Alberta Association of Complementary Equine Therapy

Janice Kirkpatrick turns to Canada in a passionate quest to save the Clydesdale horse that is dying out in its Scottish homeland.

Kissing Spines - also known as Spinal Crowding Syndrome Both horses in the photo below have kissing spines. The top one looks like the classic picture of a ba...ck that may have kissing spines, the bottom one has a back that looks better than many horses I see that are out competing at local shows and he also has kissing spines. Kissing spines refers to a condition in horses where two or more of the spinous processes (the flanges of bone sticking up from each vertebra in the spine) are positioned so that they touch or rub against each other. A horse with kissing spines may develop back pain, bone cysts, arthritic changes, and other problems (Kentucky Equine Research). Kissing spine is often secondary to another issue and is often the end of a problem, not the start of one. For a horse who has not been ridden or strengthened correctly or has another chronic (long term) complaint that they have been compensating for, kissing spines are the end result of a larger, more complicated picture. The good news with this, is that it can be reversible when managed correctly. A horse with kissing spines will be reluctant to flex its back, therefore it will not use its body to the fullest extent. The horse will tend to alter its posture and way of going to compensate, which creates imbalances that put undue strain on certain muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons. Causes of Kissing Spines - Congenital/conformational - Incorrect rider/horse weight ratio - Weakness and instability in the multifidus muscle group - explained in detail below and how to rehab this - Incorrect riding/training - Lack of core strength - Lack of postural stability - starting horses too young or too much/too soon Signs and symptoms of Back Pain in horses - Cold backed - Fidgeting when being groomed or tacked up - Nipping or kicking out when having the girth tightened - Misbehaviour under saddle (bucking, rearing, kicking out, head tossing) - Dragging one or both rear toes - Inability to get the correct canter lead on way - Awkward in gait transitions - They have shifting lameness - Stiff to one side - Inability to flex or collect I am aware that lots of these are symptoms of other biomechanical dysfunction but the most important thing to note here is that if your horse has been having regular bodywork (with the appropriate qualified professional), saddle fits well and it is still not improving, then there may be something more going on - this requires a vet and x-ray to diagnose. A note on cold backed horses - 99.9% of the time there is always a reason. You cannot simply say - 'my horse just does this'. No, they don't. They will have a degree of discomfort somewhere which may be related to muscle tightness, restricted vertebrae, pain in the ribcage, ulcers, incorrect saddle fit, kissing spine, shoulder pain, incorrect rider-horse weight ratio or that they are simply not strong enough through their backs to perform what is being asked of them. Diagnosis Diagnosis of kissing spines needs to be done by your veterinarian and can be made based on history, physical examination, thermography, and radiography. The affected vertebrae can be in the thoracic or lumbar region but are often those that are positioned directly under the seat of the saddle. Sometimes four or more vertebrae are involved. Treatment Physical Therapy As osteopaths our approach is a holistic one. To manage kissing spine, we'll need a treatment and management programme that involves manual techniques as well as a rehab programme. To manage kissing spines long term, this rehab programme will be what you will have to do with your horse for the rest of its career. It is important to make sure that the horse is functioning its best in all areas of its body so that there is no extra loading or unhelpful compensatory patterns happening over the top of the spinal problem. This will require a combination of spinal mobilisation, myofascial release, specific soft tissue techniques, stretches, cranial and rebalancing techniques. The Multifidus System and Carrot Stretches There is a complex system of muscles that run under the spine called the Multifidus System. These are the body’s ‘core’ muscles and need to be strong and short to counteract spinal dipping and keep the gaps between the processes open when carrying the rider. Simply asking the horse for more forward effort in an effort to engage the quarters will not build the Multifidus system, particularly if the spine has learned already to dip as the horse is working against himself. When our horses become more mature and we ask for work in a more advanced outline, the muscles over the spine can become very tense as they further attempt to defend the spine from the potentially uncomfortable twisting of an active gait, while the increased impulsion and muscular tension creates a critical counter force leading to further