Скачать или смотреть Did you know that horses do not have clavicles?

Did you know that horses do not have clavicles?

Because horses do not have a clavicle it means that there is no bony attachment connecting the horse’s front leg to the axial skeleton.
Instead, the horse relies on the soft tissue structures of the shoulder girdle and thoracic sling to provide stability to the front leg.

It is important to remember that horses naturally carry 60% of their weight on their front end. That means that the integrity and function of the thoracic sling is essential to the function of the body. Restrictions or dysfunction of the thoracic sling can restrict the nerves of the brachial plexus, limit range of motion in the front and hind limbs, and cause imbalances throughout the body. These imbalances can appear as a horse being heavy on their forehand, difficulty balancing though turns, falling in, tripping, and running through the bit.

Dysfunction of the thoracic sling increases a horse’s risk of injury. Early detection and preventative care are key to keeping our equine partners feeling their best!

Whether your horse is recovering from an injury involving the front limb or you want to help support the soft tissue structures of the front leg to decrease the risk of injury, supporting the thoracic sling is key! Follow along to learn some simple exercises that can be performed to help support your horse’s thoracic sling.