Posture and your horse’s emotions.

 Posture and your horse’s emotions.

 

This exercise is "one step" We ask the horse to take 1 step and pause holding correct off the forehand posture

Howdy Friends!

Posture is more important than training. When your horse’s posture and improper body carriage make it difficult, or impossible, for her to complete a requested task, that causes stress in the horse. Stress quickly transforms into balking, refusal, resentment, and finally chips away at the horse’s willingness and emotions. Not to mention their bond with their human. Especially when the human then resorts to mechanical devices to force the horse’s compliance – forcing the horse to push through stiffness and pain. As the horse’s emotions wither, the more the distant the bond. For this reason, I vigorously promote, and teach, simple to learn exercises I learned from my mentor Diane Sept, that we can do to perfect our horses’ posture and maintain correct and healthy body carriage – For the sake of horses emotions everywhere, and their bond with their humans. Sadly, widespread in the equine industry is the image, and acceptance of, incorrect and even painful posture, as correct. If you love your horse, if you want to excel at any equine activity, and have an honest bond with your horse, you’ll focus on correct, soft posture. Nothing you can do for your horse will make as much a difference in health, emotion and bonding. Feel free to contact me for help. (I’ll be doing a series of 4 clinics at Belmead Riding Club this year)~

 Gitty Up, Dutch.

All these exercises are in my book "It's for the Horses" find it here www.itsforthehorses.com  

Posture and Locomotion.

Howdy Friends!

Posture and Locomotion. Watching your horse casually stroll along is a great time to check her posture, and overall movement. Do you see the hind end propelling your horse, the big hind muscles lifting and pushing? Toes, the last to lift, pushing down into earth. Can you witness the flow of energy from her gluteal and hamstring muscles and pelvis forward and along the topline? Can you see her abdomen engage, lift and support with each stride? Are those hind legs moving powerfully, and yet effortlessly forward to set down under her barrel in a fluid heel to toe placement? Hind foot placement should be just about where the front foot left, sometimes exactly on, sometimes half a sole behind. Is her head horizontal to her topline, her neck soft and sleek? Do her front legs float like butterflies with graceful, soft lift and effortless heel toe foot placement? Watch closely and you’ll see those feet, front and rear settle then roll from heel to toe. (This can’t happen effectively if the horse is shod). This is a description of a horse moving in correct, healthy posture and body carriage.

My Kessy strolling along

What we don’t want to see is a horse dragging with her front legs, as if that’s where the power originates. Many horses, because of what we do, fall into a “forehand” posture—and it’s bad. The hind end will become disengaged, and begin to fall farther back and atrophy, becoming weaker and weaker. (I’ve worked with horses who had no idea where their hind end was, from all the disengagement and break down). The abdomen cannot engage, the topline will drop. In her effort to find mobility in forehand posture she will be forced to carry and toss her head high, inverting neck muscles and further forcing down her topline. Muscles forced into overwork will tighten, preventing release and even restricting nourishment. Heel toe foot placement will become replaced with a plodding, slapping, jarring footfall.

Have a look at your horse as she strolls. Be honest with your evaluation. Her health depends on you. One of my strongest mantras is, “A horse’s health begins with posture.” Proper, healthy posture and body carriage is easy to establish, and maintain. But we must make the effort, for their sake. This is why I promote, and teach the exercises created by Peggy Cummings, taught me by my mentor Diane J. Sept, for the horse. A little effort can mean a whole new life for a horse. It’s up to us, our horses give for us all we ask. To ignore their posture and body carriage is not only letting them down, it is a form of neglect. ~ Gitty Up, Dutch.

Exercise to Release Your Horse’s Neck

Howdy Friends,

 

One important thing you can, and should do, for your horse is to release her neck. While all power and propulsion should come from the rear, everything for posture, proper body carriage and agility has its roots in a free neck, free poll, relaxed axis, unlocked vertebrae and neck muscles.

Kessy loves the "Caterpillar" exercise.

This nifty little exercise Peggy Cummings calls the “Caterpillar” can insure your horse can move her head and neck (and therefore her body) comfortably, easily, with grace and confidence. Sadly many horses are so tense in this important area they are forced to “push through” the pain, restrictions and bad posture created by the tightness, that comfort and grace are unattainable. Going along with the discomfort is an impediment to their vision, when a horse is locked in this area their vision is also impaired.

