Ask the Vet - How to properly warm up a horse

In this excerpt from the August 2018 episode of Ask the Vet ( • Ask the Vet - Bowed te... ), Dr. Gray and SmartPaker Sarah explain the importance of a proper warmup period for a horse and give some advice - with the help of one of Dr. Gray’s favorite resources! - on exercises to add to your routine when preparing for a workout.
To see more from our Ask the Vet video series, you can check them out on the SmartPak blog (pak.horse/2bt0jyw), SmartPak's Horse Health Library (pak.horse/HHLvideos), or on our Ask the Vet playlist (kzbin.info?list....
Want to know when the next Ask the Vet videos get posted? SUBSCRIBE to our channel! Want your question answered so you can win a SmartPak gift card? Ask your horse health question in the comments, on any of our social media channels, on our blog, or on our new form at www.SmartPak.com/AsktheVetQuestions and be sure to use #AsktheVetVideo.
Happy learning and #haveagreatride.

[@speed150mph]

It blows my mind that people will do that little of a warm up. I mean maybe I overdue it but on my 23 year old reining horse before every ride, I do leg and neck stretches that a equine therapist showed me how to do, then I will always do at least 5-10 minutes of groundwork with him just to gauge his mindset and get him moving off pressure, it sets up the entire ride. Also debloats him so I can tighten the cinch. Then I usually do about 5 minutes of walking in the saddle before stepping up into our work. In the 4 years I’ve had him, he’s only been lame once and that happened when he was turned out in the pasture, so I’d say it’s pretty good.

[@sabellabreeze8960]

I usually walk a lap both directions and I then do walk trot transitions then I do the workout I also have started flexing her neck as well

[@dannijurgele5237]

this is so useful!!! thank you xx

[@madi9520]

First and can I just say that I love this YT channel

[@warriormaiden9829]

Would a set of stretches, then a 5-10 minute lunge session be a good warmup before moving to suppling exercises, and *then* starting actual training/workout? Or would that be over-working, which would be detrimental to training?

[@pureeventer5606]

You dont want to be lunging more than about 3 days a week

[@warriormaiden9829]

@@pureeventer5606 Ok. If I'm riding every day (one can only wish...) what would be an acceptable alternative? :)

[@pureeventer5606]

@@warriormaiden9829 if your horse is high energy you can of course do a quick lunging session but if your just doing it for warm-up purposes just hands all, stretch if needed, and just do walking while riding .

[@warriormaiden9829]

@@pureeventer5606 Sweet, thanks!

[@daniellagough5100]

Second to comment! Love u smart pak

[@nancyb6618]

If a horse holds it's tail to one side, mean it's having pain in it's hip or sacrum area?

[@olocippicolo]

Late response, but yeah a crooked tail *can* mean some pain, but mostly tension in the body (sacroiliac joint/back/spine). Some muscles can become "uneven" and tight while the horse tries to compensate for the tension. It can also be associated with lameness. Can also be caused by a rider's balance (lack of). In most cases, it should be looked at by a vet ^^