02/06/2023
1. Exercise Square.
Purpose: Develops stability in the trunk and pelvis.
•By making your square on a bending line with varying numbers of strides in each downward transition, the horse creates quicker neuromuscular responses. This exercise enhances proprioception & muscular coordination. Patterns like this help the horse overcome muscular patterns such as bracing the neck and jaw. They will also develop quick movements in the hind legs, producing better core engagement.
Steps:
1. Set up cones to mare out a 100 foot square. (30 meters)
2. Proceed in a working jog around the square (Forward collected motion is important.)
3. Before the first corner, ride down to a walk.
4. Proceed 5 strides, then immediately trot again.
5. Before the next corner ride to a walk again, walk 4 strides.
6. Trot to the next corner and break to a walk for 3 strides.
7. Immediately trot to the final corner of your square and ride just 2 strides of walk.
8. Repeat beginning at 5 strides of walk around the corner.
**Don’t skip marking your circle with cones. Accuracy is important during this exercise. I’m addition to aiming for SPECIFIC stride count, Make sure your horse is bent to the inside around every corner. This places more load on Bis stifle muscles to develop their carrying power.**
••Don’t get discouraged. This exercise is difficult, and will take some practice even though it doesn’t look like much. When you your horse getting tired, go to something else for the day. Likely you haven’t done many exercises specifically to load the stifles, so it’ll be hard at first.
💥Fit tip💥 When a horse hollows his back, the lumbosacral joint extends, which causes the stifle joint to shift behind the horse’s body mass. The stifle can NEVER be strengthened in this position.
Definitions:
1.Proprioception: perception awareness of the position and movement of the body.
Indications: weak core/truck. Instability. Would be great for young horses learning to use their hind end to drive and build core muscles, horses who have issues bracing, and Neurological recovery, too.
Reference: 55 corrective exercises for horses
