The sternum
The sternum (breastbone) - the central point in the horse's body.
The sternum requires special attention – you will learn why and where it is located in the following text:
Where is the sternum located?
The sternum sits in the rib cage and from there it carries important connections to various zones in the horse’s body. It consists of several pieces of bone strung together that fuse during the first 4 years of life. It converges in a wedge shape and forms a pointed course at the point where the girth lies.
The thorax is completely connected to the sternum and so are all the chest muscles, as well as all the abdominal muscles. In addition, it has a connection to the horse’s heart through so-called ligaments. Ligaments are strong bands of connective tissue that are usually used to stabilize bones.
The fascial connection of the sternum through the so-called prevertebral fascia, which extends to the skull on one side and to the caudal vertebrae on the other, illustrates the effect of pain and blockages. A fascia attached centrally to the sternum and extending longitudinally through the horse’s body from the skull to the caudal vertebra provides direct nerve and muscle pain here should the sternum become painfully tight.
What is the function of the sternum?
A peculiarity in the anatomy of horses is that they do not have a collarbone. The rib cage hangs between the shoulder blades and is held in place only by muscles and connective tissue. This special structure creates the swinging movement of the horses. Likewise, the muscles located there ensure that the horse can move the neck. The force the horse uses to carry its rider also comes from the chest muscles. It provides the load-bearing capacity of the forehand. The abdominal muscles are the counterpart of the back muscles and are responsible for the carrying and pushing power of the hindquarters.
Why is the sternum so sensitive?
Due to its location, the sternum is an extremely stressed area. The constant influence of up and down movements continuously affects the sternum. In addition to this, discomfort can occur due to the many connections to important organs and parts of the body. Every time you strap on a saddle, vaulting lunge or driving harness, pressure is applied to the sternum and adjacent muscles, pinching the fascia.
Because the sternum is so close to the heart and even connects through ligaments, heart problems or even respiratory distress can be feigned if a blockage occurs. So that means even though your horse doesn’t really have heart disease, it may exhibit such symptoms and suffer as a result. Pressure should therefore be avoided in any case. Also to ensure deep breathing and adequate oxygen saturation in the blood.
Because of the long fascial connection across the horse’s body, the sternum is affected by almost every possible tension. From the skull to the belly to the base of the tail, the sternum is always connected. There is also a link with the diaphragm and the spine, which can lead to an interaction. First, the sternum is damaged when there is a lesion of the diaphragm, and second, the diaphragm may be affected when there is a blockage in the sternum.
A particularly high risk for the sternum lies in falls. No matter how a horse falls, there is a high probability that the sternum will be hit and injured or at least blocked in the process.
How the equigetic pad helps:
How tightly we girth to guarantee us safety in the saddle is clear to us and hard to ge Hopefully we now understand the importance of the correct girth and relief of the sternum.
The equigetic pad is a unique solution to relieve and protect the sternum at the same time.The internal channel of the pad prevents pressure on the sternum and cushions the adjacent muscles with soft fur or neoprene.
The handling and flexibility make it quite easy for you. The equigetic pad is placed in the center of the girth. A Velcro loop helps it attach quickly and easily to any straight cut or slightly anatomically shaped girth. As a second handle, they close the snaps of the upper and voila – your horse can forget about sternum pain.
You can therefore use your jumping and dressage saddle with one equigetic pad or ride several horses with different girth lengths.
The equigetic pad finds application in:
- Dressage up to Grand Prix (FEI )
- Show jumping
- Westernsport
- Vaulting
- Racing
- Driving
- Recreational Sports
At the 2022 World Championships in Herning alone, the equigetic pad was represented in all disciplines.
Discover the equigetic pad in our store
You can find the equigetic Jump girth in different colors and different lengths in our store. You too decide for the saddle girth of the stars