Remedial Follow-up Exercises after Massage

Remedial follow-up exercises are important to the overall conditioning of the horse.  Several that you can include in your warm-up are:

FOR THE HORSE'S BACK

Back the horse up "in hand" sixty feet every day (without tack on him).

Under saddle, TROT the horse in a straight line.  When you come to the turn in the ring WALK the curve and then resume the TROT on the straight-away.  Do this for ten minutes each day.

FOR THE HORSE'S NECK & SHOULDERS

Horses will often resist or refuse a certain direction, so under saddle on:

Day one      Take the horse to the resistant side around the ring 11 times at a walk.  Then do the easy side 5 times at a walk.

Day two      Take the horse to the resistant side around the ring 10 times at a walk.  Then do the easy side 6 times at a walk.

Day three    Take the horse to the resistant side around the ring 9 times at a walk.  Then do the easy side 7 times at a walk.

Day Four    Take the horse to the resistant side around the ring 8 times at a walk.  Then do the easy side 8 times at a walk.

Do a series of figure eights.  This should reduce the steering problems.

And then, HILLS are great for the overall conditioning of the horse.  Always begin at a walk and gradually work up to the next gait.