11/06/2025
Let’s talk about ‘Topline’.
Developing a muscular topline on a horse is a process that involves correct training, proper nutrition and time. The ideal topline shape will vary depending on the discipline - whether it’s dressage, showjumping, eventing or showing - so your goals should match your horse’s workload and career.
🔑 What is the Topline?
The topline includes the muscles running along the horse’s neck, withers, back, loin, and croup. A strong, well-developed topline supports movement, balance, rider and gives that "lifted," athletic look.
✅ Start with the Basics – Health First
• 🦷 Teeth: Ensure your horse has good dentition. Dental problems reduce your horse’s ability to chew effectively. Digestion of fibre starts in the mouth with chewing. If they can not chew properly this can affect the quantity of food they can consume. Also, chewing starts to breakdown fibre preparing it for further digestion in the hind gut. If chewing is poor they will not obtain all the expected energy and nutrients from their forage feeds.
• 🐛 Worming: Monitor and control parasites that may affect nutrient absorption and weight.
• 🧘 Saddle Fit: poorly fitting tack can lead to horses not moving well or working correctly leading to poor muscle development as well as back pain.
• 🩺 Veterinary Check: If your think your horse’s topline is not developing as you would expect then please discuss with your vet. They will also be able to discuss pain related issues such as kissing spine, ulcers and possible subtle lameness.
🥕 Feed – Nutrition Matters
• High-quality forage is the base. This is vital as an energy source and for gut health. Make sure they are eating enough forage before adding to their diet.
• Providing good quality protein in your horses’s diet is essential as this provides essential amino acids (building blocks of muscle) like lysine, to support muscle development. Good quality protein sources include alfalfa and soya.
• Consider supplements with - Provide a balanced diet. Even the best quality forage in this country is not sufficient to supply a balanced diet. Therefore, a balancer suited to your horse’s needs or broad-spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement should be given alongside their forage based diet. Many vitamins and minerals are needed to support effective muscle function and development including Vitamin E, vitamin D, selemium, calcium and phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium and copper. Omega 3s from oils such as linseed or rapeseed - great for coat shine and over all condition. Oil is also great for providing energy that is not starch or sugar based in situations where additional calories are needed.
• Avoid feeding excess calories with no structured work - it builds fat. Energy requirements need to match workload. You want to build muscle not fat.
• Ensure good hydration and give electrolytes if the work being done creates sweat.
🐎 Train the Right Way – Movement Builds Muscle
✅ Key Training Principles:
• Correct Posture: Encourage the horse to lift through the back and stretch into the contact - not just hold its head in.
• Engagement: Hind end activity is the engine for topline muscle.
• Consistency: 4–6 days per week of correct work is ideal. Rest days are equally important.
🎯 Discipline-Specific Toplines
Correct, effective topline may look different dependant on the breed of horse and the ‘job’ that they do. We must not pre judge certain shapes as being right or wrong, instead we must consider the requirements being asked of the horse:
• Jumpers: Require power behind the saddle - developed loins and croup for take-off.
• Eventers: Must build endurance muscle, not just power. Balanced development across topline and core.
• Show Horses: Often shaped for rounded, aesthetically pleasing outlines, but watch for overfeeding vs true muscle.
• Dressage Horses: Need a lofty neck, strong core, and lifted back for collection and lateral work.
⏳ How Long Does It Take?
In our experience, muscle development takes 8–12 weeks of consistent, correct work - longer if starting from poor condition or after injury. There are no shortcuts.
❌ Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Poor nutrition, not providing a balanced diet.
• Using draw reins or gadgets to "hold" a frame without engagement
• Overfeeding without exercise - maintain correct condition rather than just becoming fat because too many calories are being provided.
• Pushing too fast - muscle must be built gradually to prevent injury. Horses must be fit enough for the work being asked of them.
• Ignoring posture from the ground (leading, lunging, turnout)
• Not meeting the needs of the individual - be aware that in the same way that human athletes will each have specifically designed exercise/training and nutrition plans for their needs and the discipline they are performing. Horses require the same individual plans.
✅ Final Tip:
A great topline is built from the hind legs forward, not from the head down. Train for balance, strength, and stretch, not just shape. Speak with vet and equine nutritionist if you need to discuss any of this further or have more questions.
