Anyone experienced with carrot stretches?

Ravenwood

Ravenwood

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Had back lady out yesterday to straighten up my wonky horse and I have to do carrot stretches for 2 weeks. This morning my mare wasn't really interested in the carrots and although I got her to do the one between her fetlocks I couldn't really get her to stretch to her girth (although I realise she is probably a bit stiff and aching at the moment).

So, has anyone done these and how did you get on? Did it turn your horse into one of those awful ones that constantly looks for titbits and nibbles?
 
Nope, mine does them a couple of times a week, and he knows as soon as carrots come out he is doing stretches!! He doesnt get carrots given too him unless it is for stretching purposes, so he doesnt turn into a nippy beast!!
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Mine has always found them easy, so not sure how to encourage them to try harder....
 
Mine loves food so when he sees carrots coming he stands ready for his stretches like a good boy
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He knows exactly what to do now! If I haven't got carrots I use other treats, so it may be worth trying something else to entice him if he's not into carrots that much?
 
I can make Bear bow down for a bloody polo LOL,
I did the carrot stretches for a while but then when I was brushing him he would start doing the stretches by himself without a carrot! His belly rules his brain!
 
I do carrot stretches with Sparks (except carrots aren't a big enough bribe, so have to use Codlivine apple crunch treats)!!!!
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She hasn't got nippy, but she hardly ever gets treats, unless she is doing stretches (I'm a mean mummy)!!!
 
I try to do them with mine but she just keeps moving her feet to try and get the carrot! So i need advice too lol
Also how on earth do you get them to bend their heads between their legs, mine just shuffles backwards - maybe she is that stiff!!!
 
Mine got a bit too good at them and even started stretching/bowing when I was grabbing his girth to do up he was like oooo hand down there must mean CARROTS!!! Silly boy lol
 
I have to do this but he doesn't need to put his head between his legs just round to his tummy.

Polos work great for us as he can really smell them and so follows them.

To stop him shufffling backwards I hold the leadrope in one hand which stays in front of him and then with the other hand hold the polo to encourage him to follow it (I change hands for each side). Don't know why this works but it does seem to, I think maybe it stops me moving to much so he's not trying to follow me. I also make sure I hold the polo very closr to his nose but just out of reach so it keeps his attention.
 
Chortle. Mine does them although she was very confused to start with and we kept going round in circles with comments that I was being lunged by my pony. Now she has got the knack of it and I can do them free standing, even though she gets hyper excited when presented with a carrot, she does know when to "wait", alot better than "stand" actually. Sounds like you need to find something your horse just can't resist, the rest is just patience...they get tehre in the end. Also try not to stretch them too far to start with. Little steps achive big goals. Oh yes...no hasn't turned her into a treat mugger, but then she has always been polite about asking...and "wait" is 99% effective, when it isn't she gets told to go back and move out of my space.
 
Mine does the weirdest thing imiginable with carrot stretches - he's finr to the side, but when i go to put the carrot between his front legs towards the girth, he bends his knees right down towards the ground till he is almost kneeling and stretches his head as far back as equinely possible! Really funny, think its coz he's a big stiffy though and bending his knees means he doesn't need to stretch his back lol!
Physio told me the best way to do the stretches is with a scoop of feed because that way they tend to hold the stretch longer and you don't get the 'snap back' reflex as much as you do with carrots.
 
saddlesore... that is exactly what my girl does!! everyone says i should teach her to bow! She may have to become a Circus horse if she dosnt fix herself soon!! :-)
 
QR: - Lots of excellent replies - Thank you
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I guess practise makes perfect and I will have to find a titbit she likes - its going to cost me a fortune!
 
Do them with Jay every day, and although hes always been foodcentric, he doesnt nip etc.

We do hip stretches, bowing, point of shoulder (a double axis bend apparently), under the chin - meant to be good for dressage flexing, girth area, and any others I come across.

We always try and hold the stretch so he can only just touch the carrot (parsnips work well). Silly pony, falls for it every time!
 
Merlin can do them, I just forget!!! It took him a while to realise that he had to stand still and reach, rather than twirl round and take the treat
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I buy Tesco mint imperials, big bag for about 30p (whispers, they are the benefit blue stripe ones, but dont tell him, he is a bit of a snob)!!

He has never been nippy and gets loads of treats.... any excuse to get him to love me
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The only thing I dont like is the knuckle type crunch noises his neck makes if he swings round too quickly blerghhhhh.

Perhaps PBS and I can give a demo in August!!!!
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