In today’s video tip I wanted to share with you some tips on getting the most from doing carrot stretches for horses.  For those that are not familiar with “carrot stretches”, they look just like they sound.  These are simply stretches in which we use a “carrot”, or really any treat or reward, to encourage the horse to reach for a certain spot and maximize the stretch.  The carrot or treat is simply used as an incentive to get the horse to move in ways they normally would not move. 

When most people perform carrot stretches for horses, they usually only focus on lateral flexion (side-to-side) and vertical flexion (up and down).  They often forget to move the horse on the diagonal and stretch through the lumber/loin area.  You accomplish this by asking the horse first for lateral flexion, and then instead of asking the horse to bring his nose to the ribcage or hip, bring it low toward the hind foot.  This stretches a completely different set of muscles which run along the lumbar spine and into the gluteal muscles toward the hip.  This is an area of the body where horses can carry tension.  A lot of movement happens at the sacroiliac joint and it is a common injury location.  It’s important to keep this area freed up and flexible so your horse can perform at his best. 

After you watch the video, come by my Facebook page and share which equine bodywork stretches you find most helpful in keeping your horse at peak performance.  See you on Facebook!  http://www.facebook.com/HeavenlyGaitsEquineMassage

Lisa Carter is a Certified Equine Massage Therapist (CEMT), with multiple certifications from several different equine bodywork schools.  She incorporates her knowledge and experience with Parelli Natural Horsemanship, equine bodywork and as a veterinary technician to provide her clients with the resources they need to make informed decisions for their horses.  She encourages and facilitates network building between equine health care professionals, working together to find the best combination of therapies to meet the needs of the “whole horse”.  

Are you ready to get better results with your horse?  Put your equine health care team to work so you and your horse can be doing what you were meant to.  Click here to get started!