Active & Passive movements to improve equine performance - Part 2

Welcome back to Part 2 of my Active & Passive movement blog. If you missed Part 1 click the link to catch up then join us back here for Part 2 where we focus on Passive Stretch Exercises to improve dressage performance and speed.

Passive stretch exercises to assist performance of the equine athlete: Part 2

Part 2: Passive stretches to improve dressage performance

2a. Adductor stretches of both the fore and hind limbs: Dressage is the execution of precision movements in different planes with what appears to be minimal effort. To make these movements look effortless, the horse needs to be highly supple; a programme of passive stretch exercises focusing on the forelimb and hind limb adductor muscle groups combined with active suppling exercises (which we will come to later) will improve lateral work such as leg yield, half pass, shoulder-in, renvers, travers etc.

The Adductor stretch of the fore limb

This may look similar to the triceps stretch from Part 1, however if you look closely you can see that the handler is leaning to the right to bring the foreleg out away from the midline.

Note: it is important to ensure there is no stress on the knee when performing this stretch.

The Adductor stretch of the hind limb

Again, it is important to ensure that this stretch is performed by a trained individual to ensure there is no excess stress applied to the hock joint.

Let’s take a look at what muscles are stretched during each of these movements…

Source: ISBN: 0-85131-860-6 Blignault, K., 2003. Stretch exercises for your horse: the path to perfect suppleness. Trafalgar Square Publishing.

See the photograph above of a horse performing a leg yield. You can clearly see the extent of stretch required by the hind limb adductors as the horse steps away but also simultaneously, the stretch of the fore limb abductors as the limbs cross over one another.

Source: ISBN: 0-85131-860-6 Blignault, K., 2003. Stretch exercises for your horse: the path to perfect suppleness. Trafalgar Square Publishing.

2b) Abductor stretches of both the fore and hind limbs: It is important to have a good balance between the opposing muscles groups, i.e. in this instance, the Adductors and the Abductors. If you imagine on your own body, these are the muscles on the inside of your thigh (Adductors) and those on the outside of your thigh (Abductors).

If one muscle group is much stronger or much more flexible than the other then lateral flexion will be inhibited and straightness of the horse’s gait can be lost resulting in abnormalities such as plaiting.

So let’s take a look at the Abductors that we also need to stretch to ensure balance, symmetry and motion of your horse’s gait.

The Passive Abductor stretch of the fore limb

Without putting any stress on the horse’s knee joint, the handler lifts the forelimb to 90 degrees and gently pulls it across the median plane .

The Passive Abductor stretch of the hind limb

Some horses can find this stretch particularly difficult, especially if they have not performed it before as it also requires good balance as the hind limb is moved across the median plane underneath the horse.

Again, let’s take a look at what muscles are stretched during each of these movements…

Source: ISBN: 0-85131-860-6 Blignault, K., 2003. Stretch exercises for your horse: the path to perfect suppleness. Trafalgar Square Publishing.

2c) Forearm Stretch: Anyone competing in dressage competitions will aspire to achieve that impressive forward range of movement to create a free extended trot with a good flick of the toe. The forearm stretch can help to achieve this by stretching and lengthening the muscles of the shoulder and lower neck as well as those associated with the lower limb carpal and digital flexor tendons and suspensory ligament. By stretching these muscles you will assist your horse to achieve beautiful free flowing strides.

If you are to succeed in high level dressage then elasticity in these muscle groups is essential.

So let’s take a look at the forearm stretch that can help improve the extension and range of motion your dressage horse can achieve.

The Passive Forearm Stretch

This stretch can begin reaching the leg out straight but at more of an angle, closer to the ground and then progress to become higher and more parallel to the ground, as the horse’s flexibility increases.

Let’s take a look at what muscles are stretched during this movement…

Source: ISBN: 0-85131-860-6 Blignault, K., 2003. Stretch exercises for your horse: the path to perfect suppleness. Trafalgar Square Publishing.

See the photograph above demonstrating the stretch in the muscles of the forearm right through to the tendons and carpus.

Part 3: Passive stretches to improve speed

3a. Hamstring stretch: For a horse to be able to travel at great speed and cover as much ground as possible with every stride, he needs to be able to lengthen and stretch through his back and hind limbs in order to engage his hindquarters underneath himself and propel himself forward. Similar to the stretch of the fore limb mentioned above, it is vital to have good flexibility in these muscles to avoid unnecessary strain being placed on the tendons and ligaments below the hock joint.

Good flexibility in these muscles will allow for a flexible fetlock that will absorb the force imposed by speed, therefore helping to prevent sprains and tears.

The Hamstring Stretch

The hind limb is lifted and stretched forward to a level that is comfortable for the horse without losing its balance. Similar to the hind limb abductor stretch, but without crossing over the median line.

Let’s take a look at what muscles are stretched during this movement…

Source: ISBN: 0-85131-860-6 Blignault, K., 2003. Stretch exercises for your horse: the path to perfect suppleness. Trafalgar Square Publishing.

See the photograph above demonstrating the stretch in the muscles of the hamstring through to the tendons below the hock joint and down into the fetlock.

So that’s wrapped up our passive stretching focus of this blog and in Part 3 (coming soon) we will look at active stretches you can perform in the saddle to improve your horses performance. If you missed Part 1 which covers the importance of stretching and passive exercises to improve jumping performance, click the link above to be taken straight to it.

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Thanks for reading and sharing with your friends and I look forward to catching up with you again soon!