The Overlooked Psoas
The Horse’s Quandary
The Overlooked Psoas
The Psoas muscles play a key role in collection and engagement
Have you noticed your horse having difficulty in canter movements, reluctance to canter, uncomfortable cantering, bucking or showing behavioural and performance difficulties in general? Diminished top line and musculature? Do not over look the possibility of tension in the Psoas muscles.
Where they are located
The Psoas sit deep beneath the lumbar and attach at the pelvis and inner thigh at the femur. Throughout collection, especially during canter work this muscle works very intensely.
Understanding how they work
The Psoas muscles are core muscles instrumental in hip flexion, spine stabilization, rounding of the lumbar and tipping of the pelvis in concurrence with the abdominal muscles. Combined with thrust from the hind leg they assist in bringing the forehand up off the ground and aid in the engagement and collection.
For instance when the Psoas become tight and contracted, if not corrected they could eventually work against the Longissimus Dorsi, creating a ridge like appearance in the lumbar region as additional muscles start to compensate. The Longissimus Dorsi is the longest muscle in the horse. It attaches to the lower neck vertebrae and skull, runs along each side of the back and attaches at the sacrum connecting the horse from front to back.
Over time the lumbosacral can also lose some of its capacity to flex; this convergence is of vital importance in canter work and collected movements. Hip joints and surrounding muscles are often affected. It is worth noting that groin issues can also occur if there is tightness and/or soreness in the Psoas muscle.
Restoring the symmetry
It is very difficult to reach the Psoas, as they lie deep beneath the lumbar region. However there are ways through bodywork to influence and bring about restoration to the Psoas, successively involved muscles and surrounding tissues.
Under saddle, care must be taken to warm up the muscles properly and not less importantly, the muscles need to cool down properly too. Attention should be given to utilizing proper suppling exercises to ensure and maintain healthy muscles.
BEFORE: Note the ridge that has appeared over the lumbar area
AFTER: Note how the lumbar area has leveled out and the musculature returned after using Equine Dynamic Bodywurks