Wednesday, June 26, 2013

A Look At The Factors Affecting Horse Performance

By Lila Barry


Nurturing the performance of a horse is quite important, as any trainer knows too well. While some horses prove difficult to ride to train, others are a piece of cake. What enables an animal perform its required duties to its full potential is good movement. In case it has bad movements, some of its muscles are overused while others are underused. The way a horse moves in largely determined by its conformation that also affects how it performs. The following are some of the factors that are responsible for 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.

Many problems related to foot balance are as a result of poor leg conformation. This leads to distortion of the hooves resulting from an uneven pressure loading. The design of the forelimb just like a pillar, for supporting most of the horses heaviness. The recommended forelimb conformation is such that a line can be drawn vertically in a way that it bisects the knee through the center.

Another factor that influences how a horse performs is the back structure. As the back is normally bowed slightly upwards, this upward curvature tends to increase when more weight is placed on the animal.

Anyone who trains or rides horses should know that in the process of riding, all types of stresses and strains are set up. This can distort the anatomy of the back, leading to muscular spasms capable of causing a lot of problems both to the animal and the rider.

Injury to the horse as well as stress is the other factor. In the case of all types of animals, whether racehorses or gymkhana ponies, their ability to achieve whole athletic potential without the risk of getting injured is paramount. Condition that may prevent animals participating in competitions from getting peak performance can most of the times only be known if the animal is pushed to its full limits.

When an animal is participating in horseracing, its system can undergo a lot of stress. The rigors that trainers subject them to when practicing for races as well as the races themselves can cause muscle strain, torn ligaments and spasms. Although these symptoms cannot prevent a horse from going about its duties, they can affect how it performs in a dramatic manner. Some of the competitions that the animals go through, such as show jumping, can result in long term injury is not fixed early enough. It is recommended that the animal is checked for muscle injuries regularly.

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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