World/Congress Champion Nancy Sue Ryan Will Partner With Educators to Demonstrate the “Properly Engaged Horse” During 2016 QH Congress

All American Quarter Horse Congress

Developing a strong and health equine back begins with an evidence-based understanding of the biomechanics of engagement, the topic for the Equitopia lecture and demonstration at the 2016 All American Quarter Horse Congress. Famed Quarter Horse breeder and trainer Nancy Sue Ryan, a World, Congress, and Futurity champion, will be on hand to demonstrate the power of a properly engaged horse.

To convene in Columbus, Ohio, Oct. 6-30, AAQHC is the largest single-breed horse show in the world, which welcomes more than 650,000 equine enthusiasts from every state as well as several countries, across several continents.

Equitopia, a nonprofit equine education center, became an online sensation when its video, “Developing Your Horse’s Back: The Biomechanics of Engagement,” went viral. The video was produced in cooperation with University of California Davis’ Dr. Sarah LeJeune. The video revealed the deleterious physical effects of a riding horse that travels with a hollow back. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hokqRs9GbrI).

With the help of Nancy Sue Ryan, Equitopia educators will teach how to properly engage the horse’s core through gymnastic exercises that produce a stronger, healthier riding horse and avoid painful back problems such as “kissing spine.”

Featured educators include:

Equine veterinarian, Dr. Joanna Robson, is the founder of Integrated Soundness Solutions™ – a philosophy and practice of combining the best methods from Eastern and Western veterinary medicine. With top equine professionals working together for the best diagnostic and healing approach for the patient, Dr. Robson also employs Western and Chinese Herbal Medicine and infrared thermography in her daily practice.

Karen Loshbaugh has been involved with horses for 40 years, competing in Western, Hunter/Jumper and currently Dressage. She is a Classical Foundation Trainer and a Certified Saddle Ergonomist, specifically trained in how saddle fit effects the movement and position of horse and rider.

Dr. Robin Foster, PhD, CAAB, IAABC-Certified Horse Behavior Consultant, is a research professor at the University of Puget Sound in Seattle, Washington, and an affiliate professor at the University of Washington. She holds a doctorate in animal behavior and has taught courses in animal learning and behavior for more than 20 years. Her research looks at temperament, stress, and burn-out as they relate to the selection, retention, and welfare of therapy horses.

Equitopia, a nonprofit education center based in Fairfield, Ca., serves the horse community with online, print and in-person access to a respected team of educators with the goal of becoming the horse industry’s gateway to cutting edge and time-honored knowledge of equine care, training, wellness and welfare.

“We are working toward a world where horses live in harmony with humans based on a deep understanding and regard for the horse’s true nature. To see that vision come to reality, our mission is to empower horse owners, breeders, riders with the tools to discover that compassionate, harmonious relationship and become the best stewards of their horses,” says Caroline Hegarty, executive director of Equitopia, www.equitopiacenter.org.

For a complete list of Congress lectures and demonstrations, please visit http://www.quarterhorsecongress.com/lectures-and-demonstrations.