05/15/2024
Proprioception and Strength Training Techniques for Horses
Have you noticed some changes in your horse’s movements, such as subtle sways, missteps, or changes in his gait? When moving over different surfaces or on hills, does it seem as if he is struggling? What you may be seeing is poor proprioception. Proprioceptors are essentially specialized nerve endings. They interact with each other and provide information to the brain to tell the body where it is in space; with horses, these give the sense of where their feet are. Issues with proprioception can crop up after an injury, surgery, or possibly from neurologic conditions such as EPM or Lyme Disease; additionally, they can lead to injury. We recommend working with Dr. Froeling to do screenings and to craft a personalized plan based on your horse’s particular needs.
Here are some starting points for exercises to work on building core strength and balance and improving proprioception:
• Tail stretches—gently pull your horse’s tail to either side. This helps to activate muscles that control and activate the stifle.
• Backing up—Ask your horse to take a few steps backwards as it changes his visual field.
• Treat stretches—Use a treat to encourage your horse to reach and hold his nose at various points on his body: elbows, knees, fetlocks, hips, and so on. Your horse may lack the flexibility to reach all the way so start at the halfway point to get a sense of what the range is, hold for 3 seconds, and over time, work on extending the range by where you hold the treat. You want to work both sides.
• Balance pads—these are foam pads placed under the hooves, creating instability and thereby helping to engage muscles and ligaments to build better balance. We offer balance pads for rent or sale.
• Weight shifting—lift a hoof (such as for cleaning) and gently lean into his body to shift his body slightly. This is similar to what a balance pad does.
• Walk over different surfaces as each one provides a different sensory input, causing the horse to adapt.
• Walk over ground poles and cavalettis as this helps to develop balance and flexibility as well as improves hoof-eye coordination. Variety is key here. Set poles at different angles or distances. Raise poles at different heights.
For a more in-depth assessment and conversation about exercises for your horse, please contact the office at 540-937-1754 to schedule an appointment.
