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Discussion on Excercises
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Member:
Antlog
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 15, 2005 - 2:31 pm:
hi do you know of any excercises that can help to strenghten back muscles of a horse
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Member:
Hwood
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 15, 2005 - 3:49 pm:
Is there a problem you are trying to correct in your horse?
Any flexion exercises that the horse can be asked to do and can then hold the position on his own for several seconds, will help, as will carrot stretches between the front legs, and backing uphill for several feet.
Horse's back muscles will "toughen up" with a gradual increase in weight bearing, as long as the weight is evenly distributed and doesn't bang on the horse's back. You want to see the horse round his back, not hollow it out, and backing with his head low is a good exercise if not overdone and if the horse isn't PULLED backwards. The less resistance, the better. Ideal is when the horse balances and carries himself.
Are there any good books on the subject? Maybe some Linda Tellington-Jones or something by Susan Harris?
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Member:
Fpony
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 15, 2005 - 4:31 pm:
Hi,
When you want the horse to be strengthen for carring you really want to strengthen the abdominals, as well as the muscles that lift the base of the neck. The muscles of the back need to relax and lengthen in order for the horse to raise it. If you get on all fours and raise your back up (like a cat arching)You will feel your stomach muscles work as well as the muscles in your neck to raise the part of your back at the base of your neck and between your shoulders blades. If you can work your horse up and down inclines allowing him to balance himself he will need to use these muscles. An excellent resource is Dr. Deb Bennett's Conformation series. It is so much more than about conformation.
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