Global Endurance Blog

Asymetry anyone?

"Do you know that your martingales are only on one side?"

 

On many endurance events, observant and  well meaning crew, fellow riders and spectators remind  the riders of Global Endurance Center of the fact that their running  martingales are  on one side of the reins.

Indeed, they are!

 

Nice symmetrical martingales, but is this arrangement always practical?

 

What are the reasons for this symmetry? Is it for looks or function?

Riding with symmetrical martingales certainly has it's place in the arena. But it does not give us any advantages on the trail, on endurance or conditioning rides.

When flexing and bending a horse, symmetrical martingales only allow a flexing of about 45 degrees on each side. After that angle is reached, the opposing martingale will inhibit any further bending by counteracting and preventing the outside of the neck to stretch any further. Just imagine, if you had a difficult horse, a run away or bolt. It would be very hard to bend or circle the horse enough to gain control.

Quite different is the situation with the one sided or asymmetrical martingales.

Now the rider can bend the horse equally and unrestricted on both sides.

 

 

One might wonder why we use martingales in the first place.

Martingales have been used in dressage and many other equestrian disciplines to encourage collection and also preventing sudden head tossing by the horses in training or when getting spooked.

 

Unrestricted bending laterally

 

Flexing at the poll

When using martingales, it is important to follow these two  rules:

-Always use rein stoppers. 

-The length of the martingale need to  be  the proper length: in line with the straight reins from the bit through the hand and elbow of the rider.

 

If used without rein stoppers, the metal rings can easily catch on the rings of the rein clips, thus creating havoc for the horse and possibly flipping the horse backwards.

Martingales that are too long do not serve any purpose. If they are too short, the reins will get bend downwards, impeding the communication between the horse's mouth (bit) and the rider. Furthermore, it can over-flex the poll, hindering proper breathing and compromising performance.

Here, the martingale is too short, causing a kink in the reins, thus interrupting the direct line of communication. Hands, elbow and shoulders are in great position otherwise.

Straight line from bit through hands, elbow and shoulders (there can be a small bend at the elbow, depending on the situation)

Nice hand and elbow position on this rider

 

 

During endurance rides, you may want to  switch the sides of the running martingale. Half of  the riding time,  place both rings on the left side, the other half on the right side.

If you want to condition one side of the horse more than the other, then  select the side accordingly. Let's say that you train a horse that is left side dominant but you want to strengthen and build up the right side.  Placing the rings of the martingale on the left side of the reins  will make it easier to shorten that side, lengthen the right side of the neck and shoulder and encourages the horse to take the right lead.

 

At Global Endurance Training Center  we found the use of running martingale very beneficial for most horses, especially during training and conditioning rides. Applied and used properly, it is a very useful tool.

 

Christoph Schork

from GETC

 

 

Teeth and Hooves

What do they have in common?

 

 

 

At first sight, teeth and hooves of horses seem to be as unrelated as it gets. Comparing them anatomically, could it be that there are, however, common elements?

 

                                              Hooves                                                                      Teeth

 

Growth period                lifelong                                                                      lifelong

 

Speed:                                5 - 8 mm a month                                                 2 -3 mm a year

 

Trimming:                       2 - 8 weeks                                                               6 - 12 month

Material:                           hard outside/soft inside                                    hard outside, soft inside

                                              Hoof wall/sole                                                       Enamel/dentin                                                    

 

Growth:                             from the inside outwards/                               from the inside outwards/

                                              out of integument and corium                       out of the pulp

 

Functional

comparison:                    toes                                                                              incisors

                                              quarters and heels                                                 molars

                                              frog                                                                              tongue

                                              sole                                                                              lower jaw

 

 

 

Neglected molars  (compare to high heels and lateral flares in hooves)

 

It is getting interesting, when comparing teeth pathology with hoof pathology.

On this 16 year old gelding, we are observing a left descending 'smile' and misalignment with upper and lower jaw.

 

Photo below shows the effects on the posture of this horse:

the head is carried higher on the left side, left shoulder is elevated, slight flex to the right, front left leg turned out.

Right front is bearing weight on the M/L plane evenly, while the left hoof is loaded on the medial heel, resulting in possibly crushed heels and a lateral flare.

 

Even small changes in the angles and occlusions of the teeth influencing the jaw, the whole skeleton, tendons, ligaments and muscles of the horse.

