Re: [IceHorses] Brachiocephalicus
Brachiocephalicus: Wide strap like muscle It's origin is at the base of the skull behind the jaw; and connects to below the point of shoulder to the humerus. The brachio muscle moves the head from side to side, pulls the scapula forward, raises it in collection, swings the foreleg forward. The brachio muscle should be well developed for good movement. Too strong a rein contact stops free forward movement. Okay, so why should we know anything about the brachio muscle? In the horse's neck, there are muscles all around. The muscles at the top, should end up, in the horse's training to be larger, and the muscles in the underneck should end up, to be less prominent than the top muscles. The brachio muscle can tell us if our horse is ewe necked. The brachio muscle can also give us an indication if we are hanging on to the horse's mouth too much. Where the brachio attaches at the top, take a look, feel around. See if there's an obvious lump-type area which may be stiff. Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com attachment: brachiotension.jpg
Re: [IceHorses] Brachiocephalicus
I could send you an entire collection of Hunter moving like that, mainly when racking. For him, it seems to be the head and neck position that goes with his preferred gait. As an old hunter/jumper/dressage showring rider, it took a while for me to accept that this was Hunter as he came out of the box. Nancy
RE: [IceHorses] Brachiocephalicus
As an old hunter/jumper/dressage showring rider, it took a while for me to accept that this was Hunter as he came out of the box. That's the $64,000 question, isn't it - what comes from their natural out of the box conformation/wiring, versus what are bad habits? I sure wish I had a crystal ball to help me separate it all sometimes! I know you're right - some horses just need to go a little high-headed to gait - they will even do that in the pasture, at liberty. When it's that innate, I certainly don't want to try to force them into a mold that's not right for the individual horse. But, still there are some body frames that are not so good for their long-term soundness. My answer, based on my own limited experience, would be to encourage them to also find other gaits that are comfortable for them, discouraging them from holding the stiffer position for long periods. I think it's Hunter you've talked about before - he racks and trots, right? And walks and canters? And I think you use all of those...? That sounds like a good solution for him then - at least the best I can tell without seeing him in person. But with a horse like my Sina that easily can do several soft gaits, as well as walk/trot/canter, I'll encourage her to use some of the different soft gaits too, and I simply choose not to rack her so much. Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.10.2/893 - Release Date: 7/9/2007 5:22 PM
Re: [IceHorses] Brachiocephalicus
Because Hunter is a limited distance horse (the shorter version of endurance) his job is to go down the trail as quickly and efficiently as he can while keeping himself safe and healthy. I allow him to pretty much select a gear, sort of the equine version of automatic transmition. He went 30 miles Saturday. He racked for about the first half, then he fell into a nice ground-covering trot and near the end, he cantered along quietly. Where the terrain did not permit going faster, we walked of course. I have a friend who is absolutely adamant about never allowing her horse to trot. She'll ride him 50 miles, gaiting the entire distance. Before I decided that didn't work for Hunter, he did used to sort of round up to rest his neck and back if I had kept him racking too long. I think it is safer for him to trot when he begins to tire than for me to insist for whatever reason that he is a TWH and therefore should never trot. Nancy
RE: [IceHorses] Brachiocephalicus
Before I decided that didn't work for Hunter, he did used to sort of round up to rest his neck and back if I had kept him racking too long. I think it is safer for him to trot when he begins to tire I don't personally know what kind of limits to put on each gait - if there are even valid guidelines. But, if he told you he needed to change gaits to stretch out, then I'd feel sure it was good for you listen to him. than for me to insist for whatever reason that he is a TWH and therefore should never trot. Hello. My name is Karen. For many years, I was a closet TWH trotter, but now I admit...that it's NOT a problem! :) Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.10.2/893 - Release Date: 7/9/2007 5:22 PM
Re: [IceHorses] Brachiocephalicus
The brachio muscle can also give us an indication if we are hanging on to the horse's mouth too much. Where the brachio attaches at the top, take a look, feel around. See if there's an obvious lump-type area which may be stiff. A bulge at the insertion area is something that you want to avoid as much as possible in training, which is one reason we do lateral flexions with a quick release and not holding the horse's head and neck to the side. If the horse's head is held to the side, it's increasing the brace in the neck. The horse in this picture shows a pretty obvious bulge. I bet it's a hard knot. Feel around that area on your own horse and see what's there. Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com attachment: brachioattacha.jpg
Re: [IceHorses] Brachiocephalicus
As an old hunter/jumper/dressage showring rider, it took a while for me to accept that this was Hunter as he came out of the box. Yes, some horses are born like that, and it's up to us to help them to use their bodies to their advantage when carrying a rider. I think these horses (born with ewe necks), when starting them, need a lot of long and low and miles of walking with their heads and necks relaxed on a loose rein. Contact and gait training can come in much later down the road. Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com
Re: [IceHorses] Brachiocephalicus
On 10/07/07, Judy Ryder [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I think these horses (born with ewe necks), when starting them, need a lot of long and low and miles of walking with their heads and necks relaxed on a loose rein. Contact and gait training can come in much later down the road. Which is why when I see trainers using side reins...I really wonder about what skill is going into training that baby. I can't think of any good use for side reins actually...in any circumstance.. Wanda
RE: [IceHorses] Brachiocephalicus
Yes, some horses are born like that, and it's up to us to help them to use their bodies to their advantage when carrying a rider. Definitely and it is also important that the type of groundwork we are doing is not inadvertently encouraging the posture. Any type of work that creates a head up, back dropped posture is not good any bracing at the base of the neck. I think these horses (born with ewe necks), when starting them, need a lot of long and low and miles of walking with their heads and necks relaxed on a loose rein. IME that does not necessarily change a ewe neck - you need to be sure that you are also asking the horse to engage their hind legs at the walk not just let them fall forward. Also how the riders sits will totally influence the carriage of the horse - sitting in neutral as opposed to even slightly hollow in your back or sitting on your pockets pushes a horse on the forehand even more. Contact and gait training can come in much later down the road A light contact can really help a horse become more balanced BUT not side reins, draw reins or any of the gadgets that are so often used for riding and lunging. Gait training definitely after the horse has learned to carry himself and be able to release the base of the neck. Robyn Icelandic Horse Farm Robyn Hood Phil Pretty Vernon BC Canada www.icefarm.com .
