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About Us
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You should be legitimately asking yourself, “why
is a veterinarian maintaining a website about saddle fit and saddle fit
problems?” The answer is, because it is all about the horse’s muscles, and
saddle fit has a profound effect the muscles it contacts. I refer to muscles
as the forgotten system. Veterinarians involved in performance problems and
lameness tend to think in terms of tendons, ligaments and joints. After all,
those are what show up as injuries and require treatment.
However, consider that muscles
and their response to appropriate innervation is what determines which bones
will move and there-by how the joint will respond to the efforts of work. The
tendons and ligaments respond according to the amount of tension or lack of
tension and the stresses put into and onto joints according to one anatomical
structure – the muscles - those in action or those muscles failing to be
appropriately in action.
We all recognize that a very
badly fitting saddle can be a torture device to the poor horse. But what many
do not recognize is that what seem to be relatively minor saddle issues
gradually affect muscles and their ability to function properly. An insult to
one muscle works progressively to spread that insult to another and yet
another muscle in a chain reaction. That chain reaction will affect way of
going, performance and foot conformation. Carried to its logical conclusion it
will cause firstly, performance deficits and progress subsequently
sub-clinical lameness (not very visually evident, but manifested by “just not
moving right”).
Eventually the problem will
progress to outright lameness. At this point this line of thought may seem
exaggerated, but articles that will be posted to this website to explain this
phenomenon. Lameness that can be attributed to having started with saddle fit
include suspensory issues, tendon strains and bows, carpal fractures,
degenerative disease of knees (carpal joints), hock and stifles.
Kerry
Ridgway, DVM:
Dr. Ridgway is a graduate of
Colorado State University, and operates Equine Therapeutic Options, a
holistically based veterinarian practice in Aiken, SC, with his wife Christine
Heraud-Ridgway; an accomplished horsewoman competed extensively in
jumping and eventing in Europe, but has now developed an interest for dressage
and particularly dressage in lightness.
The son of a horseman, Dr.
Ridgway graduated from Colorado State University with honors in 1964. In
addition to being a doctor of veterinary medicine, Ridgway has a degree in
chemistry. He is well known in endurance riding circles as both a competitor
and a veterinarian. In 1990, he was elected to the Endurance Riding Hall of
Fame, for his contributions to the sport. Perhaps most notably for his
development of the “Cardiac Recovery Index,” a standard adopted
internationally.
He was a founding member and
officer for the “Association for Equine Sports Medicine,” now a large
international association. After practicing conventional medicine for over 20
years, Ridgway decided to direct his focus toward a modality that has a
written history of more than 2000 years, acupuncture.
The International Veterinary
Acupuncture Society (IVAS) is the organization that certifies veterinarians
who practice acupuncture. Ridgway received his training in 1990-91. As well as
being an instructor for IVAS, he has served on its board of directors and
education committee. He continues to teach both nationally and internationally.
After completing acupuncture
training he then completed chiropractic training with the American Veterinary
Chiropractic Association (AVCA) and was certified in animal chiropractic by
that organization.
He has spent many years
specializing in equine performance issues. He found that saddle fit is often
the root of problems, which can lead to not only to performance and behavioral
deficits, but also back pain and even unsoundness.
He and his wife, Christine,
operated the “EquiSport Center for Therapeutic Options”, an equine sports
medicine rehabilitation practice based principally on acupuncture,
hiropractic, and physical therapy modalities, including massage, stretching,
microcurrent, laser, muscle-stimulation, therapeutic ultrasound and
rehabilitative-therapeutic riding.
Because so many of the horse’s
functional and musculoskeletal problems are associated with issues such as
dental problems, improper shoeing, saddle and other tack induced problems, he
has developed deep interest in the integration of these factors as part of a
“whole horse” approach to medicine.
It is Dr. Ridgway’s philosophy
that complementary medicine combines well with conventional medicine to
provide the best of both worlds with regard to health maintenance and peak
performance potential. Therefore, he always seeks to work closely with
conventional western medicine clinicians.
In September of 2003 the
Ridgway’s moved to Aiken, SC and now operate as “Equine Therapeutic Options.”
The practice is now entirely outpatient. Ridgway states, “My wife is still a
very integral part of my practice. “She observes the horses from a rider’s
perspective, and I see the horse from a veterinary perspective. Thankfully, we
have a very high percentage of agreement.” Their combined approach and mutual
research allow them to understand the complexities of saddle fitting, and its
important ramifications on the wellness of the horse.
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Copyright Heridge International, LLC 2009
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