Horse (equine) stretches, yoga rider horse, horse (equine) rehabilitation │Holistic Horse Bodyworks –

Forward Farrier (low and high versions)
Forward farrier is a great stretch for the hamstrings also known as the semitendinosus and semimembranosus (high version) and the gastrocnemius (low version.) The gluteal muscles are also stretched in both versions.

Forward Farrier (low):

To perform this stretch, pick up the back leg and place your hands (one on top of the other ) below the fetlock joint. Pay close attention not to pull on the fetlock joint with your hands when performing this stretch. Use your fourth finger and pinky to gently guide the back leg forward toward the base of the heal of the front leg while holding the leg about 2 inches off the ground. Pretend there is a piece of plexiglass all along the side of your horse’s body that prevents you from picking the leg up and pulling it away from your horse’s body toward the side as you move the leg forward which is not correct.

Alternate hand position (shown): Place the outside hand below the fetlock joint and the inside hand on the back of the leg above the fetlock joint. Be sure the outside hand is doing most of the work and inside hand is there for balance and to help guide the leg forward. Do not pull with the inside hand.

Forward Farrier (low) 1

Forward Farrier (low) 2

Once your horse can comfortably hold this stretch for 30 seconds, you can add small circles in both directions. Forward Farrier (high):
This stretch is the same as the low version except the back leg is lifted about 6 inches off the ground and then gently pulled forward. As your horse’s hamstrings get more flexible, you can try lifting the leg higher than 6 inches off the ground toward the abdomen and then gently pulling it forward.

Forward Farrier (high) 1

Forward Farrier (high) 2