Jane Armour
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Past Articles for Your Reference...
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Past Article:Stretch Exercises to Maintain the Older HorseThis month we are going back to look at an older horse who has been in the program for three months. With a progressive program this horse is coming on well. Have a look at his progress for yourself. He does some great carrot stretches! In the beginning he did some stretches, firstly he stretches to the side. His owner is standing close to him. offering him a carrot for his efforts. Start your stretches gradually enticing your horse to reach around a little more every day. They will quickly learn to stretch to the reward of the carrot. Gradually your horse will reach around as far as this.
Next he likes to bow down. In the beginning, perhaps your horse will
only bow down a little, as in the first picture. However, very quickly he/she
will learn to go right down! Sometimes the horse will start to bow down even
before you appear with the carrot. Try and see what your horse can do and how
much he/she improves over a couple of weeks. What about the riding program? Starting with an evaluation of the horse, his conformation, fitness and the goals of the rider, I worked out a program that would help the rider achieve her goals. Firstly the horse needed to go forwards in a relaxed but definite rhythm. She spent a month walking and trotting on a lose rein. Gradually the length of time he was ridden was increased. We concentrated on riding the rhythm and making a variety of circles and changes of rein to help him become more supple. He did his carrot stretches and his owner spent time grooming him vigorously.
Take a look at these two pictures.
In the first picture, taken a month after we started, he is already moving with a good stride. He has not yet had time to build up muscle to carry himself in a round frame. In the second picture three months later, see how he is developing a better top line. He is stretching forwards into the contact. We have started to work on the canter. The sequence of the canter (outside hind, inside hind and outside fore together and then the inside fore as the leading leg) will help to loosen his back even more. The quality of the trot is usually better after the canter. Dressage should improve the natural balance of the horse. I'll let you be the judge of whether this horse has improved in his natural self-carriage. |
| Jane Armour (c) 2007 | |
