EQUIMO BLOG

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Our horseshoe graph and its symmetry rings show you a couple of essential values: the time spent in each gait, the percentage of riding on the left and right rein, and the ratio of the gaits during a session. 

These numbers tell you if you equally burden your horse’s left and right sides. Some riders use this as a mere controlling feature because they naturally ride equally to the left and right. However, many riders are surprised when they see their results because they may not be as even as the riders expect them to be. One of the main reasons is that both horses and riders feel more comfortable moving either to the left or right. In horses, it is similar to left- and right-handedness in people. If a horse is, for example, right-handed and has a more comfortable movement to the right, the rider may unconsciously prefer this direction. This tendency to prefer one direction might also be caused by a physiological predisposition or previous injury.

Then there comes the rider themselves. If they feel more comfortable in one direction, either because of a pathological, physical, or mental reason, they may diminish the time spent in a less comfortable direction. 

Unequal burdening of the horse’s body may lead to health problems or even pain, and it can become a virtuous circle. Therefore, it is important to control the evenness of your movement to avoid problems, and lengthy health issues and to support the natural balance of your horse’s body.