Two Spines Together: Biomechanics Specialist Dave Thind to Host Online Talk with Suzan Oakley, DVM

Thu, 08/27/2020 - 18:19
Education
Dave Thind

Dave Thind, a leading equestrian biomechanics authority, announced that he will host an online talk with Suzan Oakley, DVM (Equine). Suzan is a board certified specialist in sports medicine and rehabilitation, and in equine practice and has lectured nationally and internationally on equine musculoskeletal anatomy and ultrasound. This Zoom talk will take place on Saturday, August 29 at 11 am ET, and will focus on giving riders of all levels a better understanding of the functional anatomy of the equine spine to allow riders to be  more effective and in harmony with their equine partner. 

During the talk, Dr. Oakley will present on the functional anatomy in the equine spine and tell us, among many other things, why a horse can’t truly bend "evenly" on a 20 m circle.

As a veterinarian,  she will discuss how correct biomechanics aid in maintaining long term soundness. 

Dave Thind will then seek to illuminate the topic of how the rider affects the horse due to imbalances in the individual riders’ bodies and how we can seek to correct these imbalances and improve the physical performance and comfort of horse and rider. 

Suzan Oakley, DVM stated, “ Understanding the functional anatomy of the equine spine can help us improve our riding and the comfort and soundness of our horses. ”

Dave Thind remarked, “ There are many similarities between the horse and human skeleton, even though we stand on either four or two legs. Developing a more clear understanding of the orientation and movement possibilities as well as limitations in both spines will obviously improve our riding. Through this Zoom talk, we will provide riders with some interesting perspectives on how to improve what they are already doing. Dr. Oakley will talk about the equine spine and I will share some knowledge of how the human spine moves so that the rider can then better follow the motion of their horse in a balanced, pain-free and comfortable way.” 

Those interested in attending can rsvp here: https://www.davethindmethod.com/twospinestogether

About Dave Thind: 

Born in Canada and trained in Germany, Dave Thind makes his home in Walpole, Massachusetts, as owner of Aspire Farm since 2013. Thind has himself competed at the Grand Prix level in dressage and jumping. He is a noted equestrian biomechanics authority, with several published articles and appearances as an expert guest or lecturer to his credit.  He received his German 'Trainer A' license in 2007 with a nearly perfect score awarded to him from the German National Federation. He holds an International Trainer Passport Level III. After a four year long education and certification process, Dave is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais® Practitioner.  This means that Dave is able to teach Feldenkrais® Awareness Through Movement® (ATM®) and hands on Functional Integration® (FI®) lessons. 

About Suzan Oakley, DVM: 

Dr. Oakley, DVM, DACVSMR, DABVP (Equine) is a board certified specialist in sports medicine and rehabilitation, and in equine practice. Dr. Oakley is one of the few veterinarians in this country certified by the International Society of Equine Locomotor Pathology (ISELP). Her practice focuses on lameness and imaging in performance horses and she has a special interest and extensive training in the use of ultrasound for the diagnosis and rehabilitation of sport horse injuries. She feels that a complete and accurate diagnosis of the whole horse is the most effective tool in the rehabilitation of an injury, allowing the horse to return to work as soon as possible.

Dr. Oakley has lectured nationally and internationally on equine musculoskeletal anatomy and ultrasound and shares her advanced proficiency in musculoskeletal ultrasound as an instructor at veterinary ultrasound courses, including ISELP. She is also a courtesy adjunct professor in the Practice Based Equine Clerkship at the University of Florida. Dr. Oakley currently practices in Orlando, Ocala, and Wellington Florida.

A classical dressage rider, Dr. Oakley is particularly interested in the use of basic dressage exercises as part of physical therapy and rehabilitation protocols. Dr. Oakley employs rehabilitation protocols and modalities into practice such as Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES), LASER and therapeutic ultrasound to maintain soundness and increase the horse’s comfort and performance.