VetGold Equine

EquiMud

Arel sagron — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 09:30:12 +0000

Field Trial in England from 20.09.18 until 04.10.18

conducted by Elizabeth Newman, Equine Consultant.

Purpose of the trial

To test VetGold EquiMud and VetGold Cream on various equine conditions so as to

ascertain their feasibility as suitable products for the equine industry.

Prior to commencement of the trial, samples of both products were sent to LGC

Laboratories in Newmarket, England to obtain certification that they were free of any

substances prohibited by both the HRA and FEI.

Subject horses

The horses selected for the trial were a mixture of breeds, ages and disciplines such as

racing, show jumping, dressage, hunting and general riding. The horses were based at

Lower Haddon Livery and Kennel Field Stables.

Reaction of trial participants to using the products

VetGold Cream was considered simple to apply and achieved results quickly. Negative

comments were that the tube is too small for horses and that, if left in the tack room

overnight, it became very solid and needed to be warmed up before use.

The temperature in the UK overnight during the trial was between 5c and 11c.

(tube needs to be kept at room temperature).

VetGold EquiMud was very popular and succeeded in treating lots of conditions. It was

also, very good for routine treatment after a workout or competition as a preventative

measure. Other positive comments were that it was easy to apply and wash off – some said that it brushed off easily after overnight treatment on Thoroughbred horses (they have fine

coats).

Trial participants at Lower Haddon Livery

DOM

5 years old Cob gelding

hunting and general riding

owned by S. Kempster

Dom bites his lower forelegs to ease the itching caused by mites. We coated the area

with EquiMud for 3 nights and washed it off in the morning. No wraps were applied.

After ceasing treatment with the mud, we applied Vet Gold cream for 7 days. Itching /

biting ceased and has not resumed.

MAC

7 years old Arab x Welsh gelding

show jumping and hunting

owned by E. Caunter

Mac’s legs fill overnight regardless of whether he has worked or not. We applied

EquiMud as for routine application use, legs coated in mud between bottom of fetlock

joint up to just below the knee, wrapped legs in wet brown paper to cover mud, applied

leg wraps and stable bandages. We left on overnight and washed off the following

morning. Mac’s legs were cool and no swelling was felt the following morning. The

owner was particularly impressed by how easily the mud washed off without

discoloring Mac’s legs. Mac is a light grey, almost white, horse and his owner has tried

various clay products in the past that have stained his legs.

HARRY

7 year old Irish Draught gelding

competing at top level Working Hunter competitions

owned by E. Morrell.

Harry suffers from tightness through both shoulders which we treated with EquiMud.

We applied a 1 cm layer of mud to his shoulders and neck, covered with a warm damp

towel and neck stocking. We washed the mud off after 4 hours. His owner said he felt

much more supple, when she rode him after treatment.

ABELARD

24 years old Warmblood gelding

dressage and hacking

owned by N. Tilton

Abelard had 2 problems, Windgalls on a hind leg and restricted movement through his

fore fetlocks due to tight skin (presumably due to a previous bout of mud fever). The

Windgalls are no longer visible but they certainly restricted elasticity of movement

during trot, particularly for a dressage horse. We applied the EquiMud to his hind leg using

the routine application method and we applied VetGold cream to his fore fetlocks. We

did with for 8 nights. Following treatment there was a tremendous improvement in

movement. Abelard is an older horse and the owner was overjoyed with the results.

CHELSEA

23 years old Irish Cob mare

hacking, 1 day eventing

owned by A. Wilkinson

Chelsea suffers from scurf, particularly behind her knees. We applied Vet Gold cream to

the area for 10 days and the improvement was very good. I suggested that VetGold

cream should become part of Chelsea’s daily grooming routine to generally improve the

dry scurfy areas.

MADDY

Maddy is a 20 years old Clydesdale mare

dressage, hacking

owned by M. Thomas

She suffers from Sweet Itch to her pasterns and part of her fetlocks. We applied the

VetGold Cream for 9 days and the irritation ceased. The owner was very happy

because she had tried many other products previously that had failed to relieve Maddy’s

stamping and therefore the itching. (My opinion is that Maddy’s condition is not classic

Sweet Itch but a type of fungal infection – either way the VetGold solved the problem).

