“Sit up straight.”  “Roll your shoulders back.”  “Don’t drop or round your shoulders.” “Arch your back just a tiny bit.”  “Don’t arch your back so much.”  “Lengthen the front of your body from your rib cage to your hips.”

We have all heard these directions from our trainers, from friends trying to help us, and/or read about the need to start or stop doing these things.  Often they are easier said than done!  But what is common thread among these things, and why are they important?  Is it just to look professional or “pretty” when we ride?

The answer is good posture.  This blog post will explore why correct rider posture is a very important aspect of helping your horse perform to best of their ability in a safe and comfortable manner.  Correct rider posture can also reduce rider back and neck pain.

Horse Movement Fundamentals

Let's take a step back and look at a few fundamentals regarding how a healthy horse moves. The horse moves from back to front. With each step taken by the hind legs, energy is transmitted up the horse’s legs, through the horse’s back and the ring of muscles, and toward the horse's front end including the neck and head.

This forward energy can be blocked by the horse themselves simply due to the lateral (side to side) motion of their ribcage or the degree to which their back is not lifted (hollow) or feet issues.  Other things such as poor saddle fit can also block this energy. 

But, did you know that incorrect or poor rider posture is one of the major causes of blocked forward energy?  Poor posture will impede your horse's performance and can cause back, neck, ribcage, and TMJ pain and tightness in your horse.

My good friend and excellent trainer Rebekah Larimer summed it up best, "It is the rider’s responsibility to learn how to get out of their horse’s way, not block their forward energy, and be able to properly influence them and work in partnership."

 What is Correct Posture?

As seen on the right above, correct rider posture requires sitting with a neutral spine so your back is neither overarched nor completely flat but rather has a slight natural concavity.  The shoulders, hips and heels are all aligned on the vertical. This means that if a vertical line was drawn between these three areas, it would intersect all 3 areas. The head, neck, shoulder and back are in a neutral position. They are not tipped back or slouched forward. The rider feels “solid from the base” and has relaxed hands, arms and fingers. Correct posture enables the horse’s natural back to front motion to be transmitted through its body in a relaxed manner. 

In case you are panicking, don’t.  This is easier said than done, but with practice and the correct stretching and strengthening exercises, you can make great strides (no pun intended) toward achieving correct posture.

Three Common Postural Challenges .... and Some Remedies 

1)  The Base: Let's Talk Pelvis
The first two common posture issues are a pelvis that is tipped too far forward (image A above) or too far backward (image B above). To test your pelvis, stand up (on level ground), and place your hands on your hip bones.  Tilt your hips backward so the top of your hip bones move back toward your spine.  You should feel your back flatten and your hips tuck under you.  Then do the opposite.  Move your hips forward so the top of the hip bones move toward the front of your body and your back arches.  Do this several times and then find your natural resting position. Is your back overarched or too flat? 

Do the same thing next time you are sitting in your saddle getting ready to ride.  Is your pelvis in neutral, tipped forward or tipped back?

Another way to assess your pelvis is to do a rudimentary test of the curvature in your spine. Stand with your back up against a wall making sure your heels and upper back are firmly touching the wall.  Assess the position of your lower back.  Is it flat against the wall? Is there a pronounced arch? Is your spine in a neutral position with a just a slight curvature? Can you push your shoulders against the wall without arching your lower back?

Impact to Your Horse of Overarched Back/Pelvis Tipped Forward (anterior)

If your back if overarched, this means your seat bones point backwards toward the horse’s back legs.  Rider’s with overarched backs tend to appear stiff or tense and tend to have stiff or locked hip joints making it hard to follow the horse’s motion.  So, guess where the horse’s energy is sent in this scenario?  Yup.  You got it. Toward the hind end.  An overarched back makes your horse work extra hard to keep the forward energy moving forward.  It is like a salmon swimming upstream.  It can also cause your horse to hollow their back.  As you may recall, at the very beginning of this blog post, we said that a horse with a hollow back blocks the flow of energy forward.  So, this is sort of double whammy!

I will discuss the impact of the backward (posterior) tipped pelvis in the next section since that is often accompanied by rounded shoulders.

