Introduction to Stretching
Horses instinctively know how to stretch and if you watch them out in the pasture or in the stable they will often stretch spontaneously, continually, and naturally, tuning up the muscles they need to use most.
Regular stretching will benefit your horse and will give you feedback on his condition.
Jess will use gentle stretching as part of her treatments and will often provide you with some gentle stretches specific to your horse that you can help your horse with between treatments.
Application
Stretches will always be applied at the end of a treatment when the muscles are warm. Muscles, tendons, and ligaments (eventually joint capsules) risk damage if stretched when cold.
The stretches will be tailored to the animal’s particular muscular structure, flexibility, and varying tension levels. Being careful not to overstretch.
Jess will often stretch the limbs and will ask if your horse is used to having their feet handled before applying stretches involving handling the limbs.
Some of the most commonly used stretches are:
Neck stretches - lateral, flexion, extension
Foreleg stretches - shoulder extension, shoulder flexion, fetlock stretch, shoulder rotation
Hindleg stretches - hip extension, hip flexion, hamstring stretch
Back muscle stretches - back stretch, tail stretch
Benefits
Relaxation
Reduction of overall muscle tension and stiffness
Increased circulation of both blood and lymph fluids
Increased oxygenation and nutrition in the tissues
Increased elasticity of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments
Increased flexibility and range of motion of the joints
Improved coordination
Reduction of muscle strain and ligament sprain
Improvement of the stride length
Improved reflex time response
Jess will often use a combination of therapies during the treatment as required and will continually assess both the physical and psychological state of your horse to ensure that the treatment is both effective and enjoyable for your horse.
