ANATOMY AND MUCULATURE

Muscles can only be developed when the stimulation for work-out is undisturbed. If this is not the case, sooner or later a degeneration of the muscles, a so-called muscle atrophy, will emerge. A number of blood vessels are responsible for the supply of a muscle. The individual muscles or muscle areas, respectively, are being controlled by nerves via impulses. These nerves receive their instructions from the “headquarters”, the brain. A number of complex connections causes muscles to develop or shrink.

Viewed superficially, a muscle develops through the interplay of exertion and relaxation, which means neither a constantly strained nor a constantly relaxed muscle will develop.

The nuchal ligament cord of the horse.

Drawing: Matthias Haab, Vetsuisse faculty of Zurich University

Referring to our horses’ backs that means: not merely the mechanical pressure from saddle and equestrian causes the musculature to vanish, but also the “headquarters”, the brain, can limit the supply for certain muscles or entire muscle areas if they are the reason for unease. This can induce muscle atrophy or speed it up. At this, not just the obvious muscles are being affected but also several others.

Just think of rhythm errors that are oftentimes caused by seating problems. Relieving postures and motions almost always emerge along with back problems. Usually, the horse tries to avoid motions that produce pain or to compensate for them by the aforementioned relieving postures. By this, false strain and overstrain can also affect other parts of the musculoskeletal system.