compressions of the processes. At that stage, there is a possibility for kissing spine to develop, where the vertebrae have become kinked by the strong Longissimus Dorsi muscles in spasm, and the spinal processes start to touch/rub one another. A secondary effect of the spine losing elasticity is that kinetic force is thrown forwards towards the shoulders as it can no longer be absorbed through the horse’s centre. This pushes the lowest part of the cervical section of his spine, the base of the neck, downwards between his shoulder blades and robbing him of forehand ‘suspension’, plunging him downhill, onto the forehand and heavily into the rider’s hand making straightness and balance physically impossible It is likely that advanced cases may have spinal interference in the C6, C7, T1 which contribute to the bracing resistance found in the rein contact of affected horses (Visconte Simon Cocozza - https://www.horsetalk.co.nz//help-horse-kissing-spine-goo/) Carrot stretches are the best exercise to engage the multifidus system. Carrot stretches are dynamic mobilisation exercises that create spinal mobility and core stabilsation in which the horse is trained to move its chin to a specific position by following a piece of carrot/treat. The positions you need to do 5 times a week for a horse with kissing spine and weekly for prevention are - 1) Chin-to-chest in which the chin was moved as close as possible to the chest bone 2) Chin-between-knees in which the chin was moved as far back as possible with the bottom of the nose at the level of the knee 3) Chin-between-fore fetlocks in which the chin was taken as far down and back as possible between the fore fetlocks 4) Thoracic/Sternal lifts - pressing your fingers into the sternum of your horse and asking it to lift and hold its back in flexion 5-7 preformed on both the left and right sides of the horse 5) Chin-to-girth in which the horse stretched laterally (to the side) until the chin reaches the level of the girth 6) Chin-to-hip in which the horse stretched laterally with the chin moving toward the point of the hip 7) Chin-to-hock in which the horse stretched laterally toward the hock reaching as far back and down as possible The horse should encouraged to hold each position for 5 seconds and then be rewarded with the piece of carrot. For a rehab programme each of these exercises should be repeated 5 times, 5 days a week for 3 months. This programme is the human equivalent of around 45 abdominal crunches per day. Gymnastic exercises In less severe cases where you are still able to ride (as well as do your ground work), gymnastic exercises will help to maintain top line and abdominal strength. - Long and low leg yield with the horse bending its neck down and away from the direction its yielding - encourages the hips to rotate in the opposite direction from the shoulders - Bend and stretch at walk on a small circle - encourage lots of inside bend and a lowered head position - Turn on the forehand - builds the lateral and rotative pelvic control muscles, as well as simultaneously lifting the spine and separating the spinus processes. Start with quarter turns and graduate to full turns - Walk pirouettes - develops the thoracic sling range of motion, encouraging the horse to carry his thoracic spine higher between his shoulder blades. Start with half pirouettes and graduate to full. Changing or refitting saddles is helpful for many horses with kissing spine. Make sure you check your saddle fit regularly as the fit will change as your horse develops and changes its way of going. Medical treatment Unless the Kissing Spines are very advanced, most veterinarians will likely recommend starting with a conservative, medical approach to the treatment of this condition. These are methods to control the pain and inflammation and therefore break the muscle spasm cycle. One of the most common methods of pain and inflammation management is corticosteroid injections, as well as, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, veterinary acupuncture, therapeutic ultrasound and shockwave therapy. Veterinarians may recommend surgery for Kissing Spines as the first treatment option or after an unsuccessful course of medical and physical therapy. Prognosis While every case is different, the majority of horses with Kissing Spine that are diagnosed, treated, and rehabbed appropriately are able to return to work. Some will be able to perform at their previous level while others may need a step down in order to remain comfortable. While the formal physical therapy program may have ended, trainers and riders should continue schooling horses in a frame that encourages a rounding of the back, self-carriage, and balance as well as maintaining multifidus strength with carrot stretches - just less regularly than in the rehab program. Links to sources https://ker.com/equinews/kissing-spines-horses/ https://www.horsetalk.co.nz//help-horse-kissing-spine-goo/ https://www.paulickreport.com//kissing-spines-a-manageabl/ https://thehorse.com//exercises-to-strengthen-equine-back/