[IceHorses] Brachiocephalicus
Let's talk about the brachiocephalicus. Does anyone know what the brachiocephalicus is? Judy http://iceryder.net http://clickryder.com
Re: [IceHorses] Brachiocephalicus
On 7/9/07, Judy Ryder [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Let's talk about the brachiocephalicus. Does anyone know what the brachiocephalicus is? uhmn no? Janice -- yipie tie yie yo
Re: [IceHorses] Brachiocephalicus
Does anyone know what the brachiocephalicus is? I don't have my medical or Greek and Latin dictionaries here in KY. But let's see brachius is related to arms; cephalus is skull - so a skull with arms attached? Hahah? Anneliese So Judy, what is it - you would not ask if you did not already know.
RE: [IceHorses] Brachiocephalicus
But let's see brachius is related to arms; cephalus is skull - so a skull with arms attached? Hahah? OR...maybe the area between the arms and the skull...? The neck...? Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.10.2/891 - Release Date: 7/8/2007 6:32 PM The greatest enemy of the truth very often is not the lie- deliberate, contrived and dishonest -- but the myth -- persistent, persuasive and unrealistic. All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident. ~ Arthur Schopenhauer [] The video every Icelandic Horse owner should have: http://IceHorses.net/video.html [] Lee Ziegler http://leeziegler.com [] Liz Graves http://lizgraves.com [] Lee's Book Easy Gaited Horses http://tinyurl.com/7vyjo [] IceHorses Map http://www.frappr.com/IceHorses [] IceHorses ToolBar http://iceryder.ourtoolbar.com/ Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IceHorses/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IceHorses/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [IceHorses] Brachiocephalicus
On 09/07/07, Karen Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: But let's see brachius is related to arms; cephalus is skull - so a skull with arms attached? Hahah? OR...maybe the area between the arms and the skull...? The neck...? When in doubt google... http://www.justequine.com/photos.html You'll find it just below the 'rectus' photo... Wanda
RE: [IceHorses] Brachiocephalicus
Does anyone know what the brachiocephalicus is? Not really. I did a google search on it, and all I found was pretty technical. Can you get us started? Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.10.2/891 - Release Date: 7/8/2007 6:32 PM
Re: [IceHorses] Brachiocephalicus
this is what it says on the link that was posted a few posts ago... Brachiocephalicus permits the neck to bend and it also moves the shoulder forward. If your horse has problems bending to the inside, massaging of these muscles will help allow a greater range of motion in the neck.
Re: [IceHorses] Brachiocephalicus
this is what it says on the link that was posted a few posts ago... Brachiocephalicus permits the neck to bend and it also moves the shoulder forward. If your horse has problems bending to the inside, massaging of these muscles will help allow a greater range of motion in the neck. here's the link by the way... sorry had to go back and look for it... neat site actually. good photos. http://www.justequine.com/photos.html
Re: [IceHorses] Brachiocephalicus
Does anyone know what the brachiocephalicus is? I don't have my medical or Greek and Latin dictionaries here in KY. But let's see brachius is related to arms; cephalus is skull - so a skull with arms attached? Hahah? That was a great guess, Anneliese! Here's what it is: Brachiocephalicus: Wide strap like muscle It's origin is at the base of the skull behind the jaw; and connects to below the point of shoulder to the humerus. The brachio muscle moves the head from side to side, pulls the scapula forward, raises it in collection, swings the foreleg forward. The brachio muscle should be well developed for good movement. Too strong a rein contact stops free forward movement. Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com
