STRETCHING OUT

Stretching is something we often forget to do with our ponies, but it really is a great way to end off our riding sessions.

A quality stretch

A quality stretch sees your pony lift his back, raise his withers and put his poll as the lowest point of his topline. If he is stretching well, you will probably feel him become much looser under you, and his strides may become longer.

Of course, stretching can also be great at the start of a session, but most ponies will want to stretch after they have worked their muscles, not necessarily before.

Asking your pony to stretch

A stretch must never be forced, as true stretching requires relaxation, so stretching isn’t something you can ‘make’ your pony do, nor should you want to! Instead, keep a contact on your reins but gradually lengthen the reins. If your pony is ready to stretch, he will stretch out and fill the entire length of the rein you have given him. You can then gradually give him a bit more rein and so on. Don’t just throw your reins away and expect your pony to stretch – keep your contact, albeit a light contact!

Working on the stretch

If your pony struggles to stretch, you can work on his ‘stretchiness’ using carrot stretches on the ground. Carrot stretches really help improve suppleness and reduce the risk of soreness for your pony. They can be done before and after a session, but remember not to ask too much before a session when your pony’s muscles are still cold!

Remember

Stretching is not easy for many ponies, and whilst they may like the feel of it, they can lose their balance and start to rush. Don’t panic if this happens, but just keep your stretching sessions short and over time you’ll find your pony gets better and better at letting loose! The stretches you get in the beginning are just a starting point from which you can only improve!