Equistasis in Cawarral, Queensland, Australia | Massage service

Equistasis

Locality: Cawarral, Queensland, Australia

Phone: +61 447 280 183

Address: 576 Cawarral Road 4702 Cawarral, QLD, Australia

Website: http://www.equisearch.com

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25.01.2022 "I am convinced that understanding the action of the horse's sling muscles and the role of the forelimbs are crucial to understanding the mechanics of self-carriage in the dressage horse." http://www.dressageheadlines.com//dress/significance-horse’s-chest-sling-muscles-biomechanic-research-hilary-clayton

16.01.2022 This is so true! Please remember this when you engage a body worker. It is not a cure, it’s part of a holistic approach to keeping your equine partner happy and healthy

16.01.2022 Balance Balance in the saddle is more than the ability to stay upright, it is the ability to move with your horse, to be in a position that is not forced or str...ained, that allows your body to absorb the movement beneath you and to be soft in the saddle. It is a pliable seat, a relaxed and fluid body that can move effortlessly with your horse. It is the absence of pain, tension and discomfort - all of which can cause you to be stiff, hard and heavy in the saddle. Balance is sitting in alignment with the balance point of your horse (where the sternum of the horse ends, aligned with the sternum of the rider). It is a neutral pelvis, relaxed hip, shoulder-hip-heel alignment WITHOUT force. Anytime you force your body to be in a certain position, you create tension and imbalance. So why is balance so important and why do some of us struggle so hard to find it? Balance is a combination of taught skill and equipment. That equipment is your saddle. From the seat, to the twist, the seaming, down to the stirrup bars, seat foam, and thigh blocks - every part of the saddle can have either a supportive effect or a hindering effect for the rider. First and foremost, we must accept the fact that men and women are different. Our skeletal structures, specifically the pelvis, have multiple differences that can have tremendous effects for our balance depending on the saddle we use. The pelvis has long since been considered the golden standard for sex determination in the realm of forensic anthropology. It is from there that we pull this information, and while there are variances within the skeletal structures of mature males and females, they fall within the acceptable range for that particular sex. (Fundamentals of Forensic Osteology - Linda L. Klepinger, The Human Bone Manual - Tim D. White & Pieter A. Folkens, Standards for Data Collection from Human Skeletal Remains: The Field Museum of Natural History - Arkansas Archeological Survey Research Series No. 44) Firstly, we look at the seat bones. Women, regardless of weight, will always have seat bones set wider than that of a man. The seat bones must be supported by the seat otherwise we do not get the support we need from the saddle and will feel soreness through the hip socket and pressure on the underwear line. Often, women will shift back in a saddle until she feels the seat is wide enough to support her seat bones. The problem with this is now she is sitting too far back, placing too much pressure on the back of the saddle and her leg is being pulled forward by the stirrup bar. Additionally, the saddle itself (not just the seat) is also wider and she can no longer have her leg drop comfortably from the hip joint, instead she will be in a chair seat. So, the rider is not in balance. The pubic symphysis. On a female, the pubic symphysis is what usually connects first to the saddle whereas in a male, it is much higher. Also, men can shift their bits left or right while women sit right on the money. Again, in a male saddle, the female will have to shift backwards to relieve that pressure - if she doesn't, she could get a bladder infection, kidney infection, etc. Additionally, some women will actually roll the pelvis backwards to take pressure off the extremely sensitive groin area. Now, the pelvis is not in a neutral position and her back is no longer relaxed, therefore she does not have a pliable seat and cannot properly absorb the movement of the horse. Her shoulders are also forward to try and keep up with her hips and the whole body is out of alignment. She becomes heavy in the saddle and causes extra concussion on the horse. So, the rider is not in balance. The hip socket. The femur of a male comes straight down from the socket whereas women have an inward angle of the femur from the hip joint. This means the space between the upper inner thighs (the twist of the saddle, NOT the seaming) needs to be different for men and women. For men, they are able to be comfortable in a wider TWIST, as they have more space. Women on the other hand, with the inward angle of the femur coupled with the different muscular structure of the thigh (women have rounder musculature when viewed in a cross section from the top, whereas men have more oval) require a narrow twist. If a woman were to sit in a male saddle her toes would point outward, signalling the twist is too wide. With the woman feeling like she's being pulled apart at the hips, must shift her weight around in the saddle or torque her leg to maintain or find an ideal/comfortable position. This tension translates directly into the horse, so she is no longer soft and pliable or fluid. So, the rider is not in balance.

