How
You Can Help Your Animal
TTEAM and TTouch offer real value for money.
You can learn how you can help your animal by attending a workshop or by working with a
local Practitioner on a one to one basis.
One to One Sessions
You can call your local Practitioner and ask
them to visit your home or take your animal to the Practitioner. All qualified
Practitioners work on a one to one basis. Costs vary depending on area and skill level and
there may be some travel costs as well. Most Practitioners only charge between £25.00 -
£35.00 per session. You will be shown TTouches and leading exercises if appropriate that
you can do to help your companion animal overcome a variety of problems. Many clients see
a change in their pet within the first session although this obviously depends on the
longevity of the problem and possible contributory factors.
Costs for a one to one session at Tilley Farm
and in the Bath/Bristol area, for companion animals and horses, by arrangement. Travelling
costs may be added if the animal is unable to come to Tilley Farm and lives outside a 10
mile radius from the farm.
Workshops
You could also attend a workshop.
Practitioners qualified to Level 1 and above teach one day workshops and those qualified
to Practitioner Level 2 teach two day workshops. Costs vary depending on the skill level
of the Practitioner and the area. Many people who attend our workshops go on to train as
Practitioners.
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What is TTEAM?
The Tellington Touch Equine Awareness Method
(TTEAM) is a teaching method for horses that incorporates body work (TTOUCH), ground
exercises and riding exercises to help improve co-ordination, balance, and athletic
ability whilst deepening further communication and understanding between the horse and its
owner/carer
TTEAM helps increase levels of self confidence
and self-control.
Developed by Linda Tellington-Jones, TTEAM is
used widely in many countries across the world by Olympic dressage riders, pleasure
riders, trainers, veterinarians, therapists and horse owners.
TTEAM techniques gently guide the horse
through non-habitual exercises that can alter existing habitual patterns. As posture
affects behaviour, many owners and carers note that unwanted behaviour diminishes as the
horse's posture improves. TTEAM teaches the horse to act, rather than simply re-act.
TTEAM blends well with many other modalities
and training methods. It is not necessary to adopt the whole TTEAM philosophy in order to
make a difference to a horse. Learning just a few of the simple body TTouches and
movements can help make a difference to a horse's life.
TTEAM is not a replacement for appropriate
veterinary attention and should never be used as such. If you suspect that the horse in
your care has a physical problem please consult your veterinary surgeon.
The Three Phases of TTEAM
TTEAM offers a training approach that
encourages optimal performance. TTEAM horses demonstrate marked improvement in athletic
skills and an increased willingness to work and ability to perform. Owners can learn how
best to help their horse by working with a trained Practitioner.
TTOUCH Work
Body TTouches find areas in the horse's body
that indicate tension, fear of contact or discomfort. Specific movements and TTouches are
used to improve circulation, release tension, calm and promote a greater sense of well
being.
Ground Exercises
TTEAM leading exercises enable the horse to
override old patterns of movement and behaviour without the use of fear or force. The
ground work improves co-ordination, confidence, focus, self control, balance and
co-operation.
Riding Exercises
TTEAM riding techniques combine Linda
Tellington Jones's 30 years of classical riding experience with her unique training method
to increase the comfort, performance and confidence of horse and rider.
Rescued and Rehabilitating Horses
TTEAM offers ways to assess, train and help
rescued and rehabilitating horses. The body work and ground work are invaluable for horses
that cannot be ridden and for those that lack trust and confidence. Some of our
Practitioners already work closely with welfare organisations and TTEAM workshops and
clinics have been held in several national rehabilitation centres.
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TENSION PATTERNS IN
HORSES
By Sarah Fisher
Understanding how posture relates to and
directly influences behaviour in horses can give you valuable information about how and
why your horse reacts the way he does in certain situations. This can be a helpful tool
when thinking of taking on a horse when you have to rely on the information given by the
previous owner or when faced with problems handling or managing the horse already in your
care.