LIV

Liv is a 16 years old Dutch Warmblood gelding

Grand Prix dressage

owned by B. Tilton.

Liv suffers from filled and sensitive legs after work. We applied the EquiMud using the

routine application method with bandages etc. overnight. The legs were cool and

unfilled in the morning. The owner was very pleased with the results and also

impressed at the ease of removal compared to Ice Tight.

AMMO

Ammo is a 10 years old German Warmblood gelding

Dressage

owned by B. Tilton.

Ammo has a hoof problem that started with his previous owner and that was so severe

removal of some of the infected tissue had to be carried out by the vets under

anesthetic. Although the vets removed some of the infected tissue during his surgery a

year ago, some still remains. The clefs of the hooves felt slimy and jelly-like and the

smell was overpowering, similar to Thrush but far more pungent. The owner has tried

many treatments from her vet and farrier but nothing has worked.

I was unsure whether the EquiMud or the VetGold was the best solution so we treated

the front hooves with EquiMud and the back hooves with VetGold Cream, tubbing then

applying the products and padding and wrapping as for a hoof poultice. We did this for

4 days each night and washing off in the morning. After this period, it was apparent that

the EquiMud was doing a marginally better job (although the VetGold Cream had also

improved the condition).

We then applied EquiMud to all four hooves in the same way for a further 10 days.

Ammo has improved dramatically. The smell no longer exists, the frog and clefs are

smooth and free of jelly. Ammo was very sensitive to touch in the clef / frog and rather

‘footie’ on uneven ground. He is now walking normally and sensitivity is minimal. This

problem is a deep infection over many years that has not previously been fully resolved.

I have advised the owner to continue tubbing and applying the EquiMud each night until her

farriers next visit. He will then trim and remove dead horn from the hooves and

hopefully enable the mud to access deeper into the hooves. I suggested they resume

the same treatment for 10 days after the farrier visits and then we will review.

INDI

21 years old Connemara x Welsh x TB mare

showing, hacking

owned by J. Hayes.

Indi suffers from severe Sweet Itch to her mane and wither area. Her owner has tried many

products but nothing has solved the problem. We applied VetGold cream morning and

evening for 10 days. The itching ceased after 2 days and she no longer rubbed the

area. By day 10 there had been a tremendous amount of hair re-growth over the

affected area. The owner was very impressed. SEE PHOTOS INDI

(We used 3 tubes over 10 days)

GUCCI

9 year old Irish Draught gelding, top level showing, owned by E. Morrell

Gucci has an undefined skin condition that flares up periodically regardless of the

season. Several vets have been unable to diagnose the problem which creates ugly

areas of skin. It self-heals, usually within 2 weeks which is a disaster for a top level

show horse who is judged in competition on his turnout and coat quality. We applied

EquiMud to the affected area in the evening, we did not apply a dressing. We washed it

off in the morning and applied VetGold cream after towel drying the area. We repeated

the routine the following day. Within 48 hours the affected area was healed completely.

SEE PHOTOS GUCCI

KIA

25 years old Welsh Cob mare

dressage, hacking owned by H. Pegram.

Kia suffers from severe Mud Fever in the winter. In the summer months it subsides but the skin around her fetlocks and pasterns feels grainy and lacking in elasticity which affects her movement. This is a common feature of Mud Fever in remission. We applied VetGold cream twice a day for 7 days. The texture of the skin improved noticeably during this time. (I explained to the owner that when the Mud Fever returns in the winter – as I am sure it will -she should treat nightly with EquiMud.

Trial participants at Kennel Field Stables

RUBY

15 years old miniature Shetland mare

Companion

owned by C. Stephen.

Ruby was suffering from Sweet Itch to her mane causing itching and rubbing although

she had not yet managed to rub out much or any of her prolific mane when we

commenced treatment. We applied Vet Gold cream twice a day and Ruby stopped

rubbing after day 3.

