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HORSE HEALTH: STRENGTH TRAINING CAN REDUCE INJURIES
seconds before repeating. It is recommended that 3 to 5 repetitions of each technique be performed on several days per week. As with the DMEs, the most effective time to use core strengthening exercises is immediately before exercise to preactivate the muscles that will round and stabilize the spine. Better abdominal, thoracic, and lumbosacral musculature are associated with improved back flexion and greater elevation of the withers.
CORE STRENGTHENING EXERCISE INCLUDE:
• Sternum, Withers, and Thoracic Lifting
• Lateral Lifting at the Withers
• Lumbar and Lumbosacral Lifting
• Lumbar Lifting and Lateral Bending
• Combined Techniques for Thoracic, Lumbar, and Lumbosacral Lifting
• Balancing exercises
• Backward Weight Shift
• Tail Pull
• Combination Exercises- backward weight shift + tail pull + hind limb destabilizing exercises can be combined with lumbosacral rounding.
• Gradients
• Jumping
• Poles
• Unstable footing
CORE STRENGTHENING EXERCISES PROTOCOL In all exercises, horses were standing in a square position on a flat, non-slip surface. Exercises included three spinal flexion levels: chin-to-chest, chin-to-carpus and chin-tofetlock; three spinal lateral bending levels, bilaterally: chinto-shoulder, chin-to-girth and chin-to-hip; and two myotatic reflex back lift exercises: thoracic and pelvic lifts.
FIGURE 1. Representation of the different dynamic mobilisation exercises performed. TOP ROW: spinal flexion exercises, from left to right: chin-to-chest, chin-to-carpus, and chin-to-fetlock. MIDDLE ROW: lateral bending exercises, from left to right: chin-to-shoulder, chin-to-girth, and chin-to-hip. BOTTOM ROW: myotatic reflex exercises, from left to right: belly lift, and pelvic lift.
Each horse was encouraged to perform each exercise using a bait, molasses lick tub or carrot, depending on preference. For the spinal flexion, the horse was encouraged with the bait to place the chin downwards and pass the head between the chest, knees and fetlock, with the latter considered to be the highest reach of exercise. During lateral bending, horses were encouraged to bend the neck and head laterally to the shoulder, girth and hip, deemed as being from a lower to higher level of reach. Each exercise was performed to the left and right side for the lateral exercises, whilst each mobilisation was repeated three times during an exercise session, with each position held for five seconds.
Lift exercises are those that recruit and strengthen the abdominal and pelvic-stabilizing muscles. Thoracic lift was encouraged by sliding two hands with a moderate amount of pressure caudally over the sternum line. Pelvic lift was performed by manually applying pressure to a point located between m. biceps femoris and m. semitendinosus. Horses were required to hold each lift for five seconds, with three repetitions per session. An interval of one minute between repetitions was given to avoid any muscle warm up effect or fatigue.
Increased activity has been demonstrated in the core mobilizing musculature when performing core training exercises on an unstable surface. A selection of durable, low-profile balance cushions and pads suitable for this purpose are available for horses. An increase in postural stability and muscle cross-sectional area has also been found following the use of balance pads. Pads of varying levels of firmness are marketed to help improve equine balance, with many veterinarians and owners finding anecdotal success. Implementation of balance pads for 4 weeks can improve postural stability in horses and increase the back muscles mass. see Figure 2.
Prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries associated with lameness in Australian campdraft horses.( 2025) B Argue and R Labens https:// beva. onlinelibrary. wiley. com / doi / abs / 10.1111 / evj. 14551 https:// sportandspinalphysio. com. au / top-5-core-exercises-for-horse-riders-for-better-riding-and-less-injury / Stubbs N. and Clayton H.( 2008) Activate Your Horse’ s Core. Mason: Sport Horse Publications
AUSTRALIAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION- www. aqha. com. au