Lemony Acres Horse Center

Luna and Astrid. Astrid is not her mom, even though she matches coat color.

Celebrating horsemanship and riding achievements with USPC badges and fun gifts. Plus an ice cream sundae bar to make for a sweet ending. Looking forward to the fall achievements and award ceremony.

Astrid update – Keep her in your thoughts and prayers

Astrid has been struggling on and off with lameness in her left front leg. She is not sound. When a horse is said to be sound, it is not exhibiting any lameness or other physical discomfort.

On Tuesday, May 26, Dr. Zander from Piedmont Equine visited the farm and performed a comprehensive exam to try to pinpoint the cause of the lameness.

The exam lasted 2 hours and included nerve blocking of 4 separate locations in the leg and x-rays.

Astrid was never sound after all of the testing and was injected with OSPHOS. She will be off for 4 weeks with a reevaluation at that time. It can take up to 2 months for the drug to be fully effective.

How to identify lameness
• MOST OBVIOUS
o horse’s head will bob up and down at the trot
o horse does not reach as far with one leg during movement
• LESS OBVIOUS
o Reluctance to put weight on one leg
o Standing only on 3 legs
o Feeling inconsistent gaits while riding, especially at the trot

Lameness Exam – The vet performs a variety of tests to locate the source of pain.
Tests include:
• visual exam of the horses gaits at the walk and trot
• hoof testing to determine if there is pain the the foot
• nerve blocking
• x-rays, bone scans, MRI, CAT Scans

What is nerve blocking?
Nerve blocking is used on the horse's legs to identify the source of pain. Local anesthesia is used to numb a region to determine if it is a source of pain. The blocks start at the lowest part of the leg and work up the leg progressively until the area of pain is located when the horse becomes sound.

How a block works
1. The nerve or joint capsule is injected with a local anesthetic.
2. The horse is then trotted to determine if there is any improvement in the horse's gait.
3. If the gait improves and the horse moves soundly, then the source of pain has been located.
4. If the gait does not improve then subsequent blocks are performed moving up the leg until the location is determined.
When the source of pain is blocked from being painful, the horse will be sound.

Blocks can be performed perineurally (around the nerve) or into synovial structures (joints, bursae and tendon sheaths). Typically, the vet starts low on the limb and work upwards.

Horsemanship on a rainy day. Learning about morning chores and feeding.

Lazy days ... 2 weeks old and growing like a w**d

Latest baby picture - thanks Sabine!

Long post, but supports the use of ground poles which we use extensively.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ak777wduU/

A recent study from the University of Tennessee provided strong support for something trainers, movement specialists, and bodyworkers have observed for years:

Ground poles significantly increase activation of important postural and core muscles in horses.

What the Study Found

Walking over ground poles increased activity in:

• Longissimus dorsi — a major topline and spinal support muscle
• Abdominal muscles — critical for core stability and support of the spine

Even at the walk, poles require the horse to:

• Lift the limbs higher
• Stabilize the trunk more actively
• Organize posture and balance with greater precision
• Continuously adjust limb placement and timing

At the trot, researchers also found increased activation of the abdominal muscles.

Trotting over poles requires greater dynamic stabilization, and the increased limb elevation demands more coordinated control of the trunk, pelvis, and spine.

What This Means

These findings support the long-standing use of cavaletti and ground poles as a low-impact way to:

• Strengthen the topline
• Improve abdominal engagement
• Support spinal stability
• Enhance proprioception and coordination
• Encourage improved posture and self-carriage
• Develop better movement organization through the whole body

One of the most important aspects of pole work is that it influences both sides of the postural system:

• The dorsal chain — including the longissimus muscles along the back
• The ventral chain — including the abdominal support system

This balance is essential for efficient movement, force transfer, and development of a healthy, functional topline.

But pole work is not only muscular.

It is neurological.

Each pole creates a movement problem the horse must solve in real time.

The horse has to:

• Judge distance
• Adjust stride length
• Control timing
• Stabilize the trunk
• Organize the limbs in space
• Adapt moment-to-moment to changing demands

That process requires attention, coordination, body awareness, and ongoing nervous system regulation.

In many horses, poles appear to improve focus not simply because the horse is “behaving,” but because the nervous system is becoming more engaged and organized around the task.

Pole work may also influence neurological tone — the background level of muscular and nervous system readiness that affects posture, movement quality, stiffness, and coordination.

For some horses, this can help reduce excessive bracing and improve adaptability through the body.
For others, it can help improve postural engagement and overall organization.

Why It Matters

Regular pole work can benefit many types of horses:

• Young horses developing coordination and posture
• Performance horses improving strength, agility, movement quality, and limb awareness
• Horses rebuilding core control and stability after periods of weakness or reduced work
• Older horses maintaining mobility, coordination, and movement confidence

Importantly, many of these benefits occur even at the walk, making poles accessible to horses across a wide range of ages, disciplines, and fitness levels.

Rather than simply “making horses pick up their feet,” poles appear to challenge the nervous system, postural system, sensory system, and muscular system together — encouraging the horse to organize movement with greater control, awareness, and adaptability.

https://koperequine.com/step-by-step-the-benefits-of-walk-poles-for-horses/