2) Rounded Shoulders/Jutting Chin
This is the third common postural challenge many rider’s struggle with.
Many of us work at computers all day.  Some of us like myself work on horses.  Both of these activities can cause posture problems.  Specifically, it can cause your shoulders to round forward, your neck to curve excessively when looking up and your head to be forward with a jutting chin. This is often accompanied by a pelvis that is tipped backward (posterior.)  

Impact to Your Horse of Round Shoulders/ Jutting Chin/ Pelvis Tipped Back
Rounded shoulders are often accompanied by pelvis tipped toward the back of the body.  This causes the rider’s weight to be distributed unevenly. The top of the rider’s body is usually slightly forward, the upper back is back behind the vertical, and the bottom of the rider’s body pushes down on the last third of the horse’s thoracic spine.  The leg usually also moves forward. This causes the rider to be behind the motion, and imbalance in the horse.  It pushes the horse onto the forehand and blocks the forward energy.

The other interesting thing that often happens to the round shouldered/ backward (posterior) tipped pelvis rider is that when rider tries to move their leg back into the correct position, it can cause the knee and ankle to hike up. This can cause loss of the stirrup (my own personal nemesis) and/or result in less effective leg aids.

Remedies

In order to select the correct remedy for your posture problem, it is important to get an accurate evaluation of all of the aspects of your posture including your feet, legs, hips, pelvis, back, shoulders, ribs, chest, neck and head position. I suggest you see a physical therapist or chiropractor who is specifically skilled in postural assessment and treatment.  Familiarity with riding is a big plus!  Be sure they do not just treat you, but also teach you how to do the specific exercises to address your posture challenge. 

That said, there are many do-it-yourselfers out there.  Here are a few stretches and exercises that can potentially be beneficial.  (Here comes the legal disclaimer.) These exercises are being provided for informational purposes only. This should not be construed as any type of medical advice. These exercises may or may not be appropriate for your individual situation and could cause harm if done incorrectly or if contraindicated. This is why I suggest seeking professional medical assistance as a first step.

For those who are round-shouldered like myself because I work on horses and at computer so I am in terrible ergonomic positions most of the day every day, lying over a roll with your arms in “stick ‘em up” is a great stretch for the pecs, upper back and neck muscles and the spine. 

This stretch stretches the pectoral muscles in the front of your body which have become shortened due to being constricted and helps relieve the tension in the muscles in your upper back that have become overstretched.

I prefer to keep my legs straight when doing this stretch.  However, then you must be careful that your back does not 'hollow out. " Start out with a rolled up towel under your back horizontally and gradually increase the size of the roll.

Here is a link that has great illustrations of the muscles the stick ‘em up stretch targets as well as more detailed instructions such as making sure you keep your chin slightly tucked so you are not arching your neck. 

If your back is overarched, that means the muscles in front of your hips, aka the hip flexors, are probably tight.  The hip flexors can also become tight from doing a lot of sitting in front of a computer all day.  Tight hip flexors and an overarched back can also cause lower back pain.

This article provides a detailed explanation of the relationship between an overarched back and tight hip flexors as well as some stretching exercises to release the tension.  Also, here is a link to a “brutal stretch” for the hip flexors.

There are pluses and minuses to doing “brutal stretches” versus more gentle, gradual stretches.  I leave that choice to you and your health care professional.

The Bottom Line….

There is a direct correlation between your posture and your horse’s movement and performance.  Correcting your posture challenges is not easy and takes dedication.  However, if you commit to an improvement program, both you and your horse will enjoy even greater success and a more relaxed ride no matter what your riding discipline.

What is your posture challenge?  What are you doing to correct it?  Share your story here or on our Facebook page.

Did you know studies indicate....

• Up to 90% of race horses
• Approximately 60% of performance horses
• Approximately 50% of pleasure horses
• Over 50% of dogs

have ulcers? 

Additionally, many horses and dogs have "mystery tummy or digestive troubles."  This could be hind gut issues in horses, diarrhea in horses and dogs or any number of problems.

This newsletter will focus on the use of papaya (for horses and dogs) for ulcers and "mystery tummy troubles" as well as new and surprising medical research on the use and efficacy of Omeprazole, long considered the "gold standard" for treatment of equine gastric ulcers. 

OK.... Let's get to it!

