Loosen Up Reprinted with permission from Performance Horse magazine
Article and photo by Ross Hecox
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"My horses looked fine in the way they worked a cow. But I was having a lot of problems with soundness. I think I had a lot of horses that could have been great. But because I didn't have them supple enough and broke enough, I related that to them fighting me. If I would have done some more prep work every day before I worked them, they probably could have been great horses.
Coates says that working to get a horse supple throughout its frame helps it move with more flexibility and style, plus it promotes soundness.
"I just want to do the exercises that make it easier for me to work them and keep them sound. A stiff horse turns around like a door on a hinge, swinging out toward the cow and pushing it away. But a soft horse can bend and come back through itself, staying in better position and drawing in the cow. I don't want a horse that braces and is worried about the turn," Coates said. "That's why I do some of those exercises beforehand. I want a horse to lead with its nose everywhere it goes, to look fluid and natural. A good cow horse uses its head and neck to control a cow. And a horse that moves slinky, low-headed and real swoopy will always bring that cow back in your pocket."
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Carmen Montana: 21 year old cutting mare.
Non-Pro competitor, Terry comments "Carmen has increased mobility and very noticeable flexibility. Her energy level has improved in such a way that she is more responsive not hyped. It is like she has more energy to give me because things just aren't hurting anymore."
Misty Moon Rey: Finshed cutter
This daughter of cutting horse champion Dual Rey was beginning to forge during her training sessions. One massage and the forging disappeared. Her trainer, Terry, is very pleased and especially noticed her increased energy, acceptance of direction, and extra low head set.
In his suppling exercises, Coates asks the horse to flex at the poll, bend its neck and arc its rib cage. Next, he has the horse step back with its inside front foot, then turn around, simulating a common cutting maneuver.
Trainers work constantly to develop the perfect cutting, horse one that stops hard, slithers back through its turnarounds and stays eyeball-to-eyeball with the cow.
It takes months, sometimes years, to get a horse to move that way. Some just don't have what it takes to compete in the cutting pen. However, there are many young prospects with loads of potential that don't pan out due to injury or an inability to step to the next level.
Andrew Coates believes many of those horses could have succeeded if they had simply been warmed up and flexed correctly each day before they worked a cow. The Esparto, California, trainer said his training program has improved dramatically because of the extra minutes he spends flexing his horses.
"That's something that I've started to do in the last year or two," he said. "It was actually Carlos Bañuelos who showed me a lot of that stuff.
Contact Bonnie McClure, ESMT at 970-395-0520 or Email: Bonnie McClure, ESMT
Trained & Certified by Mary Schreiber of Equissage© Inc
Member: International Association of Animal Massage Therapists
* Equine Massage is NOT a substitute for veterinary care.
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Photo by Dawn Baxstrom
EQUINE SPORT MASSAGE
Pre-event massage for horses
Fly Out: 11 year old gelding
Owner/Rider Terry Schroeder stated “I know the massages on Fly really helped him this season because he just was not as sore.”
Congratulations to Terry for capturing champion WCHA $10,000 Amateur and to Ty Schroeder for winning both Rookie of the Year and $2,000 Limited Rider. Fly Out carried this family to all their awards.
Photo by Stephanie NeVille
