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TTEAM for sport horses |
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by Andrea Pabel |
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Equine and human athletes have some things in common:
They work hard, train a lot and are expected to perform at their very best. Both experience high levels of stress and tension and are often under pressure. Most athletes are exhausted after they perform. They suffer from injuries, stiffness, over trained muscles and strains. |
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Human athletes who are hurt or feel discomfort have a wide array of bodywork available to ensure they are pain free when they go back to training. |
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When a horse expresses that he is uncomfortable or in pain, he is treated very differently. Often times the |
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trainer or rider misinterprets what he is trying to tell them. A horse with back pain and who is reluctant to move mostly gets labeled "resistant" or "lazy". If they buck, they get punished and maybe worked even harder. Horses have many ways to express hurt and discomfort: head shaking, tail swishing and grinding their teeth, just to name a few. Unless a horse is really lame these behaviors are often not recognized as a signal that the horse is hurting.
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I have found that horses have a good reason for acting the way they do, and are in pain more often than we think. Finally, the attitude towards our horses is slowly shifting. More and more people are becoming aware of the fact that horses in general, and especially sports horses, benefit from bodywork, such as TTouch. The founder of the TTEAM method, Linda Tellington Jones, has worked extensively, and with great success, with high level sport horses around the world. She has taught at the Olympic Equestrian Center in Moscow and worked with riders such as Klaus Balkenhol and Nicole Uphoff, greatly improving their horses' performances. Many trainers have made TTEAM part of their daily routine knowing that a relaxed and pain free horse will not only be more happy and willing to work, but also perform better.
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One of the most useful and effective TTouches you can do for your horse is the "Ear TTouch". |
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Working a horse's ears has many different uses: It can help a colicking horse to calm down (while you are waiting for the vet). Ear TTouch is being used by endurance riders to lower a horse's pulse and respiration during races. It improves circulation, helps your horse to relax and is most useful when your horse is in shock or under stress. I have found it very helpful for foaling mares, easing their pain and helping them recover faster. |
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How can working your horse's ears be so effective?
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The ears and the base around them have many acupressure points. The triple warmer meridian is located around the base of the ear. By working this acupressure meridian you affect the digestive, pulmonary and reproductive systems. At the tip of the ear is a shock point. Making small circles with your thumb and forefinger will greatly help your horse recover from shock and help him stabilize. |
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Here is how you get started:
Stand in front of your horse and hold the side of the halter with one hand. Your horse's head should be lowered. With the other hand gently explore the area around the ear. Move your fingers in tiny circles with light pressure, but enough contact to move the skin in a tiny circle. You can practice this on your own arm first. Make a tiny circle, taking care to not just slide your finger over the skin, but actually pushing the skin in a circle. |
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"Ear Slides", are also very effective. Gently but firmly stroke the ear away from the base to the tip. It works well to hold the halter on the opposite side of the ear you are touching. You can also make tiny connected circles in lines from the base to the tip of the ear. It is great to work the inside of the ears, starting by taking the edges gently between your thumb and forefinger and making circles all over them. |
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As you do this make sure you stand comfortably, breathe easily and keep your fingers soft. |
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Pay close attention to your horse. He will let you know when you are pressing too hard by raising his head and not holding still. |
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Licking, chewing, and closing his eyes are signs of the horse enjoying the ear work. |
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Most horses love to have their ears worked, but there are horse who don't like their ears touched. Then you start by working towards them slowly, making the circles through a washcloth or using the back of your hand to touch. |
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It is well worth the effort to get your horse used to having his ears touched. This is not only useful for easier bridling, but also for doing the ear Touch to ease mental or physical tension. This TTouch is especially effective between classes at a horse show, at rest stops on an endurance race and during or after any stressful workout. |
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Knowing how to do this will give you a wonderful tool to help your horse in difficult situations and also enrich and deepen the relationship between you and your horse. |
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Read comments or post your own comments to this article at the bottom of this page. |
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Copyright © 2008 All rights reserved. The above article is the property of the Author and may not be duplicated or redistributed in any way without permission. |
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Reader comments for this article |
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Name: Anni and Pickles Time: 2008-06-04 20:06:59
Comment: I too, would like more on TTouch. My horse has not only pain issues, but emotional issues that touch seems to help. Please keep the TTouch coming.
Name: Deborah Thorsen Time: 2008-06-04 20:06:29
Comment: I suggest another way to calm a horse or to get a horse to lower his head is to stroke the area of the poll and continue down through the forelock. They love that!! The endorphens are located at the poll.
Name: Nora Fischbach Time: 2008-06-04 09:06:50
Comment: I had a horse colic last week, and used the ear technique with her. It calmed her down and eased her fears, and, I believe, her pain. It completely stopped a colic attack with another horse years ago, and when one of my horses broke a leg clean through, the vet was amazed to see him standing quietly with me next to him massaging his ears. I'm glad you shared this technique.
Name: Kathy Yaskin Time: 2008-06-02 09:06:33
Comment: I discovered the "power of touch" 22 years ago when I started training and competing in Dressage and I continue to use it every day. Most horses come to me with "issues" and the first thing I do is to open the path of communication.... "TTouch" is the best way to reach out and say "it's going to be OK". I can't change the "issues" if the horse wont trust me. Everyone rider/trainer/horse lover should know the "TTouch"! Would love to see each issue include this type of article.
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