What can go wrong?

Only healthy fascia allows specialized tissues (such as muscles) to slide against each other without interference and function optimally. Healthy fascia and muscles can become dysfunctional due to:

• Trauma (injury)
• Bad postural habits causing chronic unnatural shortening or lengthening of muscles and creating asymmetries that can negatively affect a joint’s range of motion and support
• Illness
• Diet

Deeply ingrained postural habits are often the main cause of muscular problems. We all have a stronger and weaker side, including animals. The muscles on the stronger side are often overdeveloped, while the ones on the weaker side are usually underdeveloped, creating asymmetries that interfere with optimal musculo-skeletal function. Horses tend to have body asymmetry problems very similar to humans (most horses are right side dominant). They are often exacerbated by the rider’s own body imbalances, which will affect performance.

Typical side dominance issues in horses and riders: The dominant side of the horse tends to be convex, while the weaker side tends to be concave. The muscles on the dominant side tend to be more developed. This is usually particularly noticeable over the dominant shoulder. Right-sided horses prefer the left canter, and left-sided horses the right lead canter, as they naturally bend towards their weaker, non-dominant side and prefer to use the stronger, dominant hind leg for strike off. Horses tend to resist stretching the shorter and weaker side when it is on the outside of a circle Riders tend to collapse at the waist on the dominant side and drop the dominant shoulder Riders tend to rotate the dominant side forward Riders tend to sit in a chair position due to tight hipflexors

Illustration of Postural Habits

Rider's dropped right shoulder Sitting heavier to the left Collapsing in the right waist Right hip pulled up Feet uneven Horse convex and more  developed on right side (right  side dominant horse)

It is therefore important for the rider to develop the horse as equally as possible side to side, to be aware of his/her own asymmetries and address them through exercises and every day body awareness (daily correction of postural habits) with the goal of becoming as symmetrical and balanced as possible.

"Cold Backed" Horses

A horse with a sore back (often referred to as cold backed) is another problem that massage therapists often are called upon to treat. There are several possible (most likely) causes:

• Saddle fit
• Hock or other joint issues
• Pelvic joint problems, most often in the sacro-iliac joints
• Ulcers
• Equine Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (EPSM) or Recurrent Exertional Rhabdomyolysis  (RER)
• Selenium deficiency
• Ovarian/heat cycle related issues in mares
• Hoof imbalances
• Teeth issues
• Rider/training created inverted, hollow-backed horse (creates weak abdominals and overly tight back muscles)

Lyme disease and EPM are rarer causes but can also be involved.

Indicators of a sore back include:

• Dropping down when mounted, palpated or saddled
• Acting girthy and possibly grumpy (can also be a sign of ulcers)
• A loss of brilliance or forward movement
• Bucking, bolting & rearing

"Cold backed" horses often also hold their backs during work and may have trouble tracking up, even if they should be able to.

Other Considerations

More subtle signs that indicate potential musculo-skeletal problems in the body include training resistances and/or excessive tail swishing. This is how a horse communicates discomfort and it should be listened too. Unfortunately, it is frequently assumed (by the rider or handler) that the horse is disobedient and is pushed through the resistance, often with disastrous consequences, resulting in serious injury to rider, horse, or both.

Normally, well behaved horse will give in easily. If the resistance escalates, stop what you are doing and investigate other possible causes. More often than not it is related to pain/discomfort issues, or mental over-stimulation.

Trauma and illness can cause adhesions and scar tissue that will also decrease the function of a muscle, often accompanied by pain or discomfort. If not addressed, this can become permanent and can eventually affect other muscles as well, as the body tries to compensate for the weakness. Even diet related issues, such as EPSM, Recurrent Exertional Rhabdomyolysis (RER), selenium deficiency, dehydration and certain mineral imbalances, can negatively affect fascia and muscle tissue function.

If your horse (or you) has health or performance issues and a veterinarian (or your doctor)  has ruled out possible other causes, chances are that the issues are due to tension in the body caused by muscular dysfunction.

When it comes to health & performance problems, never underestimate the involvement of muscles and fascia. Only healthy muscles and fascia can support optimal health and performance. Bodywork can expedite the healing and improvement of muscle & fascial disorders and restore optimal muscle (and health) function and balance.

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