What causes this tightness? Many things, teeth issues, improper foot care, tie downs, running martingales, horses on their forehands, rider’s poor posture, poor fitting saddles, repetitive speed events, or anything repetitive, riding over-collected, inverted and hollow-backed and so many more things the list is long indeed ... But understand all horses will benefit from this exercise even a retired pasture buddy.

This nifty little exercise, so easy to learn, can help so much.

Start by standing next to your horse in neutral, your shoulders soft, one hand gently supporting at the halter noseband. Your other hand cupped at the base of her neck with your thumb in the jugular grove, fingers surrounding the vertebrae and heel of your hand resting on the big muscle as shown here with Kessy and me.

This is a 3 step exercise—First with your hand cupped and just enough pressure to move the skin, push your hand along the big muscle, thumb in the groove, all the way to her ear. Watch for the release, as you see Kessy doing. Note—some very tight horses will back away or swing their heads because to offer a release is unknown to them or they simply cannot give and flex they are that locked. Be gentle, do not restrict, walk with her. In time the releases will begin.

Step 2—Begin again at the base of the neck, your hands as they were the first time. You will again travel to her ear along the vertebrae and groove, but this time your fingers will grip the muscle and vertebrae as they walk along up her neck. Think of a “caterpillar” walking up her neck. Apply a little more pressure, enough to move the skin and sink your fingers in just a little, you do want to move things. Your horse will guide you as to the pressure. She’ll say, “Back off!” or “Yes that’s it!”

Step 3—Again begin at the base, your hands in the same positions—Slide AND walk your hand up her neck to her ear. Sliding your heel while your fingers walk, jiggle and grip all together in a fluid motion. Moving skin, muscle and releasing vertebrae all along her neck to her ear and axis. REMEMBER—Do Both Sides— Even the first time you do all 3 steps, at this point you’ll see a change in her posture, her eyes, her softness and awareness.

For some extremely locked horses it will be a challenge, be gentle, take it slow. Some horses will offer a series of releases even as your hand moves along, be sure to allow them, watch for them.

Kessy and I hope you’ll add this little exercise to your daily routine. All horses can and will benefit from this and once you’ve mastered it together it will take about 3 minutes to do. The changes you’ll discover in your horses attitude, posture, grace, beauty and contentment will astonish you.

Gitty Up, Dutch Henry

 For more exercises to benefit your horse CLICK HERE to go to my 4 part  series-"Pt 1-Restarting, Conditioning, and Great Exercises For Your Horse"(with links to all 4 parts)

"Pt 3 Restarting, Conditioning, and Great Exercises For Your Horse"

Howdy Friends,

In Pt 1 we talked about the importance of restarting a horse after time off and learned about the Top-Line release and relax exercises, which I like to suggest become a part of every horse care givers routine. In Pt 2 we looked at exercises for the body and front legs. Today we'll learn exercises for the hind legs and a few in motion exercises to work on posture, balance and connection to her feet. It's important to note, always do these ground tied so the horse is free to move. Have no hay or grass in your exercise area, you want them focused on you and their release. Do not discipline during exercises as that will short circuit any release. Be sure to watch for and allow sighs, licks and chews. Your horse may ask for a little walk to absorb these new feelings, walk them if they ask for a minute, then begin again.

All the exercises we've covered so far, I do in the order we are discussing them, and including the ones we'll learn today, the routine takes me 40 minutes. I recommend you do all of them every day starting at least 2 weeks before you restart a horse. Don't forget the carrot stretches. And continue the entire routine while conditioning, or restarting your horse. We'll talk more about that in Pt 4. I'm not a fan of lunging or round penning. I include neither in my conditioning, restarting or routine maintenance. I don't have a riding ring. I believe the best conditioning, physical and mental, for any discipline is on the trail. We'll revisit that in Pt 4 too. These exercises done pre-ride do more to warm up and ready a horse than any lunging can, in my opinion. As time goes on and your horse becomes balanced, fit and relaxed you can begin to streamline your exercises to doing only a few every time pre-ride and keep the others in your tool box for every now and then. I never ride without doing the top-line routine (and the rock back and one step, which you'll learn today).

When I finish in the front I move to the rear with the Groin Release. This exercise releases and relaxes the thick muscles of the hind end. It is very important for a free flowing gait, and correct relaxed posture.

