How Bodywork Can Help Horses That Struggle to Stand for the Farrier

Many horse owners know the challenge: your horse just won’t stand still for the farrier. Whether they fidget, lean, yank their leg away, or refuse to lift it at all, the process can be stressful for everyone involved. While sometimes the issue is purely behavioural, often there is an underlying physical reason, such as muscular tension, weakness, or restriction that makes it uncomfortable or even painful for a horse to hold their legs in certain positions.

This is where bodywork can make a real difference. By addressing muscular imbalances and restrictions, bodywork helps horses feel more comfortable and balanced, making farrier visits smoother and safer.

Why Standing for the Farrier Can Be Hard

When a farrier lifts and holds a horse’s leg, the limb is being placed into an extended or flexed position that the horse doesn’t naturally maintain for long periods. For example:

• Front limbs are often pulled forward (to rasp the toe) or back (to access the heel and quarters).

• Hind limbs are lifted under the belly or extended back behind the horse.

If a horse has tightness, weakness, or discomfort in the muscles that control these limb movements, holding the position can feel exhausting or even painful. The horse’s resistance is often their way of saying, “This is hard for me.”

Muscles Involved in Bringing the Limbs Forward and Back

Front Limb Movement

• Bringing the foreleg forward:

  • Brachiocephalicus – extends the shoulder, pulling the leg forward.

  • Omotransversarius – assists in protracting (swinging forward) the forelimb.

  • Serratus ventralis (cervical part) – helps lift and swing the leg forward.

• Bringing the foreleg back:

  • Latissimus dorsi – draws the leg back toward the body.

  • Pectoral muscles (deep and superficial) – adduct and stabilize the forelimb, assisting in drawing it back under the horse.

  • Rhomboids and trapezius – stabilize the shoulder and allow controlled backward motion.

  
  

Hind Limb Movement

• Bringing the hind leg forward (protraction):

  • Iliopsoas (iliacus and psoas major) – flexes the hip, allowing the leg to swing forward.

  • Quadriceps femoris – extends the stifle, bringing the leg forward.

  • Tensor fasciae latae – flexes the hip and extends the stifle, aiding protraction.

• Bringing the hind leg back (retraction):

  • Gluteus medius – extends the hip, propelling the limb back.

  • Biceps femoris (caudal part) – extends the hip and hock, retracting the leg.

  • Semitendinosus and semimembranosus – extend the hip, pulling the leg behind the body.

    
    

These muscles don’t work in isolation; they coordinate with core stabilizers and spinal muscles to help the horse balance while standing on three legs.

How Bodywork Helps

1. Releases tension – Massage, stretching, and myofascial techniques reduce tightness in the brachiocephalicus, hamstrings, and other key muscles that may restrict limb movement.

2. Improves flexibility – Gentle mobilization makes it easier for horses to comfortably hold their legs forward or back.

3. Restores balance – By addressing compensations, bodywork helps the horse distribute weight evenly, reducing strain on the supporting limbs.

4. Builds trust and relaxation – Horses often associate farrier work with discomfort; bodywork helps them build positive associations with handling and having their legs lifted.

5. Supports rehabilitation – For horses recovering from injury or compensatory movement patterns, bodywork complements conditioning programs that restore strength and coordination.

   
   

When to Consider Bodywork

If your horse:

• Leans heavily on the farrier,

• Pulls their foot away repeatedly,

• Struggles to bring a leg forward or back, or

• Seems sore after a trim or shoeing,

  
  

…it may be time to look beyond behavior. A bodywork session can uncover and release restrictions that make standing for the farrier difficult.

Hoof care is essential to a horse’s health, but it should not be a battle. By supporting your horse’s musculoskeletal comfort through regular bodywork, you can make farrier visits calmer, safer, and more productive. A comfortable horse is a cooperative horse and both your hoof care provider and your horse will thank you for it.