Hi > What are the TTouch belly lifts? Is this where you place fingertips up > under the belly and press till they lift their back? How hard do you > press and for how long (till you get gurgles)?
We have two different back exercises that involve the horse's belly. One is Belly lifts - with a folded towel or your flat hand, as described on the card that Ann sent (I can send a pdf and send it to the group if you can't read the card). It is a passive movement that simply supports the downward gravity and takes the pressure off the spine. It helps to activate the action of the gut and is great support while waiting for the vet. That along with stroking the ears from the base to the tip. Raising the back - using the fingertips is an active process in that it is asking the horse to engage the belly muscles to bring the back up. I have found that this is most effectively done just off the belly midline rather than on the reflex point along the midline. Robyn Icelandic Horse Farm Robyn Hood & Phil Pretty Vernon BC Canada www.icefarm.com