Just as the Armpit Release, stand straddling the hind leg, place your palm on the inside of her thigh, and slide your hand up into her groin. Keep pressure on and move in deeper as she releases muscle until you can go no farther, then hold and release slowly. Remember to do both sides. Some horses love this, others will have no part of it, so begin with care and just place one hand on the inside thigh to see what your horse thinks. In time they all love it.

Next the Piano Wire Release. This exercise will release and relax tension in the hind end, along the spine and all the way to the neck and chest muscles. I talk a lot about tension. We may not even notice it in our horses, but without routine maintenance like these exercises provide, it's there. It comes from work, worry, tack; it even comes from not working. Just like with us. These exercises release both physical and mental tension, and strengthen the bond of trust between horse and human.

Stand beside the horse and gently dig your finger tips in the center of the hind thigh muscle. Search up and down, side to side until you find a cord-like tendon that runs up and down. When you find it massage it up and down until you feel the release. Softening this tendon is huge. Remember to do both legs. NOTE – Sometimes this is the first thing I do with a horse. Sometimes a horse is so tight on the front end from tension in the hind end they cannot relax or even lower their head, then I know, do the Piano Wire first. You might remember this.

Next the Hip Circle Release. This exercise will release and relax the hip, create balance and posture awareness, surefootedness and power.

Hold the fetlock and elbow and gently rotate in small circles each way. And just as with the front leg, we want no movement in the elbow, we want it in the hip. We want the hip to release. Keep her leg under her, not out to the side. While doing circles move the leg slowly and gently upward, then work slowly down again and set the foot down on its toe behind the other foot. NOTE – at first some horses are so tight this exercise is very difficult, be gentle and go as far as she is comfortable, force nothing. Things will improve in a few days.

 Next the fist motion and balance exercise the Rock Back. This exercise will teach correct posture, teach her to carry herself off her forehand, and put the power and strength in the hind where it belongs.

First study your horse from the side as she stands ground tied. Look at her posture; learn to recognize the weight on her forehand, the angle of her chest and front legs. Then picture her standing with her weight shifted off her forehand. That is the position we are seeking.

Standing in front of your horse very gently touch her shoulder point and say, "Rock Back." (Since most people ask their horse to back up this way, you need a verbal request that connects to this exercise; she will learn the 2 different verbal requests.) Be careful your body language does not tell her to step back. Be solid but soft in your stance, she will be looking to you to help her figure this out. We are looking for only for a shift in posture and weight off the forehand, not a step back. If she steps back, start over. Watch for the slightest move, at first it may just be her pectoral muscle moving – Stop asking as soon as you see the slightest movement or change.  You may need 2 inches of rock back to get her correct and off her forehand, and you may need to get it an eighth of an inch at a time.

Next motion exercise, the One Step. This exercise helps horses establish correct posture, patience, self awareness and reconnects them to their feet.

Standing in front of your horse say, "One Step," and look for one complete step forward – That is one front and one hind, then a pause, and ask for the Rock Back. Allow her to feel the movement and the posture, then step back one step, the same feet, and Rock Back. Repeat each each side 3 or 4 times. NOTE – Sometimes it is easier for the horse to ask for the first step to be back rather than forward. Notice in this picture Kessy has moved her left front and right hind. Keep the lead loose in your hand your body soft. This is one exercise I do each and every time I tack up.

The final motion exercise for this series the, Circle Tail Pull Leg Crossover. This exercise encourages hind end engagement and propulsion, and self awareness, relaxes the spine and releases the big rear muscles while creating surefootedness.

Ask your horse to "Walk On," in a slow easy circle on a 6 foot lead. Over the years I've been amazed at how many horses can't do that. That may be the first step in this exercise, teaching your horse to walk on relaxed and easy in a circle. She'll need to be comfortable with you taking her tail as she walks too. While she is walking grasp the tail and as the outside leg is lifting, tug gently on her tail to encourage her to cross over and set it down under her middle. Be quick on the release as soon as her foot touches down. Wait for the inside leg to move, then as the outside foot lifts, tug and release again. Does this for 3 – 5 circles then switch sides. You'll need to keep moving with her, but maintaining the circle is important, as well as a loose lead. It's all about softness, and relaxing ... Look closely at this picture and note the loose lead, Kessy is about to step down with her outside foot, not quite under her middle, but nice, and very important she is walking straight and upright while going in a circle. That's what you're looking for.

