Horse Crunches

Many common issues in horses ranging from obvious back pain to poor performance under saddle can be improved by incorporating these simple exercises into your regular routine!

*Please note, there are certain circumstances where these exercises are not appropriate, such as after recent abdominal surgery. If you’re unsure if your horse is a good candidate for these exercises, please consult with your veterinarian or equine physiotherapist!

Exercise #1: Belly Lifts

Use firm fingertip pressure to push upwards on your horse’s belly until he contracts his abdominals and raises his back. You can use pressure near the girth to raise the withers and pressure in the middle of the belly to lift the mid-back (aka thoracolumbar spine).  As this becomes easier for your horse, you can ask him to hold the contraction for longer, up to a count of 10 is usually plenty. Try 10 repetitions.

Exercise 2: Posterior Pelvic Tilts

Start by making small circles with your fingertips starting in the middle of the croup and moving down towards the base of the tail on both sides. Start with light pressure and increase until you get the desired response.  The exact line that gets the best response can vary somewhat between horses, so you may have to do a little experimenting! Try 10 repetitions.

We’re looking for the horse to tuck his pelvis and flex his lumbar spine. You can see in the images below how the back raises and the angle of the croup changes when this is performed correctly.

TIP: If you’re having trouble getting a response with fingertip pressure, try making little circles with two pen caps or the tips of two hoof picks.

These two simple exercises can make a huge impact on your horse’s core strength and are my first line of defense against back and SI pain.

For more core exercises, check out my Level 1 Core Stability handout in my online store!