Do you feel that you seem to have the worst luck? Perhaps you should give up owning/riding because really, what’s the point? Your horse(s) always seem to be lame or just not right?
Why is it always your horse(s)…? It’s NOT!
YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
I don’t know why we keep these challenges to ourselves, perhaps we feel ashamed or embarrassed. Worried that people will judge us and/or think we have caused it.
I’m not sure of the reasons and I guess they are personal to each individual. But having a horse who is constantly sound or correct is NOT normal.
At the end of the day, they are living beings! Like us, they have good and bad days. Sometimes they work a little harder than usual. had a ‘heavy’ night in the field with their mates, slipped, bucked too high, slept funny, or trod on something! Living life will cause mishaps for horses and humans and these things WILL happen.
My experience with Rana
Let me share with you where I currently am with Rana. With Annick (my Queen), I’ll tell you about another time. Yes, I have two horses that aren’t quite right! Rana has slipping stifles and has had this since a baby. They have never locked but she needs to be in work to maintain the strength of the muscles and tendons throughout her body. Especially the stifles. I am meticulous about making her work correctly through her body.
As much as she is annoying to ride (yes, she pushes my buttons and we clash but I still love her!) I do what I need to do because it is my job to look after her, to keep her healthy. She has the best of everything. Like the rest of them and I work my arse off to enable them to whatever they need. Whenever they need but, Rana has not been right for about 1.5 years now.
To a huge majority of professionals, she is sound, fine, has no issues but perhaps a little stiff but I KNOW she is not right. I FEEL IT! But what do you do when the professionals think she’s ‘fine’? You follow your instincts and get another opinion and another and another…. I led myself to believe that it was the stifles so continued to work with her whilst I still searched for a professional that saw what I felt. Rana went to Nantwich Equine Vets on Monday 19th April to have a Lameness Assessment with Campbell Thompson.
On the assessment Campbell noted:
lame 1-2/10 on RF in a straight line and positive to flexion on this RF but also mildly positive on RH. On the firm circle, she was 1/10 LF to left, and 1-2/10 RF on Soft she was 1/10 RF to left and 2/10 RF to right. As right fore lameness was more significant this meant it was a nerve blocked first. Low palmar digital nerve block improved lameness by approximately 60% and abaxial sesamoid level block further improved lameness. However, this did not completely abolish RF lameness but did appear to increase left fore lameness.LF lameness was abolished by palmer digital nerve block. Foot radiographs were taken which showed no significant abnormalities but questionable navicular changes.
This pattern of lameness is very common and generally, associated with a combination of the navicular bone, ligament, and ddf tendon pathologies. An MRI would be required to identify the exact pathology in this case. Found her to have toe-in conformation especially of LF and asymmetrical feet with RF smaller and more upright. You can see from the X-ray of the RF, the slightly distorted line of the navicular bone but otherwise, no significant signs indicating why. With an MRI costing in the region of £1300 and she is not insured I asked Campbell to treat and he medicated both Left and Right Fore navicular bursae with steroid and high molecular weight Hyaluronate and we would assess in 3 weeks.
I was given instructions of her aftercare…
Told to put shoes on the front to offer support and try to correct the asymmetry in the right fore. It was slight, very slight. Not something I’d not noticed but the more we talked the more I started to blame myself. I took Rana’s hind shoes of a fair few years ago and about 1.5years ago, maybe slightly longer I took the fronts off too. Transitioning her to barefoot thinking that it was better for her, turns out I could have caused this There is no way to know but I feel it is down to me. She is a heavy front-loading Friesian who will avoid sitting and using her hind as much as possible with the stifle issues will force her more onto the fore. She needed shoes and support and I took them away from her.
Not all horses can and/or should be barefoot
I know that and yet I still don’t know why I did it. I guess because I THOUGHT it was the right thing for her. Anyway, it is what it is and I am a little (A LOT!) poorer (well Adam is!) and I followed Campbell’s instructions. Took her back on Wednesday 19th May (4 weeks as I was away for a week). I rode her in the school the Friday before, as she had only be hacked as she was more sound on hard ground in the assessment. She didn’t feel perfect in the school but I’d say 85% better if not a little more. Especially as she warmed up more and got in the zone!
Campbell assessed Rana and was honestly extremely happy with how well she had responded to the treatment and said that it was as good as it was going to get! So to crack on with the work and drop her weight (little porker has put on 20kg! in 4 weeks) and as soon as I feel her drop off to come back and re-assess and treat.
