So the first straightness training module introduces the concept of natural asymmetry. There are 8 types of asymmetry, 5 static and 3 dynamic.
Static Asymetry:
1) front legs - are they right handed or left handed?
2) back legs - are they right handed of left handed in their back legs - bit like goofy on a snowboard
3) lateral - do they have a twist in their spine and naturally bend in one direction
4) horizontal - do they weight bare more in their front legs/are they on the forehand?
5) torpido - are their hips wider than their shoulders?
Dynamic Asymetry:
1) diagonal - do they fall through the shoulder on a circle and bend their neck to counterbalance
2) vertical - to they rush forward, or motor bike to maintain their balance
3) topline - do they hollow through the back
The static asymmetry facets of a horse will result in the dynamic asymmetric way of working which will prevent them from working well under the saddle. The aim of straightness training is to improve the symmetry of the horse by strengthening and stretching exercises in order to enable it to work comfortably. The end goal is to have a horse that is supple and can carry its weight in the center. Step one to addressing Sofies issues is to work out what imbalances she may have.
1) front legs
I think Sofie favors her right front leg. The shoulder is larger on this side and she gets tension in her neck on this side. Her right side is her stripy foot, which is slightly larger than her left foot - though there isn't much in it.
2) back legs
I think Sofie favors her right hind leg, her left hind leg is weaker - and I suspect she might have some arthritic changes in it as it has swelled occasionally this summer. Her hind feet seem to be the same size and shape as far as I can tell.
3) lateral
I think Sofie is slightly left bent in these photos - but her dynamic movement suggests she is a right bent horse. I am confusing myself now - perhaps these are just rubbish photos!
4) horizontal
Yes sofie weight bares on her front legs and has difficulty pushing from behind when in work - this is probably contributing to her problems with her front ligaments.
5) torpido
I'll be honest I am not sure I get this one, but Sofie does have wider hips then shoulders (like most horses)
It is interesting to look back on her heat photos from last summer. They seem to be telling a similar story - tension in right shoulder, issues with back left hind.
6) diagonal
I know Sofie is asymmetric - but I am struggling to remember which reign she had problems with in particular. She pushes her saddle to the left hand side so I think she is a right bended horse. I remember her shoulder falling out and I think it was on the right reign falling to her left shoulder but I forget now. On the lunge she seems to struggle and her weight in getting thrown out, making the circle larger. However she does not conform to all the things on the right bend check list so I am unsure of the extent of her one-sidedness.
right bend checklist
0 The horse will easily bend to the right and not as easily to the left.
0 It will turn easily to the right and not as easily to the left in the arena.
0 it can feel as if the horse holds on to the bit on the left side and does not want to accept the bit on the right side
0 The saddle moves to the left.
0 The rider slips to the left.
0 The stirrups hang lower to the left.
0 The horse ‘walks into’ the left leg of the rider
0 While riding a circle to the right the horse bends easier to the right and can tend to over-bend to the right. This can make it fall out through the left shoulder
0 The horse will prefer to lean inwards on a circle to the left rather than bending its body. It will try to keep the right bending and at the same time fall on the left shoulder, making the circle smaller.
0 The horse puts more weight on the left front leg.
0 The horse always walks with a hindquarters-in when he walks on the right rein.
0 The horse does not easily step under the point of weight with his right hind leg.
0 The right hind leg is straighter which makes the hip higher on that side.
0 On the left rein the horse will speed up more automatically, especially in canter.
0 While backing up the hindquarters will turn to the
right.
7) vertical
In the past Sofie has been known to motor bike, I now realise it was due to poor balance. Nowerdays she gets round the issue by avoiding going forward.
8) topline
I don't think Sofie is particularly hollow in walk and trot but does hollow when going into canter
.... so things to work on. Well my assessment for one as I am still not 100% sure I have it right that Sofie is a right bent horse. But assuming I have got that right I need to stretch out her right side, as well as address her horizontal balance.
Static Asymetry:
1) front legs - are they right handed or left handed?
2) back legs - are they right handed of left handed in their back legs - bit like goofy on a snowboard
3) lateral - do they have a twist in their spine and naturally bend in one direction
4) horizontal - do they weight bare more in their front legs/are they on the forehand?
5) torpido - are their hips wider than their shoulders?
Dynamic Asymetry:
1) diagonal - do they fall through the shoulder on a circle and bend their neck to counterbalance
2) vertical - to they rush forward, or motor bike to maintain their balance
3) topline - do they hollow through the back
The static asymmetry facets of a horse will result in the dynamic asymmetric way of working which will prevent them from working well under the saddle. The aim of straightness training is to improve the symmetry of the horse by strengthening and stretching exercises in order to enable it to work comfortably. The end goal is to have a horse that is supple and can carry its weight in the center. Step one to addressing Sofies issues is to work out what imbalances she may have.
1) front legs
I think Sofie favors her right front leg. The shoulder is larger on this side and she gets tension in her neck on this side. Her right side is her stripy foot, which is slightly larger than her left foot - though there isn't much in it.
I think Sofie favors her right hind leg, her left hind leg is weaker - and I suspect she might have some arthritic changes in it as it has swelled occasionally this summer. Her hind feet seem to be the same size and shape as far as I can tell.
3) lateral
I think Sofie is slightly left bent in these photos - but her dynamic movement suggests she is a right bent horse. I am confusing myself now - perhaps these are just rubbish photos!
4) horizontal
Yes sofie weight bares on her front legs and has difficulty pushing from behind when in work - this is probably contributing to her problems with her front ligaments.5) torpido
I'll be honest I am not sure I get this one, but Sofie does have wider hips then shoulders (like most horses)
It is interesting to look back on her heat photos from last summer. They seem to be telling a similar story - tension in right shoulder, issues with back left hind.
6) diagonal
I know Sofie is asymmetric - but I am struggling to remember which reign she had problems with in particular. She pushes her saddle to the left hand side so I think she is a right bended horse. I remember her shoulder falling out and I think it was on the right reign falling to her left shoulder but I forget now. On the lunge she seems to struggle and her weight in getting thrown out, making the circle larger. However she does not conform to all the things on the right bend check list so I am unsure of the extent of her one-sidedness.
right bend checklist
0 The horse will easily bend to the right and not as easily to the left.
0 It will turn easily to the right and not as easily to the left in the arena.
0 it can feel as if the horse holds on to the bit on the left side and does not want to accept the bit on the right side
0 The saddle moves to the left.
0 The rider slips to the left.
0 The stirrups hang lower to the left.
0 The horse ‘walks into’ the left leg of the rider
0 While riding a circle to the right the horse bends easier to the right and can tend to over-bend to the right. This can make it fall out through the left shoulder
0 The horse will prefer to lean inwards on a circle to the left rather than bending its body. It will try to keep the right bending and at the same time fall on the left shoulder, making the circle smaller.
0 The horse puts more weight on the left front leg.
0 The horse always walks with a hindquarters-in when he walks on the right rein.
0 The horse does not easily step under the point of weight with his right hind leg.
0 The right hind leg is straighter which makes the hip higher on that side.
0 On the left rein the horse will speed up more automatically, especially in canter.
7) vertical
In the past Sofie has been known to motor bike, I now realise it was due to poor balance. Nowerdays she gets round the issue by avoiding going forward.
8) topline
I don't think Sofie is particularly hollow in walk and trot but does hollow when going into canter
.... so things to work on. Well my assessment for one as I am still not 100% sure I have it right that Sofie is a right bent horse. But assuming I have got that right I need to stretch out her right side, as well as address her horizontal balance.