ROSE

11 years old Irish Cob mare

Hunting

owned by C. Stephen.

Rose suffers from Mite infestation to her lower legs causing her to stamp her feet to relieve the itching this causes. This is a common problem with her breed. Unfortunately

the stamping creates a lot of foot and leg problems for the horse over time. There is no

effective cure except in some cases vets recommend IV Ivermectin. This drug is not suitable and potentially dangerous for a lot of horses. We applied a 1 cm layer of EquiMud over the entire lower legs from just below the knee to above the coronet band. In this yard all the horses are stabled at night and turned out in the field during the day. We applied the mud in the morning and turned her out without wraps or bandages. When we brought her in in the evening we washed off the mud, towel dried and re-applied, again without wraps. After 3 days the stamping had stopped. We continued to follow the treatment plan for a further 6 days. Since I left Rose has not started stamping again.

KEVIN

22 years old Irish Cob gelding

Show jumper owned by C. Stephen.

Kevin is from the same stable as Rose and the same breed. He was also suffering from Mites. We treated him in the same way as Rose and the results were identical.

PEGGY SUE

9 year old Irish Cob, mare carriage driving owned by C. Stephen.

Peggy Sue is from the same stable as Rose and Kevin and is also the same breed. She also suffers from Mites. Again, same treatment routine, same excellent results.

Trial participants at Keeper’s Stables

Keeper’s is a racing stable so all the participants here are racehorses. They all race on the flat and there were 30 horses in training during the trial. During the trial period when I was in the UK I visited daily. We decided to select 5 subject horses who are regularly bandaged at night and to apply the EquiMud using the routine application method. There was a noticeable difference in the horse’s legs the following morning,

particularly following fast gallop work or racing.

During the trial none of the horses had cuts or skin problems which warranted using the VetGold cream. However, at the end of the trial, I agreed with the trainer that he would continue with the routine treatment on the subject horses. Also, I left him some VetGold cream to try if any injuries occurred.

We decided to extend the trial for a further 6 weeks after I left during which time we have been discussing cases as they arise. At the end of the 6 weeks period I will obtain a testimonial from the trainer giving his view of the products and will update the subject horses with any changes and add new horses. During the extended trial the trainer may include any of his 30 horses depending on their circumstances.

5 horses that we applied EquiMud using the routine application method (referred to by their stable number 7,12,13,17,28)

These 5 horses were used to having their legs hosed for 5 – 10 minutes with cold water after work and then wrapped with pads and bandaged. We applied EquiMud using the routine application method during the 14 days period.

The results were far better when we used the EquiMud. The legs felt much tighter and there was no swelling.

SUMMARY

The trial was very successful and demonstrated that the products were good for many different conditions affecting horses. The trial included a wide cross section of horse owners and trainers who were all impressed with results.

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Prevention of excessive granulation tissue formation by using VETGOLD cream #2

Arel sagron — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 09:22:27 +0000

Research conducted by Dr. Michael Shein.
A mare was injured in the lower leg above the hoof, a wide wound with a significant loss of skin tissue. After softening the damage with dressings and washings, I cut the dead skin and started treating it by applying the ointment and dressings. Because of the stable condition cream is only possible to use the ointment with a bandage. As you can follow in the pictures, the wound went and closed. I don’t know if, without the cream, the damage would have closed as quickly, but in this mare, Hyper granulation tissue formation did not occur, which is very typical of such injuries in horses.

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Prevention of excessive granulation tissue formation by using VETGOLD cream #1

Arel sagron — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 09:05:00 +0000

Research conducted by Dr. Michael Shein.
A young foal that has cut the two flexor strings in the front leg. The colt was treated with ointment, dressing, and support to allow the cords to unite. In the meantime, there is still no fusion of the lines, but here too, the wound is healing without the hyper granulation tissue formation typical of such injuries.

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Correct Saddle Fit

Arel sagron — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 14:17:02 +0000

The saddle is the trainer’s most important tool.

