Core Strengthening for Your Horse, Part Two

Core Strengthening for Your Horse, Part Two

By: Amber Erickson, DC, MEBW

                Last month we began discussing core strengthening for your equine partner, and this month’s article will continue along that theme.   For a quick review, core strengthening can improve almost any horses performance, as well as lessening the chance of an injury happening.  Just like last month, ensure that you have a safe place to work with your horse and that you have protective footwear and gloves.  Continue doing the downward stretches that we began last month, but most horses will be ready to stretch a little more by now.  This month we will be focusing on laterally bending the horse, throughout his neck and back.

                To begin the next stretch, square the horse up along a wall and stand at his shoulder.  You will be facing out, with your back to your horses shoulder.  Gently guide the horses head around your body using his halter, towards his hip. 

You may need a treat to lure him around you the first few times.  Ask him to slowly bend around you, keep the head as vertical as possible.  When he has stretched has far as he is able, ask him gently to hold that stretch for a few seconds.  Your right hand can gently support his neck, but do not let him twist completely from the poll.  His entire neck should be stretching out fluidly, with no abrupt angles in the neck.   Once your horse is bending around you well, ask him to stretch his nose out a little further to get a treat a little further away.  Also ask him to hold the stretch a little longer, each day.

                The next stretch, continue to place the horse along a wall with his feet squared up.  Then stand near his hip, a few feet out from him, facing towards his head.   Proceed to offer your horse a treat or a carrot, but hold the treat back by his hip.  When he begins to follow the treat, slowly lower his head down towards his hind hoof.  Ask him to slowly and smoothly stretch his head as far back and down as he can comfortably go.

                The final stretch this month is full neck extension.  Use this stretch when you have finished all of the previously discussed exercises for the maximum benefit.  This stretch may be more easily performed over a stall door or guard at the height of his neck to avoid him stepping forward.  Without a stall, have a helper apply gentle pressure with a hand on the horse’s chest to avoid a step forward.  Use a treat or a carrot to ask the horse to stretch his neck forward as far as he can comfortably reach.  His head should always stay below his withers, long and low is the best way to do this stretch. 

                Always give the horse his or her treat when the head is in the neutral position.  This will help to avoid bitten fingers!  Some more food aggressive horses may need to learn to wait until the entire stretching program is concluded before they are fed their treats in a bucket.  Use your best judgment to keep your fingers safe. 

                Performing these exercises four or five days a week, doing three or four repetitions per side, per day, has been shown to increase a horse’s back joint range of motion.  These exercises can also help to level out uneven muscling or even to help begin to rebuild atrophied back muscling.  Keep up the good work stretching; there will be more to come next month.

                Dr. Amber Erickson is a Doctor of Chiropractic at Erickson Family Chiropractic in Richfield, WI. She is also a Master Equine Bodyworker, certified by Equinology.  More information can be found at www.elementalequineservices.webs.com.