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 Elite Veteran
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Location: Arkansas | Are there any exercises that I can do with my horse to build muscle along his topline? I feel like he is weak there and could use more mass. Thanks! |
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  Queen Boobie 2
Posts: 7521
 
| Brrlracengirl - 2014-04-15 8:28 PM
Are there any exercises that I can do with my horse to build muscle along his topline? I feel like he is weak there and could use more mass. Thanks!
Trot poles. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 685
Location: Arkansas | bennie1 - 2014-04-15 9:35 PM Brrlracengirl - 2014-04-15 8:28 PM Are there any exercises that I can do with my horse to build muscle along his topline? I feel like he is weak there and could use more mass. Thanks! Trot poles.
Will do... I've found some interesting videos on youtube as well. Most of them are from english style riding, but it all makes so much sense! |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| Yes dressage exercises are really beneficial. |
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| Take the horse on long trail/pasture rides for 2-3 hours several times per week and stop thinking like you are running a city slicker workout gym in town ... and of course up his feed for the amount of work he will be doing ...
Edited by BARRELHORSE USA 2014-04-16 3:42 AM
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Expert
Posts: 1414
| BARRELHORSE USA - 2014-04-16 2:55 AM Take the horse on long trail/pasture rides for 2-3 hours several times per week and stop thinking like you are running a city slicker workout gym in town ... and of course up his feed for the amount of work he will be doing ...
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | roanrider - 2014-04-16 12:03 PM BARRELHORSE USA - 2014-04-16 2:55 AM Take the horse on long trail/pasture rides for 2-3 hours several times per week and stop thinking like you are running a city slicker workout gym in town ... and of course up his feed for the amount of work he will be doing ...
I think he's trying to say ride on rolling terrain instead of all arena work
but I could be wrong |
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | BARRELHORSE USA - 2014-04-16 1:55 AM Take the horse on long trail/pasture rides for 2-3 hours several times per week and stop thinking like you are running a city slicker workout gym in town ... and of course up his feed for the amount of work he will be doing ...
Please keep in mind many of us are unable to do this. It's not that I don't love riding out in the country or working cows on one, but currently....not an option.
They're getting riden in the hour/s I can squeeze in after work, in the arena because it's DARK elsewhere. I'm just grateful to have a well lite place with good ground to ride. 2/3 hours per horse isn't happening, there's other ways to condition.
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 The One
Posts: 7997
Location: South Georgia | Collection builds topline. |
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | Strengthening a topline takes time, no matter what exercises you use.....I know Bibilafarm posted a GREAT video about collection and strenghtening toplines........ |
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Veteran
Posts: 204
Location: North Louisiana | we did a new age hocus pocus hands on therapy with my weak back gelding supposed to increase blood floor and get nerves firing. and let me tell you it worked! an old race horse guy showed me and helped with it. cant remember the guys name who does it. it is a touch therapy. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 685
Location: Arkansas | Thanks for all of the replies!!
I wish I had the option to ride over hundreds of acres, but I don't. We have stepped foot on every inch of the 18 acres we are at and I would ride down the road but people drive like maniacs around here! Ive done plenty of conditioning in the pasture and just recently have started putting more work into turning/ arena time.
I am currently feeding 4lbs of Omolene 200 at night along with a 3/4 scoop of soaked alfalfa cubes. I am about to start feeding alfalfa in the morning as well to try to spread it all out! He is finally getting rid of his rolly polly belly, so I am a little anxious to add more feed to his diet; I dont want him flabby again! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 685
Location: Arkansas | shearhappichick - 2014-04-16 2:46 PM we did a new age hocus pocus hands on therapy with my weak back gelding supposed to increase blood floor and get nerves firing. and let me tell you it worked! an old race horse guy showed me and helped with it. cant remember the guys name who does it. it is a touch therapy.
I have seen some videos that sound like that and it looks like it works so well! I have tried it with my guy, but he just turns and looks at me like I am crazy and starts searching me for treats! (He doesn't even get them that often!) I did do a good stretching on him today, which brought about more comical expressions! |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| How about draging a tire or log around, just make sure you do it on both sides. Also bqck up as much as you can and back up hills.
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 Go Your Own Way
Posts: 4947
Location: SE KS | do you long trot him ? Long trotting helps build up to the top line. |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | Collection |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 685
Location: Arkansas | I have long trotted him, but not on a regular basis. I will have to add that to our weekly routine |
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 Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | Letting them not just long trot but trot with their nose all the way down to the ground helps too. Takes a bit to get them relaxed enough to do it but if you can encourage it, it'll help. I do a lot of lunging with that goal in mind. Helps keep them adjusted too. The more relaxed their bodies are when they work, the better the development -- look into the science of endo tapping and endorphin release.
Also, calcium to phosphorous ratios being out of balance will cause one to not develop a good topline according to TLC Animal nutrition. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 685
Location: Arkansas | Fairweather - 2014-04-17 8:55 PM
Letting them not just long trot but trot with their nose all the way down to the ground helps too. Takes a bit to get them relaxed enough to do it but if you can encourage it, it'll help. I do a lot of lunging with that goal in mind. Helps keep them adjusted too. The more relaxed their bodies are when they work, the better the development -- look into the science of endo tapping and endorphin release.
Also, calcium to phosphorous ratios being out of balance will cause one to not develop a good topline according to TLC Animal nutrition.
That's what I did last night! He wouldn't drop his head as far as I liked at a trot, but after I exercised him and was cooling down, he was walking with is nose to the ground. He was so relaxed!!! |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| barrelracr131 - 2014-04-17 10:02 AM
Collection
To add to this ... correct collection will encourage them to push with their hind end and use their back muscles more.
Correct collection is not just the animal giving to the bit in the face, but breaking at the poll, lifting the back, breaking/giving at the withers (sp?? sorry), and pushing from behind your hips into a soft "frame" - to quote some English riding people.
This video explains it all really really well! :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8cOq7YWXys
Anywho, that is GREAT way to build that top up! Good Luck! |
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