Key Facts About Gastric Ulcers
First, here is an excellent infographic by Hygain presenting key facts about the prevalence, causes, signs and some treatment options for equine gastric ulcers. In addition to the signs mentioned on the infographic, mild colic, lying down more than normal, girthiness (not caused by a girth issue, poor saddle fit or a rib movement restriction (aka a "rib out") can also be signs of equine gastric ulcers.

H2 Blockers and Proton Pump Inhibitors....In Plain English
Typical treatment for equine, canine (and human) gastric ulcers involves the use of either Histamine 2 (H2) blockers or Proton Pump Inhibitors to reduce stomach acid.  H2 blockers, (medicines such as Cimetidine and Ranitidine), work by blocking a chemical in the body called histamine that stimulates stomach acid pumps.  Proton pump inhibitors, (medicine such as Omeprazole), work by "blocking" (inhibiting) the pumps in the stomach that produce acid.

As reported by TheHorse.com, new research from a team in Australia showed that "in some horses on certain diets, the duration of acid suppression of oral omeprazole....could be inadequate for ulcer healing.  While omeprazole did a great job raising intragastric pH in horses on high-grain/low-fiber diets, it didn’t perform so well in horses on hay-only diets."

The researchers also discovered that under some conditions there was a cumulative effect of dosing—meaning the longer the treatment regimen (measured up to five days), the higher the pH, which is a new finding. In the end, the researchers determined using a cookie-cutter dosing recommendation for all horses might not be appropriate. Veterinarians should consider the diet and management of horses when making dosing recommendations. "A hay-only diet might be a bad idea in the therapeutic stage, at least in some animals," according to the researchers.

These results led the research team to investigate other treatment approaches, specifically oral esomeprazole and a long-acting injectable omeprazole formulation.  Both show significant promise.  Check out the full article here for more details.

In summary, each horse's situation is unique.  Cookie-cutter approaches do not always work.  More research on oral and injectable omeprazole as well as oral esomeprazole is needed.  Collaborate closely with your vet when considering ulcer medications and be sure to tell your vet about your horse's diet, turn out and other living conditions...all of which can potentially affect how well any medication works.

Here is an article written by Gillian Clissold, an Advanced Level Eventer, regarding the use of papaya in horses.  By the way, dogs can eat papaya too (in smaller quantities than a horse of course!)  The seeds should not be ingested.

Papaya aids digestion, in part, by increasing mucous secretion in the mouth, esophagus and stomach. In some cases, a horse that has been turning its nose up at food starts eating within moments of the administration of papaya. There seems to be what could be called a “reverse Pavlovian response”. The horse’s mouth waters so it feels the urge to eat.

Even more importantly, papaya initiates a thickening of the horse’s natural stomach lining which provides protection against excess acid. It gives damaged tissues a chance to heal, and helps prevent new ulcers. In horses moving vigorously (race horses, eventers, endurance horses) the esophageal mucous protection can help keep reflux from damaging the esophagus. In an ulcer study published in the March 2005 issue of The Horse Journal, “rapid relief within three to five days” was reported. The same study reported that other major natural products for digestive problems worked considerably more slowly.

In one case, a weanling with severe ulcers and a bloated stomach did not respond to expensive pharmaceuticals but did recover with papaya. A race horse that had such severe ulcers it could not race, even after many weeks on an acid reducing pharmaceutical, had a clear endoscopic exam after three weeks on papaya, and then won a stakes race.

Unlike most of the conventional anti-ulcer treatments, papaya is safe for long-term use. The calcium/magnesium antacid type products work by neutralizing acid and coating the stomach wall with a chalky protective layer. However, if they are used over an extended period, resulting high levels of magnesium can interfere with the absorption of calcium. Low calcium levels can cause nervousness, bone changes, weak and aching muscles and abnormal heart rhythms. The pharmaceuticals which reduce acid production are great for most acute ulcer symptoms. However, acid is needed to control and modify bacteria in the gut. If the acid levels are low for many months, “bad” bacteria, particularly Salmonella, can overpopulate the digestive tract and create conditions for colic. Furthermore, prolonged low acid levels can cause poor absorption of vitamin B12, inefficient utilization of dietary protein, food allergies, bloating and foul manure.

