Romy wrote:
First - can someone of the native English speakers please tell me the correct anatomical name of this thing? Then I´ll edit this topic and change the headline...
In my vivid discussions with some people in a German dressage forum, it was always said that it was a precondition for collection to exercise the neck back band. And that in collection there must be a tension in this band. It was even the main reason for one of them to be against riding bitless/bridleless. She said that it was impossible to ride the horse in an active stretching posture (here I need the correct name again, please!!) without the bit and to reach the tension of this band in collection because a "frame" from reins and legs would be needed. Otherwise collection would be stuck and unable to go through the whole body. Unfortunately the explanations about why this shouldn´t be possile without a bit ended up with "The horse will NEVER choose the way which affords more effort." Of course I don´t think so and I would love to exercise this band now.
I always thought that it was a stretching posture when the horse is walking with the head on the ground and swinging in the back. But according to those people, this doesn´t seem to be correct.
So my question: Do you know how to exercise this band? What exactly is a correct stretching posture (if not walking long and low) and how do we get there?
The area referred to, under the 'Crest' of the horse's neck is discussed in the excellent article by Dr. Gerd Heuschmann, DVM. As you might guess from the name, he is German.
That portion of the long supraspinous ligament that lies in the neck is referred to by the Dr. as "nuchal ligament," and the Dr. also supports YOUR description of how it is exercised and performs under stretching downward...in fact it raises that portion of the back ligament "supraspinous" going into traction from the lowering of the head.
A fair anatomical drawing is at
http://boiseartmuseum.org/education/ima ... natomy.jpg
And Dr. Heuschmann's article on "THE BACK" in a PDF file format is at:
http://schleese.com/documents/FUNCTIONAL%20ANATOMY%20OF%20THE%20HORSE.pdf
While I don't know other's opinions of the Dr. and his views he supports many of the discoveries I made over the years about functional anatomy by direct observation and manipulation of the horse's limbs, neck, trunk, shoulders and hip.
Dr. Heuschmann has been cited before in this forum. Miriam and Ziggy as I recall in the Research forum referred to him. Others have elsewhere for that matter.
I found more information because I saw his name here. Had not heard of him before.
It stands to reason that if you draw the back into tension by lowering the head (after all, the structure of the neck of isolated could NOT hold the head up) you will lift the back to some degree.
You are right, as far as I'm concerned, Romy, and the hardest thing is to correct someone that is wrong, or ignorant and must defend themselves rather than learn.
In your work how often do you run into this? Why presume, if you do, that horse people are any different as a demographic?
Some of us are very ignorant, and to top it off, sadly, some so stupid as to resist learning and shedding of their ignorance.
May I make a suggestion? Okay, I will anyway.
Simply ask them to explain the very question you are asking now ... how IS the back exercised "properly?"
And keep asking one way or another, gently as you go, until it occurs to them to do the research.
Those who wish to learn will come back and thank you for urging them to learn, the others? Well, you know what they will do, some of them.
Those that do not run will come back at you with precisely the kinds of attacks that made you feel so badly.
It's all they have.
If you are confronted with a demand that you defend YOUR position, it is best not to comment, but simply cite your authoritative source...the DVM I just cited.
Here is more from and about him. As you can see you are not citing an amateur:
horseandriderbooks: Tug of War: Classical versus "Modern" Dressage ...
German rider and equine veterinarian Dr. Gerd Heuschmann is well-known in ... against a practical backdrop of the horse’s basic anatomy and physiology. ...
www.horseandriderbooks.com/mm5/merchant ... gory_Code= - 19k - Cached - Similar pages
[PDF]
FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY OF THE HORSE – The Back
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
By Dr. Gerd Heuschmann, DVM. Translated by Reina Abelshauser ..... If you look at the horse’s anatomy, you will see that your goal for every riding lesson ...
schleese.com/documents/FUNCTIONAL%20ANATOMY%20OF%20THE%20HORSE.pdf - Similar pages
www.germandressage.com
2005 National Symposium: Functional Anatomy of the Dressage Horse--Today and the Future by Gerd Heuschmann, DVM and Klaus Balkenhol, with Guests Brigitte ...
www.germandressage.com/education.html - 16k - Cached - Similar pages
USDF Symposium
At the conclusion of the bit discussion Klaus Balkenhol introduced Gerd Heuschmann, DVM. The credentials of Dr. Heuschmann are impressive. He is a bereiter, ...
www.millbrookfarms.com/usdf_symposium.htm - 32k - Cached - Similar pages
USDF - News
Dr. Gerd Heuschmann will work with Balkenhol during the symposium. ... University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover regarding the anatomy of the horse's mouth ...
www.usdf.org/News/viewNews.asp?news=80 - 9k - Cached - Similar pages
Amazon.com: Tug of War: Classical Versus "Modern" Dressage: Why ...
Dr. Gerd Heuschmann is a veterinarian with a research interest in the training of horses in .... explains the functional anatomy of the dressage horse, ...
www.amazon.com/Tug-War-Classical-Incorr ... 1570763755 - 206k - Cached - Similar pages
Fran Jurga's "HoofBlog": Up-to-the Minute News from Hoofcare ...
DR. GERD HEUSCHMANN trained as a Bereiter (master rider) in Germany before qualifying for .... Hoofcare & Lameness "Glass Horse" hoof anatomy cd-rom ...
hoofcare.blogspot.com/2007/10/rollkur-book-slams-overflexion.html - 99k - Cached - Similar pages
ExclusivelyEquine.com: Classical Schooling With The Horse In Mind
In addition, a final chapter on basic equine anatomy by the renowned German veterinarian Dr. Gerd Heuschmann affirms Beran’s methods with science. ...
www.exclusivelyequine.com/ViewProduct.a ... 6-1931(BHP)&parentCategory=Books&category=... - 59k - Cached - Similar pages
Forest Horse: Sensation Saddles, Natural Equine Products & Gifts ...
The final chapter, by the renowned veterinarian, Dr. Gerd Heuschmann, affirms Beran's program with science and fundamental principles of horse anatomy. ...
www.foresthorse.com/index.php?act=viewP ... ductId=248 - 13k - Cached - Similar pages
Horses for Life
The meeting with the equine vet from Warendorf, Dr. Gerd Heuschmann, ... the functional anatomy of the locomotor system of the horse preceded the practical ...
horsesforlife.com/content/view/629/689/ - 24k - Cached - Similar pages
And if I understand Dr. Gerd Heuschmann's position correctly he is NOT going to be well received by your dressage opponents with much love.
I'd be interested in seeing what they have to say. I do wish I read German...I'd go and debate them myself.
While you here might find me kind, which is because of the quality of character I find here, you would see a very different "me" Donald Redux, in debate with the ignorant. And worse if they stupidly refuse to open up to the possibility they could be wrong.
I am fascinated by those that make personal, ad hominem, attacks as their "logic" in debate.
You would not want to be downstream of the argument should they try and pull that on me.
I scored fairly high in logic and debate in college. And love a good fight. And I had something over 20 years of intense involvement in studies on the horse, and riding and training.
Could they argue in English?
Donald Redux
"Beware the elderly, for they are very very clever -- and sneaky."