The Rider’s Back Muscles – Part 1 Erector Muscles

Posted on November 25, 2019 by stefreinhold

ARE YOU RIDING “WITH BACK”?

Riding education – whether dressage, eventing, show jumping – follows a certain pattern. Once the rider develops an independent seat, is able to stay out of the horse’s mouth and does not disturb the horse in its movement, the rider learns how to “ride with back”.

Besides our rein and leg aids, there are seat (back) and weight aids. A well-educated instructor will familiarize their students with the concepts and applications of these aids in an easy-to understand format. This takes time and feel and lots of experimenting (until the ‘light bulb’ goes off…).

As riders, we need to effectively apply seat aids and control the suppleness and rigidity of our backs at will. So, our back musculature must both be strong and supple enough to support our spine and ‘do our bidding’.

“To effectively apply seat aids and control the suppleness and rigidity of our backs at will, our back musculature must be strong and supple enough to support our spine during movement ‘do our bidding’.”

Ride With Your Back!

Have you ever heard this instruction during a lesson?
What did it mean?

If we were asked to collect the horse, it meant that you should engage the ‘erector‘ muscles. These muscles straighten the spine and make you appear and feel taller.

In our illustration* to the right, these muscles are called “Rückenstrecker”. The literal translation of this German term is “back stretcher”.

* this illustration of the back muscles is from “Das Reiter ABC” by Siegfried von Haugk

Strong and Supple

Just like in the horse, where strength and suppleness must go hand-in-hand, the rider also needs to be both strong and supple.

For the back muscles, this means, enough strength to

support the spine
engage muscles as needed and maintain this engagement through movement

and enough suppleness to

relax muscles when an engaged back would bother the horse in its movement
allow other anatomical elements to maintain their independence (think independent seat)

The Rider in the images above (Alois Podhajski on Nero) demonstrates the action of the erector muscles.

On the left:

The rider has a relaxed, natural spinal posture, we clearly see the “S” shape.

On the right:

The rider now engages his erector muscles to lengthen the spine (back stretchers…). We see how the hollow of the back has now “filled out” some, because as we lengthen the spine, it becomes straighter, also visible in the shoulder area.

NOTE: When we talk about filling the small of the back, there are TWO ways to do this. A) For collection and B) for driving or encouraging forward movement. Above is an example for collection.
Stay tuned for part 2 of “The Rider’s Back” soon…

The Rider’s Back – A Precision Instrument

We must take our backs seriously. They have a profound influence on how the horse moves under saddle.

In the best case scenario, your seat is a precision instrument, enabling you to have fine-tuned communication with your horse.

In the worst case scenario, an uneducated, weak or stiff rider back (or one locked into the wrong saddle) has a detrimental effect on the horse’s well being and soundness, up to behavior issues and lameness.

For most recreational riders, it is important to understand that we are ‘somewhere in between’. We do our best but may still have situations, where our riding negatively effects our horses, usually resulting in stiffness and tension.

The good news: As riders, we are all engaged in a process of continuous improvement. Let’s stay aware and work at it! As we improve our backs and seats, our horses well being and suppleness improves!

“Life’s too short to learn how to ride right.”

Master rider & instructor Felix Bürkner

In Short

As we advance in our riding education and learn how to ‘ride with back’, we learn to use our seat aids, engage or disengage the back. We can have a collecting or driving seat.
In order to use our seat aid – our backs – effectively, we need to have both strong & supple backs.
As we develop our own riding skills, we may inadvertently cause tension and stiffness in our horse’s back.
During this learning journey, it is important to
- develop our back musculature
- relax and release any tension in our back muscles
- do the same for our horses by ‘riding right’ and providing relief from tension & restriction

Ready to Ride with Back?

Take these steps:

Get a massage, go swimming, visit the sauna, roll on a foam roller, whatever it takes to massage the tension of stressful every day life right out of your back muscles!

Recommendations: The Roll Model: A Step-by-Step Guide to Erase Pain, Improve Mobility, and Live Better in Your Body

Engage in daily, purposeful exercise that engages the back muscles and respective antagonists. (Careful! Do NOT create bulge… you do not need it!)

Recommendations: Pavel Tsatsouline’s genius method to create strength (first) and suppleness (great for women, too!) without bulking up. Enter The Kettlebell!: Strength Secret of the Soviet Supermenand Relax into Stretch: Instant Flexibility Through Mastering Muscle Tension

Release tension & restriction in your horse, so you can ‘swing’ together!

Recommendation: Schedule a Horse Wellness evaluation and/or bodywork session for your horse.

And/or learn safe and effective techniques yourself! I recommend learning the Masterson Method® of Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork™.

Recommendation: Start with the book Beyond Horse Massage: A Breakthrough Interactive Method for Alleviating Soreness, Strain, and Tension

Questions?

Please contact me or leave a comment below. Would love to hear from you.

