North American Trainer - online articles

Working the Kinesio tape therapy magic on equine athletes

In a sport where everyone is looking for an edge, the latest for Thoroughbreds may be Kinesio tape. It is the same tape seen on tennis star Serena Williams, soccer player David Beckham, any number of University of Connecticut basketball players, and many others. It creates a lifting effect on the skin of humans and horses alike to improve circulation, relieve pain, and, depending on its application, relax or stimulate muscles.

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Tendon Treatments - how to treat the common injury

Tendon damage is one of the most common and perplexing soft tissue injuries in racing jurisdictions throughout the world. Roughly eight to thirty percent of racehorses in the United States, eleven percent in Japan, five to fifty percent in the United Kingdom (including jump horses) and at least five percent in Australia sustain tendon injuries during their careers.

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Is Conformation Relevant?

This year’s yearling sales are just beginning with Fasig-Tipton July in Kentucky quickly followed by Fasig-Tipton August taking place in Saratoga. Then it is the turn of the monstrous Keeneland September catalogue to lay host to thousands of blue-blooded Thoroughbreds desperate to have their conformation analyzed by trainers, owners and those conformation experts – the bloodstock agents. The 2007 September Keeneland yearling sale sold nearly four thousand horses for just short of four hundred million dollars in seven books, each illustrated with photographs of the current superstars sold at last year’s sale. Does examining a horse’s conformation really give you a better idea as to whether you are looking at next year’s superstar?

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Pilates for horses - enhancing performance and reducing injuries

Pilates is increasingly used amongst professional athletes as a method to enhance athletic performance and to reduce injuries. It is also used frequently as part of a post-injury rehabilitation program, as the exercises are performed in a slow and controlled manner, targeting specific muscle groups - the core stability muscles.

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Pelvic asymmetry in racehorses - increased risk of injury?

Steeplechase racing in particular is a high risk sport for the horse. There is currently some fairly extensive research into racehorse injuries and fatalities on the racecourse, with previously published scientific reports on the subject being widely available. The racing industry is aware of the need for such reports, as the industry itself is very much in the public eye with regard to injury rates on the racecourse.

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Reiki - Paul Peacock discovers the ancient Japanese healing method.

Many racing yards are turning to a number of alternative treatments in an attempt to either speed healing times, improve the life styles of individual thoroughbreds or respond to the wishes of owners who themselves have clear ideas and requirements for the care of their animals.

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Physical Articles

Working the Kinesio tape therapy magic on equine athletes

Tendon Treatments - how to treat the common injury

Is Conformation Relevant?

Pilates for horses - enhancing performance and reducing injuries

Pelvic asymmetry in racehorses - increased risk of injury?

Reiki - Paul Peacock discovers the ancient Japanese healing method.