turn, strengthens muscles and liga- n With your haltered horse held by a n Pull the hind hoof forward toward the ments. Ask a dressage instructor or other helper, stand a few feet off, perpendicular back of the knee of the front leg on the equine professional to show you how to to his hip, and grasp his tail. Gently pull it same side. get your horse properly rounded in his toward you until you feel your horse resist n Pull the hoof backward, stretching out frame and correctly stepping his hind legs the pressure and pull back. You will notice the hind leg in the same position you up underneath his body. Understand that his back, abdominal muscles and, impor- would use to pick out the foot or that a this may take some time as a weak horse tantly, his quadriceps muscles tighten as

13 PRACTICAL HORSEMAN EXTRA VOL. 23 | HEALTH

Periodically halt Strengthen Unmounted TIP: Mix your horse—this >>> strength-training increases the sessions into forces on the your regular front part of training routine, the quadriceps which should and patella liga- involve a mini- ments—and then mum of three walk off again. days of exer- Doing this exer- cise per week cise unmounted but preferably is especially four or five. valuable because the horse can focus on his own balance and movement without trying to compensate for the rider’s weight and position. As with all attempts

PHOTOS COURTESY © KLM EQUINE at strength and conditioning work, an im- Walking downhill is a great exercise to make your horse utilize his hind end and work properly done exercise is nearly worthless the muscles and structures that support not only the stifles but the lower back and pelvis and often damaging, so keep the exercises as well. Keep your horse straight—not allowing him to swing his haunches left or right— simple—and do simple well. and make him slowly weight each leg through the entire range of motion. This requires n balanced use of the stifles. Find a place in the pasture where the flat terrain changes into a little hill or incline. Stand at the break in that terrain and longe your horse in big circles. This work is usually best done at the trot. You want to have him travel for half the circle on the flat ground where he can maintain good footing and then push up the hill, using the lateral, or outside, quadriceps muscles. Then he will travel down the hill, using the medial, or inside, quadriceps muscles before again reaching flat ter- rain. By doing this “incline ” in Longeing on a slight incline isolates and Going down the hill, your horse will use both directions, you can effectively target strengthens the ligaments and muscle his inner quadriceps muscles. The inner the inside and outside thigh muscles of attachments on either the inside or the and outer muscles of these areas are both legs and help strengthen the stifles outside of the stifle as the horse moves difficult to target and people have to tremendously. Insist that your horse stay around a circle. Find a place in a pasture utilize side leg-pull movements to work where the flat terrain changes into a little and strengthen them. Incline longeing in balance—maintaining a steady pace hill. Stand at the break in the terrain and is well tolerated by horses and has the without leaning to the inside or outside. longe your horse in big circles so half the additional benefit of achieving balance Use proper longeing technique to ask circle is on flat ground and the other half is as well. Insist that your horse maintain a for lengthening and shortening of stride on the hill. To go up the hill, your horse will steady pace without leaning to the inside use his outside quadriceps muscles. These or outside. Note: Our model in these and then for gait transitions, all still using muscles specifically support the stifle. The photos is very calm and experienced at the incline for half the circle. If you are ligamentous attachments of these muscles longeing so he is in a . If your horse not familiar enough with good longeing to the bones that make up the stifle joint is more energetic or animated, plan to skills, then get help from a knowledgeable will become stronger with incline and use a , longeing cavesson or other unbalanced footing exercise. supporting/controlling aides. trainer and add this incredible exercise to your strengthening program. he braces against your pull. Hold pressure slight inclines. Ask him to walk slowly and Mounted for 10 to 20 seconds and release. Repeat maintain a straight line, not allowing him to n Concentrate on transitions—walk to trot, this exercise 10 times on each side. cheat and swing his haunches to either side. trot to canter, walk to canter, and so forth. n Hand-walk your horse up and down This requires balanced use of the stifles. Always aim to make them smooth and

14 PRACTICAL HORSEMAN EXTRA VOL. 23 | HEALTH Strengthen Mounted PHOTOS COURTESY © KLM EQUINE Annelise Stone is riding Assassin’s Shooter in a good working trot, Annelise is riding her horse in a canter that has engaged his making sure he is engaged behind and pushing with his hind legs hind end. This type of canter as well as transitions from trot to encourage him to lift his back. This will help build muscle and to canter to trot will help strengthen the stifles and provide strengthen the ligaments of the stifle. stability and balance. balanced as this builds muscle, tightens of direction—repeat the same program into your regular training routine, which ligaments and produces better motion. in your next session. If your horse does should involve a minimum of three days n When riding or doing conditioning that easily, then add three to five minutes of exercise per week but preferably four work in open pasture or fields, instead of in the next session. Continue gradually or five. Wear a watch and time each ses- traveling in long, straight lines, make shal- increasing the duration for seven to 10 sion and avoid overworking, especially low serpentines that require your horse to sessions until your workout time is 30 when a session is going really well. Keep bend and to use the inside and outside leg minutes or longer. Then you can reduce a record of your program and monitor muscles—principally the quadriceps. the duration of time for a particular ses- intensity and duration. This will help you n If you have access to deep sand, such as sion and add some hill work (increase chart progress and decide when to push beaches or other soft surfaces, practice rid- intensity)—doing, for example, 10 minutes the conditioning and when to back off ing in it. Strenuous work on surfaces like of flat longeing and eight minutes of walk- and allow your horse a bit of training these can cause other injuries if you do ing up and down hills. If, at any point, rest—both of which are important when too much too soon. So pay close attention your horse seems to be struggling with a trying to achieve better fitness. to my advice that follows about building workout, you can always simply go back With methodical training, patience and up gradually. As your horse’s strength to the lower-level intensity session that attention to exercises that target the spe- improves, concentrate on motions that you had previously been doing easily and cific muscles and ligaments involved, you also principally use the medial and lateral stay there for a while longer before trying can help strengthen your horse’s stifles quadriceps muscles, like circles and spirals. to increase intensity again. and assure him a happier, healthier athletic Riders have a tendency to overdo Mix these strength-training sessions career. strength training at first—and to give up on it too early. Whatever exercises you Dr. Kenneth L. Marcella is a graduate of the New York State College of Veterinary decide to do, it is very important to prog- Medicine at Cornell University. For more than 30 years he has treated sporthorses of all ress slowly and in a step-by-step manner. disciplines and levels, including international competitors. Dr. Marcella has served as a vet- Commit to a long-term program, start with erinary official at many events around the world, including national championships, World short, easy sessions and never increase Equestrian Games and Olympic competitions. He is board-certified in thermal imaging and both intensity and duration of exercise at has served on the selection committee for the United States Endurance Team. the same time. With an undergraduate degree in English from Dartmouth College, Dr. Marcella has For example, if you start with 15 min- also written articles for numerous publications, including Dressage Today, DVM 360, utes of longeing on flat ground—including Endurance News, The American Quarter Horse Journal, and the Thoroughbred warm-up, cool down and multiple changes Times. In his free time, he plays and coaches hockey.

15 PRACTICAL HORSEMAN EXTRA VOL. 23 | HEALTH