California Riding Magazine • August, 2010

The Equation To Equine Posture
Function, balance and gravity
affect posture and performance.

by Dino Fretterd, Equine Bodywork Specialist

To understand a horse’s posture, you simply apply three concepts: function, balance and gravity.

Let’s start with function because it pertains to our topic. Specifically, what I am referring to is anatomical function. Every body part has a specific function, as detailed in anatomy books.

Next, let’s talk about balance. The dictionary defines balance as “the point of equilibrium.” In other words, whatever object you are looking at does not have a greater stress to one side or the other. Gravity is something we all know and understand. It simply pulls toward the ground.

Now apply these concepts (not opinions) to three components of the horse: the TMJ (temporomandibular joint), the muscles/joints and the hooves. This will give you a much clearer understanding of why your horse may stand and perform the way he does.

Let’s apply function to the first component, the TMJ. The function of the TMJ is to open and close the mouth, allow the jaw to move side to side in a variety of directions, similar to our TMJ (like a gyroscope), and allow anterior/posterior (forward and backward) movement.
Now let’s apply function of the muscles. Muscle contractions create either an extension (away) from the body or flexion (toward the body). Muscles work in a three-phase pattern of excitation-contraction-relaxation.

The hoof’s function is next. First, its function is to create a foundation. Next it dictates flight of appendage, followed by dissipation of concussive forces, i.e. the foot landing on the ground. Then, as the foot strikes the ground, it acts as a pump aiding in lymphatic drainage, helping move the synovial fluid secreted every time the joint goes through its articulating motion.

“Stocking up” occurs when there is too much pressure on the synovial capsule. Think of a leaky faucet and/or the hoof is not making balanced contact on the ground, limiting its capability to pump the fluid out, which occurs when the bulbous tissue is compressed.

From here we now include or apply the other two concepts of balance and gravity, which work hand in hand. If one of these components is not in balance then it’s simple to understand that gravity now takes over.
Think of a picture hanging on a wall that is slightly tilted to one side. You would agree that it is not balanced. We agree on this because we are looking at it tilted. It’s tilted because it’s not at its point of equilibrium. Gravity pulls it to the side of the tilt.

Directional Preferences

Do you have, or know of a horse, that has a preference of direction, either right or left? One of the reasons may simply be that his TMJ is out of balance. We have all heard of the saying “where the head goes, the body will follow.” The TMJ dictates where the head goes. How about the horse that likes to carry his head up in the air or perhaps the horse that has a difficult time raising its head and is heavy on the forehand? Any one of these scenarios changes the proposed weight balance of the horse. It has been widely noted in many anatomy books that approximately 60 percent of a horse’s weight is born by the front feet.

This imbalance of the TMJ then creates muscle tension to stabilize, thus putting stress to the musculature to hold this. When one muscle contracts [excitation-contraction] to support, its opposing muscle has to stretch [elongate]. Now that we have muscle tension supporting the imbalance, we obviously have a shift of weight, which brings our attention to the horse’s feet.

How balance and gravity affect the hooves is clear for anyone to see by understanding this simple fact: the hoof is fluid encompassed and nothing more than a strong fingernail. To understand this concept, place your hand palm facing up and press your finger into your palm to create the shape of the hoof you are looking at. If you have a horse with a low heel, you simply apply more pressure to the bottom pad of your finger and look where it turns red, which will be at the tip where you are forcing the blood.

A low heel generally means a long toe. Weight distribution dictates foot growth and foot growth is dictated by blood flow. This is what anyone can learn to do to assess their horse. Learn how to feel, look at and see the spacing and movement of the TMJ. Assess weight bearing by the shape of the hoof. Understand how to assess muscle balance and stretching and strengthening exercises that use reflex points to engage one muscle that makes its opposing muscle elongate.

I can explain this technique in comparison to something everyone can understand. Your telephone has touch tones for each number and symbol. These tones are the same on every phone in the world, which is how we can call anyone in the world who has a phone number. Every horse I have worked with in my career, thousands in the last 14 years, responds the same way when I touch them in the same place. By stimulating the weak muscle into a contraction you get the tight muscle to elongate and relax, the action and reaction.

Understanding this allows you to shift hundreds of pounds with ease as you are helping your horse to a more balanced posture, which obviously means better performance.

Author Dino Fretterd provides equine body work through his company, Dino’s B.E.S.T. Equine Bodywork System. He can be reached at 909-721-1054 or visit www.dinosbest.info.