Stretching your horse helps them to maintain good physical condition and prepares them for more strenuous riding and training.Practice these stretches with your horse on a regular basis.
Step 1: Prepare your horse.
If your horse has a free range of movement, you should move to an open area.carrots work well for this stretch because of their length, so grab a small treat that your horse will be interested in.
Step 2: Stand behind your horse.
The stretches should be done on both sides of your horse and behind their legs.
Step 3: The treat should be drawn down on the horse's head.
If you can bribe your horse into stretching by moving the treat past the fetlock, then they will become aware of it.Try to have them hold this stretch for a while before giving them a treat.The horse has a neck.If your horse can't reach as far as you would like them to, reduce the distance at first and over time their muscles will become accustomed to it.
Step 4: Straight back, stretch your horse's neck.
Take another treat and, standing in the same location, get your horse's attention and direct their head back towards their withers.Just below their shoulder, hold the treat and keep it there for a few seconds.Give your horse a treat after releasing the pressure.
Step 5: Your horse's topline needs to be stretched.
Guide your horse's neck down and between their legs by using a treat or the rest of your carrot.If you reach to the inside of the fetlock, hold the position for a few seconds.Reward your horse with a treat when you release the stretch.
Step 6: On both sides, repeat the stretches.
To prevent your horse from becoming one-sided or pulled out of shape, be sure to stretch them on both sides.Go straight back on both the right and left side after following the directions.
Step 7: Your horse has legs.
Stand to the side of your horse and tell them to lift one of their legs.Pull it forward so that it is fully extended with no bend in the knee or hoof.As long as your horse is able, hold their leg in this position.
Step 8: Take care of your horse's shoulder.
Standing to the side of the front legs again, cue your horse to lift one of them.Bring it forward with a bend in the knee.Then, hold their leg under their knee and lift it up so that it has a 90 degree angle bend.In the direction of the other leg, move this leg in a circular motion.
Step 9: Your horse's hind leg needs to be stretched backwards.
Stand facing one of their back legs and move to your horse's backside.If you were going to pick it, you would keep the hoof extended and lift the leg.Slowly extend the lower half of their leg.Hold this stretch for a short time.
Step 10: Your horse's hind leg should be stretched.
Ask your leg to grab their foot as you stand next to them.Pull their leg forwards to avoid losing the bend in their knee.Slowly bring the horse's leg back into the resting position after holding this stretch for 10 seconds.
Step 11: Take care of your horse's back and hips.
Stand behind your horse and close to their body so that they can't kick you.The muscular sections on either side of the tail are four inches away from the center.Pull this area downwards until the horse tucks their rear end.Hold pressure for 30 seconds to maintain the stretch.
Step 12: Take care of your horse's back and stomach.
To perform the horse version of a crunch, stand to the side of your horse and tick the bottom of their belly where you would place the girth.Continue applying pressure until the horse lifts its back.Hold this stretch for 10 seconds and then move further down the stomach to stretch the entire topline.
Step 13: Your horse needs to be stretched.
Stand to the side of your horse's leg and tell them to lift their foot.Pick up their hoof and stretch their leg forward.Pull their leg forward so that the tip of their hoof touches the back of the knee on the other side.Slowly bring the leg back down after holding this for a few seconds.