Strengthening the Stifle
Since his heck and stifle injection, Leo's felt great under saddle. His canter is much more relaxed and he's stretching better now. But as always, nothing can be perfect. Leo's toe-dragging on his left hind is slightly more pronounced again, which the vet says is a combination of stifle weakness and SI joint issues. At the trot and sometimes at the canter, he doesn't step under himself and slips/drops out through his hip.
(I started writing this post last week. Leo has since gotten kicked in one leg and developed an abscess in the other. We've had the worst luck this past year!!)
The tail pull exercise was cited from a book, Activate Your Horse's Core. You pull the tail down and slightly to the side, not enough to make the horse pick up its opposite hoof, but enought that you see its hind muscles engaging. Hold for a few seconds (no more than 30 seconds) and release. This works and strengthens the biceps femoris. Equine Fitness was another book that was cited. Evidently, it has a whole chapter on the stifle. The trotting poles in an arc and in-and-out circles came from there.
(I started writing this post last week. Leo has since gotten kicked in one leg and developed an abscess in the other. We've had the worst luck this past year!!)
Ultimately, we want to ultrasound his SI since the stifle ligaments and tendon are fine to see what we can find, but I need to pay off the last vet bill first. In the meantime, I've been researching exercises to strengthen the stifle. It's quite a popular discussion on equine message boards. Here's what I've found...
Exercises for Strengthening the Stifle
- Hillwork
- Raised poles / cavalleti
- Trotting poles in an arc
- Leg-yielding in and out on a circle
- Rein back (on the ground or under saddle)
- Rein back up a hill
- Backing over a pole (on the ground)
- Turn on the forehand (on the ground or under saddle)
- Tail pull exercise
The tail pull exercise was cited from a book, Activate Your Horse's Core. You pull the tail down and slightly to the side, not enough to make the horse pick up its opposite hoof, but enought that you see its hind muscles engaging. Hold for a few seconds (no more than 30 seconds) and release. This works and strengthens the biceps femoris. Equine Fitness was another book that was cited. Evidently, it has a whole chapter on the stifle. The trotting poles in an arc and in-and-out circles came from there.
Exercises for Strengthening the SI Joint
Most of the discussions around SI joints relate to SI joint injections, massage and acupuncture. Exercises that were mentioned mirror the stifle exercises: hillwork and pole work.
My friend Tavy's vet recommended this exercise for strengthening the SI joint: Canter a 10 meter circle in the corner, then canter forward down the long side - long and low, if possible. Repeat.
All these exercises are quite easy and I'm lucky to have access to lots of hills. But just like strength training for humans, you want to be mindful with how much you do in one session. I've found now that I've researched this topic I'm more consciousness of working some of these exercises into my flatwork sessions. It's so easy to just trot and canter circles around the ring when I'm not in a lesson!
All these exercises are quite easy and I'm lucky to have access to lots of hills. But just like strength training for humans, you want to be mindful with how much you do in one session. I've found now that I've researched this topic I'm more consciousness of working some of these exercises into my flatwork sessions. It's so easy to just trot and canter circles around the ring when I'm not in a lesson!
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