These relax, release and body, foot and posture awareness exercises I learned while working with my mentor Diane Sept for nearly a decade. From Diane, a "Senior Certified Connected Riding Instructor ®," I learned the techniques of Peggy Cummings, Connected Riding and Ground Work® and Linda Tellington Jones, Tellington TTouch Training ™. I highly recommend their training and books. In their books you'll find these and many more excellent exercises.

That's all the exercises we'll discuss, of course there are many more, but in my opinion these are the best to maintain or restart a horse. In Pt 4 we'll talk about starting to ride and beginning the conditioning or restarting under saddle.

Gitty Up, Dutch Henry 

You can read Pt 1 HERE 

You can read Pt 2 HERE

You can read Pt 4 HERE  

"Pt 1-Restarting, Conditioning, and Great Exercises For Your Horse"

Howdy Friends!

In 4 days Kessy I can ride again! Our last trail adventure was Sunday April 27, then we got interrupted by my cardiac adventure. When a horse has been idle for that long, even though she has 24/7 turnout in a modified Paddock Paradise track system, I don't believe you should just saddle up and go. It's important for the health of your horse to get them back in shape for rides; a horse looses its cardio fitness in about 30 days, muscles about the same, and tendon, bone in about 90 days. I've started Kessy's restart 2 weeks ago with the carrot stretches, and shared them on our Coffee Clutch blog.

This weekend I started relax, release and body, foot and posture awareness exercises. Ravishin' Robbie took some photos and I'll be writing a series of posts to share them with you. Our first rides next week will be 15 – 20 minutes over the same course I walked for my cardio rehab. The following week we'll add time, and a little terrain change. The week after that we'll add more distance and more terrain change. It takes about 30 days to get a horse minimally fit … when I trained for CTC and Endurance I learned it takes 60 days for cardio, 90 – 120 for muscle and a year for bone and tendon to condition. Kessy and I hope you'll enjoy our Coffee Clutch series, "Restarting, Conditioning, and Great Exercises For Your Horse."

We'll start by reviewing, over 3 days, relax, release and body, foot and posture awareness exercises I learned while working with my mentor Diane Sept for nearly a decade. From Diane, a "Senior Certified Connected Riding Instructor ®," I learned the techniques of Peggy Cummings, Connected Riding and Ground Work® and Linda Tellington-Jones, Tellington TTouch Training ™. I highly recommend their training and books. In their books you'll find these and many more excellent exercises.

The exercises we'll discuss and explore are excellent for restarting a horse, but I recommend them as part of everyday routines for all horses. We will cover more than you need to do every day, but some of them I do faithfully before I tack up, every time, no exception. In time you'll learn to hear your horse when she tells you which ones she really needs. Also all the exercises, about a dozen, are the basis for what I call my, "Therapy For Therapy Horses," clinics.

Today's exercises I call The Top-Line exercises I do before I tack up, always. It's important to note, always do these ground tied or in a stall so the horse is free to move. Have no hay or grass in your exercise area, you want them focused on you and their release. Do not discipline during exercises as that will short circuit any release. Be sure to watch for and allow sighs, licks and chews. Your horse may ask for a little walk to absorb these new feelings, walk them if they ask for a minute, then begin again … We'll start with the "Poll Wiggle."

 Poll Wiggle - Gently support her head by holding the halter, place your fingertips around the poll, and watch for the release, as you wiggle gently. I always start with this, and it is great to do anytime. It will also help calm a horse anytime.

Next is a series of TTellington TTouch circles along the back and rump, both sides. You can also do them on each side of the neck.

The circles are the size of a quarter, moving clockwise with your fingertips of one hand, resting the palm for support, your hand cupped, letting your fingertips do the work. Picture a quarter size clock face, start at 6 move to 9, 12, 3 back to 6 and on to 9 and stop there, making a circle and a quarter. Slide your hand about 2 inches and do the next circle, and so on. Pressure is gentle, just enough to move the skin. Make a series of circles all along the back, out over the rump and down the meaty part of the thigh, both sides, your line is about 3 inches from the spine. Always make connection with both hands; you see my left hand resting. When finished, lay both hands flat and gently drag them over your tracks. (I often do this one first out in the field before I even halter Kessy)

Next the Vertebrae Wiggle.

