Like people, an equine athlete’s core strength helps to not only prevent injury while increasing training levels but also improve recovery from injuries. Dr. Kirstin Bubeck of the Equine Sports Medicine and Surgery Service at Tufts Equine Center treats a wide variety of exercise-related afflictions each year and often suggests conditioning activities to help build a horse’s core muscles. Here, we take a look at some of Dr. Bubeck’s top recommendations:
Often encouraged through the use of carrots to get the horse to stretch to the desired location, many mobilization exercises help build core strength. These stretches are beneficial for horses in a range of circumstances and, if completed five times a day, five days a week can result in improved core strength, flexibility, and balance within three months. It is important to note, however, that the horse should never be forced into a position, as this could cause harm or injury.
Studies have shown that utilizing trotting poles while riding restores joint motion and strengthens flexor and extensor muscles as well as forelimb adductor muscles. Ask your horse to walk and then trot over sets of four or more poles set one stride-length apart. To keep the horse interested and trotting actively forward, approach the evenly-spaced poles from different directions and build up to riding a figure of eight with trot poles along the diagonals as well as a serpentine with trot poles along each short side.
Riding with certain training aids can be beneficial in building core strength. Studies have shown that resistance bands help to engage abdominal and hindquarter muscles, and may aid in the dynamic stabilization of the vertebral column. Additionally, complete balance training systems—consisting of ropes and pulleys that run along the sides of the horse with an elastic tensioner positioned behind the quarters—have shown to increase lumbosacral flexion and movement of the thoracolumbar spine, as well as activate abdominal muscles and the psoas muscle group.
From rehabilitation to moving up training levels, incorporating core strengthening exercises into your horse’s regular activities will help protect your horse’s health.