Mobilizing the Forelimbs
Variaon 1
The muscles of the hindquarters are your horse’s motor. They are
responsible for most of the forward thrust; horses depend on having
highly mobilized joints as well as well-stretched, flexible muscles in this
area.
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Lift up the front leg as if you were going to pick out the hoof. Holding
the leg on the fetlock joint and stretch it by moving yourself backward,
toward the horse’s head. The leg will be stretched forward, as
this movement is more natural for the horse. At the end of the movement,
change your hold. You want to hold the limb above the knee
joint and lift it up until the forearm is almost parallel to the ground.
Simply allow the cannon bone to hang down.
Basic Exercise
Mobilizing the shoulder and elbow joint. The hold is correct. However, you
don’t need to bring the leg as far forward as it is here in the photo.
Mobilizing the shoulder and elbow joint.
Mobilizing the knee joint.
A loosening exercise for the coffin joint
and hindquarters musculature.
Exercises for Horses
Mobilizing the Hind Limbs
This exercise mobilizes the
shoulder and the elbow.
Hold the leg by the forearm
and guide it in circling
movements. Begin with a
small diameter and slowly
allow it to get bigger. A
good rule of thumb is
three to five rounds to the
right, then go the other
way. Change direction
several times. To conclude
the exercise, lower the leg
back to its starting position
and set it down. You can
certainly do all three variations
as a sequence.
Variaon 2
This is likewise an exercise for shoulder and elbow. This time,
you stand beside the horse, looking toward his head. You hold the
leg by the cannon and forearm. You move the leg in a horizontal
circular movement.
Variaon 3
Here, you’re mobilizing the
knee joint. The starting position
is the same as above, but
now one hand holds the forearm
and the other, the cannon
bone. You circle the leg, as if
you wanted to draw a circle on
the ground with your horse’s
hoof. Here, too, circle three
to five times to the right, then
circle the other way. Continue
to allow the circle to get bigger.
Stand beside your horse and to
the side. Lift the hind leg and
hold on with one hand around the
fetlock joint and the other around
the hoof (see photo left). As you
did with the forelegs, guide the
hind leg in a circular movement
as if you were drawing a circle
on the ground. Begin with small
circles and gradually allow them
to get bigger. Three to five rounds
to the right, then change direction.
Do this a couple of times.
To end the exercise, bring the leg
back to the starting position and
set it down.
An excerpt from the recent book Physical Therapy for Horses by Helle Katrine
Kleven. The book contains mobilizaon technique for the whole equine body.
Reprinted with permission from Trafalgar Square Books.
Available at www.HorseandRiderBooks.com.
MOBILIZING
The point of mobilizing horse’s legs is to improve or maintain the maximum length of the fascia and muscle fibers.
When the muscle fibers get longer, they are more supple. Because the muscle belly is more pliable, the related tendons
experience less pull and strain. Well-stretched muscles have improved blood circulation, so the metabolism can
be optimized. In contrast, a shortened muscle will constantly pull on the place where the muscle attaches, where the
tendon inserts on the bone. Through this constant pulling, this location will become strained, inflamed, and painful.
Fascia responds negatively to immobility. If not regularly moved and used, the fascia adheres together and the entire
musculoskeletal system is affected.
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