Warming up

[Sue Brown <sbrown@wamedes.com>]

We all know it's necessary to warm up the body before starting strenuous
exercise or stretching.  Do the tissues respond the same if the source of
heat is external versus internal?  What about different types of
tissue...how much longer should you warm up tendons, for instance, over
muscle which has better circulation?  If you were to start bringing back a
horse after a tendon injury, would putting a hot pack on the area improves
it's stretchability?...or would it just increase the possibility of edema
to the area, making it less effective?

How much should a rider adjust their warm-ups when the weather is colder?
Is a thermometer under the saddle pad an indicator in any way...or are they
solely beneficial in monitoring the horse for *over*heating?  And at what
point is overheating dangerous?

Sue


sbrown@wamedes.com
Tyee Farm
Marysville, Wa.