Do you stretch your horse's forelegs forward to smooth out the skin under the girth after you've tightened it?

I put the girth on so the skin is smooth before I start, but even if it isn't, his first few steps do this anyway. So IMO if you're stretching the horse's forelegs to smooth the skin, it's unnecessary.

Honestly, I can't think of a reason to stretch a horse's leg unless he's been injured or some such. The risk of getting it wrong outweighs any potential benefit.

I'm not an expert at this, but I've had a lot of TBs who had very delicate skin under there.

My mentor, when I was a teenager, was a very prestigious physical therapist (for humans). She taught me to do this, explained where tendons were in the legs and showed me a book about how the shoulder works. She showed me several other exercises too, such as lifting a front leg and doing soft circles with the hoof, and other things, particularly for TBs who might have some issues.

Well, it's never done me wrong. I don't bother doing it with my thick skinned chubby paint horse unless I visibly see a little wrinkle. But with TBs, yes I do. Just be gentle and correct.

Oh, I should note, that at the time I learned this technique, the horses were turned out 8+ hours a day and we would go catch them before a ride. So maybe the "warm up" issue just wasn't discussed.

https://www.mastersonmethod.com/pdf/2009_09_barrel...

I use a lot of the Masterson methods. The forward stretch is fine. But the more helpful stretches I have found to be the ones where a front foot is placed well - under or toward the hind foot of the horse and the horse asked to take weight on that foot. Also, the stretch of a single hind foot coming well forward.

Stretching is more important or effective after exercise than before because the muscles are warm. If you do very intensive stretching when the muscles are cold you can induce injury. But if you just take it easy you should be fine. Some great warmups include big walking and reaching with a single foot while astride. You can ask each foot to make a big reaching motion at the walk and it's really effective to get lots of expression and response. Also, you ask for lifted and reaching shoulder in the walk and this is really helpful to get clean lead changes. So much can be accomplished at a good walk.

P.S. I think the use of the narrower leather girths with the elbow cutouts makes girth galling more prevalent. I like girths like the professional choice neoprene because they are a bit wider, they grip on their own because of the material and don't need to be on so tight. Because they can be looser fitting and still grip the horse fine, the idea of galling or the skin being bundled beneath them doesn't occur. Also, triple elastic on both sides helps. Many people overtighten and don't realize....

Depends on what kind of girth or cinch I'm using on that particular horse. My mare has a stretchable neoprene elastic girth that doesn't bind or rub the hair the wrong way, so I don't usually stretch her when I tighten it. But I've worked with other horses where doing this was necessary to prevent rubs and sores.

i've always lifted the front leg at the knee. this smooths the skin under the girth but is a flexion not a stretch.

Just curious if you use a neoprene girth or one that has neoprene that lies next to the skin. Sometimes, the neoprene can get "hot" and like rubber rubbing next to the skin. It also does not allow for breathing like leather. So, it could be the rubber and the friction that could be causing the abrasion of the skin. Also, some neoprene is pimpled or in the case of a saddleseat show girth very textured (to prevent slipping) and from rubbing and sweating could be causing this.

You can still do it but instead of hoisting the leg up and out, allow it to remain relaxed and straight, and grasp by the ankle and do a low stretch directing toward the cleft of the chest. Low, like a few inches off the ground....and just a smidge toward the center of chest...by the ground. It will still smooth wrinkles and hairs but wont cause muscle rips.

I stretch my mare's legs, but not all the way out. I just pick them up form the knee and pull them out a few inches.

And I've never done it. Why? Because my parents (both horsemen from birth) told me not to and it never would have occurred to me they might be mistaken. I still don't but now it's because..well...why? If it ain't broke don't fix it.

Hmm. I've been doing it for as long as I can remember. Never had any problems.