|
|
Discussion on Belly Lift Exercise for the Back
|
| Author |
Message |
|
Posted on Monday, Aug 27, 2001 - 8:57 pm:
I can't take credit for this exercise, but I wanted to share it anyway. I found it while looking for help for my horse's back problem. I found it on an "Ask the Chiropractor" web site - someone was asking for exercises that might help "kissing spine." It is sooo much easier than regular belly lifts. It just made my horses back pop right up and his butt go down. They said it should start showing results in a few weeks. It might be an exercise that everyone knows about, but it was new to me.
Here it is...
One of the best exercises to help the back of your horse is what is affectionately called the "butt scratch" exercise. Begin by standing behind your horse (please use caution and make sure that your horse is safe to stand behind and aware that you are there). Place an index finger on each side of his pelvis at the outermost part of the pelvis (the bony projection on each side directly behind the flank). Draw a line from that bony projection back to the root of the tail. Next, go back on that line four inches from the root or head of the tail. This is the spot that you will start the exercise from. Take two coins, one on each spot, and dig in with the edge of the coin. Start scratching up and down, covering about a three-inch long line from that spot. You should see your horse really begin to arch his back and DrOp his rear end. Some will even stand on the toes of their back feet. This is the reaction that you should look for. If you don't, then you are not rubbing hard enough. This exercise will in no way harm your horse, so don't be afraid to rub hard. What this exercise does is to cause your horse to contract his abdominal muscles, rotate his pelvis underneath him, and raise and stretch his topline. This exercise will help your horse collect more easily, because the stronger the abdominal muscles, the stronger his topline, and the easier it is for him to bring his rear end under him in collection.
Dr. O - How long do you think I should have him hold this position and how many times do you think I should have him do it each day?
|
|
Posted on Tuesday, Aug 28, 2001 - 4:32 am:
I don't know Mary, I have to admit I am a little leery of standing directly behind a horse then scratching his butt with the edge of a coin hard enough to make him stand on his back toes. When I do stretching exercises I do 3 to 5 reps and try and hold a position for 10 to 15 seconds once daily.
DrO
|
|
Posted on Tuesday, Aug 28, 2001 - 12:56 pm:
Actually, he seems to love it. - Jack doesn't try to stand on his toes though. It is probably like when you scratch near your dogs tail and they stretch out like they are loving it.
|
|
Posted on Wednesday, Aug 29, 2001 - 6:47 am:
Thats great Mary, and I hope a fly does not bite him on the prepuce as you scratch.
DrO
|
|
Posted on Thursday, Aug 30, 2001 - 9:27 pm:
I tried this with DJ this afternoon  I DO agree with DrO that I would be very selective in the horses I did this with. DJ is, well.........DJ, so I knew I could trust him. Besides, his butt is his fav place to get a scratch anyway.
I found the points, but DJ is so danged BIG I had a hard time keeping my position and getting the proper pressure. I forgot to bring some coins, so I just used my finger nails. I never got him to "tuck" - maybe I couldn't get the right type of feeling with just my fingers. I know one thing though - he was LOVING it!!!! As far as he was concerned, I could have kept going until my arms fell off - which I almost did  Next time, I'll try the coins. He'll probably love it even more!
Suzy
|
|
Posted on Friday, Aug 31, 2001 - 6:57 am:
I wonder if yall could perforn this while standing at his side, I would hate to lose your membership fees next year....
 DrO
|
|
Posted on Friday, Aug 31, 2001 - 12:18 pm:
Last night after I rode, I thought about your exercise Mary. My Walker is a big, friendly, 'never kicked' easy going kind of guy. I too, trust him........but only as much as I would trust any horse. As I walked around his backend, keeping in contact with him so he knows I'm there, I stopped right behind him and again, thought about your exercise. I'm sorry, there's no way I would try this. Walking behind him, picking up his back feet, combing his tail (which I do off to the side anyway) are all just a little different from standing directly behind him in the fashion you describe.
I too, like Dr. O, just kind of hesitate to attempt this type of exercise.
|
|
Posted on Saturday, Sep 1, 2001 - 10:33 pm:
Don't worry Dr. O - I'll leave you in my will. Seriously though, the whole time I am doing this, I talk to him so he knows I am there - I am extreemly carefull although I know anytime you are around your horse to expect the unexpected. Also, I do it when he is not tied up so he can just walk off if he wants to. I don't have to use a coin either, just rub hard with my fingernails. I know how my horse normally reacts and he actually would be worse with me on the side at his flank since that is where his muscles are sore and he is defensive about them. Because of that, he is more prone to cow-kick when I am at the side/back position when he is hurting. (It seems like a knee jerk reaction to pain.) I've had him to the vet and we are working on it. If I try to do belly lifting exercises, he hates it - lays back his ears and would cow- kick. He is very expressive facially when he does not like something - wrinkles his nose, lays his ears flat - he gives a good warning. When I do the butt scratch though, there are no signs like that (I've had people watch), in fact, he acts like he is loving it and does not move away. He is definitely the horse that will move away when he does not like something. He is also 13 years old and pretty laid back, except for those sore mucles. I am having a chiropractor/accupuncturist see him later this month for the first time.
I do know that since I started this exercise, he had gradually started carrying his back higher when I have him trot around me at liberty in the round pen. His muscles must be getting stronger. Since we think this all might have been caused by an improperly fitting saddle, I have not been riding him. I want to give him time to heal and remember how to carry himself properly. I ordered a Balance Int. saddle so he will finally have one that fits. Why is it that these things always happen in the summer when it is perfect riding weather????
|
|
Posted on Sunday, Sep 2, 2001 - 11:52 pm:
DrO ~ I'm laughing almost too hard to be able to type, but I have instructed my husband to send in my renewal to The Advisor should anything happen to me Seriously, DJ WAS loving it - he kept backing into my hands, clearly saying, "Harder! Harder!" Like Mary's horse, he isn't tied, so he could head on out the door if he wanted to. Also, I have done the TTEAM work with DJ for years, and an exercise he particularly loves involves standing directly behind him and manipulating the tail.
Now, I don't think of myself as foolhardy, and definitely always TRY to keep my body out of harm's way But, I've had DJ for almost 20 years now, and he NEVER objected to a good scratch!
Suzy
|
|
Posted on Tuesday, Sep 4, 2001 - 1:06 pm:
Perhaps a safer alternative is to run the hoofpick down that "soft" spot in his rump, from the top, just below the spine, in about a 45 degree angle down, swooping towards just below the point of the buttock. This is how I get my TB to do his "tummy tucks", and it really, really gets those abs working and his back stretching. Granted, you have to do this on both sides, but at least then all you need to worry about are cow kicks.
|
|
|
