Build a more supple back and help remedy sore ones

Ridden Work (or lunging)

Good things for backs; hill work, trot poles, low cavaletti, bending.  If the horse cannot be ridden all of these things can be done with lunging.  Don't assume that if low cavalletti are good that jumping must be better - the idea is to get the horse to be relaxed and using its back in a consistent elastic manner, jumping is not going to do that and may put more strain on a variety of structures.  Teach your horse to relax and bend, doing this at both the beginning and end of work sessions will build your horse's suppleness and if you keep it fun and praise all efforts he won't be worried about stretching.  Teach your horse to s-t-r-e-t-c-h out over his\her back when working, don't just get into an outline and stick there.

Physio Work

Physio work may be done in conjunction with ridden\lunge work or instead of, if the horse is not rideable.  For horses with chronic back problems and\or muscle wastage, physio exercises are very useful for gradually limbering up the horse and building new muscle.  Work physio exercises into your normal grooming routine - break it up with nice 'scratch' breaks - make your horse's nose go all wiggly with pleasure at least once during the session and he'll forgive you the bits he doesn't like.

  Warnings

Physiotherapy sometimes involves getting your horse to strengthen, stretch or use muscles that he doesn't really want to, due to soreness or weakness.  Take things slowly, begin gently and protect yourself from kicks or bites that may come from an 'unhappy' horse.  Remember, your horse doesn't know why you are asking him to do this, he certainly won't understand long-term benefits.  Providing rewards along the way will help your horse accept these unpleasant exercises.

Never use physio exercises on a lame or severely sore horse - seek a diagnosis and treatment plan from your vet!

Never massage or perform physio on any areas which are warm\hot or inflamed\swollen. 

If in doubt seek professional help - from a physiotherapist, chiropracter, massage therapist or vet

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Carrot Stretches

This is by far the easiest and safest of the exercises.   Simply hold a carrot (or your horse's preferred treat) around to his sides.  Make him stretch around to get it.  Use different heights and angles to give a good all around stretch.  Help him make the stretch smooth and relaxed by slowly moving the treat around to his side.  You want to try to avoid having him snatching at it which could do damage - imagine you are stretching your own muscles and use the same rules - slow and gentle.

In the photo above you can see that the horse has twisted his head and neck. Although this stretches some neck muscles, the ideal stretch does NOT do this - you may need to ask for less stretch than this and ask the horse to keep a straight head by holding his halter at the cheek piece. 

Remember to do both sides.  In addition put the carrot under his belly and make him bring his neck under, stretching that topline - this is a good belly lift for him too!

Butt tucks

Butt tucks are easy to do and don't worry your horse much.  There is a reaction point around the head of the tail- mid point of the butt - simply scratch at it and your horse will tilt his pelvis.   As the horse pulls his bum under his spine will rise slightly in the loin area.  Don't try for a big movement, gentle is best.  If your horse has a roach back or normally stands 'under' in the hind end.  In these horses the loin is already being stretched and you would want to stretch and mobilise the quadriceps and front of the hip area instead.

Warnings - Do beware if he's prone to kicking though! You may have to perform these standing at his side instead or from behind the safety of hay bales or a stable door.  You don't need to get a big reaction, especially at first.

As you can see from these photos this is a mild exercise, my horse will quite happily perform this without being tied and without getting agitated.  You must however be prepared for your own horse's reactions.  A horse with very sore or stiff loins or very weak abdominals may object quite strenuously.

Canter tucks

This is a minor variation on the butt tuck.  In this exercise you will use the same reflex point as you used for butt tucks on one side of the horse and a different reflex point on the horse's flank on the other.  This will cause the horse to flex and contract a similar muscle set to the ones used during a canter strike off.

The photo right clearly shows the muscles of the flanks being activated (see the area near my hand).  You can also see the butt tucked under a little as in 'butt tucks'.  What you can't see is that the spine is bending slightly, as it does during a canter strike-off.  The spine is also lifted slightly.  Use a lightly scratching or poking movement to activate these reflex points.

Again this is a mild exercise but you should be cautious.  In particular be aware that the hindquarters do swing toward you as the back bends toward the flank being activated. The lift of the spine is not dramatic and only affects the loin area - don't try for more than this.

This exercise needs to be performed on both sides in order to use all muscles equally and bend the horse's spine in both directions. 

Thoracic Lifts (Tummy Lifts)

Caution - if your horse is going to react, this is the exercise he'll probably hate the most! Be prepared.

This exercise is highly beneficial for horses that need to lift their spines.  Sway backs caused by poor muscle tone or saddle soreness (it will not do anything for congenital swaybacks!). Remember that the top of the horse is NOT his spine, it is the top of the spinous processes.  Horses with high withers will never have straight backs but you should be able to picture a straight path for the spine through the shoulder to the neck - refer to our anatomy pages for skeletal drawings

Initially you may need the help of a hoofpick or similar for this exercise.  I now use my fingers in a sweeping motion (like claws) but it is not something that the horse finds pleasant so do expect to use quite an amount of pressure\sharpness, especially at the beginning.  Remember, although this may seem like a particularly 'mean' exercise you are working toward the long term health of your horse.

The reflex is along the stomach of the horse, the exercise is to get the horse to lift its entire abdomen and spine.  He may grunt and groan as he has to shift his ribcage and diaphragm.  In the photos look at the difference of the spine just behind the wither.

To start with use a hoof pick or some other blunt but 'pointy' object. Give him a little rub in the middle of the tummy just behind the armpit - then use the hoof pick in a slow jabbing motion to get him to suck his gut up and pick up his spine.  You may need to draw the pick forward along his belly (quite hard). Beware of starting to far back at first - or you may get a hind leg in the ear.  Stay by the horses shoulder and work at the area under the withers until you get the hang of it. You are trying to activate the reflex that the horse uses to suck its belly away from clawing predators.

In the photos I am drawing my fingers like claws along both sides of his underbelly.  This is effective too but we started with the hoofpick so he has learned to do this. As you can see from photo two below, he's done a good lift.  This is as much as he can probably do.  He's not particularly happy about this and it is definitely his least favourite exercise.

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Books for your Horse's Back