Stretch that pony!

Yes, folks, the easiest thing you can do to keep your horse's back in great shape is stretching. Ever heard of carrot stretches? Well here goes!

Remember: before you begin any new exercise regimen with your horse, it is always a good idea to check with your vet or other equine health care provider.

I like to do these after I have worked horses. It is also great to do them before you ride, drive, or lunge your horse, but you should not ask your horse to make the same effort before they are worked as after they work, because their muscles will not be as limber beforehand.

Get a carrot from your treat bag. (See now why they are called carrot stretches?) Have your horse in a confined space, like his stall, where he won't have "help" from his pasturemates. Show the carrot to your horse, and bring the carrot around to the horse's flank region, encouraging him to follow the carrot with his head. The idea is for him to keep his feet still, while reaching around with his head and neck to take the tasty morsel. You do not want your horse spinning in little circles around you. If your horse has never stretched before, he is going to wonder why you aren't just giving him the treat, so be patient! But don't let him be obnoxious either, he's still working! And don't be concerned if he can only reach back maybe as far as his shoulder at first--the more often you do these, the more limber he will become. Stop if your horse seems uncomfortable, and never try to pull his head and neck around. Let him reach as far as he is comfortable doing. Then move to the other side, and repeat.

After you have done this a couple of times on both side, you can ask for him to stretch down between his forelegs. Again, show him the carrot, and bring it down between his forelegs, and underneath his belly, close to the ground, as though he were trying to graze with his head between his forelegs. If he starts to bend his knees, stop. the idea is for him to keep his forelegs straight, and reach down and back with his head and neck, to really stretch out his top line. This one is usually the trickiest of the carrot stretches--so be extra patient with your horse.

Most horses catch on to these stretches really fast--once they learn that there is a treat involved! After doing these for the first time with Monarch, my Thoroughbred, t, after our next ride, he stretched first to one side,then the other, then nudged my pocket as if to say, "Okay, I've done MY part!" Now, who's training who here? And the more you do them, the easier they will become.

Next week: Bellies and bear claws!