What are Tension Patterns?
Tension Patterns are areas of tightness that
exist in a horse's body. They may be obvious and inhibit the natural movement of the
animal to a greater or lesser degree or may be subtle and less easily detected. Either way
they will have an effect on the way the horse functions on an emotional, mental and
physical level. They can influence not only how the horse thinks, feels and learns but can
hamper its ability to be trained, accept contact, cope with the farrier, travelling etc
and adapt to new situations.
In my experience, there is always a reason for
'unwanted' behaviour and in cases where the horse reached a plateau in its training or
rehabilitation, veterinary examination proved that there were often quite serious
underlying physical causes. Tension Patterns can arise from poor training, inappropriate
dental and hoof care, poor tack or rug fit, injury or disease, stress, or inappropriate
management. Whilst conformation plays an important part, some horses are born with Tension
Patterns that they inherit from their parents, which then influence how the horse is
handled and trained in its early years. Humans copy their posture from those around them,
it is likely that the horse follows the same pattern since visual learning is such an
important part of the development process for all beings. Learnt posture and behaviour can
further exacerbate the tension that the horse carries from its earliest years and so the
cycle of unwanted behaviours and poor posture continues.
Tension does not always have to imply
something unwanted. Tension and stress are necessary for all structures to maintain the
ability to be supportive but the tension and stress must be as evenly distributed as
possible to prevent uneven loading on one or more parts. When the tension in a horse is
uneven, it has a knock on effect through the body and as posture and behaviour are so
inextricably linked, unwanted behaviour patterns can arise.
Behaviour and emotional and mental well being
are closely linked to a horse's physical state and each can affect the other for better or
worse. Changing undesirable posture to a more functional one not only relieves physical
discomfort but encourages more efficient body and brain use. A horse that is moving in a
balanced way is less prone to injury and illness and utilises its feed better.
Learning to identify Tension Patterns in your
horse enables you to make positive steps to improving your horse's wellbeing as well as
opening up deeper levels of mutual trust, awareness and understanding. Simply punishing
the horse for undesirable behaviour or trying to push him through a physical problem makes
existing Tension Patterns worse and leads to the creation of others.
Identifying Tension Patterns
Try to get into the habit of spending time
simply observing your horse. Watch how he moves, his general posture when at rest, when
working in hand and when loose in the field. Look for free easy movement in a good rhythm
and balance with an equal length and height of stride in both hind and forelimbs. Watch
how the horse stands - is he square or does he stand in an uneven frame? Ask a friend to
lead the horse towards you and away from you and watch how he tracks up. Look for uneven
movement through the neck, withers, barrel and hind quarters. Is his posture straight?
Does he always lead with the same leg when moving off from a halt? Does he appear to be
'holding' in his poll, neck, back or hind quarters? Does he take a hind limb towards the
mid line? There are endless observations to be made when watching your horse and detecting
the smaller more subtle patterns of holding takes experience. You can increase your
awareness by practising with a horse you don't know as well as you may know your own since
it is often easier to note postural traits when you are less biased as to what you might
see. The more you watch, the more you will learn and the easier it will be to spot any
peculiarities such as a tendency to roll or lie on one side in the field or stable or
being concerned when approached in certain directions by horses or humans.
When handling your horse, note how he reacts
to being tied up, led, saddled, bridled, rugged up, groomed, washed off, having his feet
picked up and being shod. Look for any tell tale signs which might indicate all is not
well such as uneven or incorrect muscle development, excessively or unevenly worn shoes or
signs of irritation or defensiveness about being touched in certain areas. Under saddle be
aware of points such as over sensitivity or resistance to leg aids, difficulty in striking
off on a particular lead, hollowing, napping or stiffness on a particular rein. Jigging,
stumbling, spooking, bucking, hollowing the back, swinging away as you mount, or sluggish
movement can all indicate the presence of Tension Patterns.
