Best practices « physio & performance »

Actualiser son savoir-faire pour progresser avec des chevaux mieux dans leur tête et dans leur corps – c’est l’objectif de cette page

Comment trouver le temps de regarder des webinars? Pour ma part, c’est une double-tâche pendant mes séances de renforcement (activité en soi monotone donc pas très motivante, avec les webinars mes séances sont plus longues et régulières), et pendant mes pause-déj.

1 Posture et performance, entraînement, réhabilitation fonctionnelle, fascia etc.

Une série de webinars qui touchent à de nombreux domaines sur la chaine youtube de Wendy Murdoch (SureFoot) Webinars with Wendy (format podcast / audio – pratique mais on perd les visuels) dont un certain nombre de très intéressants, voici quelques unes avec, pour certains, quelques notes

Dr vet Hancock

Les webinars de cette vétérinaire sont très appliqués, ils permettent de comprendre les compensations, des enchaînements de cause à effet dans le développement de problèmes locomoteurs etc., la biomécanique, etc

Dr vet Rachel Bellini

La pratique de réhabilitation posturale et fonctionnelle de cette ostéopathe avec les coussins d’équilibre

  • Equine Hard Slant Pads « any of the pads will allow the horse to experiment both stretching and relaxing the tissue ». « If they don’t pick up the hind leg, it is because they are  not stable in front », « if your horse is not comfortable standing on 3 legs, how does it translate into performance? (…) he’s going to compensate and getting injured »
  • Why You Want More Movement, Less Swaying
  • « You know you are re-balancing tension elements when the  horse starts to square up their posture, drop their neck and relax their muscles. Restoring tensegrity is the first step in achieving soundness over time »
  • « Building resiliency into the system ». « For a horse, the hooves are everything ».

Lauren Wain

Recherche sur l’efficacité des coussins d’équilibre

Influence of Balance and Proprioceptive Pads on Equine Posture and Kinematics (Résultats d’une étude sur les changements posturaux et locomoteurs qu’on peut obtenir avec des coussins d’équilibre, l’étude a été réalisé sur une durée 4 semaines, les coussins d’équilibre utilisés 3 fois par semaine pendant 25 minutes, cf Methodology 49:52)

  • à partir de 1:19 : « Significant difference / improvement: Head and neck posture (horses had quite high head posture before); depth of lordosis), lowered head and neck posture reported to positively influence kinematics of thoracolumbar back. They are more relaxed (more in the parasympathetic nervous system of rest and relaxation and restoration) and use the dorsal line of the back better. Core is engaged, pressure is taken off transverse processes (of the spine / thoracic vertebrae).
  • 1:42 Demonstrates routine application (usage régulier de coussins d’équilibre) has the ability to reduce sub-optimal movement patterns and begin re-education of muscular control positively influencing static posture
  • Aids improving static posture and locomotion without the use of restrictive training aids- improves horse’s physical and psychological welfare, we are allowing them choice. With 10 minutes a week you’ll see relaxation response and more souple mouvement
  • By improving proprioceptive awareness we improve muscular and postural output, horses regain their natural mouvements, how they would move without all these restrictions

Dr vet Martina Neidhart

Des webinars qui expliquent les causes des problèmes de dos et les remèdes, la fonction des fascia dans le corps, les dysfonctionnements et compensations, les lignes fasciales.

Kissing Spines and Other Back Conditions In Horses

  • Kissing spines / back issues treatment options after 49:11 – bon récap de pratiques très intéressant, captures d’écran à la fin de la page)
  • you can develop multifidus (deep core) muscles using balance pads. Tellington Touch Body wraps, figure 8, are wonderful for developing better posture 1:19:00. For some horses it is even better than EquicoreSystem. They learn to engage their chest again. Rhythm beads (collier de perles rythmiques) are also helpful, it reminds the horse « use your chest »

Fascinating Fascia and Equine Pads

Quelques notes pris rapidement:

