Injury Care :: Stretching

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Stretching The Horse

I am always surprised at the extent to which stretching for horses is underrated and overlooked. It would be a source of great surprise if a human athlete were to claim that he didn't stretch, as in failing to do so he would be risking injury, reducing his competitive performance, and not respecting or understanding the stress he is placing on his body. Needless to say no top class athletes omit a stretching routine as part of their daily training schedule. Unfortunately our horses can't choose what work load we decide to place on them, or indeed whether we choose to stretch them or not. Ultimately the decision is in our hands and hopefully with a little understanding of the importance of stretching the right decision for your horse can be made.

Stretching is safe for any healthy horse when administered correctly. A stretching program is essential for all equine athletes and should be included in the training schedule. If your horse, however, has any physical problems or if you have any worries you should consult your vet first.

Stretching can provide some outstanding results and the best thing of all is, they are achieved by YOU. Here are some of the benefits:

Improves performance
Increases range of motion which allows the horse a longer stride and improved gait quality
Flexible muscles require less exertion and thus use less energy, reducing fatigue in your horse
Lateral movements are enhanced due to increased range of motion
Improved flexibility improves shock absorption which reduces the risk of injury
Improves circulation
Improves the strength of a muscle contraction
Lengthens and stretches any scar tissue that is present in the tendons promoting realignment of fibres
Reduces muscular fatigue, pain, and stiffness following exercise

This is true for both horses and humans. Exercising causes specific groups of muscles to contract to allow a particular movement. When a muscle contraction occurs the muscle fibres shorten to create the energy. This shortening does not, however, return to its 'normal' length following exercise. If you never stretch your horse, each time you exercise him his muscle gets shorter and shorter which will eventually lead to lameness, injury, or muscular pain.

The idea of stretching, therefore, is not to provide excessive range of motion for the horse, but to return the musculature to its 'normal' flexible state. With this in mind, I personally believe that stretching is most beneficial AFTER exercise, as this is when the shortening has occurred and the muscles will be warm, pliable and more amenable to stretching.

Measures to take for stretching

Warm the horse up first

Preferably stretch after exercise when the muscles are still warm and pliable.
If you haven't ridden, walk the horse round for 10 minutes to warm him up

Do not tie your horse up when stretching

Use a false tie or get someone to hold him
If your horse feels slightly uncomfortable and pulls back suddenly whilst tied up, he will hurt himself

Stretch on non-slippery surfaces and level ground
Be patient with your horse. Allow him to square up first so that he can balance himself adequately for the stretch.

Apply the stretch slowly

If you take a horse into a stretch quickly you will cause a reflex response. This causes the muscle to actually tighten and you risk injury.
Slowly and gently at all times. If you take up a stretch and you feel your horses' resistance do not pull against that resistance. By doing so you will injure the horse. Wait for him to relax and give you his weight and than increase the stretch further. If he doesn't like the stretch he may be sore so try again another day.

Remember your horse may not be used to a stretching routine you are training him to accept the stretches. As your horse begins to understand, over time, what you are doing you will achieve a larger stretch. But this does take time so be patient and start small.

Stretches

Each stretch should be held for 20 to 30 seconds and repeated twice. For stretching to be maintained it needs to be administered at least 3 times a week.

Although treats can be used to encourage the horse to stretch his neck it is not advisable as the horse often bounces his head around in an attempt to get the food. This can cause muscle pulls.

Picture 1: Head Lift
Standing under the horses' head and to one side, place your hands either side of the poll and gently move in circular movements encouraging the horse to let his head weight rest on your shoulder. When he learns to relax you can gently move backwards stretching the horses' nose out and increasing the stretch.

This stretches the poll muscles and lower neck muscles

Picture 2: The Hug
Stand with your back to the horse's shoulder. Place your outside hand on the head collar and inside hand across the nose. Guide the horse around your torso keeping his head vertical to the floor. Wait until he relaxes and then take up the slack

This stretches all the muscles on the outside of the neck

Picture 3: The Bow
Get the horse's nose to come to the floor and then between the legs (we don't want the head between the legs above the knee). You can do this as a lateral bow as well where instead of taking the nose between the legs you bring it to one side of the legs.

This stretches all neck muscles

Picture 4: Nose to Floor
Encourage the horse to lower his head to the ground and relax in this position.

This stretches the topline.

Picture 5: The Girth Stretch
Gently lift the horse's front limb up so that you hold the leg with both hands from behind the knee. Stand up straight and rest the horses' knee against your inside leg. Meet the resistance and when the horse relaxes take up the slack.

This stretches shoulder, chest, and back muscles.

Picture 6: Half Pass
Start off in the girth stretch position. Step to the side and towards the tail so that your inside hip is resting on your hand and not the knee. Lean gently toward the centre and allow the knee to lower slightly. Meet the resistance, wait for him to relax and then take up the slack.

This stretches the shoulder muscles.

Picture 7: Tricep release
Stand next to the shoulder facing the tail and pick up the front leg as if you were picking out the hoof. Reach in between the horse's front legs with your inside hand until you rest slightly on the horses' elbow. Gently bring the elbow forward so it lowers at an angle towards the ground. When he relaxes take up the slack.

This stretches the tricep and other shoulder muscles.

Picture 8: Toe to Heel
Facing the horse's tail pick the front limb up and place it back down further behind the other front limb (as if the horse has stepped back with one foot). The horse should put his toe down first and then his heel. Hold the stretch. If the horse steps forward just make the stretch smaller.

This stretches lower leg tendons, flexors and extensors of the leg.

Picture 9: The Farrier Stretch
Picking the horse's hind leg up you bring the leg backwards and close to the ground. Rest your inside hand on the hock (don't push down) just to stop him from lifting the leg up. Let his cannon bone rest on your knee for support.

This stretches the upper thigh muscles and hip flexor.

Picture 10: Hamstring stretch
Facing the tail of the horse ask your horse to pick up his hind leg. Bring the leg forward and no more than 6 inches above the ground with your hands just above the fetlock joint. Keep some flexion in this joint or it is a completely different stretch. Keep the leg in a natural line with the front limb. When your horse relaxes you can take up the slack.

This stretches the hamstrings (semitendinosus and semimembranosus).

Picture 11: Quadricep stretch
Start from the opposite side of the horse and reach under the stomach to ask the horse to pick his leg up. Bring the leg towards you and forwards at the same time holding the leg just above the fetlock.

This stretches the quadriceps on the outside of the horses' leg.

Picture 12: Seat Bone Lean
Gently take the horse's tail to one side and place your other hand with the palm onto the inside of the seat bone, fingers pointing away from you. Gently lean into the seat bone and hold for as long as desirable. Your horse may lean his body weight on you to increase the stretch further. Horses love this stretch

This stretches the hamstrings.

Picture 13: Tail Pull
Place one hand underneath the tail as close to his bottom as possible. Place the other hand low down on the tail bone. Lean back slightly and wait for the horse to lean forward into the stretch (this can take some time for the horse to learn). This stretch is not effective and should not be attempted if the horses' tail is tense (tail clamper).

This stretches the topline.

If you are unsure of how to perform any of these stretches it is advised that you seek help from a therapist before administering them to your horse.

All information is provided by a qualified therapist in good faith and without guarantee. Any advice given is for guidance only and should not be considered as a substitute for veterinary advice and care.

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