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365 Days in Horse Country - Stretching


Blog by Michael Stuart Webb | June 4th, 2013


365 Days in Horse Country –  Stretching
 




Most athletes stretch before the work out, so why should your horses be any different?  Stretching helps prevent injury and mitigates soreness after a workout – your horse would benefit from a good stretch before he is asked to exercise.  However, since you can’t expect your horse to do his own stretches, you’ll have to give him a hand.

Here are some stretches that you could try on your horse before you ride.  As most of them involve being treated, you shouldn’t have any complaints about them either. Walk your horse for about 5 minutes before you stretch to help loosen up stiff muscles.  Don’t do it if he has worked hard and is tired.  If he has an injury, talk to your vet before you do any stretching exercises.

  1. Get a carrot and hold your horse on a lead rope with one hand while you put the carrot at the centre of his chest with the other hand.  He will stretch down to get the carrot.
  2. Next, hold a carrot between his forelegs to get him to stretch his neck down even farther.
  3. Hold the carrot at his side near the middle of his barrel so he has to stretch to get it.  Do the same thing on the other side.
  4. Tie your horse or have someone hold the lead rope.  Lift his front leg and pull it gently forward in a straight line using steady motion.  Be careful not to twist it to the side.  Hold the leg out for a few seconds to give it a stretch.  Do the same with the other foreleg.
  5. Go to your horse’s left hind leg and stand to the side, facing his rump.  Reach down and lift the leg as if you were going to clean out the hoof.  Gently pull the leg forward toward the belly, being careful not to twist or jerk it.  Hold it there for a few second, and then walk the leg back toward the back of the horse.  Let the horse set the leg down on his own.  Do the same thing with the other leg.

 

Michael