You have recently learned that your horse has a condition called “hunter’s bump”.  This is a very prevalent condition which affects many horses of varying breeds and disciplines.  In case you missed Part 1 of this two part series on hunter’s bump, you can learn more about the causes and effect on horses in “Cause And Effect Of Hunter’s Bump In The Horse.”  Now that you know what it is, what can you do about it?

Stretches And Exercises To Help Hunter’s Bump

Once it has been determined by your veterinarian that there are no underlying conditions still present that need time to heal, there are some simple stretches and exercises that you can do with your horse that can help improve both its range of motion and comfort level.

Some very basic stretches can help those muscles remember how they used to move.

• Extending the hip and hock – Hold the horse’s hind limb like you are going to pick out its hooves.  With the arm closest to the horse, support the hock in the crook of your elbow and hold the hoof with the hand furthest away from the body.  Gently ask the horse to take the leg backward.  Don’t ever ask for more than the horse is willing to give.  Just take it to the point you meet resistance and ask the horse to hold it for a about 10 to 20 seconds.  You can gradually extend the reach and time as your horse gets more comfortable with the stretch.
• the hip and hock – Facing the horse and standing close to the hip.  While supporting the hock with one hand and the hoof with the other, lift the leg upward and hold for approximately 10 to 20 seconds.  Gradually increase the duration as your horse gets used to this stretch.
• Rotate the hip – Using the same hand positions for flexing the hip/hock, gently and slowly ask your horse to rotate the hind leg in a circle.  Never ask for more range than your horse is comfortable with.  Just feel for the resistance and take the leg to that point.  Start with about 10 to 20 seconds and gradually increase to about 30 seconds as your horse gets better at it.
• Hamstring stretch – Support the hock with the hand closest to the horse (facing forward toward the horse’s head) and hold the horse’s toe with the other hand.  Gently and slowly ask the horse to bring the leg forward.  As you are holding the toe, you will feel the horse attempt to push its heel forward.  Allow the horse to drop the heel down and forward while you maintain the hold on the toe.  This encourages the horse to stretch through the hamstrings.  Some horses will find this very difficult at first, but will gradually get better at it.  Be sure to watch your fingers! If the horse drops the foot quickly and in a toe-down position, it’s very easy to get your fingers stepped on.
• Pelvic reflex point stretches – There are several reflex points that can be key to help mobilize the pelvis and stretch the deeper muscles that act on the pelvis.  These stretches require very little effort on the part of the horse or human to do them, so they are a good to use for a horse that is stall-bound.  However, they should never be used without the supervision of a professional first to show you proper placement, pressure and context.  Enlist the help of your equine bodyworker to implement these into your horse’s bodywork routine.
• Lateral carrot stretches – Using a treat of some kind for motivation, ask your horse to reach as far as it can laterally toward the hip and then lower to the ground at about mid-cannon bone level.  The lower stretch is key in stretching through the muscles in the lumbar area.

Some effective exercises to help mobilize your horse’s pelvis are:

• Hill Therapy or cavaletti work on the flat.  For more advanced conditions or horses that are not fit, start on the flat with cavaletti for best results. Start at the walk if necessary and gradually work up to a trot as your horse gets more fit.
• Backing up hills.  Start with very low grade hills at first and gradually increase the incline as your horse becomes more fit.
• Partial disengagement and other lateral movements.

For more detailed descriptions and video tutorials on these exercises, see the my eBook “A Prescription For Parelli” and also my DVD “Basic Equine Stretching For The Horse Owner” located on the Products/Services page of my website.

Alternative Therapies That Can Help

Some horses need a little extra help to put things back in place, especially if you are dealing with an old chronic injury.  For sudden acute onset of hunter’s bump associated with pain you should seek the help of a veterinary professional immediately for a proper diagnosis and to assess the damage before making a decision on a treatment plan.

For milder chronic cases where there is only mild discomfort involved, equine massage can be very beneficial therapy for hunter’s bump. Massage provides both pain relief and relaxation to some of the muscles effecting the pelvis.

Before massage and/or stretching your horse, you can increase the effectiveness by taking a medium sized hand towel soaked in hot water with either peppermint, lavender, Aroma Siez or PanAway (you can get those here) and place over the lumbar and pelvic area to help relax the muscles with deep penetrating heat.

For more severe cases, and in the case of sacroiliac subluxation, equine acupuncture and chiropractic have been found to be helpful therapies.  Acupuncture has the ability to reach the deep muscles acting on the pelvis and the addition of electrostimulation can help with relaxation, negative pattern interruption, restore proper energy flow and muscle stimulation.

Chiropractic can then be used to help realign the body and deal with the underlying sacroiliac subluxation.  If you can think of the body as a system of pulleys, you can visualize how tension on one or more of these can create strain elsewhere in the body.  The increased tension can cause subluxations and interference in proper muscle function far away from the original source of the problem.  An equine chiropractor can help identify and correct these.

As with anything, each horse’s needs are going to vary.  Always make sure to consult your veterinarian before starting any therapy or treatment plan with your horse to ensure there are no underlying issues that might be exacerbated.  These exercises and stretches are not meant to take the place of regular veterinary care!

Some horses may never get back to 100% of their pre-injury performance. However, you can definitely help make them more comfortable and help support the muscles that are having to compensate for the imbalance.  This will help decrease the chances for secondary injuries and get your horse back on the road to recovery.

Do you have an experience you would like to share about hunter’s bump in your horse?  Leave your comment below.

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Lisa Generali-Perez 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”.

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