How many of you do stretches with your horses? Before or after riding? Different stretches for barrel racing vs. regular riding? What kind of stretches?
The place where I keep my horse, they are really big on giving treats so my horse is always looking for treats now. So I work this to my advantage: at the end of my ride I will make him touch his nose to his flank on either side, and really tuck his head vertically and put his head between his legs for a treat. I'm interested in other stretches as well.
I stretch my gelding before AND after I ride. keeps him feeling good. I use treats to motivate him to stretch! I grab one leg and pull it infront of him and hold it low and pull towards the ground(same on the other leg) and I get behind him and pull his tail towards me which stretches their backs very well. I also stretch his neck by making him pull his neck around to his flanks. (MAKE SURE YOU HOLD THESE PSOTITIONS FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS EACH OR ELSE THEY DONT REALLY HAVE EFFECT) and reward you horse when they stretch successfully. and also I stretch his back legs by slowly pulling them low behind him. Good luck!
Equine Streches
