lundi 24 juin 2013

A Look At The Factors Affecting Horse Performance

By Lila Barry


Trainers know the importance of enhancing the performance of a horse. Some horses are handicapped while others are physically fit and ready for a certain type of job. While some have easy when it comes to train and ride, others prove to be difficult. Irrespective of the discipline, the best movement enables an animal to utilize its potential to the fullest. Bad movement under utilizes some muscles while overstretching others. The range and degree of movement that it has is determined largely by its conformation, in turn affecting performance. Here are some of the factors affecting horse performance.

One of the main factors is foot balance. Irrespective of how accurate the conformation of an animal is, probability is that it will not be of much use if it has a weak foot. In order for horses to perform a majority of normal activities, it is essential to have a good foot formation. For it to keep up with a normal gait, its feet should be perfectly aligned with the body and balanced at the instance they are above the ground.

A majority of the problems that horses face about foot balance are due to improper leg conformation. This is capable of causing distortion of hooves due to pressure being loaded unevenly. How the forelimb is designed is the same as a pillar, whereby it is made to support most of the horses weight. This way, even when someone is riding on it, pressure is applied evenly to all the legs.

The other factor that affects how an animal performs is the structure in its back. Since the back is usually curved slightly upwards, when extra weight is placed on it, it sort of slightly strain the upward curvature.

A trainer can hence put into consideration that when someone is riding on a horse, all types of strains and stresses are triggered. This can distort the backs anatomy, resulting in muscular spasms that cause so much trouble for both riders and the animals themselves.

Injury and stress is another contributing factor. In the case of all breeds of animals, whether gymkhana ponies or prestigious racehorses, the stamina needed to attain peak competition potential without risking injury is supreme. Conditions that prevent racehorses from achieving performance at their peak can in most cases only be figured out if the horses are stretched to it athletic limits.

For instance, horseracing is capable of piling up significant stresses on the animals system. The stress and rigors associated with training for competitions and the actual races can cause muscle spasms, strains and misalignment. Although these symptoms are not a major cause of worry, they can influence the performance of an animal, in some instances quite dramatically. Other types of competition such as show jumping place the same stresses on the horses system, which can result in long term injuries if not treated early enough.

A tack that is not correctly fitting can cause wide ranges of complications. For example, a saddle that is badly fitting can cause stiffness, shortening of strides, resisting and hollowing. Essentially, a poorly fitting saddle derails horse performance, preventing it from achieving its potential.




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