An opportunity is provided to detect and assess imbalances in flexibility which could indicate the development of injury. Noting resistance to gentle stretching maneuvers, the handler has a clue that the muscle involved is not being used to full capacity. Such an imbalance is a part of the chronic injury syndrome or could lead to an acute injury. Stretching exercises can be of great benefit in providing relief from certain types of pain. Pain derived from a condition called fascial contracture responds to consistent repetition of stretching exercises.
Fascial contracture occurs when muscles and their connective tissues tighten abnormally.
Age, chilling, inactivity, and muscle strain can result in pain. They also limit the power the muscle is capable of producing during work. No longer is it unusual on the backside of a racetrack or in the barn area at a competitive event to see handlers stretching forelegs and hindlimbs of horses about to run or be involved in a contest. Porter emphasizes that there are a couple of important things to keep in mind when carrying out stretching exercises with the horse. First of all, she states, the stretching should be done in a quiet, relaxed manner.