ridecamp@endurance.net: Equine shoulders (long)

Equine shoulders (long)

JPascu@aol.com
Sat, 1 Mar 1997 22:42:47 -0500 (EST)

I thought I would put some thoughts out about equine shoulders and the
potential reasons why they may be held high or seemingly developped on one
side more than the other..
As you probably all know, the horse doesn't have a boney attachment of the
front limbs to the axial skeleton. The front of the horse is a soft tissue
"sling" on which the body is suspended. (The human has a connection of the
arms/shoulder girdle complex at the breast bone (sternoclavicular joint).
This is the only place where our arms attach to the rest of the body through
a bone.).
Because the equine has this suspension system the twists and rotations of the
front are absorbed, and possibly stored, in the soft tissue structures,
rather than transferred to the spine, as would be the case in the rear end.
There are a number of reasons why the horse will have one shoulder higher
than the other: Un-even development due to exercise. Compensation to pain
lower in the leg. Actual leg length differences.
Leg length differences are easy to determine. You measure the length of each
bone in the leg see if they are equal. If they are not then you'll need to
use some sort of prosthetic, ie. a pad to help equalize them. (Generally in
this case or for a long term holding the hoof will tell the story, the foot
on the held side will tend to be upright even clubby, while the other leg
will flair, this corresponds to a weight shift to the flaired side.).
In the case compensation due to pain you'll have to do a little more. This is
where you'll need the consultation of your DVM to assure there is currently
no pain, ie. stone bruises, soft feet ... As you use the horse that is in
pain it will compensate until the pain is no longer bothersome. The more you
use it the horse the deeper the compensation will be ingrained into the
nervous system. So your first job is to assure the horse is pain free. You've
already measured the bones to rule out the above scenario.
Your next job is to remove the compensation. This will require that the held
shoulder be released and that the horse be re-balanced. This may require that
the spine be aligned, through some method like Chiropractic. ( It is possible
that you could use Chiropractic first and see good results. I would argue
that there is still holding in the soft tissue that will effect performance
later. These are the Vet bill horses I treat each week.).
You can easily release a shoulder. Take the leg and fold it up so that you
are supporting the shoulder. Wait until you feel a release of the holding and
slowly put the leg down. This may need to be performed a number of times,
over time. In the case of a long term pattern you'll also need to release the
neck. (Basically what you are doing is taking over the holding pattern for
the nervous system, the release is the acknowledgement of the nervous system
that the job is being accomplished and that it can relax its grip.). You
should follow this with some normal range of motion stretching. Especially
concentrate on the triceps and the flexors. If the horse is folding at the
knee joint, work the extensors. ( this horse will stumble on that leg since
is doesn't lock). In other words stretch back and forward.
If this isn't clear e-mail me in private and I'll send more details.
The third type of shoulder issue is un-even development due to training. This
is one that you'll need a trainer to help you with. It's cause is more
elusive and may include the rider's balance more than anything else.

Hope this helps.

jim pascucci
Certified Rolfer

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