In addition to using your powers of
observation use the flat hand exploration to confirm your thoughts or to give you a more
specific idea as to where the areas of tension lie. Start at the poll and run the flat of
your hand smoothly down the neck, and down the shoulder. Run your hand under the neck,
along the barrel, flank, stomach, over the back and hindquarters and down all four limbs
ensuring that you check every part of your horse with the flat of your hand on both sides
of his body. Check for 'ticklish' areas, hot or cold patches, muscle spasm, tightness,
staring coat or coarse hair, scurfy patches or feeling of tightness in the skin or
underlying muscle. Note whether your horse pulls faces at you when you touch a certain
area, pins his ears, hardens his eye or holds his breath. He may move away, lift a leg,
fidget, head shake or nip to express his concern.
The Mouth
Tension in the mouth area generally signifies
an overly-emotional and sensitive horse. It inhibits breathing which may be light and
shallow and is linked to a state of tension existing throughout the entire body. If the
mouth feels tight he may be inclined to reject or refuse titbits. However if the bottom
lip is floppy it does not mean that the horse is relaxed. It can be an indication of
discomfort and tension in the poll area and may be indicative of long standing dental
problems. Tight muzzles are often accompanied by tight or pinched nostrils and can be
linked to a lack of tolerance and aloof and disinterested behaviour. Whilst there are many
contributing factors dental problems must be ruled out first. If the deciduous teeth shed
unevenly or the caps are retained it can cause problems for the horse from a young age
whilst the presence of ramps, hooks, and sharp edges can cause tension throughout the body
affecting performance and state of mind.
The tongue and saliva can also be an indicator
of stress. Thick, sticky, white saliva can be linked to poor gut function and maybe caused
by carbohydrate overload whilst a dry mouth may be an indicator of a nervous horse. Tongue
chewing, lolling or sucking can be a sign of discomfort and all obvious causes such as
dental problems, bit and saddle fit and sore muscles should be addressed. If your horse
constantly sucks or pokes his tongue, or constantly chews on things even when at rest it
is worth conducting a thorough physical examination as it can be an indicator of pain.
Hormonal imbalance can also give rise to mouth issues and I have seen really sensitive
horses whose tongue have what seem to be a deep crease running down the middle of the
tongue to the tip. In Chinese Medicine this can be an indicator of trauma and can be
caused by disturbance to the Heart and or Stomach Meridians.
Horses that hold tension through the mouth and
muzzle area can also be:
Difficult to paste worm
Reluctant to have dental work carried out
Difficult to catch, and or bridle
Inclined to hold on to the bit when ridden
or set their jaw against rein contact
Slow to learn
Easily distracted
Headshy
Likely to bite, nip or mouth
Constantly worried
Sharp
The Face, Forehead and TMJ
In my opinion the horse's face, head and
muzzle is one of the most neglected parts of the horse yet so much information about the
general wellbeing of the horse can be gleaned by studying the horses face. Horses that
lack trust are generally wary of contact around the head and face and maybe reactive to
things moving towards them. They may have cold patches over the nasal bone and the breath
may feel cold on your hand. Tension around the head can be present in horses that are
anxious and worry over even small changes to routine or those that are in a constant state
of alert. Stress dips over the eye can be present in horses from a very young age and have
little or nothing to do with age. Uneven development of the temporal muscle can cause
issues with bridling and make a horse resistant on one particular rein. Tension around the
forehead can also be linked to digestive disturbances as this area is linked to the
Stomach in Chinese Medicine.
Tension in the Temporal Mandibular Joint (the
hinge joint of the jaw) is almost always linked to dental problems although it can arise
as a result of trauma to the head and poll area. If the horse has worked in a high headed
posture for some time it may also be uncomfortable in the TMJ area as the high headed
posture inhibits movement of the lower mandible. Checking the joint on both sides by
feeling the area with your fingers can give you vital information about how a horse
performs under saddle. In horses with extreme variations in performance when working on
the left or right rein a change will be noted in the space or bone development in this
joint.
