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CHOOSING STRETCHES FOR YOUR HORSE

General Stretching Considerations
Like humans, each horse can have different areas of muscle tightness that need attention. Key factors affecting muscle flexibility include:

• Riding discipline
• Conformation
• Saddle fit (or lack thereof)
• Nutrition
• Amount of turnout
• Current or prior injury, illness and/or surgery
• Hoof balance
• Dental health and balance
• Rider balance and posture

Regardless of which stretches you choose to do, it always advisable to contact your equine healthcare provider prior to starting any stretching regimen.  The Stretch Your Horse App and videos are educational in nature only and not intended to provide or replace the advice of your vet or other equine healthcare provider.  Please also follow the Top 10 Stretching Guidelines explained in the Introduction to Horse Stretching video every time you stretch your horse. 

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How Do I Know Which Stretches Would Be Beneficial for My Horse?
NOTE:  For pictures, detailed stretch descriptions and names of the muscles being stretched, visit the Horse Stretches Library and the color coded muscle charts at the bottom of this page.  The muscle charts are also contained in the App.  Select Horse Anatomy from the App Menu.

5 Stretches to Increase Stride Length
3 Key Muscle Groups: The Pecs (Pectorals), Shoulders and Legs
Increasing stride length is not just about stretching your horse's legs. Your horse's pectoral muscles (the "pecs") and the muscles of the shoulder also must be supple and flexible to attain maximum stride length. 

Here are 5 stretches for your horse's hard working front end that will help increase stride length.  (NOTE:  The # refers to the stretch # in the App.)

1. **#2 Adbucted Lateral Bent Front Leg -- Great stretch for all 3 pec muscles. **Comes free with App purchase.  (abducted means move away from the body)  (lateral means side or outside).
2. # 11 and #12 Bent Front Leg and Bent Front Leg Variations  -- Excellent stretches for the legs, pecs and shoulders
3. #15 Straight Front Leg  --  Great stretch for all the muscles in the legs.
4. #13 Circling Bent Front Leg  --  Outstanding stretch for the legs, shoulders and pecs.


Universally Beneficial Stretches:  The Basics
Here are 6 stretches that are generally beneficial for most healthy horses regardless of riding discipline.  (NOTE:  The # refers to the stretch # in the App.)

1. #6 Forward Farrier Low and High
2. #4 Farrier Low and High
3. #8 Pelvic Rock and Hold
4. #11 Bent Front Leg
5. #2  FREE!  Abducted Bent Front Leg  (abducted means move away from mid-line or body)
6. #23 Nose to Point of Hip and Stifle

Universally Beneficial Stretches:  Advanced
Once you and your horse have mastered the basics, here are 6 additional stretches that are beneficial for most healthy horses.  (NOTE:  The # refers to the stretch # in the App.)

1. # 7 Forward Farrier Variations Low and High
2. #5 Farrier Variations Low and High
3. #9 Belly Lift
4. #20 Lateral Extended Neck   (lateral means side or outside)
5. #14 Lateral Rib and Bending Neck
6. #15 Straight Front Leg Low and High

5 Stretches for the Hard Working Hind End: 
The Gluts, Pelvis, Hamstrings and Quads
We all know that horses propel themselves forward from their hind end.  So, whether you are doing sliding stops, jumping fences, trail riding, doing flying lead changes or simply trotting and cantering or loping, your horse's "hind end" muscles are working hard!  Here are 5 stretches to help keep your horse's hind end relaxed and flexible. (NOTE:  The # refers to the stretch # in the App.)

1. #8 Pelvic Rock and Hold  --  Stretches the muscles of the "low back" (lumbar/sacral area) and those surrounding the point of hip, gluteals and obliques
2. #6 Forward Farrier High and Low  --  Stretches the hamstring muscles located on the very back of the horse's hind end on either side of the "butt crack"
3. #4 Farrier Low and High--  Stretches the "quad" muscles located on the front of the horse's hind legs, the gluteal muscles and some muscles surrounding the hips
4. #7 Forward Farrier Variations  --  Stretches additional muscles surrounding the point of hip, hamstrings and adductors and abductors
5. #5 Farrier Variations Low and High --  Stretches additional muscles on upper portion of the inside and outside of horse's legs, including the gracilis, sartorius and vastus medius muscles when moving the leg away from the body (abduction) and the biceps femoris and rectus femoris when moving the leg toward mid-line (middle of the horse's body.)
6. A key "enabler" stretch is the belly lift (#9).  This "must do" stretch stretches the back muscles thereby enabling your horse to realize the benefits of properly stretched hind end muscles!

The Stretch Your Horse Video Library
The Stretch Your Horse Video Library contained in the App has 25 videos divided into sections including head and neck, front end, back/core, hind end and other.  Each named stretch has a picture of the stretch as well as a description of the muscles being stretched.  Select Horse Anatomy from the App's Menu to view color images of the superficial, deep and hind end muscles of the horse to help visualize and understand which muscles are being stretched and their location.  The color coded anatomy charts are also listed below.

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Watch the Stretch Your Horse App video to learn all the details about how stretching can benefit your horse!!