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“You’ve Got Trail” May Newsletter |
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Help Your Horse S T R E T C H
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"The good ol' nose-to-nose stretch"
Photo submitted by customer Dawn Stavropoulos of her flexible horse, Ozzie, & encouraging dog, Sadie.
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Stretching exercises can increase your horse's range of motion, which in turn can make him more supple and pliant under saddle. Slow and relaxed stretches can be pleasant for horses and help them perform better.
Stretching exercises require care, caution, and a keen awareness of your horse's comfort level, says Mary Schreiber, who trains equine sports massage therapists, and finds that stretches complement her massage work.
Overstretching - continuing to pull a limb when the horse resists - is unpleasant for him and can cause injury. Schreiber also advises against stretching before a workout: "Ideally, perform stretching after a workout or massage when the muscles have been thoroughly warmed."
With that in mind, try these three front-end stretches. Complete the sequence on one side before moving on to the other foreleg. To keep your horse comfortable during stretching exercises, increase the range of motion only gradually and stop if you see any sign of resistance. "If you feel resistance, stop," says Schreiber. "Move slowly and let the horse be your guide."
- Chest muscle stretch. Stand at your horse's shoulder facing him with your knees slightly bent. Lift his foot and place one hand at the front of the fetlock and the other across the front of the forearm. Gradually stretch the leg backward, keeping the knee flexed and the lower leg parallel to the ground. Then bring the leg back to its standing position. Repeat the exercise two more times.
- Shoulder lift. Once again stand facing your horse, lift his leg and bend the knee so the lower leg is parallel to the ground. Move the leg to rotate the shoulder forward and backward. Do this stretch just once before moving on to the final maneuver.
- Girth stretch. Often used to prevent the skin from bunching up behind the girth, this exercise stretches the muscles along the back of the forearm. With the horse's leg still raised, grasp it at the back of the knee. Move to the front of the horse to face him and pull the leg toward you, then return it to the neutral position. Repeat the exercise twice more, each time slightly increasing the range of motion.
Reprinted with permission of EQUUS Magazine © 2006.
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