Proper seating of the saddle on the horse’s back is very important.

In the first step, in order to accustom the horse to the equipment without a rider, it is recommended to use a comfortable saddle for adapting the horse to the weight that he has to carry. This saddle is also suitable for training a foal.

The saddle should be massive and comfortable; using a saddle that is too light can be problematic. It can cause the harness to jump and turn, making the horse uncomfortable. Consequence it can cause stress and fear of the saddle.

We often use the exact saddle for our first rides – a saddle that we love and feel confident in for all our first rides. Our sense of security is important to the horse. Horse must think that the rider on his back knows what he is doing and can trust him. The saddle is the trainer’s most important tool.

Usually, at the beginning of training, the horses are still in the process of growing. According to their body structure, you can identify the dimensions they will reach.

A short back indicates strength and ability to bear the rider’s weight, which reduces the chance of back pain.

A high and wide hump will ensure a good fit in the saddle without slipping forward and sideways while riding.

Here are a few rules for adjusting a saddle on a horse’s back:

– Place a saddle without a blanket. This way we can see exactly how it sits and where the pressure points are.

– Place the saddle in its natural “attachment point”.

– We allow a gap of at least one and a half fingers between the hump and the bridge of the saddle.

– To make sure that the saddle does not touch the spine, inspect it and check if there are any traces of light on the other side.

– The width of the saddle must match the width of the horse. Make sure the harness is narrow enough. A saddle that is too wide will put pressure on the horse’s hump.

Of course, it is advisable to contact an experienced specialist.

The article is taken from the book “First Steps” by Nitzan Pelag.

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How to Groom Your Horse in 9 steps

Arel sagron — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 13:15:17 +0000

Here you will learn how to groom a horse, which is essential for proper horse care and strengthening the relationship between horse and rider. It would be helpful if you groom your horse regularly and carefully so that it has a healthy and strong coat. This guide includes the basic steps needed to take care of a horse and things to look out for every time you take care of your horse.

Step 1: Use lead rope

Use the rope to keep the horse in place. Before grooming your horse, you must properly secure it with a quick-release tie. Once you are sure the horse is safe, you can start grooming it.

Step 2: Use the currycomb

Use a rubber currycomb to loosen excess dirt and mud.

Hold the curry comb and move in small circular movements. Start with the neck and continue to the sides of the horse. Avoid using the curry comb on your horse’s spine, face, and legs, as these areas are sensitive.

Step 3: Use a stiff brush

Use a stiff brush, touch the entire body of the horse in a circular motion against the direction of hair growth. Start brushing the neck, move towards the back and be careful not to touch the spine area too hard. Paying special attention to where the saddle sits, it is very important to brush the horse in places that may rub while riding, such as behind the front legs. In the same way, continue combing the horse to the knees.

Step 4: Use a soft brush

Comb the horse with a soft brush in straight, long strokes, going over all the places where we brushed the horse with a stiff brush. This brushing aims to remove the dirt, hair and dust that we removed with a stiff brush. In addition, to detect wounds or abrasions, paying attention to all parts of the body when brushing. Using a soft brush, we cleaned sensitive areas that we did not touch with a harder brush, such as the horse’s head, spine, and areas below the knees.

Step 5: Use shampoo

Apply a sufficient of shampoo and massage all over till covered with a layer of rich foam. Rinse well with water. Make sure there is no shampoo residue left.

Step 6: Use a washcloth

Use a washcloth to clean the horse’s face. Gently rub around the horse’s eyes and nose with a washcloth. If you are grooming multiple horses, don’t use the same brush. Each horse should have its own loafer to prevent the spread of bacteria or contamination.

Step 7: Use a wide-tooth comb or comb brush

Use a wide-toothed comb or brush to comb through the mane and tail. Warning: do not stand behind the horse while doing this step! First, run your fingers over the horse’s mane and tail to work out the big knots. Gather the horse’s mane with one hand and gently comb it with the other. At the same time, pet the horse so that he knows that you are here.

