PROPRIOCEPTORS

These are found in tendons, muscles, ligaments and joints and provide information to the brain regarding the adjustment of posture and movement. They influence the responses required for the body to correct imbalance due to tension in muscles or ligaments caused by a twisted foot, or unforeseen stretching movement. The spinal cord and brain centers are made aware of the situation and respond accordingly. When these are working properly, a horse has the ability to gallop on uneven ground and retract his leg from a hole if one occurs.

After an accident, proprioception is affected by the new sensations of pain causing lameness. The body progressively organizes itself to cope with biodynamic messages by adjusting its behavior. When the horse experiences this pain, it will limit the range of motion of the joint or compensate by using other muscles or both. Therapists must take this into account when treating a lesion, making sure that the treatment considers the muscles, ligaments, and tendons that might be affected.

Once a horse has traumatized an area, it takes some time for them to feel able to use the limb, so often the horse can be sound, and still show lameness. A convalescing horse must be allowed to regain its confidence by a closely supervised programme of exercise and therapies.

Remember that the older horse with a fully developed mechanism of response and control, weight, genes and conformation will also be factors to consider.

NEUROMOTOR REHABILITATION FOLLOWING INJURY

 Proprioception of horses is adapted to mitigate pain, the horse usual behavior is inhibited. Re-education of the limb can be done by moving the horse over natural terrain or building sensory re-education path. This involves building a path with different terrains, each section is between three and six yards long, sufficient to allow the horse to adapt to each new sensation. Start with sand, pebbles, hard ground,water ,hard ground, deep sand, normal sand. The process enhances the ability for the neuroceptors to respond and function quicker.

STRETCHING AND SUPPLING EXERCISES

  Propioceptors can be awakened and enhanced by stretching, bringing the ligaments, muscles and tendons to a state of readiness. Stretching can be active or passive. Active is on top of the horse while riding, or passive, which is done in the stall. Stretching improves balance and frees up the range of motion without being invasive.

Trainers that do not provide a preparatory regime often overlook biomechanical health of the horse. Preparation of the muscles and ligaments prior to performance allows both young and older horse alike to adapt and regulate the vertebral system. It induces freedom of movement in the back, neck and muscles involved in the lengthening of the spinal column.

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