🐴 Can Horses Experience "Flow" During Training? 🤔

Ever wondered if we could make rehab and training more enjoyable for our equine partners?

Research by Hintze & Yee (2022) asks: "Can we provide animals with the same access to a sense of enjoyment that we as humans value so much?"

🔑 Key Points:

• Effective rehab/training requires intensity for adaptation
• What if horses could be happy increasing effort?
• Could horses experience a 'flow state' during work?

Dr Giliian Tabor has been diving into human psychological theories of motivation, particularly Self-determination theory by Ryan and Deci. It's fascinating to consider how these concepts might apply to our horses!

What are your thoughts? Can we make training more intrinsically rewarding for horses?

📚 Further reading:

• Hintze, S. and Yee, J.R. (2021). "Animals in flow–Towards the scientific study of intrinsic reward in animals." Biological Reviews.

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Mark Lucey has a 40-year career as a vet, including officiating at the Olympic Games and working as an eventing team vet, and is a former partner at Bourton Vale Equine Clinic in Gloucestershire. David and Mark have worked together for many years, and in this relaxed interview, they discuss why the surfaces our horses runs on are so important and why this is important for ALL horses and not just the top-level competitors.

In this interview, David and Mark discuss:

• Their history together and Mark's busy career as a leading Racing and Evening vet
• How are different surfaces measured and checked
• What are different scientists doing to improve surfaces for our horses
• How can surface data help with event and course decisions?
• What does the 'bowling ball' test do?
• Which discipline seems the most in tune and aware of changes in the surface?
• How do studs and riders/horses influence the way they go on a surface?
• What funding is available, and how has Mark influenced the equestrian industry?
• David and Mark discuss the recent Badminton Horse Trials cross-country surface and how the horses (and their rider's) coped with it.

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Equiband Pro Research - Latest Update

Dr Gillian Tabor reviews a recently published paper on the effects of the Equiband Pro system on gait symmetry in horses at trot.

The papers discussed are:

• Pfau, T., Simons, V., Rombach, N., Stubbs, N. and Weller, R., 2017. Effect of a 4‐week elastic resistance band training regimen on back kinematics in horses trotting in‐hand and on the lunge. Equine veterinary journal, 49(6), pp.829-835.
• Ellis, K.L. and King, M.R., 2020. Relationship between postural stability and paraspinal muscle adaptation in lame horses undergoing rehabilitation. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 91, p.103108.
• Shaw, K., Ursini, T., Levine, D., Richards, J. and Adair, S., 2021. The effect of ground poles and elastic resistance bands on longissimus dorsi and rectus abdominus muscle activity during equine walk and trot. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 107, p.103772.
• Zarski, L.M., Rombach, N., Marchenko, D.A. and Rutten, L., 2024. The Equiband Pro System improves gait symmetry in horses at the trot. agriRxiv, (2024), p.20240123286.

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Dr Gillian Tabor has reviewed the Equiband and it's use on the website - please check it all our for more information.

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A relaxed chat with Helen Reynolds, who is one of the world's leading equine thermographers, BUT there is so much more to Helen than even we realised!

Hear about Helen's life with horses, what thermography is, and how it has become a crucial diagnostic tool. PLUS we chat about Helen's work with 'Hot Horses', thermo imaging at the Tokyo Olympics and what her role as Heat Mitigation Officer at the upcoming Paris Olympics entails!

Helen is one of very few veterinary team members attending from the UK and she will be updating us regularly through the Olympics and Paralympics.

Following the Tokyo Olympics, Helen's work with Dr David Marlin and others was documented in a formal paper - Hot horses, thermal imaging and the Olympic Games

Read the full paper and learn more about their work here - https://drdavidmarlin.com/hot-horses-thermal-imaging-and-the-olympic-games/

We also release some exciting news about the Paris Olympics and Helen's involvement on behalf of Animalweb!

Enjoy!

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Not a Member? Join for as little as £6 a month or £8 on a month-by-month basis to access all the test results and have a say in what we test and investigate next. For this, you also get access to all past and future webinars, videos, podcasts, and articles, the opportunity to take part in testing and research and SOOOO much more.

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This is a light and fun interview with Groom Of The Year Emma Cornish to discuss her career, feelings towards the industry and her exciting role at the upcoming Paris Olympics!

Emma will be one of the very few veterinary team members coming from the UK. In her official role as Forge Manager, Emma explains more about how she will assist all teams and ground crews on site for the duration of the Olympics and Paralympics in Paris. PLUS Emma is also on the Cooling Team, and along with Dr Helen Reynolds, she will be looking out for the welfare of all horses from all nations.

This is a relaxed chat where we learn more about Emma's career, how she won the official Groom Of The Year title and what the Olympics will bring!

We also release some exciting news about the Olympics and Emma's involvement on behalf of Animalweb!

Enjoy!

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To find out more about becoming a member >>> AskAnimalweb.com

Not a Member? Join for as little as £6 a month or £8 on a month-by-month basis to access all the test results and have a say in what we test and investigate next. For this, you also get access to all past and future webinars, videos, podcasts, and articles, the opportunity to take part in testing and research and SOOOO much more.

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Emma Davies is a Senior Lecturer (Rider Performance) at Hartbury University about Rider Sleep.

Dr David Marlin and Emma discuss rider performance and the important role of sleep!

