Stretching Long and Low with Hyde Moffat

No matter what level you ride, make this important exercise part of your warmup, rest periods, and cool-down. I believe that stretching the horse’s head carriage and incorporating ‘long and low’ work to be hugely beneficial and necessary in a horse’s program. One of its biggest benefits is that it allows for complete stretching and muscle development of the horse. It can be incorporated into the warm-up portion of the ride, as well as during the more intense periods of work – which allows the muscles to stretch, relax, and change shape to avoid cramping. All horses will benefit from stretching long and low, as it allows them to feel better in their bodies through relaxation and ensures a complete warm-up and proper movement. In my program, this type of stretching for the horse definitely applies both to the warm-up and during the ride. In the beginning of the ride, the…