Enjoy your horse!

Stefanie Reinhold

ReinholdsHorseWellness.com
HorseHaus.com

Please note: I may earn a small commission from any purchase as a result of readers following links to other e-commerce sites, such as Amazon.

A Balanced Saddle

Posted on November 10, 2019November 11, 2019 by stefreinhold

Why a balanced saddle matters

From an old German book riding. Balance as a basic concept of saddle fit. The correct balance is on the right.

“Love this saddle, fits every horse!”

Have you ever heard someone say that? I have, and it makes me cringe. While certain horse types share similar features (e.g. the Thoroughbred “shark fin” withers), it is important to look at every horse as a distinct individual.

There are several factors to consider when evaluating saddle fit, one of them is BALANCE.

Why Balance Matters

A balanced saddle distributes your weight evenly across the horse’s back and thus prevents discomfort.

In our example image above, the rider sits too far back on the saddle, putting increased pressure on the rear part of the horse’s back. This can lead to:

Back soreness
Hollowing and unable to step under
Rushing under saddle
No bascule over jumps
After some time in a compensatory posture, also to hock and stifle problems

A balanced saddle will put the rider in the right position,…

…namely aligned with the horse’s center of gravity, able to be “in the movement”, not behind or in front.

In our example on top of the page, our rider will be:

Behind horse’s movement
Having a hard time keeping secure balance
Having to use the wrong muscles to keep up with the horse’s movement
Not able to maintain a balanced, independent seat.

How to recognize a balanced (English) saddle

Place a round piece of chalk or a round piece of wood on the saddle. It will roll toward the lowest point. This lowest point should be in the middle or the saddle. If you do not have such an item, imagine you did. You will quickly determine the right spot.

Ideally, this lowest point should also be aligned with the horse’s center of gravity. But, that is another topic (see ‘saddle position’ in Saddle Fit).

horse saddle fit — This horse’s saddle looks balanced, but it is too far back.

Basic saddle fit concepts must be part of every rider’s “Basic Rider Training”.

Exploring saddle fit with your horse can be fun, interesting and quite the eye-opener… I am happy to help you with your saddle fit questions.

I also recommend to add a book about saddle fit to your library. Here some I really like:

The Horse’s Pain-Free Back and Saddle-Fit Book

The Western Horse’s Pain-Free Back and Saddle-Fit Book: Soundness and Comfort with Back Analysis and Correct Use of Saddles and Pads

Rhythm – You’ve Gotta Have It!

Posted on March 15, 2019October 15, 2019 by stefreinhold

How to discover your rhythm and keep up with your horse

We all have heard riding instructors say to ‘get out of our horse’s way’. This can mean many things, from soft hands to quite legs and especially an independent seat that moves fluidly with horse’s movement without disturbing – well, the rhythm.

What is Rhythm?

Rhythm is the regularity of the footfall. Easy as that.

rhythm

/ˈriT͟Həm/

noun

a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound.

THE PROBLEM

Throughout much of our day – whether gardening, tidying up or grooming a horse – we human spend with some pushing or pulling motion, engaging arms and shoulders. In addition, human nature is that we tend to want to do too much….with our hands, our arms, our shoulders. Humans are bipeds and have no real need for rhythm unless we jog or run. We can spend days, weeks and months without rhythm and “never miss a beat”, happily stiffening our body into whatever works for our daily work environment (think cubicle) and paddling, pushing, pulling our way through life. This rigidness prevents us from moving freely with the rhythm of the horse.

Humans are bipeds and have no real need for rhythm unless we jog or run. We can spend days, weeks and months without it and “never miss a beat”…

Our horses, however, are quadrupeds built for speed and stamina and for moving over vast stretches of steppe. Rhythm is their default mode.

When training the young horse, our aim is to

not to disturb their natural rhythm and
let the horse grow into a natural movement under the weight of the rider, which – again – means relaxed, rhythmic, balanced movement.

Read about the 4 horse gaits – Museum of Natural History

Watch a horse in all three gaits on the tread mill – Vet University Zurich

THE SOLUTION

We need to

find, cultivate and become friends with our own rhythm,
become open to noticing rhythm in daily activities,
move the rhythm when not mounted and
translate this new-found jazz leg to our riding activity.

For that, we need to be relaxed, supple and strong enough. Just like our horses…

PATH TO PERFORMANCE™ Clinic on RHYTHM with Stefanie Reinhold on Sunday, October 27 – REGISTER HERE

BUT I CAN’T DANCE

If you feel your are getting in your horse’s way while riding, having a hard time following the strides in a relaxed fashion, you may have a rhythm problem.

If you find yourself struggling with clapping or tapping along, hitting a note, dancing a square or simply having a concept of rhythm, you are not alone.

