Re-training at Moorcroft
Our belief is that
"Correct basic training is a horses insurance policy"
The yard manager, Mary Henley-Smith BHSII & BHS.SM has many years experience in training horses with the main emphasis on them being comfortable and sound to be ridden, to do a job.
At Moorcroft, we feel that unless we get to the bottom of 'issues', 'quirks', behavioural traits', and all the other excuses that people make for ex-racehorses then we won't really be able to give these horses a long-term future which is what we were set up to do.
The Training
All the horses go through a simple, basic, sympathetic retraining programme which they thrive on and aspects of this training is explained at our evening courses and regular Demonstrations – please see Course and Demos page for more info on these.
Building the horses confidence in you as a rider and/or handler is the key to good training. No restrictive gadgets, or aggressive methods are used here – just basic honest horsemanship.
Long-reining to improve posture and strength
All Moorcroft horses learn to long-rein for posture improvement and strength. They can work on straight lines in a good outline, strengthening and lifting their backs every step of the way so they become comfortable horses for riders to sit on and therefore happy horses. There are many advantages to this schooling method and if taught correctly has huge benefits for any horse.
Running around on the end of the lunge line on a permanent circle is something I never understood and it certainly will weaken and strain your horse in many ways – apart from exhausting it.
We work well with an excellent vet and an ACPAT registered physiotherapist who have never failed to unearth and treat the problems that we often find these ex-racehorses have gone thru. These problems, if not found and solved will prevent them from going on to a comfortable new careers and therefore we are committed to helping them to change their way of going and there basic understanding of how to carry a rider. To this end they must be sound and pain-free.
To explain further:
At Moorcroft we only work with and recommend using Veterinary Physiotherapists who are category A members of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy (ACPAT Cat A).
All Cat A members of ACPAT first complete a full time 3 year degree in physiotherapy to qualify as a Chartered Physiotherapist before going on to a minimum of 2 years Veterinary Physiotherapy training to upgrade to cat A member of ACPAT.
Members of ACPAT will always work in co-operation with Veterinary Surgeons and at Moorcroft our Vet and Veterinary physiotherapist attend our centre on a weekly basis to carry out joint assessments and treatments on any of our horses needing help.
ACPAT physiotherapists will always carry out thorough assessment of the whole horse. All joints and soft tissues are assessed to identify areas of pain, inflammation or restriction of movement and a detailed gait assessment is carried out, often involving seeing the horse trot up, lunged and ridden, to identify any lameness issues that may be contributing to the horses problems.
At Moorcroft any identified problems are closely monitored by our physiotherapist and veterinary surgeon who will investigated further as and when necessary.
ACPAT physiotherapists will treat horses using a variety of techniques to reduce pain, inflammation and regaining full range of motion, often including a combination of electrotherapy, mobilisation and manipulation techniques. It is a common misconception that joints go ‘out’ and can be put back ‘in’ by manipulation. Joint movement can become restricted for example due to damage/arthritic change or due to soft tissue restriction surrounding a joint. Manipulation techniques are used to restore movement to restricted joints by working on the soft tissues surrounding the joints and an ACPAT physiotherapist will be very aware of the possibility of underlying joint disease, always treat with caution and if necessary not treat until x-rays of affected areas have been carried out.
We have provided some footage of horses working routinely in the school and will up-date these videos regularly.
ACPAT Physios: http://www.bridgefieldphysio.co.uk