Equine Stretch Article

Everyone knows that Stretching is a good thing, but how many people do it? 
As a rider you may find Yoga and/or Pilates a great way to stretch and strengthen your inner core muscles.  Similarly, your horse will also benefit from stretching and strengthening its core muscles.

In the world of horses, stretching should be an important part of every horses exercise programme, and in a short time you will see and feel a notable difference.
We treat our horses as athletes, so it is only fair to give them a warm-up and warm-down routine that an athlete would use.

To flex a joint muscles need to contract one end towards, it then needs an opposing muscle to contract to return it to its starting place.  You can see this by using your own arm, hold your arm straight downwards, palm facing forwards.  Now lift your palm to your shoulder, this will use your Bicep (Popeye muscle) on the front of your forearm.  Now lower your hand again until you arm is straight, this has used your Triceps on the back of your forearm, flexing and released your elbow.  
The same type of action is made by the horse.  Using the large muscle that runs along the underside of the neck (Brachiocephalic) and the Bicep, the horse can move the front leg forward in the flight phase of a stride, and to replace it uses some muscles in the shoulder and the muscle running from the spine to the forearm (Latissimus Dorsi).   As with most things, this is a very simplified example, what actually happens is the horse will mainly use one muscle, however, muscles are cleverly intertwined and connected with other muscles, tendons, ligaments, internal tissues and membrane, it will also use part of other muscles in the area to help perform the task.

There are several ways to stretch a horse. 
Passive stretches are manually performed by the handler, either lifting the legs or moving the head, neck or back and using carrot stretches.
Active stretches are performed during exercise, these can include ground work, lunge techniques, ridden exercises  include leg yield, shoulder in, quarters in, quarters out, turns on the forehand and pole work. 
Stretches should be carried out gently during the warm up, after the horse has walked and trotted for at least 5 mins, this will ensure the muscle fibres are ready to be stretched.

Although the dressage horse must spend time in the school practising specific techniques, it should also be allowed to hack, jump and gallop to ensure they have fun in their work, whilst using and strengthening all their muscles, the same for a Show Jumper, who needs to have a good level of basic schooling skills which will enable it to collect itself whilst channelling the power needed to jump big wide fences.  This variety means the horse achieves a greater level of all round fitness lessening the chance of injury.

Stretching plays an important role when training.  By stretching the muscles after exercise the fibres that have been contracting during work are gently released, helping to clear any toxin build up and return the muscle to its original (neutral) state, the horse then finishes in a relaxed, comfortable frame of mind, and using carrot stretches is a great way to treat your horse after exercise.
By stretching regularly the horse becomes more elastic, achieving bigger strides and a larger, more rounded jump.  Tasks involving a greater degree of stretch become easier and the horse will strain itself less, becoming able to perform more demanding tasks without the risk of strain, tear or injury.  So when you ask your horse to extend its trot, jump a 4ft fence with a hidden ditch behind, or come down steps on a cross country course, he will be able to do so without tearing his muscle fibres, allowing for a faster recovery after an event.

As an Equine and Human Bowen Therapist, I find that clients horses who regularly do a stretch routine have very little to correct when I see them at 6 monthly intervals.  Encouraging the rider to stretch also, ensures the balance is maintained between them.

At Rose Farm, Catcott, Somerset, Lotty Merry runs day courses which teach you how to perform these stretch exercises.  Showing most importantly how to keep your own body safe and supported.  The day includes stretches with the forelimbs, hind limbs, head, neck and back, and everyone’s favourite – carrot stretches, we also run through basic equine anatomy and bio-mechanics to show where you can improve your own horse.

The next Stretch Days at Rose Farm are on the 14^th March and 23^rd May 2010.
More info about these day courses is available either at www.rosefarmequine.co.uk
or phone Lotty on 07966 473238 or email lotty.merry@ukonline.co.uk