AVMA Seeking Public Opinions

on Three Initiatives

http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=17512

Comments are being sought on the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) Model Veterinary Practice Act, the AVMA’s strategic plan goals for 2012-14, and the North American Veterinary Medical Education Consortium (NAVMEC) veterinary medical education report.

The Model Veterinary Practice Act is used by states and licensing boards to help shape the rules that govern veterinary medicine. Last revised in 2003, the model practice act is currently under review by an AVMA task force that will consider the comments submitted and make recommendations for revisions to the AVMA Executive Board. The current act is available for public review on the AVMA website.

Please take a few minutes to add your comments. You can also check with the IAAOR if you’d like clarity on the definitions and their potential impact to the choices available to you as an animal owner.

There will be numerous speakers and demonstrations around the grounds at Sunflower Farms, Bristol, WI.

I will be speaking about and demonstrating massage/biomechanics.

For more information contact: office@sunflowerfarms.com or call: (262) 857-8555

This is the perfect time of year to have your saddle flocking adjusted or a complete reflock of the wool done. I also check the integrity of the tree and make minor repairs when I drop the panels for a full reflock (strip flock).

Here are a few terms that are very commonly used:

• Flock = Wool I use 100% natural long fiber wool.

• Strip Flock or Reflock = panels are dropped, old wool is completely removed, and is replaced with new wool. This is a “take home to my shop” job.

• Flocking Adjustment = when flocking needs to be rebalanced or added to existing flocking. *Flock should be checked every 6 months, under normal use, for any asymmetries or compression that could make the panels hard, lumpy, and unforgiving.

I can usually turn around strip flocks pretty quickly, depending on your location. Saddles for strip flocks without a fitting can also be shipped to me via FedEx or UPS, and returned within a couple of days. Please call me to make sure I have “bench time” scheduled before you ship your saddle, in order to minimize the turn around time.

For the details of what to expect from a fitting session, and a price schedule, please visit my website, or click Saddle Fitting.

This is the perfect time of year to have your saddle flocking adjusted or a complete reflock of the wool done. I also check the integrity of the tree and make minor repairs when I drop the panels for a full reflock (strip flock).

Here are a few terms that are very commonly used:

• Flock = Wool I use 100% natural long fiber wool.

• Strip Flock or Reflock = panels are dropped, old wool is completely removed, and is replaced with new wool. This is a “take home to my shop” job.

• Flocking Adjustment = when flocking needs to be rebalanced or added to existing flocking. *Flock should be checked every 6 months, under normal use, for any asymmetries or compression that could make the panels hard, lumpy, and unforgiving.

I can usually turn around strip flocks pretty quickly, depending on your location. Saddles for strip flocks without a fitting can also be shipped to me via FedEx or UPS, and returned within a couple of days. Please call me to make sure I have “bench time” scheduled before you ship your saddle, in order to minimize the turn around time.

For the details of what to expect from a fitting session, and a price schedule, please visit my website, or click Saddle Fitting.

We have clinic dates for Bettina Drummond. The clinics will be held at Sunflower Farms on June 16-17-18-19 and Oct 14-15-16, 2011.

For participation or auditing information, please contact Susan Smith at (847) 975-9424 or susanprs@comcast.net

Bettina Drummond is highly regarded in both the United States and Europe as a trainer and teacher of the French method of classical dressage. She spent 17 years in training with Nuno Oliveira. She was both influenced and coached by some of Europe’s finest trainers, including General Durand, Ecuyer en Chef and Commandant of the French National Equestrian School in Samur, and Lieutenant Colonel Paolo
Angioni of the Italian Cavalry.

There will be numerous speakers and demonstrations around the grounds at Sunflower Farms, Bristol, WI.

I will be speaking about and demonstrating massage/biomechanics.

For more information contact: office@sunflowerfarms.com or call: (262) 857-8555

With school completed, I now take saddle fitting and flocking appointments. I am independent, and am not working as a representative for any particular saddle manufacturer.

So whether you need a complete reflock, an adjustment, or just a back tracing, give me a call or drop me an email.

For the details of what to expect from a fitting session, and a price schedule, please visit my website, or click Saddle Fitting.

Click the photo to visit Eclectic Horseman for more info about Bettina Drummond

I am involved with a small group who are trying to organize a clinic with Bettina Drummond in 2011.

Bettina Drummond is highly regarded in both the United States and Europe as a trainer and teacher of the French method of classical dressage. She spent 17 years in training with Nuno Oliveira. She was both influenced and coached by some of Europe’s finest trainers, including General Durand, Ecuyer en Chef and Commandant of the French National Equestrian School in Samur, and Lieutenant Colonel Paolo
Angioni of the Italian Cavalry.

Please contact me ASAP if you are interested in either riding-in or auditing this clinic.

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I was very pleased with its ease of use, and the detailed reports that were generated for me. Of course, I came up with a locally produced commercial feed that wasn’t in their database, however this was a great test of their customer service responsiveness. Within a couple of hours of notification of the unlisted feed, it was added. I was impressed.

