Koper Equine

Belly lifts can be a good way to help your horse lengthen out it’s back muscles, to observe range of motion and engage some core muscles. They are only useful if the horse is a willing participant in the exercise.

Some horses are initially unsure about belly lifts. There can be a number of reasons behind that, including but not limited to:

1. There may be a current condition makes the lift uncomfortable for the horse.
2. There may have been a past condition that made the lift uncomfortable and something to avoid and your horse hasn’t forgotten about it.
3. Your horse may not have the strength, flexibility, coordination or self awareness needed to do the exercise.
4. They need some practice at the exercise.
5. Your horse may understand a different way of asking better.

Top Tips:

1. Make sure your horse’s body has been warmed up well (through massage or exercise) for the work.
2. Look for small changes.
3. Belly lifts should be slow and smooth.
4. Both you and your horse should try to be soft in the ask and answer. Forcing the movement or having the horse brace against it and trying to make it happen anyway will create tension and potentially pain and will be a negative experience for the horse.
5. A gentle rocking motion may help ease the movement into the horse.
6. You might try asking your horse to tuck their butt first and then to lift the tummy (and withers if they can).
7. You might try asking your horse to lift up first from between the front legs/sternum/pectoral area and then to lift the withers and belly.
8. Try starting with baited stretches by the horse’s ankles to help supple and introduce a little bend, lift and stretch. When your horse is competent and looking forward to doing them daily it may be more open to moving on to belly lifts.

Many horses become quite good at these exercises after some consistent practice.

If you can’t come to an agreement with your horse on a way to safely, comfortably and happily perform belly lifts you may want to ask your vet if there is an underlying condition that needs to be addressed before belly lifts can be a positive experience for your horse. You may also benefit from asking your vet, a local equine bodywork expert or a very experienced trainer to help you refine the aids you use to ask the horse for a belly lift.

For more tips on how to do effective belly lifts (and butt tucks) please watch the videos.

2 of My Favorite Core Exercises for Horses