09/29/2020
6 Exercises to Help Improve Your Horse's Topline!
Having a strong topline is VERY important because the muscles in a horses back help support the neck, spine and hindquarters. A poor topline will eventually show in a horse's mobility and performance. Exercising is helpful, but a good topline is made with good nutrition.
Here are 6 exercises you can do with your horse to HELP strengthen their back!
1. Neck Stretches
Neck stretching is easiest when your horse is in a confined space, most preferably their stall. To start you NEVER want to force a stretch. Forcing a stretch can cause tears in the muscle and cause severe injury.
Using a treat, encourage your horse to flex side to side until they reach their hip. They may not the first time, but continuously doing lateral stretches they will get there. This will improve the flexor muscles in the bottom of the neck. Also using a treat, you want to encourage your horse to reach in between their legs; your horse may give you a little at first but eventually you want their chin a hands width away from their chest. This will improve the extensor muscles in the top of their neck.
2. Ground Poles
Place about 6-8 poles in a line with random amounts of space between them and at different heights. It is recommended that you either ride or lunge your horse over the poles at a trot or canter.
This exercise will not only help improve your horses back muscles but encourages them to judge distance and depth. It will help your horse pick up their feet and will strengthen their back. Be sure to start out slow, because this can be a mental and physical challenge at first.
3. Stomach Lifts
The best way to do stomach lifts is in about knee high depth in water. Have your horse work at a trot, they will automatically suck in their belly and engage their back and abdominal muscles. It is like if you were to sit straight and suck in your belly; you can feel your back muscles engaging and working.
If you do not have access to water, there is an alternative! Stand to the side of your horse and place your hands under them in the middle of their chest (where your girth sits). Put small-medium pressure. You will know if you're in the right area because your horse will lift their breastbone. Once you've found the spot you should hold the pressure for about 15-20 seconds.
Once you've worked the breastbone go back about 3 inches and do the same. You will know if you hit the right spot when they move their thoracic area and again, hold for about 15-20 seconds.
4. Up and Downs
If you are able to, ride or lunge on an incline. Going up and down with engage your horses hindquarters, forequarters and chest muscles. Start off by going up and down on a small incline and gradually increase the incline as your horse becomes more comfortable.
If you are riding your body position is crucial. If you are not riding correctly it will unbalance your horse and they won't be using the right muscles. If you are going uphill be sure to lean forward (butt out of the seat if it is a steep incline) and put your weight in your stirrups. When going downhill lean back in the saddle. A good rule of thumb for riding on inclines is to keep your back even with your horse's front legs while going up and keep your back even with your horse's back legs while going down.
5. Collection
Don't be discouraged if this exercise is difficult for you and your horse. Most horses are better doing this at a trot, while riding put leg pressure on your horse and keep forward motion while also putting some tension on your reins.
This can be difficult at first because your horse may get mixed signals. Once you have worked on collection you should feel your horse round their back and keep their back legs under their body more. This will help strengthen the neck and lower back muscles.
6. Lower Back Rounding
Lowe back will not only strengthen but will also improve flexibility in a horses hindquarters and lower back.
To do this exercise, place your hands on the top of the croup and hold for about 5 seconds. Once you see your horse tuck their butt, you have hit the right spot. Continue to put small pressure along the croup down to the tail for 5 seconds each.
