How do you stretch a tight fence?

Is your horse’s hind end muscle tight?

I often come across horses with hind end muscle tightness in my practice as an equine bodyworker, elastic kinesiology taper and saddle fitter. Since h orses propel themselves forward from their hind end, this is not surprising.

What stretches can I do for my horse?

This stretch focuses on the shoulder extensor group, the elbow extensor group, and carpal flexor. Start by standing beside your horse, lift either front leg and give him a moment to balance. Place one hand behind his knee and support his toe with your other hand.

How can I strengthen my horse’S Hinds?

Assuming your horse is healthy, injury-free, and gets the appropriate amount of selenium and vitamin E daily, stretching is one of the best things you can do to enhance performance, help prevent injuries and keep those hind end muscles relaxed, flexible and able to do their job.

What are the benefits of static stretches for horses?

Stretches are a great way to warm up, cool down, and increase flexibility for your horse’s muscles. Studies have been done that suggest static equine stretches outside of exercise help to improve power and speed, as well as reduce the risk of injury.

Is muscle tightness causing your horse’s motion problems?

Here’s what you can do to prevent and treat motion problems caused by muscle tightness in this key area of your horse’s body. Tightness in the muscles of the poll can cause an array of motion problems.

Why is my horse’s hind end so tight?

Even horses that are retired and hanging out enjoying life with their friends in the field can develop tight hind end muscles from lack of use.

Do horses know what muscles they are using in the hind end?

While the horse’s nose, eyes, and ears have specific muscle fibers per motor neuron communication, the large gluteal muscles of the hind end may have thousands of muscle fibers relating to one motor neuron. Thus, it is difficult for the horse to be aware of what muscles it is using in the hind end.

How to strengthen the hind end of a horse?

The best way to strengthen the hind end of a horse is to start with stretches. Tight muscles are weak muscles. After stretching I recommend interval training. Short vigorous spurts (similar to us doing wind sprints) followed by slower gaited movements.

How do you stretch a horse’s muscles?

Be sure your horse’s muscles are warmed up. This can be done with a walk around the arena for a few minutes. Cold muscles and stretching don’t mix. Muscle fibers, tendons and ligaments run the risk of tearing if they aren’t adequately prepared for the stretch. 3. Have a handler hold your horse. Crossties can be used with caution.

Why is it important to stretch the hind legs of horses?

The more supple and flexible the horse is, the easier it will be for him to build correct muscles. Stretching movements that lengthen the hind limbs create more reach, and, therefore, more strength. When the horse becomes supple, he will relax in his work, which alleviates tension, allowing him to stretch evenly and in balance.

Is it safe to use stretching on a horse?

Stretching should not be used to replace regular veterinary medicine. If your horse is injured, or experiencing any degree of lameness, have him looked at by a veterinarian before attempting any stretches. As well, certain stretches should be avoided depending on the severity of an injury.

Why are horse riding stretches so important?

Stiff muscles and joints are susceptible to injuries so stretching plays an important role in their prevention. Horse riding stretches are one of the most under-utilized techniques for improving athletic performance, preventing sports injury and properly rehabilitating sprain and strain injury.

What type of stretching is best for horses?

This type of stretching is the most common type used with stretching exercises in horses as we control the motion and positioning desired. Slow, relaxed stretching is useful in relieving spasms in muscles that are healing after an injury.

Why is joint stabilization important for horses?

Joint stabilization is very important both for improving athletic performance and for preventing back injury. Research has shown that regular performance of dynamic mobilization exercises over a period of 3 months stimulated hypertrophy (enlargement) of the muscles that stabilize the horse’s back.

What is static stretching?

Static stretching involves placing the joint or joints in a position so that the muscles and connective tissues are stretched while held in a static position with the tissues at their greatest length. Stretches should be held for 15 to 30 seconds.

What does it mean when a horse has muscle problems?

Multiple Causes for Muscle Problems in the Exercising Horse. The term “tying-up” has been applied to describe horses that develop firm, hard gluteal and lumbar muscles and the inability to move the hindquarters after exercise.

Why is my horse’s poll tight?

For instance, if simple muscle tightness in the gluteal muscles or the hamstring inhibits your horse’s freedom of movement in his hind end, he will tighten in his poll to balance or compensate for this lack of freedom of motion behind. Poll tightness may appear as just a vague resistance in your horse.

Why is my horse moving badly?

Girth-area muscle tightness may be the cause of your horse moving poorly. Here’s how to identify and alleviate this issue.

How to strengthen a horse’s hind end?

Engaging the limb in a raised flexion strengthens the opposite leg holding the horse up in weight bearing mode, as well as strengthening the lifted leg which accesses muscles within the entire leg. These are just a few of the many exercises out there that you can use to strengthen your horse’s hind end.

Why is my horse’s poll tight on one side?

If you think of your horse’s motion as a wave that originates in his hind end and flows through his body and neck, you can see that the poll is the point at which the wave ends: The energy flows all the way from the hind leg to the head. If the poll is tight on one side (or both), it interrupts the completion of the wave.

Why is my horse stumbling on his hind legs?

Lower limb joints are subjected to abnormal movement if the upper area of the hind limb is weak, or if their hooves have been trimmed out of balance long term. Horses that stumble, trip or seem clumsy may be weak and/or sore.

What does it mean when a horse has tight back muscles?

The back muscles extend the horse’s spine, and tight back muscles can’t release to allow for the spinal flexion your horse needs to, for instance, round himself for a bascule over a fence or a nice collected canter. Tightness in the longissimus costarum will also affect your horse’s ability to bend around your inside leg.

Why is my horse’s hind end protruding?

These horses could use strengthening exercises as well as a closer look at their nutrition, to be sure they are receiving enough nutrients to develop and maintain adequate muscle tone. Notice at left, the horse on the right has an underdeveloped hind end, so his hip bones are slightly protruding.