On 6th November 2021, I was delighted to be part of the innovative virtual event, ‘Fit For Welfare’, hosted by the Society of Master Saddlers (SMS). Today I’m sharing with you some of my learning from the day.
In a twist that I haven’t seen at other online conferences, the day began with an address from HRH The Princess Royal. To me, this was a reminder of just how important tack is in terms of the welfare of the horse.
Cross training your horse: riding and groundwork
Dr Rachel Murray presented some of the evidence to support cross training in the reduction of injury in the horse. It’s well known that using our bodies in a variety of ways, rather than focusing on one movement only, is healthy. Most of us have heard of repetitive strain injury, and this applies to horses just as much as it does to humans. Rachel discussed the importance of turnout, stable exercises, and in hand work, alongside varying the ridden work.
Take home message: A variety of work, both in hand and ridden, contributes to the well being of the horse.
© Sue Palmer, The Horse Physio, 2021
Treating your horse with care, connection, curiosity and compassion