Here some easy starters to get the feel:

Take a walk, walk briskly and pay attention to the sound of your feet on the pavement. Make up a tune and sing along (aloud or in your head) to the beat of your feet. Smile.
Dig up the metronome or get a metronome app. Clap along or find the beat for your favorite tunes. It’s about making that body/brain connection…
Ride at the walk and recite a poem, trying to match the beat of your horse’s feet. (Remember, what others think about you is none of your business…)

Link to best free metronome apps

Become a rhythm pro by watching this very nice video

RIDE TO MUSIC

Once you are hooked on rhythm – and you will be – enjoy every minute in the saddle as an exercise in rhythm awareness. If you horse is relaxed, supple, sound and strong enough and you have not ‘taken the forward’ out of him, he will move happily in a steady beat. That is an indicator that a lot in your riding and training is going well.

Link to the article “How to Ride to Music – find Your Horse’s Beat”.

LAST NOT LEAST

Rhythm is not tempo, and tempo is not speed.

First, focus on the Rhythm by making sure you and your horse are relaxed, supple, and strong enough. A steady rhythm (or regularity of beat) is an indicator for good training, meaning your horse is relaxed and supple.

After that, we’ll take a look at Tempo (what’s your horse’s natural tempo, how many BPM – beats per minute – in each gait?) and Speed (how much ground does my horse cover in any given time increment).

Stay tuned for a follow-up article explaining the difference between rhythm, tempo and speed. It’s always good to revisit these basics.

As always – Enjoy Your Horse!

Old School Grooming

Posted on January 23, 2019 by stefreinhold

Grooming Like an Old-school Pro.

Horses have been around for a lot longer than our modern conveniences like horse vacuums and show sheen spray. While we can be grateful to have access to these conveniences, not everything we use today is actually helpful or beneficial.
What did experienced stable hands do in the ‘old days’?

Sometimes, it’s the simple ‘old-school’ solution that gets the best result.

“Horses were groomed twice daily, once early in the morning and once in the evening. The tools were simple.”

History of Grooming

Horses were used in different settings throughout human history. ‘Best practices’ in grooming were developed and maintained mostly in the cavalry—as there was a strict need to maintain the horses’ at their best possible health and condition.

Here a tidbit from the history of Fort Scott in Kansas:

Horses were groomed twice daily, once early in the morning and once in the evening. The tools were simple:

Hoof pick
Curry comb
Stiff brush
Rub rag
Whisp

Read more about grooming at Fort Scott here.

10 Tips from the Old-school Groom

I extracted these tips from different sources, books and cavalry manuals. Enjoy!

100 Strokes

The German cavalry prescribed a minimum of 100 brush strokes (with a horse hair brush) per horse per day. The recruits had to groom their own horses and were subjected to rigorous inspections. Grooming was not only viewed as a means to clean the horse but also to provide a good massage, increase blood circulation and well being. But the recruits were encouraged to be quick about it: “There is no value in grooming beyond the point of when the horse is clean.” (Care of the Troup Horse, 1937)

What’s in an Onion?

Apparently something that makes the horse hoof shiny. Cut an onion into half and rub the clean and dry hoof with the raw onion before entering the show ring. It will provide shine without the unwanted side-effect of attracting sand and dirt.

Laurel Oil for Hoof Growth

Laurel oil (bay leaf oil) has been a staple in hoof care for centuries. The thrifty groom would massage the oil into the coronet band, then sparingly spread a thin film over the rest of the hoof wall. Then hoof treatment was applied to the collateral groove and the sole of the hoof, never the frog!

Caring for the Sweaty Horse after Exercise

The hot and sweaty horse appreciates having his eyes and nostrils cleaned with a damp cloth. Then 10-15 minutes of calm walking in hand, in winter or cool weather covered with a simple wool blanket. Follow up with a vigorous rub down with a bunch of clean straw to dry the coat further, then brush the coat smooth with a coarse natural brush.us.

Less Is More

Do we really need all the chemicals and gadgets that fill up our grooming box today?

“There is no value in grooming beyond the point of when the horse is clean.”

Looking at old sources it becomes clear. A few good-quality grooming tools and the right technique (also read “4-Step Grooming“) is enough.

One thing I am happy about: The old metal curry combs—monstrosities that can do more harm than good—have been largely replaced by gentler tools

“The old metal curry combs—monstrosities that can do more harm than good—have been largely replaced by gentler tools.”

Caring for the Horse’s Mane

The knowledgeable old-school groom rarely combed a mane! Instead, the mane would be finger-combed, then brush the mane until smooth and shiny. Only then would the groom use a wide-toothed comb and—if desired—part small sections and braid loose braids. Ready to pass inspection!

Fun fact: The German cavalry collected all mane and tail hairs in special bags. These were then picked up periodically by the mattress maker! Yes, fine mattresses were made of horse hair!