So yesterday was a good day! Not so good for Rana as I haven’t shown her her work diary yet!! Lol… The point I am trying to make is YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH A HORSE THAT ISN’T RIGHT! It happens to more people than you realise and even after assessment and treatment and making a huge improvement she will never be 100%. Never.
Now, let’s talk about Annick
As I mentioned above Annick is also not right. Now it’s because she’s not strong enough. It’s just taken nearly a year to get her to where she is now. When you own a horse, the reality that they will always be sound or that there will never be an issue is small. So so small! As mentioned, they are living beings and I have lost count of the times I have woken with a stiff neck of not able to bear weight on one foot for no known reason. So, if you are currently dealing with an issue with your horse, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. We all go through it, some more than others, some for longer than others, and if you haven’t yet then you will!
There is no shame and no need to be embarrassed. You would never do anything to intentionally harm or cause your horse issues and they don’t intentionally seek to injure themselves they are just busy living life. If you have possibly caused an issue, like me, then hold your hand up! Accept it, learn from it and move forwards, and don’t hide the burden of having a horse that isn’t right because that will eat you up inside! And find a team that listens to you, because no one knows your horse as you do! And what you have to contribute matters! It has taken me nearly two years and now I feel I have the right team of professionals to turn to when I need them.
Somewhere, someone like you, like me needs to hear that they have the same issues. They need to feel they are not the only ones in the world right now to give them the strength to move forwards… You are not alone! I am right here with you walking the same pathway right now!
RiderCise® – ‘Making Rider Fitness Easy’
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Equestrian Riders across the world can now subscribe to our On Demand video library of Horse Riding Fitness Exercises. Finally, riders can improve their riding ability from any device with an internet connection with RiderCise On Demand!
Our aim is to make horse rider fitness as simple as possible across the world with expert-designed rider fitness exercises. On Demand is accessible on any device with an internet connection.
You can sign up for On Demand equestrian rider workouts, read our useful blogs and learn more about Clare and her Friesians. The new website was designed by Black Nova Designs and is fully secured, and designed for optimum user experience throughout.
CEO and Founder of the Company, Clare Gangadeen, noted:
I have put my heart and soul into this business and as a horse owner and rider I KNOW how expensive horses are. Which is why access to the 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 RɪᴅᴇʀCɪsᴇ Oɴ Dᴇᴍᴀɴᴅ platform cost less than £1 per day! Thank you to Black Nova Designs for this Epic Site and Tara Punter PR LTD for their help with my business growth. CFM Group for their continued marketing support, and of course CREEK Consulting for helping me build this EPIC site.
Clare Gangadeen
Equestrian Riders – Improve Your Riding with RiderCise
Today, we’re taking a bold step forward with our updated look with this easy-to-use and subscribe website. This marks a new chapter in our continued pursuit of delivering the equestrian rider fitness routines to all horse riders, worldwide. We will keep striving to not only continuously provide the best possible service but also improve our online presence. So as to align ourselves to the digital evolution and better serve our customers.
The RiderCise horse rider fitness programs are designed to help you become the best rider you can be.
You can subscribe to the RiderCise On Demand platform from just £0.45p per day! which makes rider fitness affordable for everyone!
Subscribe Today Risk-Free with our 7 Day Free Trial:
RiderCise has launched Rider Fitness Workouts On Demand to help riders across the world improve their riding.
Rider Fitness On Demand is a revolutionary new video subscription platform. Workouts can be accessed from any device with an internet connection. You you can work out ‘Anywhere, Anytime’.
RiderCise, founded in 2016 by fitness professional and soft tissue therapist Clare Gangadeen, came about following a riding accident. Clare was riding her beautiful Friesian mare Annick but her high level of fitness didn’t give her extra security in the saddle. As a result, she had a nasty accident that shook her to the core.
Rider Fitness On Demand provides riders with full instructional videos where riders can follow along with founder, Clare. This means riders ensure they are performing the exercises correctly and getting a transferable benefit.
Subscriptions to the platform are all less than £1 per day! RiderCise makes Rider Fitness ‘Affordable, Accessible & Achieveable’
Rider Fitness is not General Fitness
Riding fitness improves the way you ride, reduces aches and pains, and limits the severity of injuries that can occur. It helps to improve rider performance, boosting flexibility and core strength as well as specific conditioning for riding muscles.
To be Rider Fit you must work the muscles riders use. You must also use them in a similar way to when you ride. This is what will transfer benefit to your riding. So whilst you may be fit generally, it doesn’t mean you’re riding fit.
