Core exercises for horses on stall rest

Stall rest is hard on everyone. Your horse is stuck in a small space, which goes against everything his nature tells him, and you're left wondering what you can actually do to help. The good news is that there's more than you might think.

While a horse on stall rest will inevitably lose some of his big movement muscles, you can do a lot to protect his core and his small stabilizing muscles. A short, gentle routine done a few times a week can make his time in the stall easier and give him a better starting point when he's allowed to move again.

Before you start: check with your vet. Every horse and every injury is different. Some horses should not be doing these exercises at all, and only your vet can tell you what's safe for yours. Get a clear green light before you try anything on this page. If you're not sure how to do an exercise, ask a good bodyworker to show you in person.

Why core work matters on stall rest

A lack of movement means less circulation and muscle loss, and that can cause its own problems later on. It isn't really possible to stop the bigger movement muscles from shrinking while your horse is confined. The core and stabilizing muscles are a different story. You can help keep those working with static exercises that don't ask him to move around.

When we say "core", we mean the abdominal muscles and the muscles that stabilize the spine. Some definitions also include the muscles at the base of the neck that help lift it. Static core exercises work a bit like crunches do for us. The horse stands still and uses his own muscles to change the shape of his spine.

How often and how long

• 10 to 15 minutes, four to five times a week can help a lot.

• Slow is the whole point. Do each exercise slowly and make sure your horse is doing it correctly.

• Three to five repetitions of each exercise is plenty.

• Hold the end position for a few seconds in the carrot stretches and the lifts before releasing.

The exercises

1. Carrot stretches (done properly)

Carrot stretches, also called dynamic mobilization exercises, are where you use a treat to guide your horse's head and neck into different positions. That invites him to take his spine through a range of motion. Despite the name, they're more about strengthening than stretching. He has to switch on his core muscles to bend his spine.

How to get the most out of them:

• Forget about range of motion. There's no need to see how far he can reach. Every horse is different, and pushing for a big stretch often ends with him swinging his head and neck around, which can do harm.

• Go slowly and hold. Guide him slowly into each position and let him hold it for a couple of seconds. That's where the real benefit lies.

• For a horse in rehab, keep it small. Do them in moderation and with a small range of motion.

Read more: Misconceptions about carrot stretches

2. The thoracic sling lift

The thoracic sling is the group of muscles that attaches your horse's front legs to his body. When it works well, he can lift his torso up between his shoulder blades.

Have your horse stand relaxed and roughly square. Place your hand on his chest, where the sternum is, and push gently upwards towards the withers. Watch just behind the top of his shoulder blades. You should see his torso lift slightly and then come back down. The movement is subtle and can be easier to see on the way down. It should feel elastic and gradual. If it feels like pushing on a rock, or he shows any sign of discomfort, stop and mention it to your vet or bodyworker.

Read more: Test the thoracic sling and Strengthening the thoracic sling on the go (that one is for later, once hand walking is allowed)

3. Tail pulls

Hold the base of the tail with one hand and the lower part of the tail bones with the other. Gently apply traction backwards. If your horse is happy with it, you can increase the pressure a little and hold for 30 seconds. Release, then repeat two more times.

Make sure he's comfortable with it and never force it if he isn't.

Read more: First aid for back pain

4. Belly lifts (only if they suit your horse)

The belly lift targets the abdominal muscles. Use your fingertips to put pressure on your horse's belly and invite him to lift his back. Hold the lift for 3 to 5 seconds and repeat three times.

This one isn't right for every horse. Some find it hard or uncomfortable. If he doesn't lift his back no matter how you ask, or he kicks out, tries to bite or moves away, listen to him and don't force it. Please don't use a hoof pick or more pressure to get a reaction. There are plenty of other exercises that do the same job. A horse who really hates belly lifts may be telling you something, so ask your vet or a professional to look into it.

Read more: Is the belly lift exercise always a good idea?

Later on: stabilizing pads

Once he's further along, and if your vet agrees, you can add stabilizing pads to make the exercises a little more challenging.