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Evaluation and Conditioning

Total Equine Evaluation

When rider position, muscular development, saddle fit and shoeing are all properly addressed, riders are better able to achieve their goals. Riders who understand the form and function of the horse’s body, along with training theory and techniques, are far less likely to ask their horses to perform beyond their ability--a major cause of serious injury.


Karin will closely examine the horse from top to bottom, including muscle development, symmetry, conformation, attitude, suitability of equipment (tack), movement and ability to perform in your chosen discipline - whether it be dressage, three day eventing, competitive trail, or riding for pleasure.  She will also evaluate the horse and rider to help their personalities work together as a team!

 

This is one of the best things you can do when buying a new horse!  For a small fraction of the purchase price, you’ll have a “whole horse” evaluation from both a training and conditioning perspective.

What is the Purpose? 

A Full Body Evaluation is performed to analyze the skeletal and muscular balance of your horse and improve his well-being. The horse’s muscle, balance and attitude are affected by many things including:

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  • Weak muscle structure that can cause bones to shift as a young horse grows

  • Poor saddle-fit or unbalanced riding causing the horse to over compensate

  • When the horse is forced to carry himself differently than his natural way of going

  • Lameness issues or injuries that cause the horse to move differently

Why does my horse need an evaluation?

  • Excellent in conjunction with a veterinary Pre-Purchase exam; or as a second opinion

  • You are thinking of retiring your horse or bringing one back from retirement

  • Your horse has chronic “mystery lameness”

  • Your new horse passed his PPE but seems “off” or unhappy and you can’t pinpoint the cause

  • Your horse has developed attitude issues for no apparent reason

What is involved?

Karin will closely examine your horse and check for uneven muscle development, shoeing or trimming issues, and anywhere that is not level. Once Karin has inspected your horse, she will ask you to lunge it so that she can analyze its movement. She will then discuss potential problems that your horse is facing.

 

If trailering is not an option, the horse owner can submit video or photos for evaluation on line.  (Please email for photo and video requirements) Karin will draw diagrams on each photo to show the owner potential problems. Your questions will be answered through a conference call while looking at the diagrams or videos on the computer. Common Problems that can be addressed and helped:

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  • Uneven Hips

  • Hoof issues – including toeing-out or pigeon-toed due to shorter leg or improper trimming

  • Leaning, Paddling, Stumbling

  • Injured muscles or tendons

  • Lack of muscle development

  • Chronic lame problems

  • Swayback or sore back

  • Head tossing or resistance

What happens after that?

After the horse has been evaluated, Karin will discuss options with the owner. Common solutions may include rebalancing or leveling the feet, a conditioning program using specific designed ground exercises, or a rehabilitative training program for the horse. Your horse’s progress will be documented through videos and photos.​

Conditioning / Rehab Program

The ultimate goal is optimum health. This can be accomplished for any horse at any age. Through proper muscle conditioning and special detail, the horse can heal and change. When taken into account that each horse is an individual and has different needs from others, the horse willingly works to improve. All it takes is love, understanding, patience and time!

EXAMPLE - Evaluating the Horse for Muscle and Skeletal Structure

Here is a draft cross gelding who came to Karin for a conditioning program.  The diagram will point out some of the horse's conformation issues.  This was the first step towards a personalized conditioning program to bring him back to optimum health and soundness!

BEFORE

AFTER

  • A - Weak area in spine right behind withers; and note the hollow area behind shoulder.

  • B - Short neck with upside down support system (overdeveloped on the bottom, underdeveloped along the topline).

  • C - Sprung ribs due to weakness in spine mentioned above. 

  • D - Downward angular slope of pelvic area.

  • E - Straight stifle which in turn locks the hock.

  • F - Locked elbow results from his weight shifting on the forehand

The blue line shows how the horse’s weight is forced to the forehand due to all the shifts in skeletal structure from improper muscular support. This causes not only lack of balance but extreme concussion to the navicular bone!  

 

There are many reasons why the horse looks like this.  Quite often this is dismissed as poor conformation, when ultimately it is a creation of what we do to our horses. We as riders can affect our horses negatively if we don’t have a total understanding of their form and function.

 

Those dedicated to equine health and wellness work at fixing the problem, but if the cause is not discovered or  addressed, the problem will keep recurring. As the skeletal structure shifts from muscles that are not working properly and not working in harmony with each other, lameness and behavioral issues are inevitable. 

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"Mr. Big" came along wonderfully with his personalized conditioning program and his owner's diligent work!  Just look at the difference!

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