SEPTEMBER 2006 • VOLUME 13 • © Copyright HORSES For LIFE™ Publications

One thing we also should be is physiotherapist. Physiotherapists look at the mobility of the body and how it can be improved. Should we be doing anything less?

When you work with physiotherapists who work on humans, one of the phrases that you will hear most often is "range of movement".  "He has limited 'range of movement', we were able to increase her 'range of movement', his 'range of movement' has decreased."

Checking the range of movement of any one joint informs the physiotherapist as to the health of that joint and the body in general.

Injury, lack of exercise, and improper use can all lead to limited range of movement. We must carefully assess both the rider and the horse for full range of movement, as limited range of movement often leads to even more limited range of movement.

A typical example might be a child who has a particularly sore area, so they will be reluctant to move it.  Over time, if the muscles are not moved through their full normal range, they will become tight. This is called a contracture. If the muscles can’t move the joints through their full range of movement, they do not get the chance to work properly and can become weak.

Obviously, this is true of horses, just as much as it is for a child. Limit the range of movement through training or riding techniques, and you will also limit the muscles' ability to work properly; and we thus weaken the horse, rather than strengthen him.