Getting in front of the ball is a really great idea with your horses muscle health.
If your horse is already sore, then you will be playing a game of catch up and trying to solve the problem of ‘where is the primary?’ and the inevitable compensation patterns.
It’s best to think of your horse (even/and especially, if he’s just a ‘trail horse’) as an athlete. If you were in charge of an athlete when would you get his body checked out?
Here are a few ideas-
•Before he starts his ridden career- have you watched your horse throw his body around the paddock as a young horse, not to mention the times he tripped over his feet at speed!
•If he’s had an increase in work load- to be sure his body is coping and feeling still at his peak
•After a period of rest and on coming back into work
•If he’s had an injury or illness- before compensatory issues become a problem
•As soon as he ‘doesn’t feel right!’
•Ever quarter for a horse in regular work
My horse Neptune scored himself a massage yesterday as on the weekend we had a clinic and he worked REALLY HARD.
Know your horse. Treat him like the athlete he is.
Written by Evelyn Brereton of Ev’s Equine Services