RE: Lameness(long)

["Budler,Cindy" <natcon@afrox.boc.com>]

Thanks Jim,

I appreciate the advice and will try this on her today - she IS a puller
and can she snake that neck when having a temper tantrum!!!. I wish we
had someone like you out here in South Africa - i knew I needed someone
to come do these massage things- I am not the best, and boy do the arms
ache when I try it.

Thanks again,
Cindy

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	JPascu@aol.com [SMTP:JPascu@aol.com]
> Sent:	Wednesday, January 20, 1999 6:54 PM
> To:	natcon@afrox.boc.com; ridecamp@endurance.net
> Subject:	Re: Lameness(long)
> 
> Hello Cindy;
> 
> I believe the muscle you are describing is the BrachioCephalicus,
> Brachio=
> upper arm, Cephalicus= head. It runs from the upper arm to the head
> and moves
> the arm when the head is fixed or sidebends the head/neck to the same
> side,
> rotates head to the opposite side. This muscle in the human is called
> SternoCleidoMastoid, Streno is the sternum, Cleido=clavicle or
> collarbone,
> Mastoid process= is the big bump on the back lateral edge of the head.
> 
> A horse that is a puller will develop a strain in this muscle.
> Eventually if
> the pulling isn't resolved the neck will start to ewe under the
> strain. (I see
> the same patterns with people, head forward posture, whithers
> developing, we
> call it "Dowagers Hump" but it's actually the healthy body process in
> response
> to the head being "out there". That's right whithers are there to hold
> the
> head not a saddle!).
> When I massage this I use a LIGHT stripping motion and kneading. Go in
> very
> lightly and slowly, feel the tissue, if you feel something going THUMP
> THUMP
> THUMP back off of it. There's an old Rolfing saying, "don't Rolf
> Thumpers". 
> I would massage for 5 minutes each side. Raise the front leg toward
> the head
> and old for 1.5 -2 minutes, this will shorten the muscle and relax the
> muscle
> spindles, and SLOWLY return the leg to the ground. Massage 5 more min.
> then
> passively stretch the front leg to the rear. By passively I mean take
> the leg
> back to the first barrier and wait for the horse to release the
> barrier before
> going further, then take up the slack to the next barrier.
> The idea is to work to the horse's time to go slow and only take what
> is
> offered.
> If this doesn't resolve in a few days I would call my DVM to rule out
> something more sinister.
> 
> Good Luck
> 
> jim pascucci
> Advanced Certified Rolfer
> www.equisearch.com/ibt