Fly Prevention

Wherever there are horses, there will be flies… Besides cleanliness, the old-school barn master prescribed a natural ally in the war against the buzzing pest: swallows. Encourage swallows to nest in your barn and you will keep the fly population low.

If you cannot convince the swallows to nest in your barn, try a ‘spiked lemon’. Spike a lemon with cloves and hang it up in your barn.

Keeping Leather Soft

After cleaning saddle, bridle & other leather accessories thoroughly with saddle soap, the old-school groom would not let the leather dry out completely but instead apply leather conditioner when the leather was still somewhat damp. After letting the conditioner soak in, remove excess fat with a wool cloth, easily made by shrinking an old wool sweater in a hot wash cycle.

Cleaning Sweaty Bridles

In order to remove caked on dirt and sweat before cleaning the bridle with saddle soap, take the bridle apart and soak it for a few minutes in lukewarm water with a squirt of ammonia.Be sure not to forget the bridle in the bucket! Remove after a few minutes.

Never wash the fetlock when washing the hoof. If the fetlock got wet, dry it off thoroughly.
Never trim the hair inside the ears
Never trim the whiskers around the muzzle and eyes (the horse needs them to assess distances)

Some ‘Do Nots’

While the old school groom had a number of tricks in his bag, there were certain ‘Do Nots’ that made sure the groom would not unintentionally hurt the horse.

Here some examples from various cavalry manuals:

Do not use a metal curry to curry the entire horse. Only use it to loosen caked-on mud or sweat on muscled parts of the horse’s body. Never use a curry on bony parts or on hairless areas.
Beyond that, use the metal curry ONLY to clean the brush during and after grooming.
Do not comb a tail! Only finger-comb, then brush with a medium-stiff root brush.

Caring for the Horse’s Tail

The old-school groom would NEVER comb a tail. Instead, the groom would use his fingers to part the tail hair and remove larger pieces, than brush the tail clean with a medium-stiff root brush.

Last not Least: A Tasty Snack!

The groom in old times provided his horses with tasty branches from fruit trees, birch trees and hazelnut bushes. This was supposed to be healthy and good for the teeth. If you’d like to take it up a notch, soak some bread in beer, a snack that was (or still is…) supposedly popular in some parts of Germany. (Note: This tip is provided for entertainment purposes. If you would like to try this, please check with your vet first!

Get your FREE Old-School Grooming Poster

I like the simple old-school grooming concepts and prefer to groom in this more fun, efficient, and natural way. If you feel the same, you can get my old-school grooming poster “4-Step Grooming” by sending an email with the subject ‘old school grooming‘. I will then send you the pdf, which you can print out and hang up in your barn!

Hope you enjoyed this article. Be in touch with question!

“I like the simple old-school grooming concepts and prefer to groom in this more fun, efficient, and natural way..”

Stefanie Reinhold

Safe & Fun: Carrot Stretches!

Posted on November 19, 2018March 14, 2019 by stefreinhold

Stretching with the aid of a treat – usually carrots – is a great way to keep your horse flexible without causing any damage. So-called “Carrot Stretches” can be found all over YouTube and the internet. However, it is important to do it right to get a real benefit.

“Carrot Stretches” are active or dynamic stretches, meaning the horse needs to perform the stretch. In comparison, there are ‘passive’ stretches, where the handler effects the stretch, usually by applying a pulling force to the respective limb.

Please note this important difference:

Active or dynamic stretches – like the ones shown below – can be performed any time with a cold horse. The horse will never injure himself, you cannot overdo it!
Passive stretches can cause damage to soft tissues if performed on a cold horse and —if unintentionally overdone— even on a warm horse.

Therefore, I DO NOT RECOMMEND PASSIVE STRETCHING as it can result in injury.

Carrot Stretches – Safe, Fun, Effective!

Here my tips for safe & fun, basic carrot stretches that help keep your horse flexible and supple:

The Horse Situp

Your goal is to encourage the horse to raise the back by stimulating a reflex when stroking across the gluteal muscles.
Have a relaxed horse and stand sideways behind the horse or place a hay bale between you and the horse’s hind end.
Use your stiff thumbs or a safe tool like a quarter coin to apply some pressure to the left and right of the sacrum.
When you see a slight reaction from your horse – lifting the back or tensing muscles without showing a pain response – glide down the gluteals toward the ‘poverty groove’, attempting to elicit a response where the horse raises the back (see image 2).
Practice this with a safe horse. Once you experience the amount of pressure you need, it will come easier.

To the girth line

Hold the treat by the girth line. The horse should reach for it, stretching the muscles around the wither area.
Your horse may need some help in understanding what is asked. Patience is the key!
In image 3 you see Paladin ‘cheating’. He is a little club-footed in the left front and wanted to minimize the stretch. Ideally, the horse will keep the legs straight.

