Ice has taken up . . . . . yoga!!!

[Spotsrock]

As post says really, my 4 & 1/2 y/o arab x warmblood has recently taken up yoga.

She starts with downward dog as I tack up, front legs neatly extended forward, head and shoulders down, rear nice and high in the air, then progresses to some rear leg lifts and stretches. (definately not kicking out, very slow and controlled 1 leg then the other with toes pointed)

She has been doing this for a week now. At first I thought her saddle may be pinching as she was 'bunching' in canter but she is working fantastically in walk and trot and very happy jumping, the canter bunching thing has now stopped but she is still doing yoga.

She had a new saddle fitted just after xmas and doesn't look any bigger, recently had her back done and as I said is fab ridden at the moment. I have looked at her saddle and felt the places the saddler told me to the way she showed me and it all feels how it did when she fitted it.

Yesterday she did it as usual while I was tacking up, but I was tacking up Beau!!

Do I need to do anything or has she just got in the habit of stretching at about that time in the morning?

She has usually only just got up as she sleeps lying down and gets up when I bring the wheel barrow to muck out.

 

[MrsMozart]

Lol. I think we need pictures, or better still, a video

It doesn't sound like she is in pain, just that she has found something that she likes doing for now

 

[D66]

She is just enjoying the stretch.
My filly likes a stretch; when the farrier lifts her front legs forwards she leans back so that her bum is about 60cm off the floor. The previous farrier thought she was being naughty, but she only does it once and then stands nicely.

 

[Spotsrock]

Thanks, She's having her 1st jumping lesson sunday so I'll be able to get my instructer to confirm saddle fitting too. Beau never really did anything odd at that age, Ice is such a character compared and I am discovering I am a neurotic mommy

 

[Vixen Van Debz]

My friend's horse Downward Dogs on command when mounting. In fact, he'll even go down on his front knees like a camel (the animal, not the yoga position obviously!) for tiny folk. It's a great trick!