Tension in this area can prevent the horse
moving forward freely from the leg, and working in a soft, rounded outline. Problems with
the TMJ will often result in problems with the opposite hip i.e. if the TMJ is locked on
the left side of the horses jaw the right hip joint will be tight.
The Ears and Poll
Tension in these areas generally accompanies
tension in the areas listed above. Horses that are ear shy are often extremely tight
through the poll and may have the floppy lower lip as described earlier. Horses with
tension around the poll may be prone to sudden reactive behaviour such as rearing. Whilst
tension in the poll does not necessarily result every time in rearing, every rearer that I
have ever worked with has been tight through the poll and upper part of the neck. The
horse may also trip or stumble since the area C1 and C2 affect movement of the front limb.
If tension has been present for a while volatile outbursts of behaviour may occur as the
horse literally loses his head due to impaired blood flow to the brain. They may appear to
be shut down and often have an almond shaped, hard eye that changes completely once the
underlying cause has been addressed. There is a hormone acupuncture point behind the poll
on both sides of the upper neck. Hormone imbalances can give rise to over sensitivity in
this area.
Tight ears are linked to tension in the
forehead and the poll. Often, circulation to the ear is inhibited and the tips may be cold
to the touch. This is not always an indicator of the horse's general body temperature and
is more evident in horses that are ear shy than those that are cold. If tension is present
around the base of the ear, the whole ear may appear tight and will generally lack
subtlety in movement. The horse with this Tension Pattern is more prone to pinning his
ears back as a means of expression and may be described as being generally moody.
Horses with tension around the Ears and Poll
are also likely to:
Dislike having his forelock touched
Find it difficult to work in a relaxed
outline
Be concerned about movement over his head
Find it hard to walk under objects or low
stable doors
Pull back when tied
Shoot off when the head collar is being
taken off
Be difficult to halter and bridle
Show noise sensitivity
The Neck
The neck is a really important part of the
horse's body since it directly affects balance and the ability to move freely from behind.
I find it distressing that so many horses are tied down from such an early age to create
an illusion of working in a collected frame as it can cause so many problems for the horse
throughout its adult life and inhibits the natural movement of the back and hindquarters.
Chinese Medicine places great emphasis on the
health and mobility of the spine for correct organ function and it is certainly my
experience that problems with both the neck and back can give rise to a host of unwanted
behaviours. Tension in the neck may be seen in incorrect muscling with over bulking and
under development of the appropriate muscles, or over defined cervical vertebrae. You may
notice the mane 'jumping' as the horse lowers or raises its head which is another
indicator of tight muscles and ligaments. Changes in the way the mane lies generally
corresponds to tension in the neck and the horse may need osteopathy or appropriate
chiropractic work to help release the vertebrae. Tightness in the neck is often
accompanied by a high head carriage, an inclination to hollow the back, or 'fixing'
through the base of the neck. To initiate forward movement the horse may first raise its
head before moving forward. It will always affect the horse's ability to engage behind.
Tension in the neck affects a horse's ability
to learn, changes spatial awareness and can cause problems with depth perception and
changes in light. This can make it hard for horses moving from and into trailers and
stables. Horses that are tight in the neck can be spooky and concerned over bright
objects. They may be worse in the summer when more light is reflected off shiny surfaces
such as white boards, cars and water. Tension in the neck can also cause problems with
pulling back when tied since the horse suddenly 'sees' the wall and startles even though
they may have been standing quietly for a while. Tension around C3 can cause problems with
skin sensitivity and C4 and C5 can give rise to gut disturbances as C5 is linked to the
hind gut in Chinese Medicine. Horses that are pushy or barge when being handled are often
tight in the neck and they may find it hard to stand since the neck is so important for
balance.