Papaya is also useful in conjunction with administration of certain medicines. Many people “prep” the horse with a half dose of papaya to trigger extra mucous in the digestive tract lining just before they administer an anti-inflammatory capable of damaging the stomach lining. They then administer the anti-inflammatory, and follow up with another half dose of papaya to wash away the foul taste of the medicine.

Similarly, endurance riders and eventers who give electrolytes to their mounts mix the powder with papaya before administering. The extra mucous triggered by the papaya protects the mouth, esophagus and stomach from the burn of frequent electrolyte administrations.

The mucous producing characteristic of papaya is complemented by the enzyme it contains called papain. Papain is the main active ingredient in meat tenderizer. It closely resembles the digestive enzyme pepsin. Old horses benefit from papaya because its enzyme breaks down what their less efficient digestive tract can’t, and they gain weight.

Papaya also helps foals who get “scours” when the hormones in their mother’s milk changes during the first heat which  presents the foal’s digestive tract with a new challenge for which it does not have the appropriate microbe population. The papain enzyme picks up where the foal’s own system is insufficient.

Weaning is a stressful time, too. Not only are foals anxious (creating conditions for an ulcer), but they must deal with a change in diet, for which they may not have the correct balance of gut “bugs”. In addition to the papaya induced ulcer-preventative mucous secretion, the papain helps weanlings digest new diets while their gut microbes are adjusting.

Cribbing often decreases when horses have papaya daily. Cribbing incidence at weaning is drastically reduced, and about half of adult cribbers also reduce or cease the habit. While most positive effects of papaya are evident in a week, in the case of a confirmed cribber, it can take up to a month for improvement. (Cribbing associated with stomach pain or missing nutrients is most responsive to papaya.)
Similarly, when antibiotics kill good gut bacteria, leaving the digestive tract unable to sufficiently break down food, diarrhea results. Papaya picks up where the bacteria leave off, and antibiotic-induced diarrhea can improve.

When horses get diarrhea during trailering, it can, in part, be due to anxiety-induced changes in gut motility not allowing absorption. The papain enzyme helps break down the food in the limited time it is in the gut and may reduce the diarrhea.

A final important characteristic of papaya is its taste and consistency. It has the viscosity of tomato ketchup, and is extremely sweet. This makes it ideal for camouflaging unpleasant medicines. One race horse trainer spent several hundred dollars for expensive antibiotics which his horse spit out on the walls before he realized the horse would happily swallow the dose if it were mixed with papaya. Horses who need extra salt in hot weather, but refuse it in their food, often lap it up if it’s mixed with papaya.

Papaya apparently tasted so good to one horse that he grabbed a bottle left close to his stall, chewed off the cap and licked up the resulting spill. Another owner found that if he approached the fence with a dosing syringe full of the fruit, his horse would immediately gallop over.

Papaya is also a mild “blood thinner”. The increased circulation associated with the slight anticoagulant effect may account for the very shiny coats and high incidence of dapples that many horses on papaya enjoy. Some caretakers also report an improvement in joint health as well. Papaya should not be administered to a horse that is on an anticoagulant already, as there may be an additive affect. Some stages of pregnancy can be complicated by bleeding, so it is unwise to administer papaya to a mare who is pregnant or who is about to be bred.

Where the Heck Do I Get Papaya??
So, you are intrigued.  You will probably Google papaya use in horses or dogs and come across a bunch of information.  You will also discover papaya may help humans with heart health, diabetes, inflammation, digestion and a whole host of other things.  But then it hits you.... where do I get papaya?  Do I have to give my horse or dog fresh papaya each day?  Is that practical?  Is that in my budget?  Good questions!!

You can certainly do that, but you can also try papaya puree or even papaya enzyme tablets.  Both are less expensive, easier to administer and can be found online or in most health food stores.

If you use fresh papaya, be sure to remove the seeds and skin as that can be toxic for some horses.  2-4 ounces per day is the dosage for fresh papaya.  If you go the papaya puree route (not the nectar), give 2 ounces twice a day.  Be sure your puree does not have added sugar.  You may have to treat with Gastorguard or Alimend first and then maintain things with papaya.

The Bottom Line....
There are many causes of equine and canine ulcers as well as other types of digestive disorders and "mystery tummy troubles."  Sometimes traditional medications can provide relief.  Sometimes "going the natural route" with papaya (or other items such as aloe vera juice) may be the answer.  Each horse and dog is individual and care should be taken to evaluate the situation carefully, including understanding all side effects of medications and papaya.

