Stretching Exercises for Horses

Some people prefer to stretch their horses after they ride or after they've warmed them up on the lead. It is important to be very careful when stretching your horse, as an improper technique can injure its muscles. YOu can stretch both forelimbs and rear legs in order to prevent soreness and promote balance in the horse.

  1. Dangers of Improper Stretching

    • Improper stretching can harm the muscles and tendons in a horse's body, especially if it is done "cold" before riding. Never grab the horse's leg and jerk it or give it a hard yank, letting it drop back on the ground. Stretch your horse's muscles after you ride, when they are already warmed up. Also avoid stretching a horse on concrete or other hard surfaces, as they may slip and hurt themselves.

    The Forelimb Stretch

    • Face the horse so that your outer thigh is next to the outside of its front leg. Ask it to lift its front leg by gently lifting up on its pastern. Slowly extend the horse's front leg forward by holding one hand below the knee and one hand above. Hold the leg against your outer thigh for a few seconds. Make sure your back is straight and you bend at the knees to prevent injuring yourself. With the leg extended, slowly raise and lower it so it is pivoting from the shoulder. Always stretch both legs. This stretch is especially useful for horses that experience shoulder pain.

    The Rear Leg Stretch: Extended Back

    • Stand behind the horse and just to the side, so you are not directly behind it. Ask the horse to slowly raise its hind leg by gently lifting up on its pastern. Slowly extend the leg and place it against the inside of your knee, supporting the legs with both hands below the hock. Place one hand on the back of its hock and the other on the front of its knee, slowly and carefully applying pressure down and forward on the hock, then gently pulling the leg out towards you. Hold that position for a few seconds, and then gently allow the horse to put its foot down. Do the same for the other rear leg, being careful not to jerk the legs in any way.

    The Rear Leg Stretch: Extended Forward

    • When stretching a horse it is important to work opposing muscles equally, otherwise you can introduce a greater possibility of injury. After extending the rear legs back, they must be stretched forward towardsthe front of the horse. Get in front of the rear leg and ask the horse to pick it up. Support the leg with one hand on the hock and the other below it. Slowly extend it forward, being careful not to injure your back. With it stretched forward, slowly lift the leg up toward the belly. Carefully set the leg back down and repeat on the other leg.