Step 8: Use the hoof pick for the hooves

Use the pickaxe to clean the horse’s hooves. First, you need to raise the horse’s hoof. Most horses will raise their hooves after you run your hand over the back of their legs. If your horse doesn’t lift his hoof, you can apply gentle pressure to the back of the leg. It is important not to press too hard, as this can cause damage. With the hooves raised, use a hoof pick to scrape the hooves from heel to toe to remove rocks, dirt, mud, or from your horse’s hoof. Be very careful not to hit the frog. The frog is a susceptible V-shaped area of the hoof, and if scratched, it can lead to lameness.

*It is essential to clean the horse’s hooves before and after riding to avoid injury.

Step 9: Use a fly repellant spray

If necessary, use fly spray to protect the horse. During those months of the year when flies are present, spraying the horse with a fly spray (suitable for horses) at the end of the grooming routine will help protect it from these pesky insects. Follow the instruction on the bottle for proper use. In addition, this spray adds shine to the coat.

Bibliography

https://horseandcountry.tv/en-us/horse-grooming-101-a-guide-for-beginners/

https://www.instructables.com/How-to-Groom-Your-Horse/

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Horses Complete Guide/Riding Equipment

Arel sagron — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 11:50:23 +0000

Saddle. The saddle must be placed on the horse’s back in such a way that it is comfortable for the horse and does not cause harm to him while riding. It should be set straight so that the horse’s spine is in the gap of the saddle. You must check to see if the harness is on the horse’s shoulder. The harness must not be around the horse’s neck; it should be in the center of the back and slightly on the hump. Belly Strap we use to secure the saddle to the horse’s back and prevent it from slipping out to the sides when mounted. With a waist belt, you can sit on a horse. It is important not to forget to fasten the belt before we get on the horse. It is extremely important to ensure that the belt does not put pressure on the horse. Excessive pressure on the harness on the horse’s belly can cause injury and nervousness due to pain. In addition, if the horse has any injuries in the abdomen where a belly strap is to be applied, it is important to reposition the belly strap so that it does not harm the horse.

Stirrup + straps for stirrups. Insert your feet into the stirrup. This gives you extra stability while riding. The length of the straps is adjustable depending on the height of the rider. The size should be adjusted so that the knees are slightly bent, but not too much. The length of the two straps must be the same.

Bridle – to which the reins and the bit are attached. It is important to make sure that the size of the bridle fits the horse’s head and does not put pressure on him. In addition, you must make sure that the bridle does not put pressure on the ears, because horse ears are very susceptible.

Bit. You must be sure that the bit does not press on the horse’s mouth.

Reins – used to control the horse while riding.

Saddle pad – A saddle pad is placed under the saddle. The cover protects the horse’s back and prevents injury and pain from the saddle. The saddle pad must be adapted to each horse according to the type of back.

Bandages (bandages) – protect the horse’s legs. they are often used in competitions. Patches are also used when the horse has an open wound at risk of infection.

Boots – protect the horse’s legs while riding.

Martingale – prevents the horse from lifting its head too high. (This item is optional and is used only when necessary)

Anti-slip pad under the saddle – prevents the saddle from sliding backwards. (Optional item)

Hoof cleaning and care:

It is very important to brush your horse before every ride; combing the horse protects the skin and fur of the horse and promotes blood circulation; in the first step, with a stiff brush, touch the entire body of the horse in a circular motion against the direction of hair growth. The purpose of this combing is to release the hard dirt stuck between the hairs. It also good for blood circulation. Start brushing the neck, move towards the back and be careful not to touch the spine area too hard. Paying special attention to where the saddle sits, it is very important to brush the horse in places that may rub while riding, such as behind the front legs. In the same way, continue combing the horse to the knees. In the second step, comb the horse with a soft brush in straight, long strokes, going over all the places where we brushed the horse with a stiff brush. This brushing aims to remove the dirt, hair and dust that we removed with a stiff brush. In addition, to detect wounds or abrasions, paying attention to all parts of the body when brushing. Using a soft brush, we cleaned sensitive areas that we did not touch with a harder brush, such as the horse’s head, spine, and areas below the knees. In the end, it is very important to thoroughly clean the hooves to avoid discomfort and injury to the horse’s leg. Raise horse’s leg carefully so as not to startle the horse. With a hoof cleaner, clean off any dirt that has accumulated in the hoof. It is very important to make sure that there are no stones, cracks, damage or anything else on the hoard that could interfere with the horse while riding. By washing the hooves, we can determine if a horse is fit to ride. If the horse is injured, or a nail or something sharp is stuck in the hoof, which could aggravate the injury in case of riding, we will not ride the horse, but return it to the stable.