To the outside of the front foot

Images 4 and 7 show how this is done correctly.
The horse stretches the opposite side of the neck and shoulder and brings the back up.
Note: Paladin once again ‘cheated’ a little in image 4. Do not insist on correctness, rather work towards it slowly.

To the point of hip

Image 5 shows how nicely Paladin can reach for the point of hip.
I started by the shoulder and guided him toward the hip, rewarding him with the carrot once this position is reached.
Tip: If you can let your horse eat the carrot slowly, you will maximize the benefit.

Forward down

On images 6 and 8 you see how different horses solve this challenge according to to their ability.
The paint horse made it easy for himself by stepping forward with the left front, even on several attempts.
Start easy with what the horse can do and build up over time.

To the elbow

Image No. 9 shows how the horse is reaching for the treat by the elbow or lower shoulder.

TIPS

Schedule your carrot stretches twice weekly.
Cut the carrots into manageable pieces, not too long (‘snatchers’ like Paladin will munch the entire carrot at once…) and not too small (save your fingers!).
Always aim for what your horse can do, then take it up a notch next week.
Do the stretches on both sides. Every time…
Smile!

IMPORTANT: Dynamic mobilization stretches, or “carrot stretches,” should be performed on level, non-slip footing in an enclosed area, with the horse standing square and balanced. Encourage the horse to hold each position for several seconds, followed by a moment to allow them to relax their muscles and return to neutral before the next attempt. (Comment provided by CaveCreekEquine.com)

1. Horse Situp Before

2. Horse Situp

3. To the girth line

4. To the outside of the front foot

5. To the point of hip

6. Forward down

7. To the outside of the front foot

8. Forward down

9. To the elbow

Contact me

Teaching ‘the Seat’

Posted on September 7, 2018 by stefreinhold

The (nearly) lost art of teaching fundamental concepts

When it comes to riding instruction – especially around the difficult task of teach ‘the seat’ – how would you finish the sentence: “I wish….”???

I wish I knew…. (how to teach a feel, how to sit correctly, how to explain this better, …. you fill in the blanks) may be how many will start this sentence.
I wish I found… (an instructor, a horse, a way, to learn a correct seat, ….) may be another.

Teaching the seat is difficult as we attempt to explain something that needs to be ‘felt’ to be understood. But there are some simple steps that can help improve the way we teach and learn a functionally correct seat.

An elusive concept

‘The seat’ is an elusive concept. Observing various riding lessons, I get the impression that the seat has become something external, something that needs to ‘look right’ versus ‘feel right’. “Heels down, shoulders back!”

Or something completely removed from function. “Collect him/her!” “Ride a circle!” “Stay by the wall, don’t drift toward the inside!” Without mention how the seat will contribute to reaching the goal, which is ultimately always the communication with the horse.

A ‘correct’ seat always puts function before form. If we want to do more than learn/teach how to ‘sit pretty’ (and often stiffly), we need to ask for/provide better riding education.

5 Ways to re-introduce ‘Seat Education’ into Riding Lessons:

Give (instructor) and take (student and instructor!) longe lessons
1. Free to focus on our own body and how it interacts with the horse, we can gain security, relaxation and independence and truly observe and correct our ‘functional posture’.
2. Use a horse that is in rhythm and calm on the longe line and that responds promptly to voice commands.
Practice on a barrel
1. A barrel or a sturdy saddle stand can be a great tool to start practicing an independent seat. Make sure to fasten the saddle to the barrel or stand so it will provide a true experience when the student is asked to respond to shifts in position.
2. Have the student respond to rein pressure or pressure to various parts of her body by shifting pelvic position and balancing from the ‘seat root’.
3. Identify off-center posture that feels ‘normal’ to the student. It is easier to identify and correct a postural habit on a static barrel and then take this new awareness to the horse.
Explain (students ask for explanation) how the seat contributes to all exercises you are teaching (learning) or commands you are giving (given)
1. Example: Some horses drift to the inside of the arena. The way to counteract this is counter-intuitive. Humans tend to want to ‘push’ with their shoulders. This will bring the rider into the a position that exaggerates the problem and thus causes frustration. One needs to do exactly the opposite, which is counter-intuitive for humans. The instructor needs to take time to explain the role of the seat in detail, otherwise the student continues to struggle.
Address tension and postural habits on the ground
1. 1. Many clients look for improvement in their horses by releasing tension and thus enabling functional posture in their horses by booking horse massage and especially Masterson Method® sessions. Releasing tension in the rider’s body before mounting can produce similarly positive results.
  2. Ask the student to stand straight, identify any imbalances, then ask to stretch and stand again. Observe how awareness contributes to improvement.
  3. Create small stretching and warm-up routines for your students to do before every ride. You do not need to be a fitness instructor to do so. There are many books such as Dynamic Stretching: The Revolutionary New Warm-up Method to Improve Power, Performance and Range of Motion
Practice at home…
1. For instructors: Practice your teaching at home. Explain to yourself what the FUNCTIONAL role of the seat is in the particular exercise.
  1. HOW to sit in the respective exercise or scenario
  2. WHY to sit like this
  3. WHAT the functional aspects are (e.g. stimulating a muscle, getting out of the way, counter-balancing, staying over the center of gravity, etc.)
2. For students: Practice your learning content at home.
  1. Mentally revisit the last riding lesson.
  2. Practice the exercises in your mind and on the ground.
  3. What are your questions pertaining to the seat? Do you understand the HOW, WHY, and WHAT?
  4. Write down your questions and bring to your next riding lesson.

