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Carrot Stretches 🥕

kaynmillie3

Carrot stretches are a great form of exercise for your horse to improve flexibility, suppleness and target areas of weakness that your horse may have. Although we often refer to these movements as carrot stretches they are also a form of exercise for our horses as well as a stretch depending on what you are targeting and what you want to achieve from doing the exercises. 


In this blog I will give you some examples of carrot stretches exercises, what muscles/areas/problems they target and how to perform them and when is best to do them.


A word of caution and something to think about when asking your horse to do these exercises is to not push your horse past their range of movement (ROM). As food is involved your horse may be very keen to try and get the carrot as they want a tasty treat, this can sometimes result in the horse looking like they can easily flex round when they could be doing more damage than good. Keep this in mind when doing these exercises and try not to take your horse past their ROM especially when doing these the first couple of times.


Tip - cut your carrots into batons so that you have more length so that your horse doesn't catch your fingers. They are also easier for your horse to eat so you aren’t waiting a while for them to finish eating between stretches. 



What horses should be doing these stretches on a regular basis?


The answer to this is all horses and ponies should be doing some if not all of these exercises even once a week if not daily. It's not just ridden/competition horses that benefit from stretching, older horses or horses who aren't in work can still do them and can benefit more from them sometimes as they become a bit stiffer from lack of exercise or general ageing. 


When it comes to stretches and exercises there are two different types. 

  • A passive stretch which is performed by the handler

  • An active stretch which requires muscle contraction from the horse to perform the stretch. 

Sometimes a stretch can be both active and passive but to keep it simple we will just use these two types. 



Why should we perform stretches on a regular basis? 


Stretching has a number of benefits which includes:

  • Increased stride length

  • Increases range of movement (ROM)

  • Increased engagement, flexibility, athleticism and suppleness

  • Reduces muscle tension, soreness and stiffness

  • Reduces the risk of injury to joints, tendons and muscles

  • Improves coordination

  • Maintains your horses current level of flexibility

  • Increases physical and mental relaxation

  • Increases circulation

  • Improved body awareness 


Which will help to improve your horses performance and help them live a happy, comfortable and healthy life. 


A word of caution and something to think about when asking your horse to do these exercises is to not push your horse past their range of movement (ROM). As food is involved your horse may be very keen to try and get the carrot as they want a tasty treat, this can sometimes result in the horse looking like they can easily flex round when they could be doing more damage than good. Keep this in mind when doing these exercises and try not to take your horse past their ROM especially when doing these the first couple of times.


**It is also important not to stretch a cold muscle as cold connective tissue which has a low blood saturation can be at a higher risk of injury.  This can mean stretching after exercise or when your horse comes in from the field rather than before you exercise or turn them out. Massage mitts can also be used to warm the muscle up before stretching if you have access to one or giving your horse a good full groom will also warm the muscles up. These stretches can be incorporated into a ground work session which will allow the horse to warm up before performing them. 



A guide to stretching:


  • Once you horse has reached their maximum stretch, try to hold the stretch for 5 to 15 seconds - this allows the fibres to relax. 

  • Build from there you can then each time take the stretch a little further if your horse is comfortable to do so. 

  • Build stretching into your daily routine

  • Consistency is key - you will see benefits from these exercises if they are performed regularly. 



Carrot stretch between the front legs.


The aim of this stretch is to lift and flex the wither, neck and back. Performing this stretch regularly will increase core stability, the musculature of the top line, abdominal strength and back flexibility. 


How to?


  • Using the carrot encourage your horse to bring their head down and then back between their front legs.

  • Keeping the carrot close to your horse's lips by tapping their lips with it will help to keep your horse's head in this position. 

  • Aim to hold the stretch for 5 seconds - you can increase the length of time you hold the stretch for as your horse becomes used to this stretch. 

  • Repeat the stretch 2 or 3 times, gradually increasing the stretch each session by asking your horse to take their head further back. 

  • This stretch can be done before or after exercise. Often Stretching after exercise has more advantages as the muscles are well warmed up. However it can be done before as long as the muscles have been warmed up.


This stretch is good for promoting a correct posture and support for your horse's back. The stretch flexes the base of the horse's neck and lifts the back by activating the abdominal muscles. 


Image from Horses Inside Out - these images really show how the muscles work and also show how the stretch should look which I really like - it would have taken me forever to try and capture a good image showing these stretches.


Tip - if you don't have something like a Equilibrium Massage Mitt to warm up your horses muscles before stretching then a quick 5-10 minute hand walk will work just as well to get those muscles warmed up! If your horse is turned out for the day, then after turn out is a great time to do the stretches if you don't intend to do them after exercise.


Carrot stretch low to the side


The aim of this stretch is to lift and flex the spine to the side and flex the base of the neck. This stretch will increase core stability, abdominal strength, back flexibility and suppleness. 


How to:


  • Stand with your back against your horse's ribs so you are level with the girth line

  • The carrot should be held in the hand closest to your horse's tail.

  • Use the carrot to encourage your horse to bring their head across your body

  • Lower the carrot down so it is just below your knee. To keep the movement smooth keep the carrot close to your horse's lips. 

  • Hold the stretch for 10 to 15 seconds

  • Repeat 2 or 3 times

  • The stretch can be gradually increased by taking your horses head further back  each session

  • As your horse progresses and finds the stretch easier move closer to their tail 

  • Again this stretch can be done before or after exercise. Take care if doing on cold muscles and make sure the muscles have been warmed up


This stretch is good for improving suppleness through the base of the neck and back and increasing your horse's ability to bend. It also helps to support the correct posture of the back. 



 


Reading list/reference list 


Images are from this article too

Horses Inside Out - Pilates for horses webinar




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