• Discussing previous studies and development of studies for riders
• Safety - are you considering the safety aspect of getting enough sleep
• Performance - how does sleep decrease and improve performance?
• Decision-making - sleep can greatly affect this.
• Emotions escalated by lack of sleep - how can your body portray these and influence you and your horse
• How and why does our equine sport (and lifestyle) create more challenges for a good night's sleep?
• What is a 'good night's sleep'?
• What can you do to improve your sleep?

Emma is one of our awesome Animalweb Experts!

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Watch Emma's other info on the website here:

To find out more about becoming a member >>> AskAnimalweb.com

Not a Member? Join for as little as £6 a month or £8 on a month-by-month basis to access all the test results and have a say in what we test and investigate next. For this, you also get access to all past and future webinars, videos, podcasts, and articles, the opportunity to take part in testing and research and SOOOO much more.

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Dr Gillian Tabor talks to Nikki Routledge, who is a fellow animal musculoskeletal practitioner but not a physio this time! 

Nikki holds an MSc in Animal Manipulation and a Master's in Veterinary Chiropractic. They discuss the history of McTimoney Chiropractic, how she trained, how she works and how to get into the profession.

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To find out more about becoming a member >>> AskAnimalweb.com

Not a Member? Join for as little as £6 a month or £8 on a month-by-month basis to access all the test results and have a say in what we test and investigate next. For this, you also get access to all past and future webinars, videos, podcasts, and articles, the opportunity to take part in testing and research and SOOOO much more.

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In this fasinating chat between two animal physiotherapists, Dr Gillian Tabor and Canine physio Tom Daly, discuss the many similarities and differences in treating horses and dogs.

Tom discusses his passion for helping dogs, the powers of water therapy for dogs

In a typical day, Tom would treat dogs that have:

• Joint issues - such as arthritis, hip or elbow displacer
• Cruciate issues in need of support
• Neurological - inc discs and back issues

With osteoporosis - how can a physio help make a dog more comfortable in their day-to-day lives? Tom explains some of the signs and behaviours to look for which may indicate that your dog is suffering from painful joints.

How does a cruciate issue affect your dog? It is a very common issue that Tom helps many dogs with; these can be caused by chasing squirrels and damage caused by chasing fastballs! Do you use a chuck-it-ball throw?! You may reconsider after listening to the damage they can cause to your dog's cruciate ligaments!

Water treadmills vs treadmills - why are they so useful and helpful in recuperating dogs? And when would a physio use them?

What can you do to help your dog's joints and body? There are some very simple and easy suggestions!

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To find out more about becoming a member >>> AskAnimalweb.com

Not a Member? Join for as little as £6 a month or £8 on a month-by-month basis to access all the test results and have a say in what we test and investigate next. For this, you also get access to all past and future webinars, videos, podcasts, and articles, the opportunity to take part in testing and research and SOOOO much more.

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In a departure from the previous themes of injury, treatment and rehabilitation, Dr Gillian Tabor speaks to Marianne Davies about her research paper ‘Can’t jump, won’t jump.

The conversation covers topics such as ecological dynamics, complexity theory, the constraints-led approach and solving movement puzzles and how this applies to horses. The names and definitions of the theory may not be familiar but the underlying understanding of a holistic view of an amazing biological system – the horse – will be recognisable! Marianne is currently doing a part-time PhD in Skill Acquisition in Equine Sports based at Sheffield Hallam University. Marianne’s coaching experience includes more than 25 years of working in sports, academic and corporate environments. She is a coach developer, coach educator, assessor, IQA and national trainer. She is currently working as a Senior Coach Developer for UK Coaching.

Link to paper - Can’t jump, won’t jump: Affordances of the horse-rider dyad underpin skill adaptation in showjumping using a constraints-led approach

Davies, M., Stone, J.A., Davids, K., Williams, J. and O’Sullivan, M., 2023. Can’t jump, won’t jump: Affordances of the horse-rider dyad underpin skill adaptation in showjumping using a constraints-led approach. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 18(4), pp.1313-1319.

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To find out more about becoming a member >>> AskAnimalweb.com

Not a Member? Join for as little as £6 a month or £8 on a month-by-month basis to access all the test results and have a say in what we test and investigate next. For this, you also get access to all past and future webinars, videos, podcasts, and articles, the opportunity to take part in testing and research and SOOOO much more.

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Tracy Bye interview - The pressures under bitless bridles

Dr Gillian Tabor interviewed Tracy Bye, a lecturer in animal science at the Royal Agricultural Society. Tracy researched and co-authored a paper called Noseband and poll pressures underneath bitted and bitless bridles and the effects on equine locomotion. The paper is about pressures under bitted and bitless bridles. Tracy talks through the rationale for the study, how it was conducted and the conclusions drawn from their results. 

Here is a link to Tracy's Paper - LINK

• Robinson, N. and Bye, T.L., 2021. Noseband and poll pressures underneath bitted and bitless bridles and the effects on equine locomotion. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 44, pp.18-24.

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Please listen back to Emma Busk's podcast where Emma mentions this study and for further info about bitting and bridles.

Emma Busk has a webinar booked for Tues 23rd April @ 7pm - Find out more here.

Emma Busk is an independent bit & bridle fitter and the newest member to our team of experts, Emma is starting strong with this webinar on – Equine cranial/facial anatomy and bridle fitting

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To find out more about becoming a member >>> AskAnimalweb.com

Not a Member? Join for as little as £6 a month or £8 on a month-by-month basis to access all the test results and have a say in what we test and investigate next. For this, you also get access to all past and future webinars, videos, podcasts, and articles, the opportunity to take part in testing and research and SOOOO much more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.