I hope these pointers are helpful to you.

Lasting Success

Always remember this quote from the H. DV. 12 German Cavalry Manual:

“Lasting Success can only be achieved if the hearts and souls of all [students and instructors] are filled with the joy of riding and the love for the horse.”

(H. DV. 12 German Cavalry Manual, Original Source of the Training Scale)

Until next time… Enjoy your horse!

Stefanie Reinhold
www.ReinholdsHorseWellness.com

‘Zuckis Verboten’ – Show Jumpers in the Spotlight

Posted on November 28, 2017January 8, 2019 by stefreinhold

A Torturous Practice among Jumpers Ends in 2022

It is with great sadness that I read how some of the really bad news around equestrian sports come from my country of origin: Germany. The widely read ‘Suddeutsche Zeitung‘ had the following headline: ‘The End of Torterous Horse Practice‘.

Right Under the Spectator’s Nose

horses jumping show jumping brushing boots — A cruel practice is coming to an end: “Zuckis”

The practice in question: Bandages and brushing boots – meant as protective gear – are spiked with pressure points and tightened to the point of pain. The purpose: When show jumping, the horse will now lift his legs higher and be sure to avoid any type of contact with the jump. The unsuspecting spectator simply sees a spectacular show jumping performance.

A ‘Lame’ Decision?

The FEI’s General Assembly in Montevideo recently decided to prohibit the practice (in German called ‘Zuckis‘) – starting in 2022. So a little over 4 more years left to torture horses legally. For many horses, it will come too late. They will end their torturous career in the service of an overly ambitious prize money hunter.

Wraps Getting a Bad (W)Rap

‘Zuckis’ are now in the public eye – it’s a good thing. The flip side: Wraps and other leg protection are getting a ‘Bad Rap’, much like nose bands. Important to remember: It’s not the piece of equipment per se that is at fault. Real protective gear for horse legs like wraps and brushing boots are a blessing and protect the fetlock joint from injury. It’s the abuse of the gear that makes it ‘verboten’. If we ask our horses to maximize their athletic potential in jumping, we do need to protect the horse’s legs.

So a little over 4 more years left to torture horses legally. For many horses, it will come too late. They will end their torturous career in the service of an overly ambitious prize money hunter.

What can you do about it?

Let Common Sense (& Compassion) Prevail!

It’s once again up to the spectators to raise the flag. Become aware, speak up, don’t applaud when you witness such practice (especially not on easily-shared social media) and DO THE RIGHT THING yourself – modeling this to kids and younger riders to raise compassionate show jumpers!

Commons sense tells us to differentiate between those, who protect their horses with brushing boots and those, who abuse gear to realize their own ambitions in equestrian sports. Compassion mandates us to speak up for the horse – no matter where and when.

Spot the Offender

When visiting or participating in an event, here some things to look out for:

A helper runs into the warmup ring before the horse enters the arena and quickly tightens the horse boots (there is a term in German for doing something very quickly: ‘Ruck Zuck’ – therefore the boots are called ‘Zuckis’ when used for this torturous practice).
The horse lifts his legs unnaturally high and overjumps.
The horse seems tense and in a rush to get things over with.
During the ride, the horse kicks out repeatedly with the hind legs, as if to get rid of something (the ‘Zuckis’…).

I am grateful for you, the reader, who is undoubtedly NOT in the ‘Zucki’ camp!

Enjoy your horse!

Stefanie Reinhold

5 Ways to Practice Gratitude

Posted on November 23, 2017November 25, 2018 by stefreinhold

…In the Barn & Beyond

Gratitude. It’s been quite a few years that this powerful concept – thousands of years in the making – has moved into the spotlight of our consciousness. From Oprah & Dr. Oz to gratitude journals (I love the Tiny Buddha’s Gratitude Journal: Questions, Prompts, and Coloring Pages for a Brighter, Happier Life), gratitude rocks, and jars – you name it, it’s there!

Gratitude – A Deep Human Need

From Stone Age to Rocket Age, humans have been practicing collective and individual gratitude (e.g. Thanksgiving Holiday, Thank You cards, Prayers and Offerings, etc.) and there is good reason for it: Gratitude is Good Medicine!

Gratitude is Good Medicine

Have you ever felt warm around the heart when expressing gratitude to someone? Then you did it right! That’s the kind of heart-felt gratitude that feels good to you when expressing it and to the receiver – whether human or not…

No Lip Service, please!

In our brain-centered, head-heavy world, we tend to rationalize, organize, streamline, multi-task – all brain-based ‘surface modes’ that do not get to the core of feelings. To express gratitude so that YOU & the RECEIVER FEELS IT, please let it come from the heart.

Let it come from the heart!

Try this exercise at home:

Stand in front of a mirror (or talk to your dog or an imaginary friend 😉 and say “Thank you for [fill in the blank].” How do you feel?
Now let’s try that again: Feel you heart area. Really direct your consciousness to this area. Then imagine, you heart had lips. Relax you shoulder, soften you gaze, smile a little and say (with your heart lips) “Thank you for [fill in the blank].” How was that?
In step 3, you ‘lip synch’ with your heart. If you do it right, you will feel your heart area and other parts of you body – perhaps your hands – warm and feel pleasant. This is the kind of FEELING you want to convey when expressing gratitude.

5 Ways to Show Gratitude in the Barn & Beyond

Simply say ‘Thank you for […]’ whenever you feel there is something to be grateful for. Example: I say “Thank you for providing such caring help to Regalo.” to my helper and friend Bettie – either in person or even via text! Important: You must look the person in the eye (when in person), smile, and ‘lip synch’ with your heart. Then it’s a real gift!
Leave a little note. That can be a sticky note with a smiley! Example: I have a little book that my dog walker and I use to communicate. I draw little smileys next to my thank yous and often say “I really appreciate that you….”. Find opportunities to express your thanks to others with little notes they find in unexpected places.
Share a little. Baking something? Got a little too much of something? You certainly have experienced an overabundance of something. Instead of putting it in the freezer or the cupboard, why not attach a little ribbon and a thank you note and express gratitude by sharing. You can find plenty of opportunity! Example: When I buy a big bag of Forage First horse treats, I put a few in a little bag and leave it for a helpful barn friend’s horse with a little thank you note.
Picture that! You may have a smartphone or a phone that takes pictures. These can be easily shared. Taking a picture of something someone else loves or has helped you with and sending it to them with a ‘Thank You’ is a great way to show gratitude. Example: Take a picture of your friend’s horse (“Thank you for […]. I saw your horse in the pasture and thought you’d like to this picture.”)
Book it! Accidentally bought the same horse book twice? You may have done this before, if you are like many horse people on a horse book buying binge… This book will be someone else’s treasure! Write your heartfelt thanks into the cover and give it to or leave it for your helpful barn friend.

You got this!

These are just some ideas. You know best who to thank and how to do it. Practice is key! Here some tips:

Practice heartfelt thank yous at home – you may be in ‘brain mode’ and give ‘lip service’ without realizing it!
Grow your gratitude vocabulary – create a little collection of terms and phrases that express your gratitude. Write them on a card or in a journal. Soon, they will be anchored in your gratitude tool box!
Say less – mean more! A simple heart-felt ‘Thank You’ is better than a stream of words that come from the ‘head’.
Be grateful! For everything. Food, air, your old paddock boots, a cup of Joe, fair weather, YOUR HORSE!

Hope you find this helpful. Please share this article, if you do!

THANK YOU for reading this far.

Enjoy your horse!

Stefanie Reinhold

Continue reading “5 Ways to Practice Gratitude” →

Good Brushes: More Everything for Your Buck

Posted on November 8, 2017February 20, 2019 by stefreinhold

Why you should use the best grooming brushes you can find…and where to find them.

scratchy horse brushes — What not to use: These brushes are scratchy and dull the coat!

If you own or lease a horse, chances are you have to groom him. You can find plenty of tools online and at your local farm supply or tack shop. Most grooming brushes look like what everyone else is using. And they are cheap, many featuring synthetic bristles and meant to be replaced quite frequently.

Most grooming brushes look like what everyone else is using. And they are cheap.

So why go for anything else?

Grooming is so much more than cleaning your horse. It is not only a chore that leads to a certain result, but also an opportunity to bond, listen to your horse, have a mutually satisfying experience, and get even better results! As with any job or chore, the right tools are key. My frustration with what I could find in tack shops led me on a quest to find a better horse brush.

But do you really need better horse grooming tools?

Let’s ask these questions first:

Do you care how your horse feels?
Do you want a good relationship with your horse?
Do you want the best possible grooming results?
When making purchasing decisions, do you care about the environment?
Do you appreciate quality that lasts for years?

If you answered YES to at least 3 of those questions, read on.

Grooming can be so much more than cleaning your horse.

Gentle strokes with a soft brush are a tactile experience that feel good to your horse and will be appreciated.

But many grooming experiences are pure torture.

