Equine Massage Course
Stretching Your Horse's Legs May Be Counter Productive

By Betty Lindquist
www.HorseCoursesOnline.com instructor
© Copyright 2009

Are stretching exercises for your horse valuable?

Most horse owners would guess "yes".but the answer in many cases is "no".

Lots of riders have a routine for stretching their horse's legs, either before riding or after a work session. They do this because they believe it will loosen the muscles, increase the length of the horse's stride and increase the range of motion in the major leg joints (stifle/hip joints in the hind legs, shoulder/elbow joints in the forelegs). Most riders do these stretches by picking up a hoof or fetlock and pulling the leg away from the body - the forelegs out to the front and the hind legs out behind the horse.

I have long felt these stretches are counter-productive.

In most cases these leg stretches do not increase flexibility or range of motion, and can actually tighten the muscles and decrease the horse's ability to stretch. This tightening of muscles is due to the "stretch reflex". In the belly of all muscles there is a safety mechanism to keep the muscle from being torn if it is over stretched.

When a muscle feels a pull that could cause over-stretching (hyper-extension), the "stretch reflex" kicks in causing the muscle to contract in order to stop the stretch. This is a description of the stretch reflex responding to an extreme situation, but even a less intense pull can cause a muscle to contract in response to an uncomfortable stretch; and when this happens the leg stretches are actually teaching a muscle to contract and tighten.

A study done by English researchers at Myerscough College in Lancashire, England (Reference: "Effects of a stretching regime on stride length and range of motion in equine trot." The Veterinary Journal, May 2009.) concluded that some limited stretching could increase range of motion in some of a horse's joints, but there was no corresponding increase in length of stride for any of the horses and the study also suggested that stretching too frequently could actually decrease the range of motion in both front and hind legs.

I have found that leg stretches can be useful if they are done correctly, but they must be done in such a way that the legs do not stiffen against the pull.

In the leg stretches I recommend, you first loosen the muscles with massage/grooming to the muscles on the top and sides of the haunches and to the shoulder muscles behind the shoulder blade. In this way the horse's body is prepared for stretching rather than just being pulled on, running the risk the stretch will activate the "stretch reflex."

To stretch the left hind leg: (1) stand between the stifle and hock facing the horse's hip. (2) Lift the leg keeping the leg fairly low. (3) Put your right hand over the hock and grasp the hock with the palm of your hand on the inside of the hock. (4) You will support the leg with this right hand on the front of the hock, leaving you left hand free to reach forward and cup the front of the stifle. (5) Move the stifle joint back and forth (front to back) six or seven times. You want a smooth, easy motion to this back and forth movement; don't ask for more movement than the horse can give easily.

As you do these motions you will see and feel an opening and stretching of both the stifle and hock joints. After completing the stretches, and when the leg is behind the horse's body, gently allow the foot to return to the ground without stiffening.

Be sure to stretch both the right and left hind legs.

Stretches for the front legs will facilitate the opening of the elbow and shoulder (point of the shoulder) joints and increase their flexibility.

For the stretch of the left fore leg: (1) Stand in front of the horse, facing the left fore leg. (2) Pick up this leg, holding it with both hands behind the knee and keeping the foot off the ground at a height that is comfortable for the horse (the radius does not have to be parallel to the ground). (3) Still holding behind the knee with both hands push the knee back and forth six to 10 times - this will open and close the elbow joint. (4) As you are doing this forward/back rocking, gradually begin to let the foot get closer to the ground until it finally makes contact. (5) As the horse puts its weight back on the foot it will stretch the entire fore leg all the way up through the shoulder. (6) If the horse is comfortable with having the radius parallel to the ground, you can hold it in that position with your left hand behind the knee, cup the elbow joint with your right hand and move the elbow joint forward and back. You will see the muscles on the back of the shoulder (triceps) stretch and the shoulder joint open more fully as the elbow comes forward.

Riders will find these stretches are more effective than commonly suggested stretches which induce the horse to stiffen its legs often activating the "stretch reflex."

An award-winning author, Equine Massage instructor Betty Lindquist is a certified sports massage therapist licensed in Florida. In addition to massage, she has had formal training in Somatics, Trager, Aaron Mattes Strength and Flexibity, Positional Release, Ortho-Bionomy, Feldenkraise Movement Awareness, Structural Integration and Neuromuscular Trigger Point Therapy.

Betty began massaging and doing structural balancing on horses in 1983, specializing in bio-mechanical dysfunction and injury rehabilitation. In addition to directing her massage business, Lindquist/Horses in Motion, Betty enjoys showing, training and teaching riding, and occasionally judges a show.

The Delta Society, a national organization which promotes better understanding between humans and animals, awarded Betty a special certificate for her booklet: Therapeutic Exercises for Performance Horses. The author of numerous articles, she has written two booklets on massage and kinesio-therapy as applied to horses.

While "certification" in equine massage is not necessary after taking this course, a student may become "certified" by Lindquist/Horses in Motion by meeting special requirements and fulfilling special assignments. Arrangements for such certification are made directly with Betty Lindquist.