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Stretching exercises for the horse - Part 2
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Tail pulls - WARNING! Before attempting a tail pull, make sure the horse you are working on is trustworthy not to kick. Sometimes the funny feeling of a tail pull will upset a horse, and even a gentle horse may kick back at you, so be very, very careful if you attempt this one.
Standing squarely right behind your horse (the closer you are, the safer you will be if he does kick), reach out and grasp his tail with both hands, at the base of the tail (top). Gently lift the tail if the horse will allow it (many won't) and move it slightly side to side. Slide your hands partway down the tail bone, then slowly pull the tail towards you and downwards, then release it slowly (never release it quickly or you can do more harm than good). This can help a horse whose caudal vertebrae are slightly misaligned.
Front legs - pick up a front leg and pull it towards the front - but never stretch a horse past the first spot of resistance. You can lift from the knee and pull the leg upwards, then carefully from the fetlock and pull the leg forwards. Take the same leg, and cradling the knee and foreleg, pull it as far back to towards the hindquarters as it will go. To finish the leg, gently move it from the inside to the outside, still cradling the knee and foreleg. Then repeat with the opposite front leg.
Hind legs - you can perform a similar series as the front legs. Take the leg from the fetlock as far forward as it will go, then as far back (same as when the farrier is doing a hind foot). Then take the fetlock and move it to the edges of the horse's range towards both sides.
Just as in human stretching, never bounce a stretch. Stretching exercises are beneficial because the muscle fibres are prepared for heavier work to come. Bouncing a stretch can tear muscle fibres, creating a sore place and slight scarring.
Scar tissue is not as flexible as muscle tissue, so the horse becomes prone to injury at that point (this is the same reason tendon and ligament injuries take so long and such intensive care to heal). You can also use stretches to help with cool down after a heavy workout. |
| If you have tips or questions on equipment care, purchases, fit, or anything else to do with equestrian equipment, please mail them to kristi@hiway16.com |
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Past articles are all available in the
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Team Penning and Invitational Championship Gymkhana
The Lakes District Cattle Penning Association held their final event September 23 at Grassy Plains. Nearly 60 teams came out to participate in the popular sport, with the usual #5 Class, #7 Class, #10 Class and Open Class, as well as 5 Junior teams. Riders came from as far as Quesnel again, as well as the whole south side, north side and Burns Lake.
The weather was incredible, with everyone bundling up in preparation for a cold day with long underwear, gloves, and extra sweatshirts. Most of those were removed by lunch time, and it was hard to keep wearing our long sleeved western shirts by mid-afternoon!
Three rounds gave everyone a good chance at penning, and the addition of some fresh cattle livened the day up quite considerably. The cows had become quite well trained this late in the season, and the new cows didn't play the game quite so well, making riders have to work a bit harder to get the job done.
Speaking of working a bit harder, the 5th Annual Invitational Championship Gymkhana is coming up this Saturday (Sept 30) in Terrace. Top gymkhana riders are invited from clubs all over the area from Vanderhoof to Kitimat. Entry fees are by donation - items that can be used as prizes are ideal, and there are always lots of other donated items to be won.
These riders will compete in six different classes to see who are the top riders in northern BC, and who will come away with the top team award. This year we welcome riders from Vanderhoof, who haven't participated before, and the Kispiox Valley is sending a larger crew than ever before - it looks like it will be a great show!
For more info on area shows, please contact kristi@hiway16.com
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| If you have tips or questions you'd like to share with other local equestrians, please mail them to kristi@hiway16.com |
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If you have tips or questions you'd like to share with other local equestrians, please mail them to kristi@hiway16.com
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If you are new to Northern B.C. Horse, check out all the previous issues on the Archive page.
Kristi is building a great knowledge base about horses, with the emphasis on our area of the world
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Western, English, Penning or Trail riding, all equine sports have a voice on Northern B.C. Horse
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