 

Hoof care might as well start with proper teeth care. So many anatomical parts of the horse are interrelated and when we are solely looking at the hooves, we might just manage the same problem everytime without ever getting to the cause and root of the problem.

Regular dental check ups are vital not only for the horses health and digestion, but also for the soundness and proper hoof balance and growth.

 

This coming year, Global Endurance Training Center will be conducting more studies and comparing teeth pathologies  with hoof pathologies and development. We are also very curious if we can find any connection between teeth abnormalities and club feet, teeth and scelletal and muscle changes. We will keep you posted on our findings.

 

Christoph Schork

www.globalendurance.com

 

The Staff at GETC wishes all our readers a Merry Christmas and successful New Year filled with  fun and happiness with all your horses and other animals.

Christoph Schork and Dian Woodward

 

 

 

 

Sensational !!

Global Endurance Training Center is proud to announce that as of last month, we are distributors of the Sensation Treeless Saddles.

 

Christoph riding a Sensation Westlish saddle on his mare, Stars Aflame, at the National 100 Mile AERC Championship to a First Place Win and receiving the BC Award.

With so many treeless saddles on the market now, why did we choose to add the the Sensation Saddle line to our inventory?

You can count on the quality. Sensations are designed in Canada, and made in Canada. The materials are primarily North American, and all the leather comes from Canada or the USA. All saddles are made with quality leather designed to last you thousands of miles of comfort.

The quality of the workmanship, the stitching seen here, is superb.

Your Horse, of Course. Sensations are the only treeless saddle design to utilize a multi-point stirrup attachment. This means better weight distribution for your horse, particularly important when you’re riding long and hard. When your Sensation saddle is set up in the hard use or endurance attachments, you can count on having an even better weight distribution than a treed saddle. Taking the tree out of a saddle doesn’t make it a treeless saddle – thoughtful engineering and a redesigned weight distribution system allows it to be a true treeless saddle, and not just a bareback pad with stirrups.

 

The stirrups can get hung precicly where you want them, you can adjust them to your personal needs and alignment.

 

Here the G4 stirrup adjustment. You may use any of the three billets as stirrup hanger, the other two will serve for the girth.

Choices, Choices, Choices. Break traditions! Each Sensation Saddle is custom  made to suit your needs. Who says you can only ride in black and brown saddles? Who says you have to ride English or Western? You can choose the components you like best and combine them to create your perfect saddle. Be flashy, go with Hot Pink if that’s what you like. Every horse and rider is different and Sensation offers a wide variety of options in Leather, Seat Size, Flap shape, cantle and pommel sizes, rigging adjustments, etc. We want to ensure you have the best saddle to suit YOUR needs, and almost anything is possible. 

Here the Sensation Westlish Rebel saddle on Baloo Bit O Honey,  customized red seat and knee rolls. The leather is so soft, that Christoph is able to ride 50 miles in shorts on it without getting any rubbing on his legs.

The Sensation Harmony Element saddly, with customized fleece seat.

Complete Comfort and connection. The Sensation Ride saddles have been ergonomically designed to permit the rider a close contact, balanced (yet customizable) seat using medical grade foams, high grade custom felts, wool and leather.  These same materials allow air flow through the saddle's layers; breathability is important to the comfort of you and your horse, and we believe that neoprene and rubbers just don't perform in a way that permits exhaustion of heat and moisture.  The Sensation saddles will mould to you and your horse. No hard parts in our saddles! The saddle will form fit to you like a fine new leather shoe.

G4 Westlish Rebel Sensation saddle fits horse and rider: riding in synergy. (Christoph on Stars Aflame)

Uphill during the championship race

 

Did you know that..

Sensation Ride saddles have the best weight distribution system in the treeless saddle world? This is important for keeping the rider's weight from being concentrated over a small area at any time during the rider's position.

Sensation Ride saddle owners are using their saddles for: Assisted riding therapy, endurance, dressage, back country treks, jumping, hunting, competitive trail, gaited riding, starting youngsters, reining, gymkhana & more!

 

The Sensation G4 Western Sport Trail saddle. All Sensation saddles are equipped with the pommel strap for easy one hand carrying. Useful as well for attaching essential gear. Or mayby holding onto occasionally when riding a bronc.

