05/12/2025
For a horse to successfully push off the ground and generate the lift needed to clear a fence, they rely heavily on a complex chain of muscles responsible for powerful hindlimb extension. This is your horses true 'engine.'
The Big Players in Propulsive Power:
- Gluteals (Gluteus Medius & Superficial): These massive muscles on the hindquarters are the primary drivers of hindlimb extension and upward thrust. They initiate the powerful "push."
- Hamstrings (Biceps Femoris, Semitendinosus, Semimembranosus): Working with the gluteals, these muscles extend the hip and flex the stifle, providing massive forward and upward momentum.
- Quads (Quadriceps Femoris): Crucial for stabilising the stifle and providing explosive power for the final push-off.
- Back Muscles (Longissimus Dorsi): These work dynamically to lift and stabilise the back, allowing the power generated by the hindquarters to transmit efficiently forward and up.
When these powerful muscles are tight, sore, or restricted, the push-off phase becomes compromised, leading to noticeable performance drops:
- Loss of Scope & Height: Tight muscles cannot fully contract or extend, reducing the explosive power needed for adequate lift and push. The horse may jump flat or 'chip in.'
- Asymmetry & Run-Outs: Soreness in one side (e.g., a tight Gluteal) forces the horse to compensate, leading to uneven take-offs, drifting, or resistance/run-outs on a specific rein.
- Hollowing & Back Pain: If the Gluteals and Hamstrings are restricted, the horse often hollows its back mid-jump to escape the pain of extension, placing undue stress on the spine.
- Reduced Confidence: Repeated discomfort during the push-off can erode the horse's confidence and willingness to commit to the fence.
As an Equine Osteopath and Sports Massage Therapist, my treatments specifically target these power muscles—releasing adhesion, restoring elasticity, and ensuring the spine is free to transmit the necessary power.
📍 Serving Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Buckinghamshire.
