Hi!
I had the same trouble with getting my mare to do "belly lifts"- this
may help: if you can find the "v" on the underside of the belly, just
behind the girth area, where the muscles seem to split, that is a
good spot to press, or tickle, whatever the horse responds to. I
ended up having to "scootch" my fingertips on the belly, like how you
would lightly tickle a small child, in order to get results. Of
course, my mare hates this and really wishes she could bite me
(thankfully it's "beneath her" or this would be a painful exercise),
but at least it works. Also bribes will help your cause. What horses
do for the vet without charge usually we owners have to pay for! Hope
this helps a little...

Va.C.



--- In EquineCushings@..., "Pennington-Boggio's"
<pennbo@b...> wrote:

Hi, if your horse is sore and you think it might be because of

standing

"weird" to alleviate foot pain you might want to consider a
chiropractor. I know that my mare was just adjusted because I knew

that

after dealing with her front leg being sore that she would be out

all

over. She was, badly so in the rear, from standing back to get the
weight off the front. Once the skeleton is aligned then the muscles
relax and start to heal. Good Luck.
Question- We are supposed to make her do "horsey sit-ups" (belly

lifts)

everyday to strengthen the back muscles and alleviate the sag. She

is so

swayed that it is putting pressure on the rib tops and causing

problems.

The vet seems to be able to get her to do them right away. It

doesn't

matter how I do it or what I try she refuses to lift for me! She

turns

around and gives me "the mare look"!! Does anyone have any hints

for me

to try so that I can get her to do her exercises?

Thanks,
Chris in CA