The Thoracic Sling of a Horse

The horse’s thoracic sling is the group of muscles that attaches the front limbs to the rest of the body. 

Horses don’t have a skeletal attachment like humans do, their from legs are just suspended by soft tissue!  

The thoracic sling includes:

• trapezius

• pectoralis

• omotransversarius

• serrated ventralus

• latissimus dorsi

• rhomboids

• subclavius

The thoracic sling has to be strong enough to support the compulsion of the hind end. 

If not, there is a breakdown in the transfer of fascial forces and something has to give. 

Usually, the spine suffers from an imbalance in the thoracic sling.

So how can you strengthen the thoracic sling?

This is from the book 55 Corrective Exercises for Horses by Jec Aristotle Ballou 

“Pole work contributes to straightness and symmetry through his core and mobilizes the spinal joints. The postural adjustments needed for crossing poles recruit the horse’s interconnected abdominal muscle group, thoracic sling, and gluteal chain. Schooling different arrangements of poles helps re-pattern existing habits within each gait, and leads to the creation of new signals from the nervous system.

Cantering over poles tones the thoracic sling, loosens the shoulders as the body rocks between forehand and hindquarters, and lifts the back. It can greatly improve flexion and extension of the back, which allows it to lift and carry the rider better. It is believed to deliver the most mobilization of the lumbosacral joint, which enables the horse to engage his hind limbs.”

Inside my equine taping and equine cupping courses, we also talk about how to treat and facilitate the thoracic sling with tape and cups.