DESERT HORSE EQUESTRIAN SERVICES
 
Resources

 

You asked for it ... information for all those of you who ask such great questions!

Articles and Publications
on a variety of topics including human and equine anatomy and
non-traditional approaches to working with horses and riders

Anatomy | Behavior | Bodywork | Clinic Organizing | Dentistry | Osteopathy | Farrier |
Groundwork | Heartmath | Homeopathy | Fun | Misc. | Organizations |
Publications | Riding
| Saddle Fitting | Chinese Medicine | Training Gadgets | Vaccination | Yoga | Zen

| THE DESERT HORSE BOOKSHELF |

 

Resources
for your holistic barn, including our suppliers of herbs, essential
oils and other useful items

 

Connections
with some of the people we have learned from,
some of whom operate training programs so you can learn, too



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Articles and Publications

Anatomy & Movement - Human

Who's Best Built to Ride?  by Dr. Deb Bennett
Recognizing the Anatomical Differences Between Men and Women and Revising Traditional Teaching Techniques May Make Better Riders of Both Genders

Comparable Parts – You are more like your horse than you think! by Wendy Murdoch

A Rider's Success Starts with the Hip Joint by Mary Midkiff

The Psoas Muscles - The Missing Link
The psoas are the link between the upper and lower girdles of the body and enable experienced riders to influence their horses with their seats and legs.

Muscle Use In Riding - by Sue Morris

Rigging a Horse and Rider: Simulating the Predictalbe and Repetitive Movement of the Rider
Master's thesis on how to create animated representations of horses and riders. Interesting frame-by-frame depictions of riders on horses in various movements, though some of the descriptions of the rider's movements aren't exactly correct.

Anatomy & Movement - Equine

The Ring of Muscles Revisited by Dr. Deb Bennett

Good Movement:  Getting the Best from Your Horse by Susan E. Harris

Biomechanical Riding & Dressage: A Rider's Atlas   by Dr. Nancy L. Nicholson
Thoughtful and interesting text and illustrations detailing such issues as contact, bend, straightness and elevation.

Making Sense of Movement: Maximizing Performance & Minimizing Injury   by Katrina Woollatt
What would you say if I suggested that both we and our horses are better served by placing greater emphasis on nurturing suppleness and flexibility than on strength training?

Comparable Parts #2 – What do you know, it’s only my toe! by Wendy Murdoch

TMJ and TMD: Exploring the Whole Body Connection by Maureen Rogers

What Lies Beneath the Rider’s Seat: The Horse’s Psoas Muscles! by Stefanie Reinhold

Behavior

The 5 F’s - Flight, Fight, Freeze, Fidget, Faint by Robyn Hood
One of the main principles of the TTEAM work is to teach a horse to override the flight or fight reflex. We teach the horse to stop and evaluate a situation by thinking rather than by responding instinctively.

Bodywork

The Alexander Technique: How it Helps Horseback Riders   by Adam Bailey
Release tension and achieve "self-carriage" in your body to help your horse achieve it in his

Clinic Organizing

Suggestions for Clinic Organizers -- veteran clinician Jessica Jahiel provides common sense advice for choosing and booking a clinician, sorting out the finances, advertising and more.

Dentistry

Academy of Equine Dentistry
Interesting equine dental case studies and illustrations from the Idaho school known for training excellent equine dentists

Equine Dentistry
Equine dentist Hanne Lynne's informative site, with info. on anatomy and physiology, symptoms, articles and much more.

The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ): More than a pain in the mouth!  by Joanna Robson, DVM

Why Equine Dentistry?

What Every Rider Needs to Know About Equine Dentistry by Nancy Camp

Equine Osteopathy

Equine Osteopathy

Feet and Farrier Info.

The Farrier and Hoofcare Resource Center -- Find a wealth of information on hoof care issues, written for both horse owners and professional farriers.

Natural Balance Hoof Care -- Master Farrier Gene Ovnicek's highly educational site. Whether or not you like this system of hoof care, you'll find tons of useful information about hoof anatomy and function on this site.

Treating Founder (Chronic Laminitis) without Horseshoes

Groundwork

Connected Groundwork -- Peggy Cummings' Connected Groundwork® exercises not only loosen, reeducate and strengthen your horse’s body, they also give you assessment tools that tell you a great deal about the state of your horse’s mind and body.

Ground Work from the Rider's Point of View by Gincy S. Bucklin, a retired Centered Riding Instructor

 

HeartMath

Study: How horses and people connect
A horse's heart rhythms reflect their emotional state and can respond to the emotional state of a nearby human, according to a pilot study conducted by Alliant International University Professor Ellen Gehrke and the Institute of HeartMath.

New Meaning of "Horse Sense" - more on the HeartMath study.

