Please stop teaching your horses to bow like this!

So, how exactly do you teach the bow? (the correct bow, of coarse)

It's actually not that bad for them, or bad for them at all.

However it's not a bow it's a stretch (the equine massage therapist will sometimes use) but you have to slowly work them into stretching them that much.

ya my old trainer does that to her horses every day to "strech" the horses backs but it always looked like it hurt it never occured to me how bad it was so i am glad i am out of there.

It doesn't actually hurt if you condition the horse.

Let me step in and speak up for a moment.

To the OP - before you make a post about something like this - make sure you are educated on the information first.

THIS IS NOT BOWING - THIS IS THE CARROT STRETCH!!!



This is what I do with my horse EVERY DAY. Before and after I ride with a cookie because it is a VERY IMPORTANT stretch to do with your horse to aid them in building a topline and stretching their buttox muscles, back muscles and neck muscles before and after a ride.

This is given to clients of Equine Chiropractors.

The "Nose Between Front Legs" stretch is one of 7 important stretches to do with your horse on a daily basis.

Okay... I have worked with chiropractors stretching horses with sore backs, and I don't think you're supposed to make them bend down so far that their legs bend funny like that. It might be good for their back, but it canNOT be good for their front legs.

That's not JUST a "carrot stretch"... There are a LOT of people who make their horses bow that way.

It's a carrot stretch that they are calling a bow.

And Western Pleasure is good for their front legs? Jumping? Eventing? Barrel Racing? Racing? Shall I go on?

Show me proof that doing the Carrot Stretch is bad for their front legs.

Lets see veterinary documenation - or is this just an assumption you are coming up with?

Uh, so your logic is that because they already do things that might be bad for their front legs, it's okay to do even more things that might be bad for them? I don't know where you're trying to go with that...

I'm not denying that it's good for their back. I'm sure it is. I just don't think it looks like it's good for their front legs, and a lot of people have agreed with me.

So... Where exactly is your veterinary documentation that this particular stretch is NOT bad for their front legs? Or are you just assuming that?

I definately agree it is great for their back.... to a certain degree. The point that horse is at, OUCH! You can see then strain in it's legs! I do the between the legs stretch as well, but not to the point my horse is straining his legs.