If you’re unable to ride – or just don’t feel comfortable doing so during the lockdown period – there are still exercises you can do to keep your horse supple. These carrot stretches, devised by Auckland-based equine Bowen therapist Tash Alexander, are a simple, effective and fun way to interact with your horse.
The overall aim is to create a more supple and stronger horse to ride. Each stretch has an explanation of the aim and reasoning behind it.
Once you have perfected the stretches, they are great to add in to your daily work regime as a cool down. All stretches should be carried out on warm muscles, never cold, so even though you might not be riding, make sure you take your horse for an in-hand walk or a small lunge first to get the blood pumping. Cold muscles don’t stretch, they snap!
The stretches are super-rewarding when you start to see the changes, and you will definitely feel the changes once back in the saddle. Try one each day for the week!
Exercise one: neck extension stretch
These are all carrot stretches (though of course you can use pieces of apple, plum, sugar cubes or any other treats). I’m sure most of you will be aware of these, however, I want to go a bit further in depth so you understand more fully what muscles are being affected and how this will help. First up is a neck extension stretch.
As with all stretching, these should be done on warm muscles. I encourage all my clients to do these after a ride. The horse needs to stand still and not cheat by creeping forward, so if you find your horse wants to do this, try doing it from the other side of a gate or stable door. Eventually, getting them to do it without leaning on anything is better for the abdominal muscles as they will use these to stabilise. Keep the horse’s head at roughly chest level to encourage the maximum stretch over the back, and encourage them to stretch forward to get the carrot. I like to get the horse to hold that position for around five seconds and repeat the exercise half a dozen times.
This will help horses who like to work short through their neck or that suck back behind the contact. It is also great for helping vertebral straightness and of course all stretching is great for the muscles after work to help release the build-up of lactic acid.
So, grab a bag of carrots (please don’t panic buy them, there are plenty in the shops haha) and get ready to start adding these stretches to your daily routine!
Exercise two: lateral reach
Now we are looking at a lateral reach. As with the first exercise, the horse needs to stand still while doing this stretch. The more you do all of these with your horses, the more they will learn what is expected of them and start to stand still anyway. To begin with though, if you need to use a door or gate, feel free. To help stop the horse from ‘lunging’ at the carrot, keep it close to the horse’s mouth at all times to ensure a smoother stretch. You still want them stretching out towards the carrot but this time, out to the side. Make sure you do the same amount on each side and hold the stretch for five seconds. I like to get a lateral stretch from the chest height and one from lower to the ground.
Again, this stretch is good for activating the core muscles and the abdominal sling, especially when the head is kept low. Having the head at chest height also encourages the base of the neck to stretch and promotes flexibility in the neck. A soft and supple neck is ESSENTIAL for a ridden horse to be comfortable. We can not expect to ride them (especially in any kind of frame) if they are stiff, sore and restricted.
Exercise three: between the legs
Getting your horse to stretch down between its front feet is one of my faves and engages so much more of the horse’s body at one time. This time, instead of creeping forward, your horse may want to try and walk backwards to get the carrot. If this happens, then back him up against a wall so that he is restricted for movement.
Holding the carrot in front of the horse, slowly bring it down to the ground and pass through between the front feet. This stretch engages the abdominal muscles to lift the back, thoracic sling muscles are engaged to lift the chest, flexion at the base of the neck, the topline muscles through the neck, wither and back are all stretched, there is flexion in the lumbar area of the spine and as the psoas muscles are engaged, the pelvis is tilted. This really is a GREAT all-over body stretch for muscles and bones.
This one is definitely a must after riding, to release toxins from the muscles. As with all stretches, just go as far as your horse can do for now, the more you do them, the further he will eventually be able to go. Again, hold the stretch for five seconds and repeat half a dozen times.
Exercise four: lateral mid-neck flexion
This is similar to the lateral stretch, except there is more ‘bend’ in the mid neck. This will have a greater effect at stretching and bending those middle neck muscles and vertebrae. This one can be a bit tricky as you don’t want the horse to twist his nose as he comes around for the carrot. If he starts to do this, then stop and hold the stretch where you are. Generally, they will twist the nose when the stretch starts to get too hard; however, this is incorrect so you are better to hold the stretch to where he CAN reach before he twists. Gradually over time, as his muscles lengthen, he will be able to go further. The aim is to bring the horse’s nose to the girth area on each side. Hold for five seconds and repeat half a dozen times. I like to go from one side to the other, rather than six on one side the six on the other. This encourages more movement.
This is a great exercise for suppleness of the neck and is great if you have a horse that tends to ‘set’ his neck in one position and has little flexibility there.
Muscles always work in pairs so, when you stretch your horse, have a look at what is happening, as one muscle stretches, there is another that is contracting. It’s fascinating to see how the body works up close.
Exercise five: low and bending
This stretch is a variation from the previous one. The aim is to flex the neck AND the back at the same time. There are a couple of ways to do this, firstly, by keeping the head low and to the side, this not only encourages flexion but also lift through the back. Again, the psoas muscles (a deep core muscle) are stimulated, encouraging a tilt in the pelvis, and the abdominal muscles are engaged. With this stretch there is also flexion at two spinal junctions. The Cervico-thorasic (where the neck meets the middle spine) and the Thoraco-lumbar (where the middle spine meets the lumbar spine)
This will help the back posture and bending ability. Make sure you maintain a contact with your horse’s side by standing next to him and asking him to bend around you. If they want to re arrange their feet a bit, that is okay, as they do need to stabilise so they don’t topple over!
I also get them to do this at chest height, encouraging him to come as far back as he can. This doesn’t have as many benefits as doing it low to the ground, however, it really promotes lateral flexibility. I tend to do both variations. Again though, you don’t want a nose twist, so just go to where he can comfortably reach and hold it. He will get better with time.
Exercise six: poll flex
Rightio, time to flex that poll. I have left this one of the carrot stretches till last for a reason. Not all horses can do this straight away. It’s amazing how many horses are actually quite tight through here! So, my advice is to get the carrot between the feet nailed first, then bring it up to the knees, THEN you can start trying to get the flexion to the chest. As like the others, you can do slight lateral flexion also by placing the carrot on either side of the chest and then in the centre. Don’t panic if he can’t do it straight away, hold it a little away from the chest if necessary until you can get it to the chest.
The other exercises deal with the base and middle neck, this one is directed straight at the top (atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial joints) It also stretches all those top poll and topline muscles. There is not a huge amount of lateral flexion in those higher joints, so small movements side to side is all that’s needed to stimulate them in this position. Keep the carrot on his lips as he will probably loose sight of it in this position.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Tash through her Facebook page Hands on Horses or via her website www.handsonhorses.co.nz
