A Biomechanical Theory on How a Horse Jumps Part 3

By Coralie Hughes MMCP Coach And Instructor

The Importance of Mobility

In bodywork, we are concerned with the mobility requirements in jumping. Mobility of the front end needs to be equal to the left and to the right; the neck must be able to raise and lower and extend, and the atlanto-occipital joint must be able to open and the nose must be able to extend out.

The thoracic sling and joints of the forelimb must be free: the forelegs must be able to fully extend out to the front, opening or straightening all the joints of the foreleg; the shoulder must be able to horizontalize; all the joints of the foreleg must also be able to maximally close, including the elbow, knees require full mobility and to be free of splint pain; the ankles (including sesamoid bones) require maximal mobility, and the chest and withers need to be able to lift between the front legs as well as sink.

The bascule movement and landing phase require mobility of the back and joints of the hindlimb to be free: when the head goes down, the back needs to be able to come up and round; the lumbar spine must be able to round to a greater degree than the thorax, and the lumbosacral joint must be free for maximal contraction and also extension; the joints of the hind leg (hip, stifle and hock) must be free for maximum contraction as well as maximum extension; and the hind fetlocks must have the utmost mobility as with the front fetlocks.

The horse must have lateral suppleness for bending onto a new line. He must have the longitudinal suppleness to shift weight front to back on a moment’s notice for speed adjustments as well as preparing for take-off. Longitudinal suppleness also enables the critical bascule over the jump. Incidentally, lateral suppleness is necessary to produce longitudinal suppleness. And don’t forget the tail! It must be able to be carried straight and flick expressively over the jump!

The Job of Muscles

Forgive me you anatomy gurus out there, but I am keeping it simple for the application of jumping biomechanics to bodywork. The muscles have to be able to do five things:

1. contract to close a joint or bend a body region,
2. relax on one side to allow movement (contraction) of a joint or bend of a body region on the other side,
3. hold a joint or body region in a certain angulation or position,
4. explosively extend or open the joints, and
5. absorb shock.

My Bodywork Notes

Here are some notes from my personal bodywork experience with jumpers/eventers.

If the topline is tight (hard contracted topline of the neck, overdeveloped under-neck, dropped back, difficulty with putting his head down) the jumper can’t use his neck and head in a bascule. If the thoracic sling is likewise restricted and isn’t free to lift between the shoulders (the top of the withers relative to the top of the scapula raises) the poor horse has a real dilemma when going over a fence: he can’t lift his knees and his withers at the same time. It is one or the other and the horse either hits fences with his knees if he squeaks out a bascule or he lifts his knees but can’t round his back and jumps very flat and can only manage low fences.

This is a very common presentation and is a likely recipe for a dirty stopper. He knows he can’t do it. The entire neck and back topline of this horse must be released as well as the shoulders and thoracic sling. The pectoral muscles of this horse are likely very tight and sore since the pectorals are the main shock absorber for the front end. (Caution!?Horses typically nip when a sore pectoral muscle is touched.) Tight pectorals are major culprits in restricting the thoracic sling.

Since this horse travels with his head in the air, his back is often dropped. If chronically dropped due to tightness, the lumbosacral joint is strained and fixed which prevents the lumbar from rounding. This means the horse can’t bring the hind legs far enough under for a good jump. This puts extra strain on the joints of the hind legs and on down to the tendons and ligaments of the lower leg. When you think about it, the whole mechanism is straining against itself. This is a frequent cause of damage to vital soft tissue structures.

As a side note, 60% of career-ending injuries in performance horses involve soft tissue (tendons and ligaments) likely due to excessive negative tension in the muscles connected to those structures. The Masterson Method Techniques used to relieve stress on the soft tissue would be the Bladder Meridian (learned in the Weekend Seminar) and Accordions (learned in the Advanced 5-Day Course) which can be used regularly and during competition.

Additionally, jumpers and eventers are frequently extremely stiff laterally in their bodies and necks. This inhibits the ability to make quick turns and the ability to gain longitudinal suppleness which allows for a good bascule over the jump.

Fortunately, using the entire Masterson Method toolbox, including new techniques taught in the Certification Completion Course (for those seeking certification as a practitioner), this horse can be freed up so that he can learn to properly use his body. It might take a couple of sessions to get there, but the horse will be healthier for it!

Learn more about how to work with Hunters and Jumpers on page 181 of the?Beyond Horse Massage Book,?or sign up for a?Weekend Seminar?to get started with your?Masterson Method journey.

Photo credit kindly to Lovatt Pet Photography and?Clarence Alford