Looking to increase your horse’s stride length? These in-the-saddle exercises for the hind limb retractors will help improve your horse’s gluteal muscles and hamstrings. With proper stretching of the glutes, your horse can better plant his hind legs, which means better cadence and coordination. Stretching the hind legs forward also works the fetlocks nicely, which can lead to more comfortable gaits for you to ride.
We’ve said it before here, but riding "long and low" for brief intervals – at the trot and also canter -- is an excellent topline stretch that works into the gluteal muscles and helps flex the hip. You also will be stretching the hamstring group – the semitendinosus, semimembranosus and biceps femoris.
Ground poles, in addition to helping your horse’s balance and coordination, help stretch this muscle group nicely. Get six poles and space them according to your horse’s stride (if you are doing this for the first time, prepare to do a lot of adjusting to keep your horse from adding a “cheat” step). Helpful hint: Place poles 1&2 and 5&6 slightly closer together to help your horse keep his cadence. You’ll want to do the poles at a walk and trot, but remember not to drill your horse until he’s sour.
After you have become comfortable using ground poles, try trotting over cavaletti, which greatly increases (depending on the height) the stretch in the hip extensors. Start with just two (you're giving your horse a lot more to think about here) and work your way up to six.
Hills are good for your horse’s mind and body. Trotting at an incline works all the hind limb joints, but do only what you are comfortable with in a trail setting, and if you're new to this, do your hills at a walk for a couple outings before moving out of first gear. If you do any mountain hiking on your own feet, you know that even slow walking can affect those glutes and 'strings.
Remember, do your stretching exercises only after you have warmed your horse up adequately. Increase the intensity of the exercises slowly over time, and combine them with on-the-ground stretches.
And if you’re looking to get the most from your horse’s muscles (on top of your own diligent work), schedule an appointment for your horse with a professional massage therapist. You’ll feel the difference the next time you ride!
Obi & me