Here we go - but first the disclaimer: If your horse is on a rehab program or has any issues get approval from your veterinarian before embarking on any exercises.
Proprioception
“Perception or awareness of the position and movement of the body” Proprioception refers to the horse’s awareness of his body’s position and movements, including limb and foot placement. Unconscious proprioception coordinates a horse’s posture and basic locomotion, whereas conscious proprioception facilitates more complex locomotor tasks.
Simple progression of proprioception exercises
1)
Different Surfaces: An easy start is walking the horse on different surfaces, such as grass, sand, dirt roads, asphalt. To keep it interesting for Remy, I added walking over pool floats and yoga mats (stabilized by blocks)
in the outdoor arena.
2)
Shifting weight: With the horse standing square lift one limb at a time and hold
for 10 seconds. Start with the front limbs then go to the hind limbs. Watch for
any compensation changes.
3)
Shifting weight with increased challenge: Increase the difficulty
of the above exercise by leaning into the horse, while lifting one of its legs.
Lean into the side with the lifted leg and move your weight gradually from side
to side to make him work harder to balance.
4)
Poles: A useful technique for restoring the limbs’ range of motion and
muscular strength involves using ground poles. Eventually they can be raised as
high as eight inches and (later in the rehab program – after cleared by
veterinarian) also done in the trot*. Poles stimulate a greater increase in
joint flexion. The horse is required to elevate the hooves to ensure clearance
whenever poles are present.
*Trot over ground poles
placed 4.5 feet apart
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Our set up for walk over -repurposed- pool floats and yoga mats |