The same model mounted on Stars Aflame

 

Global Endurance Training Center has now the following Sensation saddles in stock:

 

15.5 inch G3 Hybrid

16 inch G4 Western Trail, displayed here with HAF pad

Both saddles are available right now. For a complete saddle line up and for ordering and customizing your Sensation saddle, contact us at Global Endurance Training Center:

Tel 435 719 4033  or

Email: [email protected].

 

On average, it will take about 6 weeks after ordering your saddle before you can ride and enjoy it.

 

Global Endurance Center also distributes Freeform saddles and Specialized saddles. Specialized saddles are treed saddles that can get fine tuned to the horses back through a system of foam wedges. More info available through our website as well.

GETC offers this variety of saddles, treeless and with tree, to cover any saddle needs you might have, so you and your horse can ride in total comfort.

We provide ongoing consultation and advice to find the right saddle for you and your horse.

 

 

Enjoy the Ride!

Tips and Tricks: Teaching tailing

 

Mountain rides are mostly fun rides for horse and rider. Horses can use their muscles in various ways and perform therefore overall better than on rides that are only over flat ground. Riding steep uphills certainly require a higher energy output and horses tire faster on sustained uphills. The rider can help his horse a lot by dismounting and walking or running with the horse. 

At the Global Endurance Training Center we teach tailing in our endurance clinics. Tailing helps horses to conserve energy and helps the rider to stay in shape. So everybody wins!

When you tail, you are pulling on a horse with about 10 to 15 lbs. That small amount of pull allows the runner to double the cadence of the footfall. You will run twice as fast compared to running next to your horse without tailing. For the horse, the difference between carrying the weight of the rider and a little pull on the tail is huge in energy conservation. 

Now, where do you start?

First, you need a rope with a clip on one end and a loop on the other. The rope can be a 5 mm climbing rope and should be the length of your horse with extended tail. The clip goes to the ring on your halter. If the lead line is too long, it might tangle between the front legs of your horse. 

 

Clip onto the headstall ring.

 

While riding, you can hook the lead line with a carabiner onto the saddle to get it out of the way.

Blue arrow shows the loop at the other end of the lead line, the green arrow points points to a ring you can add to the middle of  your lead line so you can shorten it while riding. Ride and Tie people often use that set up.

 

There are some horses, that get the idea of tailing right away. You grab their tail, they turn the head, contemplate for a couple seconds and off they go. Others require a little more training. 

First, at home, grab and pull on your horses tail as often as possible. Then it won't be a surprise to them when you actually start tailing. Pulling on horses tails also helps them to stretch their backs and align their spine. Most horses enjoy this. After some preparatory tail pulling,  we go for our first actual training, tailing  on the trail.

A horse new to tailing is best trained with a rider on the back. The rider keeps the horse going forward, the runner just grabs the tail.

Here is a little video clip on how this works:

 

Download MVI_1902

 

Another possibility: have a rider pony your horse while tailing. That way the horse won't be able to turn around on you and is learning to go straight ahead. It is important for the horse to understand to keep on trucking, as soon as you grab onto the tail.

 

 

Here an action clip of that method: 

Download MVI_1904

 

Keep in mind that these methods are for teaching and training only. You may not use this tecnique during an actual endurance ride, it is against the rules to  have another rider hold onto your horse while you tail or you tailing off another riders horse.

A few key points to remember:

 

1. Never tail without a leadline. Horses can accelerate quickly, you might stumble and fall and your horse is gone. If you have a very strong horse that is hard to check, you can hook your leadline to the bit or the reins.

2. Make sure you can see the trail on the side of the horse to minimize your own stumbling.

3. Keep your tailing arm fairly straight, it conserves your energy. You can  slightly lean backwards.

4. Loop the tail around your hand, that way you use your upper arm instead of your lower arm. Most of us, unless we are rock climbers, have more strength in biceps and triceps than in the  lower arm.

Take note of the looped tail, the straight arms and the leaning back.

Close up shot of hand positionning.

Often heard question: Do horses kick while tailing?

I have tailed on probably over a hundred different horses, with proper preparation, none ever tried to kick me. That doesn't mean it cannot happen. Always watch the horses ears and body language. If in doubt, let go of the tail and turn your horse towards you with the leadline. Then practice more at home by grabbing and pulling on their tails.

While tailing during a race or ride, initially it helps your horse if another horse is leading the way. Have another rider go ahead of you up the hill, your horse will have more motivation to follow.

Happy Tailing!!

Christoph