Starting at the Poll, using your fingertips, grasp each vertebrae and wiggle each one a time or two. Imagine holding the vertebrae in your fingers and moving one hand away from you while pulling the other to you so it wiggles. Proceed all the way down the neck, across the back, over the croup (I know you can't feel the spine here, pretend you can) and down the tail –

where the wiggle in the tail is up and down not back and forth. If your horse clamps her tail, gently slide your fingers under her tail and tickle until she lifts it. In time this will not be an issue. Also many horses hold much of their tension in their tails and you must be very gentle, this will ease that tension, and relax the entire horse in a way that is lasting.

Next the Tail Pull Belly/Back Lift.

Grasp the tail about midpoint and by bending your knees pull slowly, steadily and firmly, being very careful to stay on the angle of her butt, and hold the pressure a few seconds as she tightens her rump, engages her abdomen and raises her back. Then release Very Slowly.

Next the Belly/Back lift.

Standing beside your horse, reach under exactly in the middle, front to rear and side to side and with your fingernails, in a slow steady motion, apply pressure until she engages her abdomen and lifts her back. Hold this for a few second and release SLOWLY … Note, this exercise MUST be done AFTER all the Top-Line release exercise are completed, not before or as a lone exercises. In time when your horse is released, and used to carrying herself in proper released and relaxed posture, you can do the Belly/Back Lift anytime, and should do it often.

Kessy and I hope you'll make these easy to do exercises part of your routine. Tomorrow we'll move into a few great body release and relax exercises.

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry  

You can read Pt 2 HERE

You can read Pt 3 HERE  

You can read Pt 4 HERE

"A Few Polite Touches For A Pushy Horse"

Howdy Friends,

 

We've all seen horses crowd, drag, or push their person when being led. I chuckle sometimes when I see folks follow the pace set by their horse as they are dragged along. I frown when I see them yank on the lead and yell at their horse. I feel sorry for them when they get stepped on, because neither of them knows where they are supposed to do, or their job. It simply does not need to be.

We are responsible for setting boundaries. Not by discipline or heavy handedness, but by simple politeness, consistency and thoughtfulness. Horses do not violate boundaries because they want to be bad, unruly or "pushy." The violate boundaries because their caregiver never set them, politely.

If you think about it pushy horses follow exactly the boundaries set by their person. If each time a horse is haltered and led it drags their person, dances, steps on their feet and pushes them through the gate, well, when the halter goes on and they set out the horse has to think, "Okay time to drag, push, dance, and I gotta be sure to try for her feet." It's never the horse's fault, they are well within the boundaries set by their person.

Kessy demonstrating the polite way to halter.

I once asked a friend, "Do you know why your horse holds her head so high when you try to halter her?" She replied, "No, tell me, I hate this." I said, "That's how high you can reach." – Think about it seriously, any horse can lift their head higher than we can reach. If they can learn to hold their head at our highest limit, as they've been taught, does it not make sense they can also learn to hold their head waist high for halter and bridle? Sure it does. Our horses happily learn everything we teach them. They also learn from us to be rude, and pushy, just like us.

Now let's talk about the pushy horse on lead. Easy to fix, politely, in one lesson. I like to work on the off-side whenever I'm fixing anything, or introducing something new. It heightens a horse's attention. Remember, we can never control any horse by the halter and lead rope. Ever. So forget about that. The halter is simply a gentle guide. I don't like the word control, anyway, so let's talk about guiding the horse, into their space, into our pace, and into softness and politeness.

For this exercise, which will become an all the time exercise for a really long time, you'll need a light dressage wand, or the new popular light bamboo wand. Not a crop, which is too short and stiff, or a lunge whip which is too long. I don't recommend the carrot stick, which is great for a lot of things, but for this they are too long and too heavy – the heaviness will tighten your arm and shoulder and alter your body language.

 

Kessy and Saturday help demonstrate leading. The wand sets the boundaries, the halter is just a gentle guide.

Stand on the off-side, between her ears and shoulder; hold the lead rope in your left hand, your hand just about a foot or less from the halter. Hold the wand in your right hand, across your middle to a few inches in front of your horse's chest. It is important to stand square, shoulders and eyes looking where you are going, not at the horse. It is sometimes helpful to practice this stance, position and walk alone with the rope and wand, just to master the feel of it before trying it with a horse.