Horses that are tight in the neck may also:
Nap
Find it hard to move forward from the leg
Struggle to walk in a straight line
Rush
Work on the forehand
Drop behind or come above the bit when asked
for collection
Bite
Shoulders and withers
Tension in the shoulders and withers will
create balance problems and is usually linked to the tension in the neck and back. The
horse may balance or lean on the handler and the riders' hands since he finds it hard to
work in a balanced frame. The gait will be uneven and the horse may be cinchy as tension
behind the shoulder blade can cause sensitivity in the withers and around the girth area.
Acupuncture points for the Lung and Heart Meridians are present in the wither and many
horses with Lung imbalance and over sensitivity are tight in this area. They may buckle or
lie down when being saddled and have a tendency to be habitually in the Flight/Fight
reflex giving rise to spooky and reactive behaviour. They may be stiff through the whole
body and lack impulsion from behind since the shoulders must be free to allow hind limb
engagement. They may be inclined to strike or paw the ground.
In addition, the horse is likely to:
Trip or stumble
Have a short, choppy and/or uneven stride
Be spooky
Be difficult to rug and/or saddle up
Fall in through the shoulder through turns
and circles
Find it hard to strike off on a particular
rein
Leave a front limb behind when jumping
Struggle to travel and/or load
Find it hard to bring the front limb forward
for the farrier
Back and Hindquarters
Horses that are tight in the back find it
easier to do things at one extreme or another - either rushing or being sluggish and shut
down. They will find it hard to jump, work in a confined space or struggle through tight
turns and circles. Tension in the lumbar area is commonly found in horses that buck.
Sensitivity may also be shown in the flank, barrel and belly and the horse may lose weight
easily, or have the appearance of a saggy or bloated belly as a result of weak abdominal
muscles.
Tension in the back can arise from a variety
of issues. Saddle fit is vital but tension in the back can exist as a knock on effect from
problems with the jaw, neck and feet giving rise to the appearance of poor saddle fit
through loss of top line and muscle atrophy in the wither and back. Rider posture is
important since the rider can inadvertently cause uneven muscle development in the back
which influences every other part of the horse. Horses that are tight in the back may jig
under saddle, become agoraphobic (not like being turned out), be highly defensive about
horses and people approaching from the side or behind, and find it hard to relax. Tension
in the lumbar area will give rise to the 'jumpers bump' as changes in the lumbar vertebrae
change the sacroiliac joint. This is accentuated through loss of muscle tone over the
hindquarters.
Inability to track up and/or wobbly movement
behind can be indicative of tension through the back. The horse will often be close behind
or move with one hind limb working more towards the mid line and this is generally
accompanied by loss of articulation through the hock joint or joints. This pattern is
usually linked to tension in the hip area and the horse may find it impossible to stand
square. This pattern will often be mirrored in the diagonal front limb.
Issues around the stifle joint including
locking and sensitivity to contact can arise as a result of tension in the lower back -
generally where the back of the saddle sits. Tension in this area may also make the horse
sensitive to contact around the sheath. Tight hindquarters are also linked to noise
sensitivity, concern about movement behind the horse and nervousness.
Tension in the hindquarters and back can also
lead to;
Difficulty in loading and travelling
Dropping a hind limb when jumping
Kicking
Issues with tail bandages
Concern over leg wraps
Rushing through narrow spaces such as
gateways and stable doorways
The Tail
It has been my experience that the tail
mirrors the state of the back. The top of the tail can be likened to the shoulders and the
end of the tail bone often mirrors the hind quarters. Horses that work on the forehand are
often clamped at the top of the dock and those with a tilted pelvis often have a
corresponding stiffness and lift at the end of the tail bone. Horses that find it
consistently hard to release the tail often have ongoing problems with the back and in the
case of spinal problems such as kissing spine or stress fractures it may be that the horse
never really releases its tail. Lack of suppleness through the whole body usually results
in a rigid, stick like tail whilst a floppy tail usually indicates complete disconnection
through the hind quarters and limbs.
