Posted 2017-08-03 10:00 AM Subject: Exercises to strengthen back
Ima Non Controversial Girl
Posts: 4168 Location: where the wind blows
What are some things to do to strengthen a horses back and underline. I have access to bills so have been walking up and down hills. I'm working on getting her to ride more collected (which is a challenge). I'm also backing her but again more than 7-8 steps is a challenge. Any other suggestions? She is weaker in the back and underline than I'd like and I know it's making her prone to soreness.
Posted 2017-08-03 10:13 AM Subject: RE: Exercises to strengthen back
Veteran
Posts: 233
Hills are fabulous for butts and backs. I like trot poles, 3 or 5 to start, but the distance is important. For a weak horse, I like them to stretch just a bit for the striding.
You can also scatter them at random like pick up sticks, and walk/trot through them at random directions. Also keeps a horse from getting ring sour.
A friend showed me how to make "figure d's" instead of figure 8's. Especially in a 40 or 50 foot circle, they've really got to rock back to make the turn.
The first sign my horse needed her hocks injected was that she got heavy on the forehand. My brilliant self waited until she had canter issues to do anything about it. Sometimes they can't because they hurt.
Posted 2017-08-03 10:28 AM Subject: RE: Exercises to strengthen back
I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864 Location: In the Hills of Texas
Horse tummy lifts.
Take your fingers and put pressure under his belly about 4 or 5 inches from his elbow and once he lifts his back...hold for about 10 seconds. Repeat 3 times and do this daily.
There is another one that you can run the rounded end of something like a hoofpick, down along the side of his spine on his butt for him to tuck it. Start at the top of his butt.
I need to update this...It's been a long time since I have done this so I went out and did it on my horse. I started like above and rubbed my finger tips back and forth and kept moving back until he lifted his back and I was almost to his sheath before he did. I remember not going back that far with my other horse so you will just have to experiment until you hit the right spot.
Posted 2017-08-04 2:55 PM Subject: RE: Exercises to strengthen back
Gettin Jiggy Wit It
Posts: 2734
WYOTurn-n-Burn - 2017-08-04 8:49 AM In my opinion nothing will strengthen the back better than collection.
This is a double edge sword. You have to strengthen the back before you can ask for collection. The process you go through to achieve collection is how you strengthen the back.
Posted 2017-08-07 11:52 AM Subject: RE: Exercises to strengthen back
Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981 Location: North Dakota
After having a horse with KS, this is something I've become accutely aware of. I'll share what we've done/are working on to improve back strength. 1. Stretches before riding. We do the exercises others have mentioned where you rub their belly with a hoof pick to get them to lift their back as well as running your thumbs along the grooves of their buttocks on either side of their tail to get them to tuck their pelvis and lift their spine.
2. Hill work. My horse's topline improved a lot just from being moved into a hilly pasture. Riding on hills is also good for them.
3. Trot poles. As mentioned before, incorporating these into a couple workouts a week is good for the back. I like to use these for lunging mostly.
4. Like the video linked, horses need to learn how to stretch down while staying round and on the bit. I've been struggling with figuring out how to do this with my horse. But we are going to start clicker training to respond to poll pressure at a stand still and work up to lunging and riding.
The willing equine on youtube has some videos worth watching on training for this :)
Exercises to strengthen back