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• Basic Anatomy and the Circle of Muscle
• Biomechanics and Conditioning
• Introduction to massage with: Positioning, Posture, Contact, Pressure, Rhythm
• Massage movements: Stroking, Effleurage, Kneading, Compressions, Percussions
• Warm-up and cool-down of areas to be massaged
• A full body Maintenance Massage routine
• Palpation of the Lower Limbs
• Stretching instructions

Your horse has almost certainly suffered from lower back pain at some point.

It is the most common area of discomfort in the horse’s body. The causes are many: poor saddle-fit for either horse or rider, a larger rider using your saddle on your horse, foot pain, an increase in work level, new movements, kicking out at pasture mates, wall/stall kicking, and so on. In the last two winters we’ve had a lot of snow cover for extended periods, and I’m finding a pattern emerging in nearly every horse that I work on – winter lower back pain.

As the horse negotiates deep snow, he has to pick up his feet higher which can be akin to walking or trotting over ground poles all day. Even in well packed snow, there is still a bit of a slip that occurs as the hoof pushes off the ground. I experience this same locomotive slip when I run on well-packed snow. It’s barely noticable, but cumulatively takes it’s toll on your energy, legs, and back. It’s just plain harder work.

Ice causes a different set of problems. When you or I are walking over a slick surface, we shorten our stride and contract our muscles as we over-control our movements and make minor (or major!), but constant balance adjustments. Horses do the same, which may cause hip tension in addition to lower back soreness. Horses also occasionally fall on ice, and you may not have any idea this has happened until you try to ride.

This “seasonal” back pain, just has to be suffered through, unfortunately. For comfort, massage is recommended, and heat may also help. I can show you where the pain is on your horse, and I will be happy to show you some simple massage techniques that you can do on a regular basis to give your horse some relief. There are also a couple of very effective acupressure points that I can show you. If you’d like to try heat, I recommend a microwaveable heating pad (no cords!) that you can place under a fleece for a minimum of 20 minutes. (The heat will not penetrate very deep until after 20 minutes.) Be careful that the pad is not too hot.

I do NOT recommend linament in this area at this time of year.

Typically,
Charitable Foundations only send receipts for donations of $250 or
more. However, by requesting a receipt, you will be sure to receive
your donation receipt.

The MOST unpleasant part of my job is having to tell someone that their saddle is causing pain in their horse’s back or shoulders. Saddles are expensive, and I hate to have to be the bearer of bad news.

Saddle fit is one of the most important components to your horse’s comfort and performance.

The horse, like any athlete, cannot reach her performance potential with something bruising or pinching her back with every step.

Most saddles have trees. The tree a is fixed framework, usually inflexible, made of wood or composite, around which the saddle is built. Your horse’s back moves fluidly, and your pelvis, hips, and back are also fluid in movement. Between you and the horse lies an immovable tree. Because of the tree, that acts as a brace, you are separated from the horse. It is critical that this “brace” fit correctly and that it is as neutral as possible for both horse and rider.

Poor saddle fit can cause the rider to struggle for balance and comfort, and can cause terrible problems for your horse’s biomechanics. For example, if the saddle is causing muscular pain, atrophy, and bruising, your horse will probably misbehave, but he may also begin twisting his hocks as a way to disperse the power of the hind legs before it comes up through the painful back. The hock twisting will contribute to arthritis, and muscle atrophy in the croup.

As a therapist, I can tell you if your saddle is a problem, but you really need a master saddler or master saddle fitter to assess the saddle and the horse. The saddle fitter should come to your barn to assess the saddle, the horse, and the rider – together.

If you’re lucky, a change in the flocking will suffice. Some trees can be adjusted, but you may need to change saddles all together.

Padding is not an answer, but should be seen as a short-term compromise until the saddle can either be adjusted or changed.

My favorite pads for intermediary issues is the Mattes Correction Pad. This pad comes with shims, and can reduce the pressure points caused by many saddle fit problems. The fleece is very comfortable for the back, and can be helpful if you’re trying to rebuild atrophied back muscles.

Also keep in mind that fluctuations in weight, growth spurts, or seasonal changes may effect your horse’s shape which will impact the fit of your saddle.

I ride with a natural fleece pad all the time – it is not for any correction, just for my mare’s comfort.

I am happy to put you in touch with local saddle fitters. Email me if you’re interested in a referral.

The six-day hands-on Acupressure Course from Tallgrass Institute was absolutely fascinating. I’m already incorporating acupressure points into nearly every massage I perform, and I’m seeing terrific results.

The course covered the Beginning and Intermediate training, and prepared me to perform complete acupressure sessions. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is complicated and multifaceted. You could spend the rest of your life learning and plumbing the depths of its philosophies and never run out of new directions and associations.

What I find so amazing is that Acupressure can treat acute and chronic behavior issues. For example, I treated a horse with an oral fixation, and the horse stopped the behavior for the remainder of the massage session. The horse will probably resume the behavior — it’s been a life-long habit– but I showed the owner which points to work in between my regular sessions with the horse.

That’s a win/win in my book!