making your horse more supple

[sj_xc_hannah_]

my horse tends to just feel abit stiff sometimes and not flowing as much as she could be, can anyone suggest some good exersizes for improving this? sorry if this is in the wrong place.

 

[CastleMouse]

Serpentines really help with suppleness, so do simple figure of eights

 

[lucemoose]

try carrot stretches before/after work , get your horse to bend around to take the treat on the ground, work on the lunge in a pessoa / low side reins to encourage the horse to loosen up the back and bring the hindquarters through. work slowly in walk, shallow loops, as Castlemouse said and maybe try quarters in, to 'connect' and engage back end?

 

[sj_xc_hannah_]

ok thankyou will try that xx

 

[sallyg84]

all good techniques!
another is when you first get on work on a very long rein in walk trot and canter working circles, serpentines and changes of rein this will encourage the horse to stretch out and down thus relaxing the muscles, and also giving you a chilled out horse for the work ahead.
I find slowly bringing the reins in bit by bit until you reach a satisfactory contact then you do not have a sudden change of rythm and position which will lead to tension.

 

[rforsyth1984]

Sorry if Im pointing out the obvious, but may also be worth getting back/teeth/tack checked?
Trotting poles and jumping often help my horse loosen up, and lots and lots of transitions.