Quality Care

Maria Sytnikova

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Master of Veterinary Science

My philosophy

• Scientific validity
• All horse care practices must be based on an understanding of the biological needs of the horse as a species; be it veterinary, trimming, training or the keeping of horses
• The well-being of the horse must always come first
• Horse treatment should not be based on tradition and personal interpretations
• A realistic perspective is based on a holistic approach and philosophy of honest interspecies communication

I love horses…
…and I can confess my love for them endlessly…

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Professional Experience

My professional experience in equestian field includes basic therapy and surgery, dental, orthopedic and biomechanic aspects of horse’s body.

COUNTRIES

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

EQUINE PATIENTS

Importance of holistic approach

I can’t, however, imagine working with horses without the basic knowledge that originate from classic academic schooling, as the physical and mental health of the horse draws upon the heritage of dozens of experts and several hundred years of philosophy.

Here I would like to describe the history of traditional and holistic approaches in this short review.

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HOW I CAN HELP?

I consult on trimming, feeding, horse keeping, saddle fitting and equine dentistry.

EQUINE DENTISTRY

I’m following the major principles of Neuromuscular Balance Dentistry:

restoration of the full range of jaw motion;
facilitation of the natural inclanation of occlusal surfaces;
the incisors should be balanced in correlation with overall jaw balance and TMJ;
the dental balance should be anatomically correct for each individual considering the age, breed and other specific characteristics.

Of course, there are much more scientifical aspects in equine dentistry! And together with my practical experience it helped some of my equine patients to recover from significant loss of body weight and for many athletes – to improve their performance results.

SADDLE EVALUATION

There are about 80 points of full saddle-rider-horse evaluation. It includes:

– saddle,

– rider,

– horse,

– static and dynamic evaluations and takes about 1,5 hours to complete the full evaluation. I provide a horse owner with all the thorough measurements that can be used for purchasing a new saddle or ordering a custom one.

This thoroughness helps me as a Certified Equine Ergonomist to evaluate all the saddle related problems and find out a solution that fits both the horse and the rider.

I would like to mention that I don’t sell saddles, because I always wanted to have an independent view and keep my practice away from the saddle trading business.

REHABILITATION OF HORSES

Stall rest and anti-inflammatory drugs are not a guarantee for the full recovery after injuries that hobby horses or equine athletes may have during their career or lifestyle. For the last decade I prefer to use the complex of rehabilitational treatments that are used in modern veterinary medicine such as red light therapy of myofascial kinetic lines and kinesiotaping. Since September 2023 I will be certified in Animal Chiropractics and I plan to start my practice then.

Kinesiotaping will help to stimulate new locomotive patterns and release pain almost instantly without any drugs.
Chiropractic is focused on restoring horse’s ability to move using body’s own inner recourses.

HOOF TRIMMING

The unchangeable 4 guiding principles of the Natural Trim help me to provide a most optimal option for horse’s hoof health:

Leave that which naturally should be in the hoof;
Remove only that which is naturally worn away in the wild;
Allow to grow that which should be in a hoof naturally but isn’t due to human meddling;
Ignore all pathology. These guidelines and holistic approach for horsekeeping increase chances for full recovery and helped me to treat severe laminitis cases I met during my practice.
During my education for NHC practitioner I created the first Paddock Paradise tracksystem in the luxury country club in Kazakhstan for 55 horses, I received so many practical experience that I started to consult the horseowners from the whole Middle Asia area.

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My Livestream with Jochen Schleese

Here we discuss major aspects of horse asymmetry, problems with saddle fit and health problems it can bring to a horse and a rider…

Top 10 Advices for Holistic Horsekeeping

1. Provide a natural and balanced diet:

Feed your horse a diet consisting primarily of high-quality forage, such as grass or hay, and supplement with appropriate amounts of grains and minerals as needed. Avoid overfeeding or relying solely on processed feeds.

2. Promote regular exercise:

Allow your horse ample opportunity for movement and exercise, both through turnout in a pasture or paddock and regular riding or ground work. Exercise helps maintain their physical and mental well-being.

3. Create a safe and stress-free environment:

Ensure your horse has access to a well-maintained and clean living environment with adequate shelter, clean water, and space to roam. Minimize exposure to stressful situations or excessive noise.

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