By Fayth Stephenson. Studies have been done that suggest static equine stretches outside of exercise help to improve power and speed, as well as reduce the risk of injury. It is especially helpful on those days when weather or other factors don’t allow for more vigorous exercise. At this time the … Corrective farriery “And years of riding and concussion of any type can take a toll on the joint, leading to arthritis, which is simply a long-term chronic injury.” Diagnostic advances. Look for a stiff leg.

Stretches are a great way to warm up, cool down, and increase flexibility for your horse’s muscles. The stifle’s job is to allow your horse to extend and flex his hind leg. Deeper footing also helps strengthen a stifle as well.

Stifle-Strengthening Exercises May.

19, 2011, 10:25 AM. When this locking occurs, the medial patella ligament fastens over the end of the femur (medial trochlear). A horse with a locked stifle will likely hold its hind leg stiff and straight, unable to unlock the joint. Is there any exercises that I could do from the ground to strenghthen his stifle. If exercise doesn't help as a last resort I may do this. The horse's stifle is akin to a human knee, and it usually bends forward.

The harder the surface the more shock the stifle has to take while it is weak. Gus was cleared to go back to work and we've been taking it easy, but his right stifle is still very weak when compared to the left, although both are bad in general.

A thorough examination by a veterinarian should first clear the horse for physical therapy treatment before initiation of this program. Horses coming off prolonged rest due to another unrelated injury, may have weak stifles that need to be strengthened before returning to regular ridden work. Besides the standard hill work and poles, any other recommendations? When the horse goes to move, this patella ligament must unfasten, allowing the patella to ‘unlock’ and the stifle and hock to flex. increase in the activity level of the horse, and a stretching program followed by a specific ascending therapeutic strengthening exercise progression.

Muscle strength training to improve the quadriceps muscle can result in improvement of milder cases. by Stefanie Reinhold. Rehabilitation High flexion: Bring the limb up passively into a fully flexed hip and stifle position and hold for 10-30 seconds. SamboStar: English Riding: 5: 10-18-2010 12:01 AM: Leg Strengthening Exercises: Jemma: Horse Riding & Horse Activity: 7: 10-04-2008 09:15 PM When a horse is standing normally, its stifle is locked into a weight-bearing capacity. “A big muscle in the hindquarters, called the biceps femoris, works more when the hind limb is underneath the horse to propel him forwards,” says Bridget.

Submitted by antadmin on Sat, 09/10/2016 - 11:48. Protraction: Bring the limb forward under the horse’s belly. Horse Jumping stifle . The most common one is backing up, which is often recommended to include daily.

When the horse brings his hind leg back underneath himself, the patella slips back up over the medial trochlea.

Stifle Lock in Horses. Print. Retraction: Stretch the limb backward past the tail. Observe your horse to see if it holds its leg taut, and if it drags the toes of its hoof …

Cow-hocked horses, horses with stifle problems and horses with very tight inner thigh muscles can also benefit from this exercise.

To extend, the patella slips down over a bony knob on the lower section of the femur, the medial trochlea.