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Assessing Posture and Movement

2 Day Course for Horse Owners, Riders and Equestrian Professionals

with Gillian Higgins

Next Date TBA

Wavendon Grange, Lawn Lane, Old Dalby, Leicestershire, LE14 3LW

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Good posture is vital for the health, comfort and performance of every horse. Posture is influenced by many things including exercise, training, musculoskeletal comfort, management, hoof balance, pain, behaviour and of course the rider!

 

Movement is affected by his posture, asymmetry, comfort and conformation.

 

As a professional, having the ability to recognise postural weaknesses and movement irregularities early on can help prevent problems from occurring. To do this accurately you need a thorough understanding of the principles of anatomy, biomechanics, conformation, and posture.

Course Trailer

This course will give you the necessary skills to systematically assess horse posture and movement. It is ideal for equine therapists, therapy students, coaches, instructors, farriers, and judges wishing to hone their skills and better understand posture, biomechanics and movement.

 

Through her work as a professional equine therapist assessing the posture of hundreds of horses and as an educator, Gillian has devised a clear system for assessing both equine posture and movement which she will share with you on this course.

 

Using a mix of theory, observation, practical demonstrations and small group sessions this course will boost your knowledge of this subject. There is also the opportunity to share information and discuss interesting or challenging cases with other practitioners in a relaxed and supportive environment.

Key Points

The course will evaluate and consider:


  • Postural weaknesses
     

  • Methods of assessment 
     

  • Muscle development
     

  • Muscular strengths and weaknesses
     

  • Stability versus flexibility
     

  • Movement & compensation patterns
     

  • Balance, strength and stability
     

  • Asymmetry
     

  • Gait irregularities
     

  • Subtle lameness

!

Provisional Timetable

details

DAY 1

0900:  Registration and Coffee

0930:  Welcome and Introduction

09.45:  The Importance of Posture

Classroom Session

1100:    Break​

1130:    A System for Assessing Posture

Classroom Session

1300:   Lunch

1400:   Assessing Posture

Practical Session

1500:   Break

1530:   Assessing Dynamic Posture

Practical Session

1600:   Discussion

1630:   Close

DAY 2

0930: The Walk. Biomechanics, irregularities and improvement methods -Video Based Session


1030: Assessing Walk - Practical Session


1100: Break​


1130: The Trot and Canter. Biomechanics, irregularities and improvement methods -Video Based Session


1215: Assessing Trot & Canter - Practical Session


1300: Lunch


1400: Bending, Backing up and Transitions


1500: Break


1520: The Ridden Horse - Practical Assessment Session


1615: Discussion


1630: Close

Notes

We envisage this course to be very popular so early booking is advised.

Certificates of Participation (CPD) will be emailed after the course. Course notes will be provided.

Tea, coffee, home-made cakes and a light lunch of sandwiches, crisps and fruit is included.

This course is held both inside and out so please bring appropriate warm clothes for a day out on the yard.

This course is limited to 14 people to ensure small groups and individual attention.

Prerequisites

All participants must provide proof of a professional equine qualification or relevant college attendance.


To get the most out of this course it is recommended you read:

Posture and Performance

and watch the on demand webinars:

Understanding and Assessing Posture

Undesrtanding and Assessing Your Horse's Movement Series

Prices

charges

Prices include VAT

Assessing Posture and Movement

25th and 26th May 2023

£375

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Course Leader

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Gillian Higgins

Gillian is an equine anatomist, biomechanist, BHS Senior Coach, professional Sports and Remedial Therapist and author with a first class honours degree in Equine Science and Business Management.



Gillian is passionate about posture. She specialises in assessing the musculoskeletal systems and designing exercise programmes for improving posture and performance as well as assessing and addressing individual horses’ weaknesses. 

Gillian has studied a variety of equine and human modalities both traditional and holistic.



 

As well as conventional training, Gillian has studied equine therapies in America, France, Germany and Sweden and is committed to giving our equine partners the best possible levels of care and consideration.

 

 

Gillian works with horses from all disciplines and levels from leisure to Olympic.

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Venue and Horses

Marvin pony skeleton head and neck

All of Gillian's courses are supported by a wealth of photographs and video footage taken from years worth of work including footage of her anatomically painted horses and from her dissections.

 

Also on the day of the course, you will have access to Gillian's large collection of bones and anatomical models.

 

This ensures that you will be better able to visualise the structures we discuss on this course.

This course is run at the Horses Inside Out headquarters, Wavendon Grange near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire.

 

The facilities at this central UK location include a small yard with a variety of horses, arenas and a classroom complete with audiovisual facilities.

 

This is a comfortable and professional space for learning where you are always guaranteed a friendly welcome.

​Gillian has many bones, skeletons and anatomical models in the teaching barn for you to view and handle.

 

Being able to bring horses into the teaching barn alongside the anatomical models really helps to combine the theory and the practice! 

Recommended Reading

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