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A hip tuck stretch for a horse, also known as an abdominal lift, helps to strengthen the abdominal muscles by applying pressure to the highest point on the horse's rump. Practice this hip tuck stretch with helpful advice from a veterinarian in this video on caring for horses.
Hi, I'm Doctor Joanna Robson, I'm a doctor of veterinary medicine with Inspiritus Equine Incorporated. I'd like to show you how to do a hip tuck or an abdominal lift on your horse today. This is one of many stretching exercises that can help to engage your horses abdominal muscles, have them lift up and elevate and engage their top line while stretching the back. This horse that we're using in the demo is a little bit sensitive to this stretch, so he may move. But that's o.k., your horse may move as well. Always keep in mind, that with these stretches in horses it takes a little bit of time until they get used to the stretch and also have the muscle range of motion and ability to do the stretch correctly. To do the hip tuck stretch, you want to find your landmarks. Come up to the tuber sacrale, or the highest point on your horses rump, set your hand down to the side of the highest point and about a hands width out to the side, there is an acupuncture meridian or a reflex point. The trick to doing this stretch correctly, is you have to use your fingernails and not the pads of your fingers. If you have arthritis or don't have fingernails that are long enough, you can also use the cap off of a pen or use a hoof pick if you're gentle with it, to create enough stimulation to get the lift. I come a hand's width off the top of the side on each side, stimulate him, you can see there he drops his pelvis forward. I follow that same line back and I'm asking him to elevate through the abdomen and lift up through his top line. And you can see how high his back comes up with this stretch. I'll hold it and then I'll allow him to release. You do this stretch every time before or after you ride. You can do it daily, it won't do them any harm and over time it really helps them to relax and stretch through the top line while also engaging their top muscles. This is a great great stretch, the hip tuck.
Specialty: Vetrinary Medicine
