b'SPORTS MEDICINEalso at play; they tickle the hairs, making the horse aware of those body parts and activating the corresponding muscles. They stimulate the skin and hair fol-licles, both of which are richly innervated, and we believe this results in the contrac-tion of specific core muscles, Clayton says. FICTION The science behind these devices is biased Research on training devices is lacking, ARND BRONKHORST/WWW.ARND.NLand what research has been done is way overdue, says Clayton. The biggest complaint we always have about using this equipment is that all the evidence is mostly anecdotal, and people are subject to the effects of placebo by proxy, she says. We need the science to Longeing systems are designed to help a horse build topline muscle and encourage balance. actually prove that it worksor that it doesnt.disciplines various movements.For example, with the lightweightThe problem, though, is its hard to get However, a properly used trainingfetlock bracelets, which create no realindependent funding for such research. aid isnt going to force the horse into ameasurable force on the horse, whatThe people most likely to provide funding position, they say. Good devices gener- were essentially doing is stimulating theare the manufacturers, who have vested ally work by using the horses naturaltripping reflex, she says. If a horse graz- interests in the outcome, and they are to proprioceptionthe awareness of whates a log while stepping over it, hes goingbe commended for using scientific testingdifferent parts of the body are doing to have a proprioceptive reflex telling himto evaluate their products, she says. The rather than force. to pick that leg up a little more to clearslight drawback is that even though the By stimulating the skin and hair, thethe log. The lightweight chainswhich,manufacturers remain at arms length, devices cause the muscles to react andto be clear, are not action chains in anysome researchers might feel pressured to build proprioception, says Clayton, add- waycreate that same effect. produce a favorable result. ing that research is still lacking on theWith ropes, straps, or elastic bandsThe existing researchlimited to a details of this phenomenon.around the horses body, proprioception isfew rein devices and a handful of basic studies on the Pessoa system (TheHorse.com/117068#pessoa), elastic bands ( TheHorse.com/136733), and fetlock de-vices (TheHorse.com/149734#bracelets)is solid, however, Clayton says.Take-Home MessageIn the unique sport of horseback riding, involving partners of two species, theres significant risk of error, injury, imbalance, suboptimal fitness, and more. Riders can choose to fill these gaps by considering training aids that help the horse and rider find and recognize healthy positions, while improving core fitness and sym-metry. To be effective, however, riders should learn to use these devices properly from reliable, recognized sources such as certified equine physiotherapists. By encouragingnot forcinghorses to ac- quire an ideal body position under saddle, say our sources, riders can help them develop into sounder, straighter, stronger, and better-performing athletes.h40December 2019The Horse|TheHorse.comSportsMed_Dec.indd 40 10/30/19 4:02 PM'