  • les fascias sains rendent le muscle plus fort, les fascias en mauvais état étouffent tout ce qui passe à travers eux: muscles, nerfs, vaisseaux
  • scar tissue and densification in fascia can only be broken up by manual theapy, not laser, not ultrasound. stress can also cause densification
  • altered movement of the fascia layers (densification), cause corrupted neurological input to the brain. fascia allow (if healthy) the nerves to glide. the nerves have to glide
  • everything above 6 weeks (for shoeing/trimming period) is too long: you have changes in posture, compression already etc. the toe grows faster than the heel. 5-6 is normal cycle for normal horse, if laminitic horse it is even shorter
  • trot is good to assess lameness but you want to see how the whole body swings
  • the most important thing (in relation to fascia) is to release tension and the pads allow the body to release tension. (…) There is a release of endorphins and this is what allows the horse to relax
  • Humans often need more therapy for the same thing than the horse does, their body is better at healing
  • The blue one has so much impact because you see so much swaying (…) some horses cannot handle so much so soon
  • You don’t need a long duration (on the balance pad) to get a change, because it is so potent, sometimes a touch with a toe can make a huge impact. (…) Horses start to recognise the pads and choose their pad and the duration. They become actif in the process of their healing
  • 80% of the stability of the skeleton comes from the muscles. If the muscles do not work properly you can do whatever you want to the bone and the ligaments (…) (source 37:00)

Dr vet. Sherry Johnson

Exemple d’utilisation des coussin d’équilibre dans le contexte spécifique de réhabilitation d’équidés blessés etc. dans une clinique vétérinaire (où des précautions particulières s’appliquent donc)

Equine Pads as part of Equine Rehabilitation

  • « Injury + muscle weakness + pain and functional restriction + loss of balance and neuromotor control => cascade of despair » ==> we need a global approach to the equine athlete
  • Safe use of the pads : make sure that the horse is comfortable with the use of the pad, let him know that the pad can flip, move, touch their leg etc. Be very observant of their reaction, in particular the first time. Use the pad away from noisy environments.
  • Be present while the horse is on the pads, your observation is as important as the horse. First time on the pads it can be only a few minutes. The horse should never be tied while standing. (…) He might forget he stood on the pads already in the past (so might need to rediscover them)

Nahshon Cook, horse trainer [ses livres sont à connaître]

  • The golden Rule : « Communication happens when we don’t feel the need to control something. It’s the same with horses », « if it feels like it is too much, it is too much », « my struggle in my own body is why I’m a good riding instructor », « there is a lot of wisdom in the pain when we have the courage not to run from it », « so many people just have not been taught how to be kind to themselves, and then this is how they treat other people (and horses) », « the horse as an end in itself », « when you observe your horses you see the movements in which they are comfortable, they don’t get hurt when they play with their buddy (in general) », « us judging us in this way let’s us know where we still need to heal », « do I see where i myself am stuck? this is usually where the communication block is with the horse », « it’s hard to feel safe with people », « i’m worth my horse’s consideration so people are worth mine »
  • 2nd webinar Nov 2021 : his arthritis case + balance pads, ilio-sacral joint connection with poll, awareness in working with horses.

Ses livres peuvent être plus clairs:

