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  Discussion on Difficult diagonal
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Posted on Thursday, Sep 28, 2000 - 1:45 pm:

As part of my studies, I have to undertake a project to improve the performance of a horse. i have chosen to work with a 14hh connemara pony who has been ridden only by a beginner and so has become stiff and uncomfortable on one diagonal. We have established that it is not a medical problem.

I propose to lunge him 3x a week on both reins and use stride length improvement to judge whether or not he is becoming more supple.

However, I am not sure of how to measure strides at trot on a circle. Any ideas?

Posted on Thursday, Sep 28, 2000 - 6:11 pm:

Hi Susan
If I wanted to measure strides on a circle I would have a preset circle size (x) and count the number of strides it takes to get around the circle in each direction. Then you can compare the two directions. I guess a round pen would come in very handy to maintain circle size. But if a person is riding the horse you can "map out" the circle size to be ridden and have a stride counter on the ground also.
So, if you know the size of the circle (x) and the number of strides (y), you can divide x by y and get your answer. Of course I would do z number of circles and find the median.
Good luck!

Posted on Thursday, Sep 28, 2000 - 6:56 pm:

Hello Susan,
you need to critically evaluate your statement: it is not a medical problem. I know of no way to completely rule out medical problems if there is some abnormailty in gait. It is a version of the old scientific adage: you cannot prove a negative no matter how improbable.
DrO

Posted on Friday, Sep 29, 2000 - 10:38 am:

Hi Susan,
I agree with DrO; that statement hung me up as well. It might be significant that he has been ridden so much by a beginner, as it's a rare beginner who is completely balanced laterally and doesn't favor a certain side. That can easily cause problems. Has a chiropractor evaluated the horse as well as a vet?
Best of luck.

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 31, 2000 - 3:24 pm:

sorry I havent got back to this site for ages. Thanks for the advice, I am measuring the number of strides that he takes on a circle circumference of 25 metres. I am training to be a chiropractor and as far as I can ascertain, he does not have any major problems, just is very 'left handed'! He is showing some inprovement after some sessions on the lunge, although I find it difficult to get him to work on the right rein as he wants to canter around me as fast as possible, I guess because he finds the slower work more difficult. I was wondering if trotting poles might help. If so, what distance apart do they have to be if laid out on the lunge circle?
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