of the ball to shoot it in a relaxed manner (which gives him accuracy). This is how an agile horse functions (show- jumper, cutters, bullfighters): always quickly advancing a foot ahead of the body to keep his balance. Today, we have qualified chiropractors, osteopaths
and myofascial massage specialists who can observe a horse’s stance, notice a hip or shoulder that is higher than the other and remedy the problem by an adequate manipulation. No amount of traditional training can remedy the asymmetry caused by fascia tension and we must turn to qualified, professional body workers to help horses do their jobs more easily. On the other hand, these treatments only work in the long term if the saddle fits, the teeth are worked on correctly and regu- larly, the feet are trimmed properly and the rider sits symmetrically. Equally important, the horse must be re-educated in
movement after being adjusted, so his biomechanics are corrected to fit his newly found posture. This work is done in hand by returning to tapping each leg in turn to cor- rect the timing of their lift in all directions at the walk. A delay in the lift, reflecting a remaining excess weight load, is only the habitual memory of the postural anomaly that was there before the adjustment. A little repetition of
previous work will bring the horse to realize that things have become easier and a new, better habit will be established. The correction of the timing (until each leg picks up without delay and the loading is corrected), diminishes the bracing and the body contractions disappear eventu- ally. This work is ongoing during the horse’s life and must be refined constantly, transferred to the legs under sad- dle and eventually to the hand as a rein aid, timed with the lift, in every direction wanted. This will help the horse increase his range of motion and his balance. At this point, the horse is balanced, mobile and light to the aids. Each new movement may temporarily disturb this light- ness, but the same process will reestablish it at the new level of education.
JP Giacomini has trained close to 20 Grand Prix horses and worked on thousands of remedial horses of various breeds, in Europe and the U.S. He studied under Nuno Oliveira and later at the National Portuguese Stud of Alter Real. He has produced international win- ners in all three disciplines and invented a unique training method called “Endotapping.” JP breeds and trains Iberian Sport Horses at his and his wife Shelley’s Baroque Farms USA in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. JP can be reached at
jpgiacomini@gmail.com.
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