55 Corrective Exercises for Horses. Jec Aristotle Ballou
I have seen riders using other types of lightweight poles or creative variations.
To summarize: do not forego ground pole work because you think you might not have the ideal supplies. Look around and use what you have handy.
EXERCISE 1: Raised Pole Fan with Alternating Strides
| PURPOSE: | Increases symmetry, stride awareness, and body control. |
Switch between the extensor and flexor muscle chains with the footwork required in this pole arrangement for increased symmetry body-wide. It targets the thoracic sling, stifle muscles, and pelvic stability. It is not uncommon for horses to trip or bang the poles the first time through this routine until they make the proprioceptive improvements to go through cleanly. This deceptively difficult exercise does wonders for the horse’s stride awareness and control.
1 With the inside edge of the poles raised to a height of 12–16 inches, set up four to six poles in a fan shape as shown. Space the raised inside ends of the poles approximately 1 foot apart; set the wider ends 4½ feet apart.
2 Begin by riding around the narrow end of poles at the walk. Ask your horse to take just a single step between each pole (fig. 1.3 A).1.3 A: Sara tests Diamante’s coordination and balance by asking him to bend tightly through his body and step carefully between the raised ends of poles.
3 Maintain a clear bend to the inside by applying light pressure with your inside leg.
4 Circle around to cross the poles again, but now move over to the wider end of the pole fan (fig. 1.3 B). 1.3 B: Sara then rides a slightly larger circle that crosses the outer edge of poles, asking Diamante to extend his stride in the wider spaces.
5 Ask for two steps between each set of poles while maintaining inside bend. Really ask your horse to extend his strides as you cross this end of the poles.
6 Circle around again, but now go back to the raised, narrow end, and be sure to get just a single step between each pole.
7 Continue circling over the poles, alternating which end you cross over and the number of steps between each pole as described above.
This exercise should feel like taking the horse back and forth from a finely controlled collected walk to a big extended walk. It will highlight any instability in his pelvis, though, so do not be surprised if he struggles with the footwork.
EXERCISE 2: Serpentine Across a Ditch
| PURPOSE: | Counters leaning or bulging to one side. |
When a horse has developed more strength in—or favors use of—one front limb, it causes him to travel crookedly. This comes about by one of his shoulder blades developing tighter soft-tissue connection with his torso. Because of this, he will commonly be seen or felt leaning to one side or “bulging” one direction with his shoulders or rib cage when in motion.
A helpful technique to partially remedy this is to stimulate his shoulder-girdle muscles with varying effort and coordination. Constantly changing slopes and surfaces help prevent him from traveling habitually with the forelimbs.
1 Find a ditch or canal that slopes downward approximately 5–10 feet, and then rises up the other side. Be sure the banks of this ditch are stable enough to ride on and not crumbly or dangerous.
2 Begin by standing in the swale, with the horse’s body parallel to the banks or sides (fig. 1.4 A).1.4 A: Some horses, especially those ridden primarily inside arenas, can be a little nervous about the changes of terrain in a ditch. Here, I start by asking Star to stand quietly in the ditch before we begin moving around.
3 Now proceed to ride a shallow serpentine that keeps crossing the ditch (figs. 1.4 B & C). 1.4 B & C: Star has to engage her stabilizing muscles as we head diagonally up the side of the ditch (B). I’m careful to guide her but not get in her way too much with rein contact. Star demonstrates how much flexion and stability is needed in the hind leg on the high side of the ditch as we turn to head back down (C). This type of maneuvering is more difficult than riding straight up and down hills.
4 With each loop of your serpentine, move just two or three steps up the side of the bank and then return back down. The loops should be tight and swift.
5 Remember to change your horse’s poll flexion and bend for each loop, the same way you would in the arena. Be sure to not let him “fall” down the slopes with quicker strides. His rhythm should remain measured throughout.
EXERCISE 3: Ride a Hill Sideways
| PURPOSE: | Corrects side-dominance, hindquarter stiffness, and lack of coordination in the hind limbs. |
A popular rehabilitation exercise, this simple technique flexes the horse’s hind joints deeply while also recruiting the pelvic stabilizing ligaments and muscles. It can correct side-dominance, hindquarter stiffness, and lack of coordination in the hind limbs. Perform this exercise either ridden or leading from the ground.
1 Find a small hill that allows you to ride sideways across its slope for at least 20 meters (figs. 1.5 A–C). It does not need to be steep. A gentle slope not only allows more stable foot placement but also leads the horse to move out more confidently.1.5 A: Diamante has to bend the joints of his left hind leg more as he’s ridden sideways across a hill with it on the high side of the slope.1.5 B & C: This can improve stifle strength and mobility and increase collection. Be creative! Here we ride sideways on a berm heading to the arena for a schooling session (B). Hills do not need to be long or steep for this exercise. Diamante and I find another slope near his paddock that works just fine (C). Not only are we adding variety to our schooling, we’re improving body symmetry at the same time.
2 Place the horse’s weaker or stiffer hind limb on the uphill side of the slope.
3 Walk a straight line sideways across the hill.
In the case of exaggerated differences in the horse’s hind limbs—that is, one limb is especially weaker or toe-dragging stiff—practice this exercise more frequently with that limb on the uphill side of the slope. Where there is no overt difference like this, for general strength and balance training practice the exercise equally with each hind leg in the more flexed position on the uphill slope. It is acceptable for the horse to take short, cautious steps as long as they maintain a steady forward rhythm.
EXERCISE 4: Quick Halts Down a Hill
| PURPOSE: | Lifts the base of the horse’s neck and lightens the forehand. |
The base of the horse’s neck (at his chest) stores a large number of proprioceptors (nerves that read and cue movement). How a horse uses this area of his body while moving, therefore, determines whether his hindquarters can engage well or not. If he constantly “falls forward” with his chest and pushes weight down into the base of his neck, he will be capable only of stiff strides and a rigid back. This pattern becomes deeply embedded.
On the other hand, if he lifts the base of his neck while traveling forward, he creates a reflexive reaction system-wide that lightens his forehand and allows his hind limbs to swing forward and balance under his body. Use this exercise to target these proprioceptors at the base of his neck.
1 Develop a brisk walk on light rein contact traveling straight down