Having worked with a wide variety of horses
from a wide range of disciplines I am constantly amazed at the correlation between the
back and the tail. One ex-racehorse who had swelling around the wither as a result of
injury had a similar swelling around the top of the dock whilst a top novice dressage
horse that had ruptured a ligament in the middle of its back had a corresponding tight and
itchy spot in the middle of his tail.
The tail will also tend to be carried towards
the tighter side of the horse and tail swishing is often indicative of tension through the
whole back.
The Legs
Tension through the shoulder and hindquarter
will change flexibility through the entire leg. Loss of articulation in the hock joint
will influence and be influenced by the hip whilst knee problems will influence and be
influenced by tension in the shoulders. Cold lower legs are indicative of horses that are
spooky and Flight oriented, and objects moving on the ground such as leaves or flapping
plastic will cause concern to the horse with inhibited circulation to the lower leg.
Hoof care is vital for the overall well being
of the horse. As with all Tension Patterns nothing exists in isolation. If the balance in
the hoof is incorrect it will be four times worse in the shoulder or hind quarter. Tension
in the back and wither will influence blood flow to the feet and an imbalanced foot will
cause problems all round. Movement is vital for the health of the foot since blood flow is
encouraged by movement. Horses that are stabled for the majority of their lives are more
prone to diseases of the foot and poor farriery can cause a variety of problems. If
problems exist within the balance of the hoof, the gait and wellbeing of the horse are
affected. Tight fetlocks are linked to tension in the neck and/or back and simple gentle
rocking of the fetlock joint when doing leg circles can go a long way to releasing
problems further up the limb.
Concerns with the lower leg may also cause:
Issues with having their legs handled
Dislike of being washed off
An increase in susceptibility to mud fever
A dislike of walking through water
Travelling and loading issues
Tripping and stumbling
If you recognise any of the patterns described
above there are steps you can take to change the situation. I have a fabulous horse that
damaged his pelvis as a baby. This gives rise to a host of difficulties but with TTEAM he
has gone on to compete in a variety of disciplines and has been placed in virtually every
outing at local, county and national level. We cannot change what happened to him but
through awareness and knowledge we enable this horse to be as successful as he can be.
Altering habitual posture which creates areas
of tension enables you to change associated behaviours. Trying to force a different more
ideal outline will cause other problems. TTEAM can successfully help in gently
rehabilitating the horse as well as preventing tensions patterns from arising in the first
place. You can check out potential causes of the tension such as injury or a poorly
fitting saddle and re think the way in which you handle, manage and train your horse.
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TTEAM for Mares and
Foals
One of the many advantages of learning TTEAM
techniques is that it can be applied to every equine situation.
TTEAM TTouches, body work and Ground work help
to promote relaxation and can keep the mare stimulated physically, mentally and
emotionally without placing undue stress on the mother to be. The work can be tailored to
the individual needs of the mare and helps to increase awareness in the handler should any
problems start to arise. Whatever the situation TTEAM gives the owner or carer new ways of
interacting with their mare whilst deepening the relationship between the two.
TTouches and Body Work
Tail work can be helpful in preparing mares to
be bred and after covering to accept veterinary checks. As Tail Work helps release tension
through the back and pelvis, this gentle work can be of benefit to mares throughout their
pregnancy.
Stroking the ear from the base to the tip
lowers heart rate and respiration. This can also be useful for helping the mare to stay
calm and relaxed through veterinary examination and helps to develop trust between the
horse and the handler. If the labour is arduous for the mare, Ear Work can be extremely
beneficial for both the mare and foal as it helps to overcome fatigue and shock in all
animals. It has been used countless times around the world to revive animals that are so
exhausted they are on the verge of giving up and has literally saved lives in many
situations. Ear Work and TTouches around the base of the mare's ear can also help with the
passing of the placenta. None of the TTouch work should ever be used as a replacement for
veterinary care but used simply as a valuable tool to help your horse whilst awaiting
veterinary attention.
