Groundwork
Beginner
10 min
Carrot Stretches: Chin to Chest at the Trot
Focus: Flexibility, Topline, Recovery
Equipment: Horse treats
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Stand in front of your horse with a treat.
- Offer the treat low, between the horse's front legs, encouraging it to tuck its chin toward its chest.
- The horse should round its neck and back, stretching the topline muscles.
- Hold for 5-10 seconds when the horse reaches the treat.
- Repeat 3-5 times. This stretches the muscles along the top of the neck and back.
- This is the opposite of the lateral stretch — it stretches the longitudinal muscles.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- The horse stepping forward to reach the treat instead of stretching down.
- Not holding the stretch long enough to be beneficial.
- Rushing through the exercise without allowing the horse to relax into the stretch.
- The horse only going halfway down because it's stiff — this improves with daily practice.
Variations & Progressions
- Progress to reaching further back between the front legs for a deeper stretch.
- Combine with lateral stretches for a complete stretching routine.
- Add this to your daily grooming routine for consistency.
Tip: The chin-to-chest stretch is the most important carrot stretch. It directly targets the muscles your horse needs for a round topline.
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