Muscle Atrophy and Hypertrophy
A photo of a horse can tell a thousand words.
To many, muscle atrophy is something that goes unnoticed or is considered "normal" for a horse in work. But the truth is, there is nothing "normal" about it, and when you begin to understand how the body moves and functions, you will realise that muscle atrophy and hypertrophy are visual versions of "alarm bells".
Muscle atrophy and hypertrophy do not mean your horse needs to do more Hill or Pole work to "Use their body better".
Muscle atrophy and hypertrophy are the horse's body inviting you to ask, why? What is causing the body to look the way it does?
Why is the muscle developing or wasting in this way?
Possible reasons?
*Posture: when being worked and also in the paddock.
Yes, even if your riding time "ONLY" takes 30 mins - 1 hour out of their day, the frame you ride your horse in WILL also have a profound impact on the way they carry themselves around the paddock.
*Gear fit: Does your saddle and bridle fit your horse well? Are you using other gadgets that change your horse's posture? e.g., Draw reins, side reins, etc.
Ill-fitting gear and gear that forces your horse into a frame, will make your horse sore. There is no one-size-fits-all... Imagine dressing your entire family in your clothes and shoes every day and sending them off into the world.
*Rider, is the rider an appropriate weight for the horse? Does the rider have asymmetry that is affecting the horse's posture in movement? Rider weight and balance will affect how the horse travels with its rider on board.
*Underlying issues or injury of the musculoskeletal system. Are there injuries or structural variations/ issues that may cause compensatory patterns of movement in your horse?
Compensatory patterns of movement and changes in posture are ways in which the body tries to "protect itself".
*Hoof care. Feet are more important than many people realise! Sometimes there are obvious issues; other times, they may look to be in good shape and in a good angle at first glance, but the soft tissues are actually screaming dysfunction.
*Nutrition. Is your horse getting what it needs from the food it eats at the cellular level? The cells need the right "food" to maintain good health and even more so to regenerate.
The sad truth is that many horses across a wide range of disciplines decline in the quality of their posture, movement, and muscle chain function and development once they become ridden horses. This decline due to a disturbance in the harmony of muscle chain functioning and is the reason why some muscles become "wasted" and some over-developed.
When movement loses functional harmony- the soft tissues, joints and bones of the body are at a higher risk of injury and degeneration.
The logical solution?
Instead of spending your money on endless "Topline Building supplements", needing to re-mortgage your house because your horse is constantly at the vet or sending your hair grey because you're walking your horse over poles and up and down hills as a rehabilitation plan for the 6th millionth time this year...
Ask yourself why? Why is your horse looking the way it does in its body? Why are you having soundness or behavioural problems? Why does your horse go ok for a few days once he/she has returned to work after a rest and then everything falls apart?
If the advice you have received doesn't sound right, question it. Invest time and money in finding alternatives and gaining the knowledge that will keep both your horse and therefor yourself healthier and happier.
