5 Exercises For Strengthening Your Horse’s Hind Endġ. Have your vet or body worker examine your horse before starting an exercise program if you suspect they are in pain. Horses that stumble, trip or seem clumsy may be weak and/or sore. Lower limb joints are subjected to abnormal movement if the upper area of the hind limb is weak, or if their hooves have been trimmed out of balance long term. Watch your horse walk from behind and notice if his hocks are stable, or if they seem to swing as they bear weight. Other signs of weakness could be wringing hocks or loose stifles. Notice at left, the horse on the right has an underdeveloped hind end, so his hip bones are slightly protruding. These horses could use strengthening exercises as well as a closer look at their nutrition, to be sure they are receiving enough nutrients to develop and maintain adequate muscle tone. Some horses will have obviously wasted muscles. Watch your horse move on his own in the field, as well as during work or riding. There are a few simple exercises that can benefit most horses that seem weak in the hind end. This massive “spring box” is essentially the horse’s primary source of propulsion. One of the key components to a healthy body is the hind quarters, or hind end of the horse. Conformation issues can slow some horses down, but many are able to live comfortably and carry a rider if some time is spent focussing on building up their bodies. At 10-15 years old, they still have many good years ahead if we can assist them in developing better balance and strength. The majority of these horses are in the prime years of their life. I come across many horses that have soundness challenges or general “hind end weakness” during horsemanship lessons and training.
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