Monday 29 May 2017

The Akhal-Teké


The Akhal-Teké is a breed which I was fascinated by when I first started riding - because the first time I saw a picture the horse looked like it was gold!  They are an ancient breed which is believed to trace back to the territory of Turkmenistan over 2500 years ago and is possibly descended from the Turkoman horse which was favoured by mounted warriors. 



The Akhal-Teké is able to survive in extreme desert conditions and has fantastic stamina.  The breed is able to survive with little food and water.  They have small bodies with little fat and the mane is almost non-existent.  This means that in cold windy weather they need thick rugs. 


History

During the middle ages these horses were exported throughout Russia and to European countries because of their unusual qualities.  Horses were highly prized by tribal people because they were so important for income and survival.  They were used for raiding originally as their ability to survive in the desert with little food and water meant that they could cope with the long rides.

 In 1881 the tribes lost their battle and Turkmenistan became part of the Russian Empire and the breed suffered when horses were required to be slaughtered for meat.  A programme of breeding to create faster long distance racehorses in the early twentieth century crossed the Akhal-Teké with the thoroughbred but this only resulted in horses that were unable to cope with the harsh conditions in Central Asia. 
In more recent years there has been more controversy regarding the addition of Thoroughbred blood to the 
breed!


The Akhal-Teké is thought to have influenced many breeds, possibly the Thoroughbred and Trakehner.


Characteristics

Height:  14.2hh - 15.2hh

Colour:  The predominant colour is a striking gold colour (often with a metallic sheen) also bay, black, chestnut and grey.  The metallic sheen is due to uniquely structured hair!

Conformation:  The head is long and the eyes are large.  The ears are narrow and also long, as is the neck. The body is also long, lean and wiry, with prominent withers.  The chest is narrow and the legs are long and the quarters sloping.  The mane and tail are fine and sparse.

Temperament:  Calm and athletic.

Used as a good all rounder, racing, jumping and dressage. 

Have you seen last weeks's video 'Looking after the field'  on my You Tube channel.  
Horse Life and Love.  Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE

You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.



Until next time!
Jo

Friday 26 May 2017

All About ... Equine Physiotherapy



Equine Physiotherapy is another way to improve your horses performance or to aid in their recovery after injury.  Physiotherapists use a number of different techniques and therapies to manage injuries or conditions and will often use machines to treat an area.  



When a horse is in pain, in the same way as we do, they will find a different way of moving which is less painful.  They are prey animals and in the wild it is vital that they hide any injury which would make them an easy target - this is innate.  Unfortunately, this also means that problems can go unnoticed by owners for some time, muscle and soft tissue changes will take place and if untreated these changes will become permanent and often affect performance.

Conditions which physiotherapy may help include:

  • Neck, Back and Pelvic pain 
  •  A 'cold back' 
  • Muscle asymmetry 
  • Bucking, rearing or napping 
  • Stiffness on one rein 
  • Head tilting 
  • etc...


An equine physiotherapist will begin by assessing the horse.  This includes observation and assessment of the horse's conformation, posture and muscle development when standing but also when moving. They will also then use palpation to feel for any spasms, tenderness or muscle pain and to assess the range of movement of the joints. 

A treatment plan will be developed to help reduce pain, help tissues to heal or to promote muscle function and strength.

 
This plan might include ground schooling, stretches and gymnastic  exercises to help develop the correct muscles.  It also may include the use of electrotherapy treatments such as:

  • H-wave 
  • Therapeutic Ultrasound 
  • Pulsed Magnetic Therapy 
  • TENS 
  • Laser 
  • Red Light Therapy

Look out for a future blog about these machines!




Some of these treatments may require the horse to be sedated to ensure they are completely relaxed.
 
Physiotherapists require a vet referral and always ensure they are fully qualified!

Did you see Wednesday's video 'Looking after the field ...' on my You Tube channel?   
Horse Life and Love.  Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.

You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.

Until next time!
Jo

Thursday 25 May 2017

First Night Out !!!



The weather has been so hot that I have decided to swap the horses over, so they are out at night and in during the day.  It means that they are out of the flies and the hot sun!







Happy boys :) :) :)
 
Have you seen yesterday's video 'Looking after the field ...' on my You Tube channel.   
Horse Life and Love.  Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.

You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.

Until next time!
Jo

Monday 22 May 2017

Holiday in Iceland!

In  a few weeks I am heading off on holiday - which I am very excited about!!!  Something I have always wanted to do is ride an Icelandic Horse and where better to do that than in Iceland.  These ponies have a special gait called the tölt which I can't wait to try.  


I am spending a week in Iceland on the Snæfellsnes Penninsula :)  It is an organised trip so everything is arranged for me.  I will be riding everyday for several hours (up to 8) and riding a few different horses each day so that they don't get tired.  We also ride with a huge group of loose horses (30 - 60) so that will be amazing too!   

 
Iceland is sometimes called the 'land of fire and ice' and the landscape is really varied and totally unspoilt.  There are snow topped mountains, geysers and mud pools.  There are volcanic valleys and vast lava fields which are supposed to make you feel as though you are riding on the moon.   There is a  huge glacier (the largest in Europe) and thundering waterfalls.  I will be riding through rivers, and on the beaches with both yellow and black sand and as it is summer there will also be tracks through grassy fields and farmland.




 


I hope that I will see lots of bird life, seals and whales.  It will only be about 11°C and can be warm one minute and freezing cold the next and there will be 24 hours daylight so that will be really strange.

I am planning to take lots of photos and will tell you all about it when I get back!

Have you seen last week's video 'One ... and a bit days in May'  on my You Tube channel?   
Horse Life and Love.  Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.

You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.

Until next time!
Jo

Friday 19 May 2017

All About ... Equine Chiropractic Treatment


Chiropractic treatment is a therapy which focuses on the spine and in turn the nervous system throughout the horse's entire body.  The Central Nervous System consists of the brain and the spinal cord which is located within the spinal column.  The spinal nerves go to all parts of the  body and if these are not functioning correctly the body may not function properly.  When vertebrae are misaligned the nerves and their messages will be affected.  These misalignments are called 'subluxations'.  
 


Misalignments in the spine can cause lameness, gait abnormalities and behavioural problems.  These misalignments can have a variety of causes:

  • Falls, stumbles, slips 
  • Horse becoming cast 
  • Badly fitting tack 
  • Poor shoeing and/or foot balance



Chiropractic treatment aims to correct the subluxations to restore proper functioning of the Central Nervous System.  It works by using low force but high speed movements of the joint (including vertebral joints).  The speed is important as it does not allow time for the muscles to contract and resist the movement!   It is also important that the horse is relaxed for the treatment to be effective.

This type of treatment is useful for joint or back pain and where there is reduced movement of a joint.  It also corrects alignment of the skeleton and to relieve muscle spasms.



The name Chiropractic comes from the Greek words Kheir (Chiro) which means hand and Praktikos (Pracic)which means practice ...... 'done by hand'.

To be called a chiropractor the practitioner MUST be a member of the General Chiropractic Council which means they must first train and qualify as human chiropractors.  Most will insist that there is a vet referral.

Have you seen this week's video 'One ... and a bit days in May'  on my You Tube channel?  
Horse Life and Love.  Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.

You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.

Until next time!
Jo