Harnessing a horse

Improper harness can lead to restricted horse movement, rider and horse discomfort, and chronic problems, so harnessing your horse correctly and safely is very important. Before harnessing a horse, you need to remember a few things: tie the horse in the most convenient way to shoe it, you should remember that you should not stand behind the horse, horse can kick! Then placed the saddle pad on the back of the horse, on which the saddle will sit. The saddle is placed on the left side so that its pommel is flush with the withers. After that, the saddle, together with the saddle pad, is moved so that:

The fork of the saddle lay behind the shoulder blade
Between the girth and the front leg of the horse there is a distance of one palm

These are signs of the working position of the saddle, in which it is fixed with a girth. Most girths today are anatomically shaped, so it is important to fasten the girth so that the middle of the girth is exactly under the horse’s belly – this way the pressure will be distributed evenly, and the saddle will not obstruct the horse’s breathing.

While the horse is standing in the stable, the girth must be fastened loosely – just enough so that the saddle does not move out when the horse moves at a pace. In the working position, in which two fingers pass between the girth and the stomach, it is tightened directly in the arena or on the parade ground.

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Horses vs. dogs – who has more intelligence?

Arel sagron — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 11:17:40 +0000

Dogs vs. Horses – Who’s Smarter?

Measuring intelligence—whether between humans or completely different species—is tricky. Part of the problem is that there are so many kinds of intelligence to consider. And when it comes to horses and dogs, things get especially complicated. There is no simple answer to the question of whether horses are smarter than dogs or not.

Dogs are trained as companions to help blind people. In addition, they are great friends for kids who need someone to share their stories and secrets with. In addition, service dogs provide emotional support for people with mental health issues. Some parents who have a dog may use it to teach their children about responsibility.

Horses are also great companions. Of course, you can’t keep horses as a pet, but there are other ways to interact with them. Because horses are receptive, they can help you deal with bad moods. Coming to the farm for a walk and horseback ride is a great opportunity to interact with the horse, do sports and achieve new goals.

When it comes to emotional intelligence, dogs and horses are big competitors. Dogs can interact with people and respond with respect. Studies say that dogs’ brain activity increases when they see their owners.

There are opinions that horses feel the emotions of others. That is why it is not recommended to go to horse when you are angry. But when you are sad, horses can comfort you and lift your spirits. There is a unique procedure called hippotherapy that involves horses. The idea is to help patients through contact with horses, including communication with them and riding.

Another aspect of measuring the intelligence of animals is how quickly they can learn a new skill and remember this new knowledge. At first glance, it may seem that dogs have the upper hand in this matter. We all know that dogs are capable of learning countless skills, from the simple “sit” to more complex actions. They also retain this information throughout their lives.

But while learning tricks is more common in dogs than in horses, even a horse can learn and remember.

Horses and dogs train the same way. Both respond to rewards and associate certain behaviors with concomitant responses. The rate at which a dog or horse learns depends more on the skill of the trainer than on the intelligence of the individual animal. Both horses and dogs can understand and remember learned skills.

So, can we decide who is smarter?

While horses have vital emotional intelligence and intuition that are hard to beat, dogs learn new skills quickly and adapt well to life with people. Both types of animals have impressive cognitive abilities, and the data shows that both horses and dogs have their own strengths and weaknesses.

So, the answer is that it is impossible to decide who is smarter (and we don’t want to decide).