Heart to Heart: A Quantitative Approach to Measuring the Emotional Bond between Horses and Humans
Ellen Kaye Gehrke, Ph.D, a consultant and professor of international business and management, and
her research team engage in a series of scientific studies to measure the presence of emotional coherence and incoherence between horses/horses and horses humans.

Herbs

An Introduction to the Use of Herbs -- by Joyce Harman, DVM
Despite the increasing use of drugs in our society, chronic disease continues to be a problem, and is in fact an increasing problem. Herbal medicine offers a broad spectrum of choices for treatment.

Echinacea Proven Effective In Horses
Research from the Equine Research Centre in Guelph, Ontario

 

Homeopathy

Homeopathy and First Aid for Horses by Madalyn Ward, DVM

Nosodes: Alternative to Traditional Vaccines -- Horse owners can use homeopathic nosodes for West Nile, Rabies and more. Also for your companion animals ...

Nosodes for Treatment and Building a Strong Bio-Electromagnetic Energy Field (EMF) to Protect Against Infective Agents -- by Gloria Dodd, DVM

The Materia Medica of the Nosodes -- by Dr Robert Séror

Role Of Nosodes -- From the National Journal of Homoeopathy

Homeopathy and First Aid for Horses -- by Madeline Ward, DVM

Homeopathic First Aid Medicines -- from the British Association of Homeopathic Veterinary Surgeons

Amazing Arnica - Natural First Aid for Horse and Rider

How do I give a remedy to a horse? - answers to basic questions about homopathy for horses

 

Just for Fun

Hoofbeats: Gaits and Footfalls -  A series of "natural" movements many horses perform enthusiastically with no training, and often in spite of their riders' best efforts! Have you ever ridden "The Omigod" or "The Boink?"

French and Saunders: Ponies -- hilarious comedy from Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders

Men Doing Dressage

How many riders does it take to change a light bulb?

Beet Pulp Safety Warning a.k.a. The Famous Squirrel Story

A Horse's View of Natural Horsemanship -- A horse tells about his owner, the clinic junkie

Words of Wisdom From a Horse

The Cat Alarm

Doggie Dressage -- canine musical freestyle

The Horse Quartet

 

Nutrition

Holistic Equine Nutrition -- by Joyce Harman, DVM
When it comes to equine nutrition from a holistic perspective, virtually nothing has been published and very little research has been performed.

Organizations

International Alliance for Animal Therapy and Healing (IAATH)

Publications

Holistic Horse

Natural Horse Magazine

Eclectic Horseman

Equestrian Network Magazine

Riding

True Collection   by Dr. Deb Bennett
You won't find it in a "frame" or a head set. No, the perfect posture for ridden performance is shaped by your horse's spine.

Lessons From Woody: On teaching your horse to carry himself straight   by Dr. Deb Bennett

Connected Riding --Peggy Cummings' Connected Riding® is a holistic approach to classical riding principles that bio-mechanically enhances freedom of movement for the performance, health and longevity of both horse and rider.

Aids Versus Cues by Ron Meredith

Circle of the Aids by Dr. Thomas Ritter

The Definition of "On the Bit"  by Dr. Max Gahwyler and Bettina Drummond

Contact = Connection -- A post on the Equine Studies Institute forum. Scroll down to the Aug. 1 post by Dr. Deb Bennett

Contact and
Activating the Hind Legs  by Sue Morris
Two interesting articles on how to engage the horse back to front and avoid the temptation to put a horse in a false frame

Who Balances Whom?   by Wendy Murdoch 

To Bend or Not to Bend: That is the Question by Karl Mikolka

Rider Affect on the Horse's Movement and
The Seat and Getting the Horse on the Bit
  by Beverly Whittington
Written for gaited horse riders, but containing much information that is applicable to all disciplines.

What's Missing is the Middle - by Mary Midkiff

The Horse is Your Mirror by Shana Ritter

It’s time to ride... Do you know where your horse’s feet are? by Katelyn Kent

 

 

Saddle fitting

The Society of Master Saddlers fitting information for English saddles

Western Saddle Fitting and Different Tree Sizes

Horse, Rider and Saddle Fitment fitting information for Aussie saddles

Saddle-Fitting: Much More Than 9 Points to Perfection!  by Joanna Robson, DVM

Hands On Saddle Fitting by Joyce Harman, DVM

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Whole Horse Chinese Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture articles on TCM applications for horses

Equine Acupuncture Meridian Charts

TRaining Aids and Gadgets

Drawreins and Sidereins by Jessica Jahiel

A Few Thoughts on the Use of Draw Reins by Karl Mikolka

Chambon and Gogue by Jessica Jahiel

Neck Stretcher by Jessica Jahiel

Gadgets: What Not to Use, and Why by Theresa Sandin/Sustainable Dressage

Teaching a Horse to Stretch (Without Gadgets) by Jessica Jahiel

The Body Wrap by Linda Tellington Jones                     See a photo of the bodywrap in use

Vaccinating animals

New Vaccination Protocols - All of the 27 vet schools in North America are in the process of changing their protocols for vaccinating dogs and cats.

