Horse Stretching Techniques Anyone Can Try
Stretching your horse is an incredibly beneficial form of equine therapy, but do you know where to start? Here are some simple but effective stretches to add to your toolbox. Introduce these stretches once or twice a week, then build them up more frequently as you go.
First and foremost:
Make sure you are stretching your horse correctly! Keep these tips in mind to make sure you’re helping your horse and not hurting them:
Start slowly and build up over time
Keep low expectations of your horse’s range of motion
Support the surrounding joints of the muscle you’re stretching
Check with your vet first if your horse has had injuries
Do not force any movement or push your horse past their comfort level
Stretch your horse’s neck
The UP and OUT: Grab your horse’s favorite treat and touch it to their nose so they know it’s there. Next, bring the treat up in the air and forward, encouraging your horse to reach there as well. Hold for a few seconds before feeding the treat for the best stretch.
The Nose Tuck: Grab another treat (your horse will quickly learn to love stretching!). Position the treat near your horse’s chest and encourage them to bring their nose back to retrieve it.
Bring it AROUND: Stand beside your horse with another treat. Hold the treat near your horse’s elbow (where the girth sits) and ask them to bring their head around to retrieve it. Try to have your horse keep their head perpendicular to the ground and not tilt it on its side when reaching around– this minimizes the effects of the stretch. If your horse wants to tilt their head, try standing against their neck and have them reach across your body to retrieve the treat instead.
Stretch your horse’s shoulders
Start by lifting your horse’s hoof as if you were going to pick it out. Hold behind your horse’s knee and ankle, then slowly extend the leg forward. Make sure you only lift the knee as high as your horse is comfortable. Hold for about 30 seconds or as long as your horse is comfortable.
Stretch your horse’s back
These back stretches all use the same basic technique: You’ll use a treat to guide your horse’s nose between their front legs in the various positions below. If they get claustrophobic or uneasy with their head between their legs, you can bring the treat to just the side of the front leg, instead.
Nose to Chest: For the Upper Back: Have your horse to bring their nose between their legs just below their chest.
Nose to Knees: For the Mid-Back: Have your horse bring their nose between their knees.
Nose to Ankles: For the Lower Back: Have your horse bring their nose down between their ankles.
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