Thursday, June 27, 2013

Some Of The Factors That Influence Horse Performance

By Lila Barry


Trainers know the importance of enhancing the performance of a horse. Some horses are handicapped while others are physically fit and ready for a certain type of job. While some have easy when it comes to train and ride, others prove to be difficult. Irrespective of the discipline, the best movement enables an animal to utilize its potential to the fullest. Bad movement under utilizes some muscles while overstretching others. The range and degree of movement that it has is determined largely by its conformation, in turn affecting performance. Here are some of the factors affecting 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.

Most problems associated with foot balance are as a result of inadequate leg conformation. This can lead to the hooves being distorted as a result of uneven loading of pressure. The forelimb design is similar to a pillar, in a manner that supports most of the weight of the animal. The perfect conformation of the forelimb should be such that straight line drawn vertically downwards can bisect the knee when passing through the center.

The structure of a horses back is another factor which affects its performance. In a normal animal, the back is curves slightly upwards, with this curvature tending to increase in case someone rides on it.

Any rider or trainer should bear in mind that when riding on the animal, stains and stresses in all types are set up. This is tantamount to distorting the horses back. Causing muscular spasms responsible for many problems experienced by both riders and the horses.

Injury and stress is another contributing factor. In the case of all breeds of animals, whether gymkhana ponies or prestigious racehorses, the stamina needed to attain peak competition potential without risking injury is supreme. Conditions that prevent racehorses from achieving performance at their peak can in most cases only be figured out if the horses are stretched to it athletic 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 final factor concerns how a tack is fitted. Failure to fit the saddle and tack correctly can lead to many problems. Some of the problems include stiffness and shortening of strides, eventually affecting horse performance. Prior to a race a trainer should ensure the saddle is correctly fitted. This not only improves the animals performance, but also makes the rider comfortable.




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