APRIL 2019 THE RIDER /41 How can Equi-Bow help your horse get back on track this spring? Spring is finally upon


us, which means many equestrians will be getting their horses back into con- sistent work after a tough winter. This winter brought all the usual suspects that prevent us from maintaining a consistent training pro- gram – polar vortexes, snowstorms, freezing rain and damaging winds. Win- ter makes it difficult to even get to the barn some days. And for our horses it means more days spent inside when the weather makes it too dangerous to turn out. Or the inability to safely move around icy paddocks left with frozen muddy div- ots.


For many, equine and


human alike, winter means decreased mobility. Eques- trians know this requires a slow and steady return to work to avoid strain and in- jury. But many equestrians also know the benefits of Equi-Bow and have chosen to add it as part of their horse’s regular training and maintenance program. How can Equi-Bow


benefit your horse during its return to regular work? The key is fascia. If you’ve never heard the word “fas-


cia” or aren’t quite sure what it means, think about that thin white film you see on an un- cooked chicken breast. That’s fas- cia! There’s a rea- son many find fascia fascinating; this connective tis- sue is found in every corner of the body from head to tail to hoof. Fascia is responsible for maintaining the body’s structural integrity, providing support and protection to muscles, bones and organs, and even acts as a shock absorber. And that’s really just scratching the surface. So why is fascia so im-


portant to Equi-Bow practi- tioners? If you consider that the body’s skeletal system is held in place by the mus- cles, and the muscles are supported by fascia that es- sentially functions like a form-fitting pair of panty- hose, you can see how fas- cia plays an integral role in musculoskeletal health. Fascia


creates a


smooth surface on which muscles can glide, allowing for optimal function. How-


into consistent work this season. Find a list of certi- fied practitioners in your area on the Equi-Bow web-


site at www.equi-bow- canada.com


By Angela Saieva,


CEBP/CETP/CEMT info@elevationequine.com www.elevationequine.com


ever, in times of decreased mobility, the lack of muscle movement creates a sort of fascial “fuzz”, which in turn creates friction between muscle fibres. If this fascial friction continues to build up it will eventually present itself as a visible line of ten- sion called fascial banding. This is commonly seen on a horse’s flank, shoulder, over the scapula toward the with- ers, and throughout the hind end appearing as delineation between muscles. Presentations such as


fascial banding, stiffness, postural imbalances, gait ab- normalities and muscle asymmetry can be ad- dressed through the fascia.


Fascia not only hugs the muscles and protects the or- gans, it is also a vast net- work


of intercellular


communication. Equi-Bow practitioners use a light- tough technique to send messages through the fascia to your horse’s nervous sys- tem, encouraging its shift into a parasympathetic or “rest and digest” state. In this restorative state the body can undergo cellular repair, create new neuro- muscular patterns and rehy- drate fascia. Contact a Certified


Equi-Bow Practitioner to learn more about how Equi- Bow can support your horse in his or her journey back


Western Ontario Region Pony Club


Located in Western Ontario, we are a region of the Canadian Pony Club dedicated to encouraging youth


leadership, responsibility and compassion through education and


stable/horse management. We hold region wide competitions in Quiz, Rally, Tetrathlon, Dressage, Show


Jumping, Prince Philip Games and Le Trec as well as regular education sessions and a camp in the summer.”


Now accepting memberships


E: wor@canadianponyclub.org wor.ponyclub.ca


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