First Equine Veterinary Services

Today is Dr. Angel’s birthday!!!

He ✨LOVES ✨ Buccees’s so we made a special lunch stop today for a birthday treat!! He said, “This is the happiest place on earth” 😂

If you see him this week, be sure and tell him happy birthday!

✨Fridays with the Firsts ✨Rehabilitation Series

🔹Strengthening Shoulders🔹

Have you ever considered how much the shoulder contributes to your horse’s performance?

The equine shoulder plays a critical role in stride length, shock absorption, balance, and overall athletic performance.

Unlike humans, horses do not have a collarbone creating a bony attachment between forelimb and trunk. Instead, the forelimb is attached to the body by a complex network of muscles and soft tissues known as the “muscular sling.” This system helps support the 60-65% of the horse’s body weight, absorb impact, and allow efficient, forward movement.

Restrictions in shoulder mobility or weakness in the muscles surrounding the shoulder can contribute to shortened strides, difficulty with collection, stumbling, and compensatory strain elsewhere in the body.

As with any rehabilitation program, exercises should be tailored to the individual horse and progressed gradually. The goal is not only to improve shoulder function but also to promote balanced movement throughout the entire body.

Here are some exercises to help strengthen shoulders:

🔹 shoulder/forelimb stretches both forward and back help with range of motion and flexibility of biceps and triceps

🔹 walking over ground poles helps with range of motion of shoulder joints and proprioception

🔹 backing up promotes coordination and controlled use of the forelimbs while engaging supporting musculature

🔹 walking up gentle inclines/hills encourages activation of the muscles responsible for advancing and stabilizing the forelimb

🔹 lateral work (specifically shoulder in) helps improve strength, coordination, and balance of the shoulders

🔹 cavaletti work/bounces help increase demand of shoulder muscles and improve limb awareness (advanced)

🔹 resistance band work during in hand lateral exercises helps strengthen adductors and abductors (advanced)

🔹 utilizing developers can help increase shoulder strength (advanced)