16.01.2022 PSA... Over the past couple weeks of horseshows, I’ve spent a lot of time ringside. It is CRAZY how tight people are girthing up just before they go into the ri...ng. An over-tightened girth may pinch and bruise the muscles - in particular the pectorals, trapezius, serratus ventralis muscles and latissimus dorsi (see red areas in diagram bleow). This muscle group (also known as part of the thoracic sling) is crucial for movement. Besides soft tissue, an over tightened girth may also cause bruising of the ribs, the intercostal muscles between the ribs, And increase the overall pressure of the saddle on the back muscles. Check your girth underneath their chest, NOT on the side. You will be surprised the difference one hole can make, and quite literally give your horse some breathing room. ESMA. #cadencetherapy #trainingtips #checkyourtack #equine #health #performance

14.01.2022 Breaking news: Modern horses are missing approx 1/3 of the nuchal ligament lamellae resulting in hypermobility and osteoarthritis! Sharon May Davis was the ke...y speaker at the #Centaurbiomechanics Seminar at Hartpury. From dissecting 98 equines, including 10 ancient or primitive breeds (zebra, ass, Prezwalski etc) she discovered that 88 of the equines did not have the nll attachments to their vertebrae at C6 and C7 the ligament had disappeared. The 88 equines were all ‘modern’, domesticated breeds, only the primitives displayed the traditional view of the nll attachment. (See photos below). Dorsal spines at C6 and C7 were also compared between modern and primitive horses which showed they had developed completely different shapes. Pre-domesticated horses had increased dorsal spines at the apex for good nuchal ligament attachment, unlike the flattened areas of horses today. Anatomy 101 The nuchal ligament is a large, elastic structure in the dorsal neck region that supports the head and neck; it starts at the poll and runs down to the withers it continues along the back, but as the supraspinous ligament. It is made of two elements - the funicular part of the nuchal ligament is the cord-like part that runs from the withers to the occiput (back of skull). The lamellae is the fibrous sheet-like part that extends from the funicular part to the cervical (neck) vertebrae where it attaches. Old anatomical drawings show the lamellae (NLL) attaching to the vertebrae from C2 to C7, however, evidence from dissections by SMD shows that in modern horses it now only attaches from C2 C5.. it has disappeared, and this may be a contributing factor in caudal cervical osteoarthritis. What are the implications? The Spinalis Dorsi muscle is a deep muscle by the wither; it attaches the lumbar, thoracic and cervical vertebrae and acts as a stabiliser. It has strong insertions, connecting and interweaving including extra support at C6 and C7. If C6 and C7 aren’t also supported by the NLL this will place extra strain on the Spinalis. Read more at https://thehorsesback.com/spinalis-muscle/ Osteoarthritis in the neck can develop due to hypermobility because the neck is not stabilised at C6 and C7. It can start at 4 years of age, affecting range of motion and the forelimbs (Brachial Plexus) Instances of Caudal neck arthritis have increased over the past 20 years; previously attributed to age and work, research is now suggesting that this does not have the impact previously thought. The loss of the NLL is progressive; attachments at C5 are beginning to disappear or be reduced Issues with the missing NLL affects all horses What can be done? aim to get muscles to recruit to stabilise the neck, reduce osteoarthritis and minimise the effects of the lost NLL Stabilise hypermobility by effective muscle recruitment Measure muscle development and changes in thorocolumbar dimensions using a flexicurve, over the spinalis dorsi and along the back behind the withers (note: horse must be standing square with head and neck in neutral) Use Variable Feeding Positions to 1. stabilise the caudal naeck 2. engage the back by lengthening, stretching or creating tiny movements in the multifidi muscles around the vertebral joints 3. encourage varied posture and movement through 80% grazing and 20% browsing develop the postural muscles eg multifidus, longus colli, spinalis dorsi It is important to maintain the biomechanical health of your horse through a variety of approaches; these can include bodywork sessions to ensure the muscles are working effectively and are not in a state of tension. In hand work or gymnastic exercises to promote flexibility and core strength. A lifestyle that includes movement, variable feeding positions and enrichment. Sympathetic schooling and riding to ensure the horse is not in a state of hyperflexion or a hollow frame.

