Biomechanics and Physical Training of the Horse

by Jean-Marie Denoix

Overview

Effective horse trainers strive to improve the performance of their horses while preserving the integrity of the musculoskeletal apparatus. Biomechanics and Physical Training of the Horse supplies an anatomical and functional overview of the topic, enabling trainers to optimize the different exercises their horses undergo during training and competition.

Following a brief description of the biomechanics of the muscles underlying equine movement, the book discusses the muscles of the forelimb, hindlimb, and neck and trunk. These fundamentals have direct bearing on the later chapters, which focus on training and the core exercises for a horse.

This text is illustrated throughout by the author’s top-quality photographs, diagrams, and his own beautiful anatomical drawings. The book is of lasting value to all professionals and well-informed amateurs who work with horses: veterinarians, trainers and riders, researchers, physical therapists, and educators in equine courses.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781840761924
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	01/15/2014
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	1,008,195
Product dimensions:	7.70(w) x 10.30(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Jean-Marie Denoix is a worldwide authority on applied equine anatomy, biomechanics, imaging, and the clinical diagnosis of equine lameness. He is a horse rider, a qualified trotting driver, and an informed spectator of everything equestrian, dissecting all horse movements to understand their genesis and consequences.

Table of Contents

Muscular groups and actions. The forelimb. The hindlimb. The neck and trunk . Biomechanical analysis of longitudinal movements. Lowering of the neck. Biomechanics of rein-back. Biomechanical analysis of lateral movements. The forelimbs. The hindlimbs. The vertebral column and trunk muscles. The biomechanical differences between half pass and shoulder-in. Advantages and disadvantages of lateral movements. Biomechanical analysis of jumping. Take-off and propulsion . Take-off and propulsion: biomechanics of the axial regions (head, neck, trunk and pelvis). Airborne (flying) phase: biomechanics of the trunk and vertebral column. Airborne (flying) phase: biomechanics of the limbs. Landing phase: biomechanics of the vertebral column. Landing phase: biomechanics of the limbs . Biomechanics of the bounce jump. Index.

Editorial Reviews

"…a herculean effort at illustrating the movement of the horse with photographs and color-accented line drawings of active muscle groups … The artwork, photographs, and color used in the book are brilliant and serve readers and author well."
—Jonathan Hale Foreman, DVM, MS, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine for Doody's Review Service

From the Publisher

Reviewer: Jonathan Hale Foreman, DVM, MS, DACVIM (University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine)
Description: Written by a French veterinarian renowned internationally for his expertise in equine lameness and imaging, particularly ultrasound, this book presents an overview of the biomechanics of training horses.
Purpose: According to the author, the objective is "to provide riders and trainers of competition horses with an anatomical and functional overview" in order to better "understand and analyze the different exercises to which their horses are subjected during training and competition." The author goes on to state that "the key goals of this information are to identify the attitudes that result in most of the constraints on the osteoarticular and musculotendinous systems and to research the key mechanisms of efficient movement." These are worthy objectives and goals, and the author certainly presents a considerable body of work to illustrate the various movements made by horses in work, but one is left to ponder "To what end? What will the trainer do with this information?"
Audience: The aim is to "address the daily concerns of trainers, who search to improve the performance of their horses while striving to maximize the integrity of the musculoskeletal apparatus." The author hopes that the book is "of interest to all equine professionals." One must have concern that the biomechanical data, particularly the line drawings of active muscle groups involved in each illustrated movement, may prove to be more detailed, more finely grained information than most trainers can or wish to attribute to their equine athletes. Trainers and riders may find the photographs, which are excellently chosen, to be more realistic illustrations of what their horses are doing in movement.
Features: The 17 chapters are grouped into four main parts. The initial section covers basic limb and spinal anatomy, while the next three incorporate application of that basic anatomy into explanations of longitudinal, lateral, and jumping movements of the athletic horse. Of particular interest should be the fourth chapter, "Lowering the neck," which focuses on a particularly troublesome subject at a time when various riding experts are challenging the humane nature of the various techniques used to encourage or require horses to attain a vertical face posture termed "on the bit" but not "in front of the bit" (with the next extended) or "behind the bit" (with the neck overflexed). This chapter is particularly useful and should be required reading for all riders and trainers who insist on flexing the horse's neck into abnormal, unnatural positions because the rules of dressage reward these "on the bit" postures in competition. The artwork, photographs, and color used in the book are brilliant and serve readers and author well.
Assessment: This is a herculean effort at illustrating the movement of the horse with photographs and color-accented line drawings of active muscle groups. It is striking in its detail, but one must wonder about its field applicability, which seems to be of particular interest to the author. It is not apparent exactly how a horse trainer is to use this information. Veterinarians and rehabilitation experts might find it more useful in assessing commonly injured muscle groups in various activities.

Doody's Review Service