Carrot stretches, or dynamic mobilization exercises, are something most horse owners are at least vaguely familiar with. Perhaps a bodyworker showed them to you at some stage, or maybe you read about it in a how-to article, or maybe you did them without knowing when you were in your trick training phase, teaching your horse how to bow. In any case, most people are aware that carrot stretches are exercises where you guide the horse's head and neck to different positions using a treat, inviting them to take their spine through a varied range of motion. They can have enormous benefits when done correctly, but can also be less than great if not executed properly. Here are some very common misconceptions about carrot stretches.

Back pain should always be investigated and addressed as soon as possible. Here are some things you can do to help the horse feel better while you wait for the horse to be seen by a professional. 

The neck can be a source of pain and stiffness which is why many riders try o use exercises to make it more supple. Instead of bending the neck sideways with the use of reins or carrots, here is a better way to do it.

Try these two bodywork techniques to restore range of motion and enable to ribcage to function better.

Tight muscles are most often a symptom, not a standalone issue. Whenever we are dealing with recurring tightness, we need to ask ourselves - what is the body trying to protect?

Even though they are not in work, foals and youngsters still benefit from bodywork. Solving minor issues ca prevent bigger problems further down the line.

The iliopsoas is a group of three muscles that acts as a hip flexor and can often be a source of dysfunction for the horse. Here are some things to keep in mind about this area.

A lot of horses have a hard time relaxing and finding comfort in their own bodies. By inviting them into a resting posture, we can teach them that it is ok to relax and let go of the tension in their bodies.

Tight hamstrings is a very common issue in horses, but simply treating the tightness might do more harm than good.

If you are curious to try some bodywork moves on your horse, but are unsure how to approach it, here are some basic guidelines to help you on your way.

Most bodyworkers will recommend a break from work following a bodywork session, but this does not mean the horse should be kept in a stall.

There are so many bodywork modalities out there it can be hard to choose the right one. Here are some things to consider.

Unfortunately, girthy horses are very common in the equine industry. While we might be used to the sight of a horse pinning his ears while the girth is fastened, this is far from normal. There is always a reason behind girth aversion, and we owe it to the horse to find it.

The belly lift is a very popular core strengthening exercise, but for some horses it might not be appropriate.

Here is a set of very gentle, but powerful set of techniques that help horses with TMJ discomfort.

We talked a little bit about what a hunter's bump is and how it occurs. In this post I want to delve a bit more into the practical aspect of dealing with this issue.

Hunter's bumps are a relatively common sight in horses, especially in big warmbloods. Most horse owners know what a hunter's bump looks like, but not many know where it comes from.

Tightness in the neck is very common in horses and it is often caused by restrictions in the fascis. Here is a simple move you can try to loosen up your horse's neck.

Good posture is not something that belongs only in the rehabilitation process. It is good for every horse, regardless of age, breed and workload.

A simple exercise you can do with your horse to release some front-end tension and address the nervous system.