14.01.2022 English translation is on the bottom 3 dagen vol informatie over een heel paard. En wat voor één!!... Een ruin van 15 jaar oud. Hij heeft vanaf jonge leeftijd hoog in de sport gelopen. Als jong spring talent heeft hij vele eventing parcoursen gewonnen en later als dressuur paard kwam hij met vele bekers thuis. Op zijn 11e levensjaar ging hij met pensioen. Daar kun je wat van vinden. Maar zoals een topsporter betaamd heb je een korte vlammende carrière. De sporen waren van de sport waren ook echt te zien. Alleen dat is niet waar we deze post over willen schrijven. Dit komt zeker in lezingen en/of cursus dagen aan de orde. Maar welk topic we er uit willen lichten is PPID. Tijdens het prepareren van hem konden we niet aan zijn lichaam zien dat er signalen waren van deze aandoening. Wat we wel konden zien waren signalen van Insuline resistentie. Vet ophoping boven het hoofd. En een dikke nek (vet op de crest). Er wordt op het ogenblik volop geadverteerd op FB dat je je paard kunt laten testen. Als je dit zou willen laten doen, is het verstandig om dit te laten doen in het juiste seizoen. (overleg dit met je dierenarts) Als we op internet onze research doen dan wordt beschreven dat 15% tot 30% van de paarden ouder dan 15 jaar aan deze aandoening lijdt. Maar wat is het? We beschrijven het in het kort: Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction, een kleine klier die zich aan de onderkant van de hersenen bevind. Bij PPID is een gedeelte van de hypofyse de pars intermedia- ontregeld. Dit heeft een effect op de aanmaak van bepaalde hormonen. Wat zijn dan de dingen die je ziet aan je paard: 1. Hoefbevangenheid 2. Mogelijk verandering van de vacht 3. Verandering van lichaamsbouw 4. Vetophopingen rondom de ogen 5. Veel drinken en plassen 6. Lusteloosheid en verminderende prestaties 7. Verminderde weerstand Maar je vraagt je vast af wat hebben we nu dan nu zo speciaal gevonden dat we hier een post aan wijden. Sinds een jaar doen we research op de hersenen. Tamara heeft zich hierin behoorlijk gespecialiseerd. Wanneer de spieren van het hoofd gedissect zijn, kunnen we nog een stapje dieper gaan, de volgende stap is het uithalen van de hersenen. Op deze manier kunnen we alle studenten meenemen door dit fascinerende en o zo complexe orgaan. Wanneer je de hersenen uit de schedel haalt, blijft er nog een prachtige klier achter, de Hypofyse. Het is prachtig om te zien hoe hij in de schedel verpakt zit. Dit keer zagen we een zichtbaar vergrote hypofyse met adenoma’s. Dit betekend dat hij over productief is geweest. Op de foto hieronder zie je het verschil tussen een normale Hypofyse (boven)en de abnormale Hypofyse (onder). 3 days full of information about an entire horse. And what kind of one !! A gelding of 15 years old. He has been performed in high level competition from a young age. As a young jumping talent he has won many eventing competitions and later as a dressage horse he came home with many cups. He retired at the age of 11. You can have an oppinion about that. But as befits a top athlete you have a short flaming career. The traces of the sport were really visible. Only that is not what we want to write about this post. This will certainly be discussed in lectures and / or course days. But the topic we want to highlight is PPID. While preparing him we could not tell from his body that there were signs of this condition. What we could see were signals from Insulin resistance. Fat accumulation above the head. And a thick neck (fat on the crest). There is currently plenty of advertising on FB that you can have your horse tested. If you want to do this, it is wise to do this in the right season. (consult this with your veterinarian) When we do our research on the internet, it is described that 15% to 30% of horses over the age of 15 suffer from this condition. But what is it? We describe it briefly: Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction, a small gland located at the bottom of the brain. With PPID, part of the pituitary gland - the pars intermediary is disrupted. This has an effect on the production of certain hormones. What are the things you see about your horse: 1. Laminitis 2. Possible change of the coat 3. Change in the body 4. Fat deposits around the eyes 5. Drink a lot and pee 6. Listlessness and reducing performance 7. Decreased immunity But you probably wonder what have we found so special now that we are devoting a post to this. We have been doing research on the brain for a year. Tamara is quite specialized in this. When the muscles of the head are dissected, we can go one step deeper, the next step is pulling the brain. In this way we can take all students through this fascinating and very complex body. When you remove the brain from the skull, a beautiful gland remains, the pituitary gland. It is wonderful to see how it is wrapped in the skull. This time we saw a visibly enlarged pituitary gland with adenomas. This means that he has been over productive. The photo below shows the difference between a normal pituitary gland (top) and the abnormal pituitary gland (bottom).

