Your Horse challenges you…
Think you have to be in the saddle to get your horse’s muscles working correctly? Think again. Stephanie Anthony investigates the power and effectiveness of in-hand exercise
to try in-hand exercises
IN-HAND EXERCISES are an excellent way to keep your horse’s back and core mobile and healthy in between physio visits. They encourage him to use his muscles correctly in a way that can be hindered with a rider on board.
Think of it like pilates for horses. Focus on getting your horse to step through and underneath his body with his hindlegs, lifting though his back and withers. Exercises such as backing up and turning on a circle are perfect for this. They’ll help to engage his core muscles and prevent him from bracing through his back and limbs, which can lead to serious issues with the spine and pelvis.
“The aim is to get your horse working in a correct and efficient way — engaging his core muscles, lifting through his back and withers, and dropping through his head and neck,” explains veterinary physiotherapist Hayley Marsh. Dabble with downtime In-hand walking and grazing is as beneficial for your horse’s mind as it is for his body. The downtime will help to keep him fresh and happy, plus it’s an excellent opportunity to bond with your horse and develop your relationship. After warming up your horse’s muscles with in-hand work, try a few carrot stretches to encourage him to really stretch out his muscles and develop his flexibility.
To be most effective, intersperse these exercises into your daily training. In-hand work is great to do before or after a schooling session or hack — it helps to get your horse’s muscles warmed up and works well as a cool down, too.
A qualified veterinary physiotherapist will be able to create some tailormade exercises to help you get the very best from your horse.