Howdy Folks,
Here are a few
simple little exercises you can do anytime at all. They are wonderful relaxing
exercises that ask absolutely nothing of your horse. All the exercises I
promote, which I learned from my mentor Diane Sept, give to the horse, which is
so very important. Some exercises require the horse to participate with
movement and thinking, which is both healing and beneficial. This little ditty
requires nothing of the horse, except that they enjoy it.
The first thing
I'd like to show is the "Mane Wiggle." Stand next to your horse, in a
neutral, relaxed posture, grasp her mane in one hand and lift enough to create
a firm connection, wiggle your hand, her mane and neck, gently. As you wiggle
you'll see her neck loosen and begin to wiggle, she may drop her head (as
you'll see Kessy do in this video). She will begin to loosen and jiggle through
her neck to her face, and back through her withers, shoulders and down her
back. This is very relaxing and you can do it often.
The second video
demonstrates what I call the "Forelock Wiggle." Again stand by your
horse in neutral and relaxed, grasp her forelock, lift gently and wiggle. Watch
for the release of her neck, face and jaw. Her bottom lip will release and
wiggle.
The third video
shows the "Tail Hair" wiggle. Relaxed and in neutral, stand behind
your horse, grasp some tail hair near the top, and wiggle. This will release
the tail, the end of her spine all the way to her sacral joint, and even more.
I hope you will
incorporate these easy and fun exercises into your regular routine. These
little wiggles really give to your horse, helping them to release and
relax. The "Mane Wiggle" can
be very useful when you need to calm your horse. They love it.
Gitty Up ~ Dutch
Henry
