I'll talk to Pandora Mule and get back to you. This would be funny, if it
weren't so serious, wouldn't it? How does one get an equine in the
"Halloween Cat? position?" Kay, who knows exactly what you mean and has
often thought, "If only Pandora would stretch, move and loosen up, instead of
staying so tense." I think it really would help if you can find a way to
convince your horse. Someone must know the secret! Help!

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

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

Hi,
For Darby's tummy tucks I tickle her tummy about half way between her
udders and elbows, sometimes you have to search for the correct spot and
use more pressure. Also, for her hind end I take her tail and standing
behind her I pull on it with all my weight.....she pulls forward when I do
this, I also do this to the left and to the right. Good luck
Sue

Well, I am here to tell you, the Belly lift theory didn't work on Pandora
Mule today. She turned around and looked at me like, "Now what is it you
want me to do? Just tell me, don't do that stuff!" She is so usually stoic,
as if she has experienced it all but today, belly lifts gave her something
new to think about. I could almost sense that she was hoping this was not
"the start of something new." And I am not sure her belly ever really
lifted, after all that, but we did try. Maybe next time she won't be quite
so surprised and the results will be more encouraging. Daisy Mae Donkey was
impressed with the whole routine. Now that girl has a belly that would
require a "Hoyer Lift" to get her belly in the air. Not going there! Kay,
who thinks that this using different muscles has to be therapeutic

Hi Chris - Where in CA are you located? I'm in the Davis area. Belly lifts
and running your fingers up from her belly to her back would be great! If
you know someone with any TTEAM background they can help you.

Take care, Makyla & 4-legged friends