Clare comments:
What sits at the core of RiderCise is this – the type of exercise undertaken must transfer benefit to your riding, or it’s not really rider fitness.
Riders from around the world at all levels from amateur to FEI level are benefitting from RiderCise. Sign Up today and start improving your riding, posture, and seat.
RiderCise On Demand is the Worlds most affordable Rider Fitness Platform.
Subscription to the RiderCise On Demand Platform gives riders:
Immediate access to PROVEN RiderCise® Signature Workout Routines.
Workout routines to suit various fitness levels, goals, or time restraints.
Workouts with little or no equipment – foundation level doesn’t require any!
Freedom to work out at home
The confidence their workouts will be benefiting their riding.
New workout routine drops which focus on specific rider challenges and imbalances
Improving your Rider Fitness couldn’t be simpler. All you need to do is sign up for a subscription and you can access all of the RiderCise Workouts on any device with an internet connection. And Don’t worry, if you need help or support, you also get access to the RiderCise Support Group on Facebook.
I would love to hear your views so do not hesitate to contact us, subscribe to our newsletter for free, or click here to get in contact for any questions or queries you may have. Keep up to date with the latest content by following our Social profiles on Facebook, and Instagram.
We love delving into the daily routines of the people who are building amazing brands in the equestrian community. Juggling horses, riding and running a business is no small achievement. But what about 4 horses AND staying in enviable shape whilst helping other riders improve their fitness?! Clare Gangadeen, founder of RiderCise, takes us through how she squeezes it all into a day and gives us some insight into her current rider fitness challenges. Let’s go behind the brand at RiderCise!
Waiting hand and foot on four Friesian mares
Like all horse owners, my life revolves around horses – oh, and 3 cats and my partner Adam! I am fortunate that I now have the horses at home, which saves me so much time previously spend travelling to and from the yard. However there is one tiny downside – the girls have worked out exactly WHERE I LIVE! If you have seen my Facebook videos you would have seen naughty Imke escaping and coming to the house! The result is that they are now waited on hand and hoof – there are downfalls to everything! But I really do love having them at home. It means I get to see the babies growing up and spend time with them without always wanting something but I now visit them at least 5 times per day!
I have 4 beautiful Friesian girls:
Annick – a 2nd Premie Star Mare who is 12 years old and my Queen, my inspiration, the face of my Brand.
Rana – a 3rd Premie Mare who is also 12 years old and my first Friesian who started this addiction I now seem to have.
Zeva – a 2-year-old filly who is just massive but the gentlest girl. She loves attention, treats and galloping.
Imke – a 2nd Premie Filly, 2 years old who is probably the sweetest and cleverest horse I have met. She is an escape artist extraordinaire! Just head over to the RiderCise® Facebook page to see ALL her videos.
Clare and her beloved Annick
An early start to a busy day
I typically get up at about 6:30am, feed the cats and then go feed the girls, turn out, muck out and fix whatever Imke has destroyed. It takes me about 1.5hrs to do four boxes and prep them for the evening. I then head back in to do my cardio. I normally do between 30-60mins on the cross trainer whilst making calls, responding to emails and going through my diary.
At the moment I am busy recording for the new RiderCise® On Demand Platform. That means that after my cardio, I’ll have a shower and then record 1 or 2 routines before a late breakfast at about 11am. I then head out to ride the two older horses. I try to alternate between Annick and Rana but of course, they are horses so that doesn’t always go to plan and they sometimes get left longer between rides depending on how they felt when previously ridden.
Both Annick and Rana are slowly improving their fitness as I don’t typically ride much through the summer. They just don’t cope well with the heat and, as always, there are ongoing challenges with horses. They are individuals, nothing is plain sailing and there are often more downs than ups!
Behind the scenes of RiderCise®
At about 2pm I normally have some lunch and then sit down. I start looking through my client’s updates on the RiderCise® current platform, responding to questions and queries. I then typically start editing videos (which takes forever!) until about 5pm. Despite the girls having access to grass there isn’t anything in it at this time of year. That means they are often bored and want to come in, so off I trot to the yard to bring them in and feed.
After feeding I head back to my office and continue editing videos. Then I do the majority of my client calls who are on Custom Designed Programmes. I often finish at about 8:30pm, sometimes later if I have a webinar or am speaking to clients in another time zone. Then, I start making my dinner and usually have a glass of wine. I do love wine and it helps me shut my mind down, especially when working so late. Just before I eat, I go check the girls. I top up their hay and give them their sweets for the night.
