Biomechanics lecture 3 Flashcards
Cervical thoracic junction
Is a point where pressure is added when the horses carries the rider
Thoracic vertebrae
- Rigid and inflexible
- 18 ribs attached with synovial joints
- Spinous processes
- Spinal cord
Kissing spines
Spines rub against each other which causes arthritis, often in t12-t16
Lumbar vertebrae
- Transverse processes give space for muscle attachment -> stability and strength
- No support from ribs or pelvis
Lumbar-sacral joint
-Hinge joint
-Binds pelvis
-Allows the pelvis to tilt
-After neck and tail most flexible point in spine
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Back motion
- Flexion-extension
- Axial ration
- Lateral bending
Walk
- No suspension
- Back motion primarily bending
- Little flexion- extension
- Good to build topline
Trot
- Suspension phases
- Whole horse up and down
- Flex during suspension and extension during stance
- Muscles work to limit and stabilise horse back
- Trot is good for training abdominal muscles
Canter
- Flex lumbosacral joint
- Thoracic sling muscles support forehand
- Most flexion- extension
Goal
Increase ability to stabilise its back
Effects of adding weight
- Back extension increases in all gaits
- Range of motion of the back remains similar, but more extension
- Spine and ligaments most important in weight bearing
- Strong core muscles enhance weight bearing
- Engagement hind limb supports back
- Lowering head and neck supports back
Engaged hind limbs helps
-Ventral muscles below spine and in front of hip
Core muscles
- Thoracic sling muscles
- Abdominal muscles
- Pelvic stabiliser muscles
- Deep vertebral muscles
Lowering head and neck
Gaps between neighbouring vertebra maximised
Stability exercises
Dynamic mobilazation -> baited stretches
Core strengthening
Stimulate muscular contraction long mobilising muscles -> withers and back lift and pelvic tilt
Balancing
Training extrinsic muscles
- push chest
- Tail pull to the side
- Balancing on 3 legs
In mouvement
- Always ride in good posture and balance
- Circles
- Transitions
- Rein back
- Pole work
- Caveletti