Ask your horse to, "walk on," and start walking, holding the wand a few inches in front of her chest. Eyes straight ahead. Your left hand is light on the rope, no pulling, or constraining, the wand and your thoughts send the directions ... You may need to, ever so slightly, tap her chest, not hit it, until she figures it out. Stay soft. In time, usually not much time at all, you'll need only to hold wand the in front of her chest and never touch her. The pushy, rude horse will never again be seen. As long as you clearly, gently and respectively set the boundaries. And remain consistent.

One last thing, most horses become pushy because they are heavy on their forehand. Leading this way, every time, all the time, helps fix that. I suggest you also master the, "Rock Back," and add it to your daily routine ... Stand beside your ground tied horse, facing her, and very gently touch her chest and ask her to, "rock back." Not to take a step back but to simply shift her weight to her hind end, where it belongs. If she steps back, she'll stay on her forehand. Be soft, look for only a tiny movement at first. After a few days she'll get it and you'll wonder where this polite, light footed, soft and confident horse came from.

Kessy loves the "rock back" - just a gentle touch on the chest to shift her weight off her forehand. It creates proper body carriage, sure and light footedness, and promotes overall sound health.

So there you go an easy way to help your horse understand boundaries, and correct body carriage, politely. Kessy and I hope you have fun with it. Remember consistency works like magic.

Giddy Up ~ Dutch Henry

"Easy Fun Stretches For Your Horse – For restart or any time"

Howdy Friends,

 

Kessy and I have not been able to hit the trail since the last week of April because of my adventure in cardiac land. We won't be enjoying saddle time, or trails, until September, but I've been given the okay to do a lot of things now, and I'm beginning to get Kessy ready for the big day. Bringing a healthy horse back from a 4 month vacation is certainly not as difficult as one that had been given rest due to injury, but I believe care should be taken in the restart just the same. Even though she enjoys her big treed playground and run-in, I've not been able to do anything with Kessy for 3 months, except Coffee Clutch and brush her. She's had no body work, exercises or any of the things we hold so valuable. I even had a friend trim her feet! Still can't go back to that for 8 weeks.

The past few days I've begun to do little things with Kessy to get her body in shape again, and one very important thing is to loosen her up with gentle, easy stretching exercises, and I thought I'd share them with you. These carrot exercises are for the horse to release in her own comfort zone, no pressure, no stress.  I recommend these for every horse all the time, but they are highly important to restarting a horse. Once you start doing them, you will be amazed at how much your horse changes.

Kessy demonstrating the side carrot stretch, slow easy and release

First start by offering carrot on the left and right, hold your hand somewhere near her side so she reaches for the carrot. Two things are important, she must not step to come for it, and don't ask for too big of a bend at first. Some horses will bend all the way to their ribs the first time, others will only be able to come half way or less. Whatever suits your horse is best keep it comfortable. This is all you do every day for a few days until she can do this with ease. Then you can add the bow carrot.

Kessy demonstrating the bow carrot stretch, full release, notice she has not bent her knees, this is correct.

To do the bow carrot, reach between her front legs and encourage her to bow to reach for it. At first she may not be able to bow very far, don't push it, reach up to her, keep her comfortable. Gradual increases in reach over a few days will get her all the way. Then you can add the big stretch carrot.

Kessy demonstration the big stretch carrot - notice her feet are planted. If your horse steps around to reach, don't give the carrot, start over, ask for, "Stand," she'll get it.

To do the big stretch carrot your horse must be able to do the side and bow carrots with great ease. Start with them each day, then when she is ready, stand toward her rear, reach between her hind legs up to her toward her belly and encourage her to reach back and under for the carrot. At first she will be confused, side step, try to turn to get it. Be consistent with your encouragement, and ask her to stand still and reach with her neck to accomplish the stretch. If you have given enough days and time to the side and bow stretches she will be able to do the big stretch the first or second time you try, but don't rush it.

Be sure to do these stretches at liberty, no halter no lead rope. She must be free to release, relax and stretch. Don't hurry the process, give each exercise the days it takes to master. Just because your horse snatches the carrot, if she is fast and struggling to grab it, she has not mastered the release, slow down and watch for the graceful move … After you and your horse have mastered them, make them a part of your pre-ride warm up. Kessy and I hope you enjoy these stretches, and joining us on our trail riding restart. From time to time, we'll share more restart exercises.

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry