Horses show us many signs that they are in pain or fatigued. Most of the time these issues can be percieved as a "training issue", and this is not always the case. This is explained on another page. Some of the warning signs are, but not limited to:
~Loss of impulsion.
~Loss of suppleness.
~Reduced range of motion (short strided or dropping poles).
~Repetitive head tossing or shaking.
~Back soreness and/or hollowing.
~Bracing against or avoiding the bit.
~Uneven muscular development (may cause saddle slipping).
~Balance and proprioception.
~Improper tracking forward, backward or laterally (crossing over).
~Resistance of of lateral flexion or backing.
~Refusing or resisting leads.
~Hind limb interferance.
~Girthing problems ( often refered as "cinchy")
~Unwilling or unable to walk up or down inclines.
~Poor disposition, eating or resting habits.
~Being "off" for no apparent reason.
Times of vulnerability-
The horses ability to regulate body temperature is limited. Unlike dogs, with the ability to pant, the horse can not use the respiratory system to expel heat. Under normal circumstances, the horse does not have a great sweating ability. However, in humid conditins, under heavy blankets, this thermo-regulatory system is compromised and can create real problems for our equine friends. So it stands to reason that after a strenuous workout, during the cooling down period that the equne musculature is most susceptible to strain and spasm; times when insufficient oxygen is getting to the muscle (anoxia). Also, stress and break down are most likely to occur upon movement at the extremes of range of motion, such as fullest extestension of the torso or a limb.
The stress points-
The greatest point of stress normally occurs at the muscles anchor, point of origin, where it attaches to the bone by tendinous fibers (tendons), and is least flexible. Stress point locations are the same for all horses. However, different disciplines stress different muscles. Depending on wheather you train your horse for dressage, track racing, endurance, competitve trails, driving, english hunter-jumpers, cross-training, western reining, roping, barrel racing, cutting or whatever else ; will determine which points are stressed the most by repetitive movements. For the sake of muscle balncing, I recommend that people spend time cross training their horses, just as human athletes are advised to do.