Fitness to ride supporting her horses
Rana has slipping stifles, something she has always suffered from and she needs to work a lot more through her body. She has a tendency to drag herself rather than push herself and she doesn’t have much focus. She would much rather be watching what everyone else is doing instead of her feet, which doesn’t help her stifles. With her, I work on forwardness mainly, long and loose, she must find her balance and learn to use her body properly. We do lots of transitions, serpentines, zig-zags to keep her focused. I also pay particular attention to my body posture, balance and control so she doesn’t have to worry about dealing with me as well as herself.
Annick hasn’t been right for a while. She was caught on our CCTV playing in the field, bucking and landing upside down on the floor! She needs to lengthen and strengthen her muscles (as with most of us riders) so, whilst I need to work her, she often needs bigger recovery gaps. It will often feel like she is going 4 steps backwards and then has a really great session. Annick also has to work more proactively from her hind and find her own balance. She also needs more support from me, to help pace her (she will rush if allowed) through my tempo and encouragement to go forward with impulsion with my energy and seat.
A total body approach to fitness
I keep a total body approach with my own fitness, but at the moment I am personally focusing on the control of my body for both horses. It’s important that I’m in control of what my body is doing. It enables me to stay as light as possible in my seat, not leaning or collapsing through transitions whilst still having the strength to create impulsion to drive them forwards. For Annick, I need the strength in my legs to wrap around her and support her when needed and release when she has rebalanced. I also need the strength in my posterior chain to control the pace of her trot through the tempo of my posting.
I’m constantly looking at ways I can improve myself for the benefit of my girls. Small changes in the way I ride can have huge positive impacts on their ability to move beneath me. Focusing on rider fitness truly has changed my life!
Learn more about RiderCise®
Clare’s message that rider fitness is just as important as horse fitness has truly resonated with riders around the world. Rider fitness is not just for elites, it’s for anyone who cares about their horse! Riding is a partnership and we have to hold up to our side of the bargain.
Keep an eye out for the launch of the RiderCise® on Demand programme when it launches later this month take a closer look here.
Get in Touch
I would love to hear your views so do not hesitate to contact us, subscribe to our newsletter for free, or click here to get in contact for any questions or queries you may have. Keep up to date with the latest content by following our Social profiles on Facebook, and Instagram.
I attended a clinic with Manolo Mendez in Poland on 26th – 28th April 2019. It was truly enlightening and awakening to see a person have such a connection, with not just a one-horse, but all of the horses he met.
I believe that learning never stops and will always seek the opportunity to further increase my knowledge and experience. Whether it be riding, fitness, horse training, anatomy, physiology, or therapy.
The more I know, the more I can help riders help themselves, to help their horses.
Background
Manolo is a seasoned horseman; he likes to say he has over sixty years of experience living, breathing, working with and training horses. He started his professional career at the young age of 14, training the Alvaro Domecq’s personal horses, to later become one of the six founding members of the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art. Manolo is well known for Classical Dressage training. With specialist skills in training the Piaffe, Passage, and Pirouette, known as the 3 P’s without coercion or force.
Manolo uses a holistic approach to training, looking at the horse as a whole to sympathetically train, develop and rehabilitate. An approach that is sought after by many professionals and individuals across the world. It helps with straightening, releasing tight, stiff, and crooked horses. And to assist in the development of correct posture, movement, and gait enhancement.
For the 3 days, I sat in an indoor arena for about 10 hours a day. In so many layers of clothes to keep warm in the cold and damp weather that Poland greeted me with. Despite being so so cold I was fascinated, mesmerized, and moved by Manolo’s ability. How he saw, felt and understood so much from a horse in such a brief encounter. I was not able to leave, despite how cold I was. It was truly enlightening and awakening to see a person have such a connection, with all of the horses he met.
There were a total of 8 riders who each had a session a day with Manolo. This allowed you to see the progress over the 3 days of the clinic. Whilst many of the sessions started mounted, but if Manolo saw that the horse was stiff, tight, anxious, nervous or just unsettled. He would then ask the rider to dismount, and un-tack horse to then work with him from the ground.
There were times when Manolo would just walk to the horse and touch a specific area. The horse would immediately react as if Manolo heard the horse tell him exactly where there was an issue. It was truly emotional to see as you saw Manolo change, as he felt the pain himself, sharing it with the horse.
The sessions lasted as long as they needed to in order for the horse to feel comfortable and confident in their environment. With whatever task was being asked of them. For some this simply meant walking around, a little lunge work, some in-hand, and bodywork from Manolo. There was never any rush. Pushing, forcing, or frustration from Manolo. If the horse ‘expressed’ themselves Manolo was listening and would say ‘ok’ and go with whatever the horse needed.
