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Stretch Exercises for Horses: Build and Preserve Mobility, Strength and Suppleness - Hardcover | Diverse Reads

Stretch Exercises for Horses: Build and Preserve Mobility, Strength and Suppleness

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A highly illustrated guide to the most effective and beneficial stretches for horses.

Stretching is a necessary part of any athlete’s exercise and maintenance routine. Long recognized to promote flexibility and prevent injury in humans, stretching can bring the same benefits to horses when made part of their daily care. This illustrated handbook makes it easy for riders and owners to include simple exercises that improve performance and increase longevity in their usual training schedule.

Optimal equine performance requires strength, flexibility, coordination, and resilience. The practice of stretching makes it possible to develop and maintain all these elements in harmony. It also provides valuable transition time from hours that may have been spent in a stall to the gymnastic expectations we have for horses under saddle: rhythm and elasticity of the gaits, willingness to go forward, beautiful and dynamic movement, reliability and surefootedness, and more.

With clear descriptions of the anatomical and physiological principles of stretching, readers gain an understanding of the exercises that may be best for their horses and disciplines in mind. Then, detailed instructions are provided explaining:

  • Simple, quick-to-do joint and muscle evaluations.
  • Stretches targeting specific muscle groups.
  • Stretches to promote suppleness and relaxation.
  • Stretches to warm up and prepare for work.
  • Stretches for cool down and recovery.

Color photographs demonstrate evaluations and stretches step-by-step, supplemented by detailed explanations of what you may discover in your horse’s reactions. Perhaps best of all, readers are provided a therapeutic reason for more hands-on time with their horses, and new ways to listen to him, to understand him, and to ultimately improve his well-being and performance.

ISBN-13: 9781646010936

Media Type: Hardcover

Publisher: Trafalgar Square

Publication Date: 03-22-2022

Pages: 128

Product Dimensions: 6.80(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.90(d)

Jean-Michel Boudard has passionately practiced osteopathy (physical manipulation of the body's muscle tissue and bones) in the worlds of both high-level human athletics and top equestrian sport for more than thirty years. Since 1996 he has specialized in stretching, massage, energy work, manual postural regulation, and osteopathy for horses. Having developed several original methods specifically for horses and riders, Boudard teaches his techniques in Europe and the United States. He is based in Paris, France.

Table of Contents

Preface v

Introduction 1

Chapter 1 Functional Anatomy and Physiology 5

A holistic view of health and disease 5

The musculoskeletal system 7

The cell as a functional unit of the horse's body 16

Chapter 2 Posture and Compensatory Tension 20

Postural analysis 20

Compensatory tension 21

Joint contracture and stiffness, trigger point 26

Movement and resistance 27

Causes of pathology in the musculoskeletal system 32

Chapter 3 The Neuromuscular Stretching Method 34

Principles 34

Adaptation of the technique to achieve a chosen goal 41

Session setup and procedure 43

Chapter 4 Indications and Contraindications for Stretching 51

Indications 51

Contraindications 53

Chapter 5 Joint Articulation Tests 54

Passive analytical joint mobilization 54

The limbs 56

The spinal column 74

Test sequence for the forelegs 82

Test sequence for the hind legs 86

Test sequence for the spinal column 90

Chapter 6 Muscle Chain Tests 94

Tests for the anterior muscle chains 94

Tests for the posterior muscle chains 97

Tests for the muscle chains along the spine 98

Chapter 7 Examples of Release through Passive Stretching and Stimulation for Active Stretching 100

Stretching the posterio-internai chain of the forelegs 100

Stretching the anterio-internal chain of the hind legs 101

Hula-hoop 102

Stretching the cranio-cervical joint 105

Stretching the tongue 106

Active stretching using the "Masticator" activator 107

"Equibrilator" dental occlusion orthosis 108

Active stretching and stimulation 109

Stimulation of active flexion mobilization of the thoraco-lumbar spine 114

Stimulation of left lateral mobilization and active flexion of the thoraco-lumbar spine 114

Conclusion 117

Acknowledgments 119

Index 120