The circular TTouches and lifts such as the
Clouded Leopard TTouch and Python Lifts help to reduce over sensitivity in the body, helps
increase circulation in stiff and filled legs, relieves the aches and strains of carrying
the foal and helps to promote an overall sense of well being. If a mare is sensitive
around the belly it may affect her willingness to let the foal feed as the foal may
irritate or cause discomfort to the mare when seeking milk. The TTouches can also be used
around the udder to reduce sensitivity in this area to help prepare the mare for feeding
and can be done through a warm towel held over the udder to stimulate and even increase
the milk flow once the foal is born. Some cases of rejection are sadly due simply to a
mare's concern about contact from the foal around the flank, belly and udder and not as a
result of the mare not bonding with her offspring. This can be caused by tension in the
back and hindquarters and can be easily overcome during pregnancy by using a variety of
TTouches and other TTEAM techniques.
Mouth Work is helpful for mares that are over
sensitive and emotional. Hormone changes can be linked to the mouth and doing gentle
TTouches around the mouth and inside the mouth can be helpful in keeping the mare settled
and happy through the gestation period.
Once the foal has been born and is bonded to
the mare, light TTouches can be done all over the foal's body to accustom it to contact.
If the foal is reluctant to feed, gentle Mouth Work around the muzzle, lips and along the
gums can trigger the feeding response. Gentle Ear Work and Tail Work can also be done. As
well as benefiting the foal by promoting a sense of calm and self-confidence, the TTouches
and body work will stop the foal from becoming concerned should a veterinary examination
be required. Care should be taken to ensure the mare and foal are not stressed by this
interaction and the sessions should be short. The work should never be forced on the foal
and it is important not to over handle youngsters as it can cause a major problem later in
life. Home bred foals that are brought up without the company of other youngsters of a
similar age can become dangerous as they mature. It is not uncommon to hear of over
handled, unsocialised horses being put down at four or five years of age because they have
become so difficult to handle.
Other TTEAM Tools
One of the TTEAM tools used for ridden and
rehabilitating horses is a length of elastic bandage. With one length placed around the
base of the neck, a second length is attached and taken either around the girth area or
around the hind quarters. This simple piece of equipment can be used with pregnant mares
to help give them a greater awareness of their changing shape and to reduce over
sensitivity in the flank and belly. Some mares that have concerns about allowing their
foals to suckle may also have a tendency to rush through stable doors and gateways. The
body wrap will help both issues since they generally stem from blocked awareness and
tension in the lumbar area and hindquarters.
The body wrap can also be used to do gentle
belly lifts to help relieve downwards pull on the back from the weight of the developing
foal.
Another tool that is regularly in TTEAM is a
long dressage schooling stick. Called a 'wand' when used in TTEAM exercises, it offers a
simple way of initiating contact without overcrowding the horse. Stroking the mare all
over with the wand helps to settle and relax even fidgety horses. As the wands can be used
to start touching the foal at the appropriate time it is important that the mare is
already accustomed to the wand.
From covering to foaling, TTEAM offers ways to
help your mare stay calm, relaxed and happy throughout the pregnancy and a contented mare
= a contented foal.
| Stroking a foal with two wands is a gentle and
non-threatening way to initiate contact. |
 |
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Gentle TTouches can be done all over the foal
to help it become accustomed to contact all over its body. |
Gentle hair slides can be
done on both the tail and the mane to relax the foal.
| Gentle hair slides can be useful for helping
foals become accustomed to movement behind them - it also helps them to tolerate having
their temperature taken and helps to keep them calm and relaxed. |

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TTouches around the muzzle and mouth can help
trigger the feeding response and prepares a foal for worming and taking any oral
medication should it be required. |
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