When allowed a voice, many of the horses had much to say. Expressed through their body language, head tossing, and resistance to settle due to nerves, anxiety, or tension. Or perhaps they were already saying it but there wasn’t anyone listening or they didn’t understand what was being said?
I think it is easier to think that horses are resistant, lazy, and naughty rather than that they are trying to communicate with you.
Manolo loves to give you analogies and detailed descriptions to help you understand to educate and increase your understanding. To show you that it’s not complicated; it’s simple when you look and listen. I love this. I will never be Manolo but if I am prepared to look, listen and feel then I can learn how to be better for my horses.
Whilst the sessions were perhaps not what the rider originally hoped for it was clear that Manolo’s approach of watching, listening, and going back to simple basics paid dividends. Come to the next session you could see the horse had changed. They were freer, more content, and soft in the eye. More willing to listen and work alongside Manolo and their owner/rider.
I am unsure of where it really comes from, the need to rush a horse through its experiences and education. It seems that society expects horses to be at a certain level by a certain age. Irrelevant of the fact that they are still young. To be able to perform a variety of moves such as Travers, Shoulder In, flying changes, Piaffe.Yet the horse has not been granted the time to become balanced, have straightness and rhythm to work with regularity and ease.
I have felt that pressure myself with my girls. Being made to feel that they should be competing at a specific level or have achieved such moves but I have never pushed them and at the age of 11 now, they are just starting to really expand themselves and for my resistance to the pressure I will have happy, healthy horses with longevity.
Manolo uses a cavesson and bamboo for groundwork and nothing more as it is important to allow the horse to work without restriction and stress and to develop a fitter, healthier, sounder horse. Whilst watching him working on the ground with the horses it was easy and quick to see how the horses started to correct slight imbalances such as leaning into a circle, flexing outwards and shortness on a side. When allowed to move correctly and freely.
Manolo’s Teachnings
Manolo expressed that when working a horse on the ground it is important to make the work as easy as possible. And then they will give back 10 times more because you have allowed them to be comfortable.
Manolo has many stories to tell but the main message is you must treat horses with respect and kindness. We would not like to be strapped up and made to rush around unbalanced, horses are just like people. When given the opportunity to be comfortable and free through the body and mind the horse will be happy and want to work.
This is something that I think we may be starting to forget. Some appear to be more interested in their pride, stature or the money the horse can generate for them; the latest gadget, fashion or luxury item or promise of peer respect, success and vanity.
“ Be kind to your horse”
– Manolo Mendez –
Manolo always focuses on the horses and works on what they need to work on to find balance and regularity in their movement. Whilst the rider may want more advanced work, Manolo does what the horse needs. This is a quality I greatly admire and respect.
A quality that I think many instructors have lost or never found. In order to create harmony between horse and rider, you need to work within the capabilities of the horse, not the desire of the rider.
“A trainer should act like a horse’s bodyguard and not let anything bad happen to them in lessons. The horse knows when the trainer’s instruction is causing him pain”
I have found it hard to write about such an experience as I came home tired, emotional, and feeling a little broken. Feeling that perhaps I have let my horses down at some point.
I’ve listened to an instructor push my horse when I should have protected them. Or been too focused on what I wanted to achieve. That I did not see what they needed.
Whilst I know that this would never have been intentional. I can’t help but think ‘have I let myself and my horses down?’
It has taken me a few days to get my head around how I have brought my horses up through their years. But have come to the conclusion that yes, I have made mistakes but. My continued desire to learn and strive for better harmony and partnership gives me some reassurance that I have and will continue to. Be the best that I can to make their lives better.
What I have learned or more so remembered is that. I have horses because I love them and it is not about what they can do for me. It is about what we can do together.
Treat your horse with kindness and respect and allow your horse to grow healthily both physically and mentally naturally. Protect them from those that may harm them, intentionally or not.
You are their partner, their friend, their protector.
I Urge You
I am quite shocked that most of the people I mention Manolo to have never heard of him. Especially in the dressage circles but I urge you. No matter who you are, go to one of his clinics, open your eyes, your mind, and listen. Remember why you have horses and see that it is possible to help your horses through correct training, kindness, and patience more than spending money on material items they just don’t need.
I would love to hear your views so do not hesitate to contact us. Subscribe to our newsletter for free, or click here to get in contact. Keep up to date with the latest content by following our Social profiles on Facebook, and Instagram.
