TRAINING SHORTS – STRETCHING

Stretching is often a neglected aspect of flatwork, but really is a great way to end off a session.

A quality stretch

A quality stretch has your horse’s body in a convex shape with his poll the lowest point, his back lifted, and withers raised. A quality stretch does take time to achieve and usually involves keeping contact, rather than dropping your horse entirely.

Of course, stretching can also be great at the start of a session, but if your horse is not keen to stretch, you must not force the issue. Horses naturally want to stretch over the topline when they have been using their muscles and the muscles are beginning to tire. Spending lots of time at the start of a session trying to achieve a stretch, when your horse does not readily offer it, can ultimately be counterproductive, as it removes the key element of stretching, which is relaxation. ‘Forcing a stretch’ really will only create tension and is unlikely to have any physical benefit for your horse.

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Top tips

• A stretch can tell you a lot about the quality of your horse’s movement and conformation. A super-supple horse with correct, uphill conformation will find it much easier to offer a soft and rounded stretch than a horse lacking balance or with downhill conformation. Do not despair, however, if your horse struggles to stretch, but instead know that as your horse becomes more supple and stronger in his work, you will see his stretch improve. His poor stretching ability now is merely the starting point from which you will improve!
• To improve your horse’s stretching ability from the ground, it is worth practising your stretching routine using carrot stretches on the ground. These really do help to improve suppleness and reduce the risk of soreness. They can be done before and after a session but remember not to ask too much before a session, when your horse’s muscles are still ‘cold’! [end box]