Core Strengthening for Your Horse, Part One

 

By: Amber Erickson, DC, MEBW

 

Core (or abdominal) strengthening is a popular topic with human fitness experts, but not many people think about how it can be applied to a horse. Core stabilization training simply refers to a series of exercises performed in a systematic way daily that are designed to strengthen and to stretch the upper back and abdominal muscles. These exercises are designed to increase motion in the horse’s intervertebral joints (the back and neck), as well as strengthening the many postural and work muscles along the horse’s neck, back, abdomen and pelvic region. These muscles provide the stability necessary for an athlete to use his or her body to the best of their ability, and strengthening the core muscles will often improve performance while also helping to prevent injuries from occurring. This is the first part of a three part series of articles on how to strength the core muscles in your horse.

To begin, please be sure that you have a safe place to work with your horse. This can be anywhere with good footing, from the barn aisle to the pasture. A halter and a lead rope is all that is required on your horse, but you should always wear protective footwear and gloves for your safety. Keep the stall open at all times to ensure a quick escape, or avoid the stall all together and work in an arena or barn aisle. You will need carrot slices, or smallish horse cookies to provide the “bait” while the horse is learning how to stretch and bend on command. Ensure that your posture is as well maintained as possible to avoid injuring your own back.

Core strengthening exercises should be avoided if your horse has trouble balancing on three legs, or extreme trouble bending. Please discuss any exercise program with your veterinarian if your horse has suffered from any neurological diseases, or from a severe injury. Also contact your veterinarian if you notice that your horse is having continued trouble balancing while you perform these exercises. The horse should be standing square and balanced on all four legs as often as possible. Position your horse near a wall to start, as this teaches him to maintain the stretch without moving.

The first stretch to teach your horse will be to touch his toes. Keep your horse’s head absolutely straight, and ask him to lower his head to the ground between his front feet. This can easily be done by offering him a piece of carrot or a treat, and slowly lowering the treat down. However, do not give him the treat while his head is down. This will only encourage the horse to nip and to grab the carrot out of your hands, which can be dangerous for fingers! Horses can be taught to calmly and quietly stretch their head down to their feet, and will even be able to reach far between their front feet with time and practice. This stretch is easily taught with the use of treats, and by gentle downward pressure on the lead rope to show him what is expected of him. Feel free to grab the noseband of the halter if he deviates his head at all, he should be 100% straight the entire exercise. Also, do not ask for a bend above the knees. The horse’s head should ALWAYS be below his knees, to avoid unnecessary pressure on the joints found at the base of the neck.
 

The horse should be verbally encouraged to maintain this stretch for a few seconds, then when he is released and back to neutral he may have his treat. This helps him to learn to slowly stretch and hold, and that his reward will be given once he is finished stretching. Do not allow the horse to move his feet unless he must to maintain his balance, as this will enable him to “cheat” the stretch.

The next stretch begins the same, but then has him laterally deviate to touch the sides of his feet. Most horses will follow the treat, and it helps to tap him on the outside of his cornet band to show him exactly where you want his nose to be. Perform both of these exercises daily three to five times, with three to five repetitions at each time. More stretches will be discussed next time.