11.01.2022 Amazing artwork of the horse's skull with teeth (shows just how long they are when the horse is young) and also a picture of the muscles and nerves which you mi...ght find useful when fitting a bridle. Many Thanks to Alana Mainiera & Lizzie Dietrich at Equident Odontologia Equina Brazil for sharing these pictures. See more

10.01.2022 . One of the most poignant questions I had during my first year of study was ..., / //. ? ? In essence, by decreasing muscular hypertonicity and pain are we taking away the animals coping mechanism? Whilst they may be more comfortable initially, surely the same problems will just continue to occur as we are treating the (muscle) and not the of the ailment? And it was this trail of thought that made me realise that you can use massage techniques and electrotherapy modalities endlessly, but without changes to the animals lifestyle regime and exercise values the effectiveness of treatment is -. To put into perspective, if we have a painful back because we have been lifting a heavy haynet without correct posture. We then see the doctor/physiotherapist/chiropractor/osteopath etc for treatment. Once the treatment is complete and the pain has subsided, it would be then to lift the same heavy haynet again. It's common sense. For optimum recovery and long term health, you would complete your physiotherapy exercises rest and employ lifestyle changes (e.g. warming up the muscle before heavy lifting). So why is it accepted for our animals to have their physiotherapy treatment, but then continued to be exercised in incorrect/compromised posture? Physiotherapy treatment can set up the animal to move away from compensatory movement patterns and develop correct posture. In order to stop the cycle of the muscular tension returning or becoming chronic, therapeutic practices need to be employed on a regular basis. This can range from stretching, incorporating pole work exercises weekly, avoiding haynet use or even increased turnout. Source of image unknown.

10.01.2022 So true, and if you can’t stop it following you, for whatever reason, maybe just try again another day. The best gift you can give your horse is your calm and clear mind

09.01.2022 Please take a minute to reflect. Is what you call ‘bad behaviour’ a pain response? I do not subscribe to the notion that horses are inherently badly behaved, or naughty, but rather they are trying to tell us something. Something isn’t right, something hurts. Horses are not by nature bad, or naughty, ever

04.01.2022 Arguably the most delicate bones in equine anatomy- the Hyoid Apparatus! These bones provide anchorage for the horse’s tongue and larynx. And the musculature t...hat inserts onto them have a huge role to play in moving the tongue, forelimb protraction and scapulae ROM. Poorly fitted bridles- specifically tight nose bands and incorrect bitting, or restricted head/neck movement caused by bad hands or training aids will directly inhibit hyoid apparatus function, therefore affecting how your horse moves. Symptoms of hyoid discomfort (which go hand-in-hand with TMJ tension) include; fussing with the mouth, drawing the tongue back, head shaking, unequal forelimb protraction and restricted shoulder movement to name but a few. Breakage of these bones can cause partial, or total tongue paralysis. With this in mind, it’s quite logical to say that if these tissues are compromised then the horse’s whole musculoskeletal system will be compromised too.

03.01.2022 Superficial dorsal line. Muscles is clay and fascia in cling film. I didn’t get anything done today I actually had to do ,but this was fun. Notice again that the hind foot is directly connected to the TMJ. the TMJ is the center of proprioception and balance

02.01.2022 Brilliant and informative, made a lot of connections for me in relation to the hyoid apparatus https://youtu.be/l4OxfvtwkSQ