An Exciting 2 Days with Dr. Kerry Ridgway

Dr. Ridgway is an internationally known clinician and lecturer in Integrative Veterinary Medicine as well as Conventional Medicine.

The aim of these two days was to explore some of the biomechanics and often unrecognized ramifications of the crooked horse and the horse with ulcers.  The natural asymmetry of the horse often creates difficult saddle fit problems, muscle imbalances, and changes in posture. Equine ulcers have been a widely under-estimated cause of postural change and muscle tension.  All of this can result in loss of performance and is a potential source of lameness. When there is asymmetry in the body or limbs, there is compensation. Where there is compensation there are postural changes. Where postural changes exist, locomotion will be affected. When locomotion is no longer symmetrical, performance and eventually soundness will suffer.

This event took place over two days and was an extension of the Equine Wellness Symposium which took place the previous weekend with Manolo Mendez.  

This was the second time I have learnt from Dr Ridgway. His knowledge of how the muscular system of the horse affects hoof balance has revolutionized the way I think about horse hooves, horse health and how I shoe and trim horses. I will be back for more next year as you just cannot learn enough from this man.

Registered Farrier

During the two days Dr Ridgway covered the important interrelated topics listed below.

The “Crooked Horse Syndrome”

• What is it?
• How do we identify it?
• Why we must change the biomechanics of the natural horse to the biomechanics of a ridden horse?
• What is straightness training and why is it so important?

Muscle Patterns of the “Crooked Horse”

• What muscles become tense and painful in the “crooked horse?”
• How do these affect the horse’s ability to perform and stay sound?

The High Heel /Low Heel Syndrome

• How is this problem associated with laterality/the crooked horse syndrome?
• How do we treat it?
• What else creates the problem?

This short video gives you a taste of the sort of information Dr Ridgway gave about  the natural asymmetry of the horse.

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I have evented horses for years and constantly battled with muscular problems from the gymnastic demands placed upon their bodies. A few simple assessments to identify areas of tension, then applying pressure to the correct points melted away my horse’s tension.  You could see my jaw drop and crash to the ground.  These are things I can do for my horses on an as needed basis.  I could go on and on about how useful the things I learnt were, I’ll be back like a shot to learn more next year as I feel I only scratched the surface of the techniques and knowledge Kerry can share.

Event Rider

Muscles Associated with Tension and Anxiety

These muscles affect performance and create pathology. Dr Ridgway looked at the Psoas Muscles and the Hyoid Muscles.

This video will give you further information on the techniques used by Dr Ridgway to optimise the ability to achieve straightness and balance, and avoid the damaging effects of muscle tension.

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Equine Ulcers

Two days of fascinating lectures giving me knowledge on how to incorporate acupressure and other modalities into my practice.  I would love to bring my horse along next time. McTimoney Corley Therapist. Massage/MFR practitioner

• Does your horse buck?
• Does your horse have problems building top-line and maintaining weight?
• Is your horse unhappy when tightening the girth?
• Is your horse happy training at home and stressed at shows?
• Is your horse irritable when touched or groomed?
• Does your horse kick out or buck after going up or down a bank?
• Does your horse buck after jumping?
• Does your horse resist cantering?

Dr Ridgway is an expert on Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) and has spent many years developing ways to both assess for the presence of ulcers and help with the common muscle tensions caused by their presence.  He explained why ulcers are such a problem and how we could treat them, or better yet, how we could prevent them?  He will discussed the current treatments and medications for EGUS.

Dr Ridgway was able to clarify why some of the ‘problems’ I see in horses exist.  He also came up with how these problems can be helped and treated.  This just made me want to tell everyone!  I feel empowered with just the small amount of learning I could gain from a very short time with this amazing man.

Remedial  and Sympathetic Saddle Fitter

Dr. Ridgway carried out practical demonstrations showing how to recognize and deal with all the issues above. Attendees were taught to identify problems and worked to solve them.

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Buy Dr Ridgway’s excellent DVD and booklet on Equine Gastric Ulcers

Buy Dr Ridgway’s excellent DVD on saddle fitting