This guide helps horse owners, riders, and trainers at all levels learn how to assess any horse's fitness, strengths, and weaknesses. If you're buying a horse, this will help you pre-assess prospects before getting the complete veterinary examination. If you own a horse, these techniques will help you better understand your horse's aptitudes, customize a training program, identify signs of strain, and provide better care for your horse. Features step-by-step instructions and almost 200 photos and drawings showing the proper positioning and approach for the techniques described.
Content:
List of Figures.
Foreword.
Acknowledgments.
Anatomical Terms.
Introduction.
Part I: Preparation.
l. Palpation Skills.
2. Massage Awareness for Your Palpation Evaluation.
3. The Relaxation Massage Routine.
4. Stretching.
5. Anatomical Review.
6. Conformation and Stances Evaluation.
Part II: The Riding Evaluation Program (REP).
7. The REP Starting Point.
8. Signs of Problems with Your Horse.
9. The Riding Evaluation Program (REP) Exercises.
10. The Walk.
11. The Trot.
12. The Canter.
13. More Advanced Riding and Jumping.
14. The REP Routine.
Part III: The Palpation Evaluation Program (PEP).
15. The 25-Point Program.
16. The Head and Neck: Points 1 to 5.
17. The Back: Points 6 to 12.
18. The Forelimb: Points 13 to 19.
19. The Hind Limb: Points 20 to 25.
20. Recap from the PEP.
Conclusion.
Index.
About the author:
Jean-Pierre Hourdebaigt, a Licensed Massage Therapist, is internationally renowned for his unique Massage Awareness Method. He travels the world teaching his techniques, which are used by competitive and recreational riders, veterinarians and veterinary technicians, physiotherapists, massage therapists, farriers, trainers, and breeders. He authored the classic Equine Massage: A Practical Guide (Wiley), now in its second edition. For more information, visit www.massageawareness.com.