Remember, your horse’s skin is extremely sensitive. Just play this through in your mind and see it from the horse’s perspective.

Someone approaches you with a tool, intending to work it across your skin.
You don’t have a choice in the matter, you are tied up and any attempts to protest to unpleasant touch (wiggling, pinning ears, kicking) will be interpreted as ‘ naughtiness’.
You know what discomfort is coming, your sensitive skin flinches in dreadful anticipation.
The groomer just tries to get it all over with because ‘the horse does not like to be groomed’.
Moreover, the results are mediocre, the coat looks dull, something to attack with a horse vacuum or another bath or ‘shine spray’….

This type of torturous ‘get it done’ grooming does nothing to improve the condition of the coat or the relationship between horse and human.

What happens in ‘your grooming story’?

Does the groomer use a tool that feels good or just anything that may be about the barn, scratchy or not?
Does this interaction between groomer and horse lead to a better relationship or to resentment and even fear?

Let’s continue our story imagining our groomer has already discovered the many advantages of using high-quality brushes such as HorseHaus brushes:

Our horse will be relaxed and unafraid, and looking forward to the grooming session.
He will use this time to relax deeply and enjoy the company of the groomer, who goes about her task in a methodical, but also gentle and considerate manner.
At the end of the session, our horse may have dozed off or show other visible signs of relaxation, his coat clean, healthy and shiny.
Our groomer will have learned a lot about skin condition and little bumps or scratches on the horses body.
She will be satisfied with the result and carefully clean and put away her grooming brushes to keep them neat and ready for the next grooming.

Now horse and rider are ready to begin their activities together.

Whatever your activities you pursue with your horse, you both will feel more comfortable and trusting toward each other after a considerate and successful grooming session.

You will feel good about grooming and your purchase.

Others may notice how shiny and healthy your horse’s coat looks and you will wonder whether it is not just the proper cleaning but also the gentle massage you give your horse with every grooming (and the answer is yes).
Knowing that your brushes will last for years, you feel good about your purchase.
The fact that neither people nor natural resources got hurt in the manufacturing of the brushes (HorseHaus brushes are FCC certified) or sourcing of the raw materials make you feel even better.

Which type of groomer are you?

Life is learning. If you are currently the groomer with the horse that does not like to be groomed, the scratchy plastic brush wielding type, do not despair!

Read about the 4 step grooming process and peruse the different types of horse brushes to put a set of HorseHaus brushes together that meets your needs.

Questions about grooming or brushes?

Please send anemail to Stefanie to get answers and a 10% off coupon for your first purchase.

Enjoy your horse!

Stefanie Reinhold

3 Ways to a Stronger Bond

Posted on October 31, 2017November 25, 2018 by stefreinhold

How to Bond with Your Horse

3 Do’s and Dont’s for a Better Relationship

After many successful rehab experiences with horses that had ‘people problems’, and 7 years of working with ‘airs above the grounds’ performer turned equine behaviorist Anita Kush, I realize that a large range of problems in the human – horse interaction can be traced back to a small set of unhelpful behaviors on part of the human.

Let’s get one thing clear: It is NEVER the horse’s fault. If we can agree on this, you may read on and may find something helpful here.

Bonding with our horse – what a wonderful and noble intention.

Not only do we want to get on, get along and understand each other, we want to forge a relationship that will be strong enough to carry us through the unavoidable moment of crisis – big or small. We want to have ‘something in the bank’ – on the trust level. This topic is rich enough to fill a book. But it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Let’s start somewhere…

Here 3 common mistakes and what to do instead:

Mistake: Feed snack as reward.

Do this instead: Let ‘virtue be its own reward’. The exercise went well? The horse stood calmly for the farrier or while mounting? Praise in a soft voice, be a relaxing and reassuring presence for your horse. Then feed snacks out of that context of reward, for no reason at all, just to socialize.

Mistake: Letting your horse fend for himself

Do this instead: A dominant horse is crowding your horse when you fetch her from the pasture? Your horse’s more assertive friend grabs for his feed bowl? A fellow boarder is loud and encroaches on your space in front of your horse? These and other types of situations require you to take charge. Give your horse the feeling that you are “in charge of everything” and will create a safe environment where your horse’s needs (for instance for space) are met. Be your horse’s ‘Joan of Arc’ or ‘Genghis Khan’!

Mistake: Expect obedience at all cost (i.e. “don’t let him get away with it”)

Do this instead: Look at every interaction with your horse as a conversation. E.g. you want to turn left, your horse turns right. Diffuse, deflect, re-channel – never argue with your horse. In this case: Good idea, but let’s do that my way (turning right, circling around, coming at it again, repeat until desired outcome is achieved – without confrontation!). Obedience in horses is a habit willingly built on trust, never enforced.

Follow this ‘recipe’ for 30 days, then let me know how you and your horse are doing.

Enjoy your horse!

Stefanie Reinhold