Bibliography

https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2015/08/22/10-most-intelligent-animals.aspx

https://equestrianco.com/blogs/latest/how-intelligent-are-horses

https://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2017/01/12/509451392/how-smart-are-horses

https://www.fitbark.com/blog/can-dogs-have-horses-best-friends/

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Horses And Therapeutic Riding

Arel sagron — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 14:53:08 +0000

Therapeutic riding has sensorimotor effects, psychological effects, and social effects. (Danieli, 1999; Potter, Evans & Nolte, 1994):

Psychological effects:

Increased motivation. Horseback riding increases motivation to achievements. Being able to handle a large animal with relatively little effort gives the rider a sense of strength and confidence. This makes him want to experiment with other riding activities and improve his performance. For example, a patient in a wheelchair may sit on a horse, look at the world from above and feel that he is the same as everyone else; Riders with speech impairments will attempt to communicate with their environment while riding.

Self-esteem. Sitting on a horse, a disabled person can be considered healthy and look at what is happening in the world from a different point of view. Body awareness and the ability to take responsibility for oneself and the body cause high self-esteem and personality development.

Social influences.

Abnormal Behavior Improvement. The rider’s behavior is accepted by the horse without prior judgment; therefore, if the rider causes pain, panic or discomfort to the horse, the horse will instinctively react with panic or aggression and thus the rider will immediately learn the appropriate behavior. In addition, when working in a group, situations can be created that will prompt riders to their typical reactions and discuss the problem and improve behavior with the help of a guide and other members of the group. The relationship between one person and another, the reaction of the horse to the caregiver, evokes in the patient a sense of connection and love. With the help of building relationships “man-animal” the patient learns the possibilities of the relationship of one person with another. When working with multiple patients, a common interest in the horse is the basis for bonding relationship between them. It even facilitates tasks that they could only do with each other’s help, such as cooperating in cleaning hooves that are difficult to do on their own, cooperating in restraining a horse, etc. Riders in a group must reckon with each other and respond according to instructions. Sometimes one rider leads, and sometimes he is surrounded by other riders; in horse racing there are situations in which the rider succeeds or fails. During one session, the patient can quickly move from one situation to another. All this is under the control of the therapist.

Sensorimotor effects:

Improved Posture. Deficiencies in postural control result from problems with balance and coordination, from a deficiency in normal vestibular stimuli that interfere with the normal development of postural reflexes, and from acquired or congenital injuries, traumatic orthopedic injuries, and neurological damage. Research shows that therapeutic riding improves posture and improves posture control.

Improved Balance – When a rider is seating on a horse, their center of gravity moves in three dimensions: forward and backward, right and left, and rotationally. To remain stable, the rider must develop balance reactions. Shifting weight while riding helps develop balance.

Tone normalization. Tone is defined as the “desire” of a muscle to contract. When the brain uncontrollably sends irritants to the muscle, a state of excessive tone is created – spasm, as a result of damage to the nervous system, a few irritants enter the muscle, or when the reaction of the muscle to nerve irritation is weak, the person suffers from lethargy – hypotension. The sitting position of the rider has a beneficial effect on his tone. As spasm decreases, core abilities improve. In riders with hypotension, it can increase tone to normal.

The effect of the three-dimensional movement of the horse. The three-dimensional movement of the horse elicits joint responses in the hips, back, lower torso, shoulders and head in a manner similar to that of a human with a normal gait.

Improving mobility – while riding, the mobility of the joints increases due to movement and normalization of tone.

Improved coordination. Riding improves coordination and enhances reflex reactions. With the help of the horse, the rider learns to coordinate the various parts of his body in order to influence the horse. Because the movements are repeated many times, they can become automatic.

Increased Sensory Load. Through therapeutic riding, the rider is exposed to more stimuli of different types. In the literature on sensory integration therapy, there is evidence that the dominant factors in motor development are tactile, vestibular and orienting stimuli.

General practice.Riding requires the activation of large muscle systems, which directly affects the cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic systems.

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