~ Authenticity ~ A conscious choice of how we want to live. A collection of choices to show up in all of life’s twists and turns and be real, honest & open. Whe...n we make the choice to be authentic within horsemanship, we are allowing both ourselves and our horse to be fully seen and heard. There is no noise or distraction. No ego or judgement. Just our authentic selves. Our inner voice becomes our outer guide. Continue to practice authenticity ~ you will bloom like never before as a person & as an equestrian. . . . #authenticity #authenticself #authenticequestrian #authenticequineconnections #equineconnections #equinelife #horse #horselove #kelownahorses #kelownahorsecommunity #equestrianconnection #kelownabc #huckleberryhorseco See more

Brilliant idea! I see so many people use rope halters to tie their horse when they haul and they can be brutal if the horse slips or falls over.

It’s all connected, always!

Once upon a time.. hay contained lots of wild flowers and the characteristic of good hay was that the colour of the flowering heads would remain intact for the... next 12 months. Blue meadow flowers contain anthocyanins, these are strongly antimicrobial phytochemical compounds that are active against the pathogenic bacteria that cause gastric discomfort and imbalances in horses. 3 important ones for horses are chicory, meadow clary and cornflowers. See more

Over Rugging, by our vet Lucy Carmichael As temperatures drop, it’s tempting to reach for one of the rugs in our horse’s wardrobe. However, when we want to thr...ow on the layers, doing the same for them may not be the right choice. There are significant differences in the way horses stay warm to the way that we do, for example: Unclipped horses already have a thick, hairy coat. This coat contains natural oils to repel water, and, if required, small muscles can contract, causing the hairs to stand on end (much like when we get goosebumps). This traps air between the hair and skin, providing an additional layer of insulation Horses have the benefit of a wider thermoneutral zone- for humans this is 25-35C, whereas the horse’s thermoneutral zone extends much lower, 5-25C. The thermoneutral zone is the temperature range at which an animal does not have to expend any energy to keep warm. This means that horses remain comfortable at significantly lower temperatures compared to us Where we have an appendix, horses have a caecum. The caecum acts as a ‘fermentation vat’, where bacteria break down feed and produce heat. Breakdown of forage generates the most heat. Therefore, a diet of low-calorie forage is far more effective for keeping your horse warm than putting on a rug Horses can efficiently divert their blood flow from the extremities to the internal organs, maintaining their core temperature. This is why their ears sometimes feel cold to touch, and it is important to see how warm they are by feeling inside the armpit or taking a rectal temperature (See our video on how to take your horse’s TPR here - https://youtu.be/_bug-U1-hMg) During movement, or even shivering, contraction of the large muscles of the body burns energy and releases heat Over-rugging will affect your horse’s ability to regulate its body temperature and may cause significant distress if they get too hot. Extreme heat stress may result in dehydration, increased heart and respiratory rates, lethargy and even colic. There are long term implications too. When rugged, your horse will use less energy, and the excess will be converted to fat, predisposing them Equine Metabolic Syndrome and laminitis in the spring. Therefore, rather than rugging, providing appropriate shelter and ample forage are likely to be more effective ways of keeping your horse warm through the winter. There are cases, of course, when rugging is appropriate- horses standing in, or those which are clipped will need a rug. However, numerous factors should be considered when choosing which type and weight, including the environment, type of shelter available and the weather. Remember that you are likely to be making this decision in the morning, when the temperature is probably several degrees cooler than it will be in the middle of the day. For further advice on rugging in the winter, call our team on 01323 815120

Donkeys are not the same as horses! Anyone that has met a donkey will know that they are different than horses in a handful of ways, from their behavior to thei...r hoof anatomy. Because of this, hoofcare providers have to approach them differently, both in our interaction with them as well as how we trim their hooves. Because of these differences, I asked Ross Keller, donkey and mule hoofcare instructor for ELPO (Equine Lameness Prevention Organization), if he would be willing to chat with me about donkey feet and how we can do better in our work with them. You can listen to the episode on your favorite podcast app under "The Humble Hoof," or at this link: https://thehumblehoof.libsyn.com/the-difference-with-donkey

Need inspiration for the new year??