I am so happy that I was a part of the lecture given by a passionated man like Russell MacKechnie-Guire. With a very humble way of sharing his research on the movement of the horse and rider together.
Biomechanic movement
We had a whole day about the biomechanic movement of the horses neck and head, both observing live horses in the training hall and Russels lecture in the riding lounge.
Social License to operate (SLO)
We started discussing in the panel what Social license to operate means for the horseindustrie:
Public acceptance of future use of horses for elite sports likely depends on whether the international and national riding federations can provide credible, objective evidence that horse welfare is truly paramount at all times.
Bimechanic is still a complex area
Russel keeps on saying that the body of the horse, the biomechanic is still a complex topic and we do not have enough research to have all the answers. Important is to have a good dialog and be curious to get more knowledge about your horse.
Head and neck position in the ridden horses
Duration is the key. How long time a horse is in the same position. Maintain the head position in these positions in a long time (hyperflexion/10degrees behind the verticle) your damage nerves, the horse has difficult breathing fully and the horses inforcement and use of power is reduced.
Is it hurting or not to go behind the verticle?
The horse has to be fit to be able to carry and work with a rider. Horses are not born to have riders on. That is why it is so important to build up muscles on the horse so it can carry a riders weight.
The horse also needs a rest with the head and neck position and that means to be able to lower the head. If we say no horses must lower the head then we say no rest. But is lower the head behind the verticle?
How long time must the horse lower the head in competiton – is 10 min too long time? There are so many reasons why we should have a dialog about this topic Russell keeps saying. Because it is all about duration.
Towards a jump a horse has to have its head up to be able to see the distance to the jump. Sometimes they look down, but they cannot see down below the nose. The vison and all other sences of the horse is well told in this video
Picture Jimmy L Friis Caboo summer 2024
Russel made a study in the warm up arena.
The short conclusion was: Many dressage horses are behind verticel. There are more conflict on warm up vs competition arena.
1 degree is also classified behind the verticle. Is that fair to the research?
If you put the head down, the back get round and stronger. Horses need strong backs to be able to carry riders. If you lower the head you influent the gates and the muscles so we cannot say that the horse must not lower the head at all.
The behaviour of the horses should be more in focus
The behaviour of the horses should be more in focus for the next researches. Here you can be able to see if the horse are in pain by including the reaction from the horses on the warm up, in the training and in the competition ring, Russell concluded.
A fit rider is important to keep a sound horse
Russell also explained how important it is that the RIDER is fit. If the rider has lack of strength, musclepain or any other disfunctional problems with their body it will impact the horse. Mostly if the rider is not fit or hiding pain the rider will bring this to the horse when riding. Then the saddle can start slipping to the side, be unstable because of the rider. The compensation the rider does effect the horse when riding.
Riders should work their horse more without rider on
Russel recomments that riders work their horses more without rider to offload the horses from the weight of the rider and do gym work on the ground. Pole work in walking was his suggestion. Here the horses can work their core without weight on their back.
To keep the head in a long time in the same position can make damage on the neck of the horse. BUT what is longe time?
Picture of Sif & Georgia 2022 taken by Jimmy L Friis
Why riders ride hyperflexion?
Why do some riders ride hyperflexion willingly when research says it is not healthy for the horse? That is a good question. I think it is because of the history, trainingculture and -traditions. We need to change our way of thinking, training should be and repeal many traditions. Changes are difficult especially if you have been doing the same actions for many many years.
Moments behind the verticle is not always possible to avoid because of the movements of the horse.
Russel explains that the horse to keep the balance, the head of the horse goes up and down when it moves. He works a lot with horses without riders to explain and research how the head and neck position is without vs with rider.
Rein tension goes up and down
Also the rein tension goes up and down. When head go up, there is a bigger rein tension, unless you with your hand release the rein pressure. With the release of your hand the horse mostly lower the head.
Many riders are bending alot in the inside rain. Russel also concluded in his research that the riders right hand almost always is stronger than the left hand whereas left hand is more stable.
There is a lot of graphs in Russells research which he explained very well for the audience so it got clear to most of us.
The highest point should be behind the ears and not the neck when your are riding, research claims.
Upcoming study about the noseband pressure
Russell has released his newest research about the pressure of the noseband (september 2024).
What I did not know but Russel has tested:
- A treat given is higher pressure on the noseband than a ridden horse. When a horse eats the treat the noseband is very tight.
What I did know but I find important to mension:
- Walk or galop (light seat on off) more when warming your horse up is better for the back of the horse
- Sitting less down and lighten your seat is better for the back of the horse
- Do more pole work or work with your horse without rider= Less pressure on the horses back and you improve limb flexion and core strength.
- We ride too much in the arena = DO different grounds with your horse. Tack out more.
- Be curious with your training and horse. Just think outside the box, change bit, try and feel new things
Russel ended his lecture by saying:
Be carefull about your language outside the industrie. Be sure the reciepent understands your saying or writing so there will be less misunderstanding.
To spread knowledge is also a way to fight the critics. To Share knowledge is to be a part of the solution. The horseindustrie has to stand together as ONE community and explain the knowledge to the outsiders to regain credibility (Social License to Operate).
For the good of the horse
Thank you Russell for sharing your knowledge so we can be better with our horses. And thank you Sadelspecialisten for arranging every year these lectures.
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