Monotonous or rigid training routines may weaken muscles, cause pain, and decrease range of motion (ROM).
Look for signs of proprioceptive decline early to prevent and reverse further damage.
Causes:
- Traumatic/ acute injuries (kick, fall, etc.)
- Ill-fitting tack
- Poorly used training devices (martingales, side reins, draw reins, etc.)
- Inappropriate shoeing or dental
- Overuse, fatigue, repeated concussive forces
- Neurological diseases /Aging/Disuse
Healthy proprioception is paramount to healthy athleticism in humans and horses. Further research on horses may provide evidence for effective proprioceptive exercises & therapies and decrease sport injuries.
▪A decrease in injury = better performance.
▪Equestrianism: team of two different animals; attention to proprioception is just as important for the rider as it is for the horse.
▪It takes about 3 months to “retrain” proprioception to better sense of balance.