A New Look at the Vaccine Question by Richard H. Pitcairn, D.V.M.

Vaccinosis, an Issue Worth Pondering from Natural Horse Magazine, March/April 2007

Annual Vaccinations by Joyce Harman, DVM

Holistic Animal Health: Vaccinosis

Controversy in the Kennel: Issues in Pet Care by Gary Null, PhD
Vaccination, homeopathy, insect control

Yoga

The Yoga of Competition  by Amanda Botur, MA, L.Ac., CHom

Zen of Riding

Zen Dressage by Sue Morris

Mindweeds by Shana Ritter
Strictly speaking, any effort we make is not good for our practice because it creates waves in our mind. It is impossible, however, to attain absolute calmness of our mind without any effort.

 

Misc.

Equine Therapy for Veterans - resources for veterans with mesothelioma, cancer caused by exposure to asbestos

Horse We Interviewed About His Reiki Session

Gentleness and Discipline by Dr. Thomas Ritter

The Co-Operative Principle by Dr. Thomas Ritter

Desert Horse Equestrian Services of Tucson, Arizona, is a showcased Riding Lessons Instructor on newhorse.com

Find information about Desert Horse events on the Arizona Equestrian Network

 


Sources and Resources

Essential Oils

Camden-Grey Essential Oils - family-owned business selling quality essential oils and ingredients for making your own toiletry products. Good prices on the oils included in the natural fly spray recipe.

Herbs for Horses and Humans

San Francisco Herb Company - Quality culinary herbs and spices, extracts, teas, dehydrated vegetables, nuts, seeds, botanicals, essential oils, potpourri ingredients and fragrance oils. I've been buying most of the herbs I use as supplements for the horses from SF for more than a decade.

Mountain Rose Herbs - Quality certified organic products with a strict emphasis on sustainable agriculture. Seems SF Herb isn't stocking Eyebright, the ingredient in the eyewash recipe, so here's a another source I purchase from. Mountain Rose also stocks Chaste Berry (Vitex), for those of you with Cushings horses.

Homeopathic Remedies

Homeopathy Overnight

Elixirs.com: Homeopathy for Health - Nosodes for West Nile, Rabies and other horse diseases

Misc.

GloryBee Foods Inc. - Beeswax, carrier oils and other supplies for lotions and potions

E.D Luce Packaging - any kind of container you might need - bottles, jars, droppers and much more

Arbico-Organics - natural products for home, farm and pets, including fly predators and natural animal-care products

Recipes

Natural products you might find of some use around the barn.


Connections

Animal Communicator

Janet Shepherd
A professional horsewoman for 25 years, Janet has great insight into horses that helps you interpret what your horse might be trying to tell you. (She speaks to other species, as well.) She'll respect your animal while honestly passing along the information she receives, and she handles sensitive issues with tact and gentleness. Schedule a session by calling (410) 664-9960.

Bodywork - Equine

EquiTouch Systems - Our concept of equine massage therapy involves the "whole horse." We don't believe in teaching "bits and pieces" of massage with no solid foundation. So we combined several unique methods of touch, bodywork and massage as well as exercise physiology with in-depth anatomy instruction to create an exceptional program.

The SENSE Method - SENSE Method practitioners touch and move the horse in gentle, precise ways to remind the horse how all his parts can work together harmoniously. Originator Mary Debono is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner who has also studied animal massage, acupressure, kinesiology, psychology and behavior.

Jim Pascucci - Human and equine rolfer and author of the recently released book Equine Structural Integration and Myofascial Release

Illinois Alliance for Animal Owners Rights - news about equine dentists, chiropractors and bodyworkers working to ensure horse owners can choose the care their animals need without the practitioners livelihoods being threatened by state veterinary organizations.

Chiropractors for Humans and Animals

Halle Chiropractic - Dr. Aaron Halle works on humans and horses in Tucson, AZ

Red Hat Chiropractic - Dr. Louise Cash, DC, CAC, is a chiropractor using low-force, non-force techniques as well as cold-laser therapy for horses and their riders in Silver City, NM.  

 

 



DESERT HORSE EQUESTRIAN SERVICES
TUCSON, ARIZONA

 

Now Booking
Training/Reschooling Horses, Clinics and Rehab Horses
for fall/winter 2010 and spring 2011!