Have you had any experience treating your horse or dog for ulcers, other digestive disorders or "mystery tummy troubles?"  Share your experience on the Stretch Your Horse Facebook page.

"I love my horse...... but........."

"OMG.... My horse is always so stiff.  They feel like cement."   "My horse has so much trouble bending."  "My horse has muscle spasms."  "My horse always seem sore."  "My horse just does not want to move, but they don't appear to be lame."  

I hear these comments many times every week!  Why??

If I had a dollar for every time I had the "selenium/vitamin E conversation" with horse owners, I would be a rich woman.  This dynamic duo is not an optional or "nice to have" mineral/vitamin combo for horses.  Many horse owners are not aware this duo in the correct amount is critical for normal muscle and cell function.  Your horse will be stiff as a board without it!  If they do not get the correct amount on a daily basis, you are literally wasting your time stretching, training, having proper saddle fit, getting your horse's feet done and seeing the vet.  Here's why.....


Give Me The Short Story (no complex chemistry please)
Selenium and vitamin E work in partnership to play the role of antioxidant aka "free radical neutralizer" and support the immune system. Oxidation is the process by which fats, carbohydrates and proteins are converted into carbon dioxide, water and the energy needed for the horse's body to function.  However, as part of the normal oxidation process, a by-product called free radicals is created.  If free radicals are not neutralized, they can damage and destroy the cell structures.    

This often results in the horse's muscles feeling hard like cement, muscle spams, soreness and tightness throughout the horse's body and even poor coat quality or loss.  The horse has a very difficult time doing their job regardless of their discipline because the cells and muscles are not able to function properly.  Sometimes the horse even appears to be lame.  Often times riders mistakenly think there is a saddle fit issue, behavioral issue, or injury.  While any of these items can also be present, ensuring the horse is getting the required amount of organic selenium and vitamin E daily is a critical step in problem solving.

How Much Selenium and Vitamin E Does a Horse Need Each Day?
The US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has recommended that the average 1000 lb adult horse needs 3 mg of organic selenium and 500 IU (international units) of vitamin E daily.  Some horses even need a bit more selenium and vitamin E.  For example, I know some horses that need 4 mg of selenium and 3000 IU of vitamin E each day.  Also, some horses who have been deficient for a long period of time may need a selenium booster shot in addition to their daily dose.  ​

​​Since every horse is an individual, it is best to work with your vet and/or equine nutritionist to determine your horse's needs.  Doing a blood test for both selenium and vitamin E is an option to consider if you think your horse may be deficient.  Too little or too much selenium and vitamin E can have equally bad consequences.

How to Calculate Your Horse's Selenium and Vitamin E Intake
While vitamin E is found naturally in fresh grass, levels begin to drop the moment grass is cut for hay.  In addition, many soils around the world (including my home state of Oregon in the US) are deficient in selenium, so the hay or pasture grass does not have enough selenium content. Therefore, supplementation is necessary.  If you do need to supplement, I strongly recommend organic selenium as it is more easily absorbed by the horse.  I have clients who thought they were doing the right thing and giving their horse additional selenium, but it was inorganic and not very effective due to lack of absorption.  Also, your horse must have the proper amount of both selenium and vitamin E.  They work in partnership, so one without the other in the proper amount will not yield great results.

In order to calculate how much selenium and vitamin E supplementation is necessary (If any) for your horse, look at all the feed tags and other supplements your horse receives and add up the selenium and E amount in each dose.  You may even want to test your hay.  Unfortunately, most grain and supplement manufacturers provide the selenium level in their products in ppm (parts per million) per pound.  So, you have to do a bit of math to determine how many milligrams your horse is receiving in each dose.  Don't worry....Help doing this calculation is close at hand!

On the Helpful Links page on my website, the two links on the left side of the page (underneath the equine vital signs link)  lead to articles containing more detailed information about selenium and vitamin E and a step by step guide explaining how to calculate your horse's current selenium intake.  You can also click here for the selenium calculation formula.

I hope you find this important horse health information helpful.  Do you provide additional vitamin E and selenium to your horse?  Do you have any questions about selenium and vitamin E?  Let us know by posting a comment on our blog or our Facebook page