Muscle
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Generally speaking, a muscle features: ~ a point of origin (anchor) ~ a muscle belly (power), and ~ a point of insertion (motion) It is during the cooling down period after a strenuous workout, when insufficient oxygen (anoxia) is getting to the muscle that it is most susceptible to strain and spasm. Stress is most likely to occur at the muscle's anchor, where it attaches to the bone by tendonous fibres and is the least flexible. Stress point locations are the same for all horses. However, different disciplines stress different points. Depending on whether you use your horse for racing, eventing, showjumping, dressage, endurance, polo, hacking or anything else will determine which points are stressed the most by repetitive movements. When a muscle can no longer accommodate what is being demanded of it, it will pull or tear. |