2 Commencer avec les coussins / surfaces instables

  • Quick start guide (Wendy Murdoch)
  • Balance pads case studies « The horse just wanted one pad under one foot. Find out what the horse wants », We used the pads under saddle because we needed to change the horses movement pattern under saddle. I recommend against clicker training with pads. Then you do training, and some horses became anxious. By standing only with his toe on he is making a slant (or standing on the edge) (autrement dit, c’est pas une erreur d’utilisation à corriger immédiatement en essayant de placer le sabot plane dessus tout de suite. Parfois ça fait aussi partie du processus d’apprentissage du cheval, les chevaux aiment expérimenter avec). Start with one foot and one pad. Don’t « expect » (s/he has to do this), offer to the horse instead « would you like to stand on that pad ». Make it 5 min of fun and start the again the next day. And let the next horse watch. Often they want to do it then. Don’t start with the softest pad. So many things (release etc.) happen when they step off the pad (in the minutes that follow, off the pad).
  • Introducing An Anxious Horse To balance pads
  • Wendy Murdoch using balance pads with a nervous horse
  • Using pads in Daily Life with Your Horse : observations à faire, quand l’utiliser (scary corner, grooming post séance etc.)
  • Most common questions: quel type de licol ou autre? le mieux c’est un licol plat (on l’ouvre au plus large en bas pour pas gêner le cheval s’il veut bailer). On commence avec des séances courtes (1 – qqs minutes seulement, ensuite on peut augmenter jusqu’à 15 min ou plus). On travaille dans un lieu calme ou le cheval peut se concentrer, on ne caresse pas le cheval pour pas déranger le processus. après avoir habitué le cheval au coussin sans cavalier, on peut utiliser les coussins aussi avec cavalier. Le cavalier sent mieux son cheval, ses mouvements discrets. « Horses change behavior with the pads. (All) behavior problems are balance problems. Balance problems create anxiety. If you are physically out of balance you are mentally out of balance ». First time on a pad it’s a huge neurological input. Not all horses can handle pads under all 4 pads from the start, it can be a lot. Murdoch is a Feldenkrais practioner. It is about awareness. Feldenkrais is about finding our potential. Feldenkrais helps us restore mouvement. The pads are about giving the horse a choice, there is nothing wrong (ie. we need to reach x number of minutes or x number of pads under the feet). It is about giving horses choice, asking questions, raising awareness.
  • Taping into the horse’s nervous system. What happens during session? : « Observable changes include: head lowering, eye blinks, eyes closing, softening of the muzzle, ears relaxing, swaying, muscle twitching and some horses go into a deeper level of relaxation. Voilet van Hees, Feldenkrais® and Trauma specialist describes the process as a switch in the response action of the vagal nerve, taking the horse from flight, fright or freeze to a state of ‘all is well’. Violet explains ‘all is well’ is where thinking, learning, rest and digestion occur and more importantly we feel safe. The ability for the horse to feel safe, be his own teacher and subconsciously self-explore is what makes the balance pad work. It allows the horse to sense, feel and play with standing on a surface that give under his hoof, or reject the idea completely. And the most fascinating part is that the horses love the balance pads. They will drag people back to the pads for another go. » The horse does not have to be on the pad with the entire foot, can be on it only partially.
  • Heureusement qu’on a nos versions low cost européennes : tapis Plufsig d’IKEA, coussin de Pilates de Decathlon (pas le bloc) etc.

3 Le système nerveux polyvagal des équidés

Je regarderais plus tard la chaine youtube de Kirsten Nelsen j’ai l’impression qu’il peut y avoir une poignée de vidéos intéressantes dont celle ci-dessous, qui est géniale (le son est un peu pénible à écouter malheureusement), je vais peut être compléter la liste plus tard.

Polyvagal Nervous System in Horses Dr vet Hancock « shares information about newer research on the nervous system for both humans and horses. We discuss the vagal nerve as part of the autonomic nervous system and the difference between the ventral vagal state and dorsal vagal. Noticing signs of our horse in a dorsal vagal state or « shutting down » or « freezing » is important, not only for training but for our horse’s health through the entire body system. Dr. Hancock explains the significance of the vagal nerve as the largest nerve in the body and how it affects all the vital organs. »

The anatomy of the Vagal Nerve in Human and Horses par Catherine Wycoff: interaction entre filet et selle et nerf vagal, lien avec les ulcères etc. Tools available to optimize vagal tone: 1:11:48

Somatic Movement, Communing with Horses & Equine Balance Pads

4 Divers

Série d’articles pour améliorer la posture / l’assiette / le contact du cavalier

L’éthogramme de la douleur de Sue Dyson :

Les webconféres multithématiques de l’IFCE: Santé et bien-être animal

webconférences sur les thématiques Santé (maladies, soin, prévention et médication) et Bien-être et comportement animal.

Lectures & vidéos sur le thème de l’équitation, la communication et le comportement

Retour Sommaire Ressources

Captures d’écran du webinar Dr vet Martina Neidhart « Kissing spines / back issues »

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