Exersizes for ab muscles

[Chloe1]

Hi Everyone.

Firstly thank you all for your responses on the running martingale thread. Which turned out to be something different all together. So I thought I would get back to you all on our progress.

Firstly I would like to know what exercizes are good for tummy muscles of a horse. (Not me although I could do with a few as well. ha ha)

The pshyio examined my mare and she did have quite a lot of tense muscle in her back and neck, which are now sorted out, she would like me to work her in a long outline for a while as well also her old saddle had caused a few problems as well.

Apparently she does have excellent muscle tone in her bum but her tummy muscles in the girth area are in need of a lift, she is extreemely sensitive and aggressive in this area which explains the problems I had riding her when i put my leg on. (Stroppy)

I have some psysio exersises to help her but i need to firm up these muscles and get her to become less aggresive when I put my leg on. Which became very nerve racking and very off putting having a horse threating you every time you put your leg on.

[fionahogg]

Hi Chloe. Glad to hear your horse is 'on the mend'! The ab muscles are used when a horse works truly in an outline. Think of the 'bow' of a bow and arrow. When you shorten the string on the bow, the wood bends and gets stronger across the top. The string is the ab muscles, and the wooded bow the horse's back. When the ab muscles contract - like when you shorten the string - the back lifts and gets stronger. The hind legs can come through and the head moves into the 'correct' position. So I would say that to strengthen the ab muscles you will have to be patient with working her in a long low outline. I don't think much else would work. Just keep schooling sessions short and let her take frequent stretches if the muslces are quite under developed.

Good luck with her - sounds like you're doing a good job!

Fiona.

[Dizzy]

Hi Chloe, glad to see you're getting somewhere with your problem, do you know someone who will help you, hold the lunge line, while you ride. Her bad reaction to your legs could be stemming from bad memories, it will take time to convince her that to give to your aid is better than evading it.

You could try, sitting very relaxed through your thigh and lower leg, walk your seat bones with her stride, and go behind the motion (slightly slower) to ask for slow relaxed walk, keep a gentle contact, gently opening and closing your hand asking her to stretch down, and when she's going slowly and relaxed decide that you're going to introduce your leg for one stride on say the next 5th stride, prepare yourself, force yourself to be ultra relaxed, deep even breathes, and be ready to give with the rein, put your leg on, relax and praise. If the response is bad, create the same situation again and start again. If/when she accepts repeat, slowly winding down to her accepting your leg.

I've found, that when you know you're going to a 'bad' response, stage managing the situation gives you time to get yourself ready and plan your response, taking the caught off gaurd factor out of the situation.

It'll probably take quite some time, but the plus side of your predicament is that you now know her bad reaction and behaviour was caused through discomfort, and not a bad attitude towards what you're asking of her. Its winning back her trust, that work doesn't mean pain that will take time.

Wishing you all the best, I hope you soon find a way to get through to her. Keep us posted.

Lesley