top line

[ErinC]

whats the best way to get a top line back.

I have a horse that was a smooth gaiting machine, and this last year he lost his top line after that colic he had ( last April ) well he has never gaited the same. some but not like before.
I feel it is the top line muscle in his back or lack of it.

the other reason is,,, he is not getting as much use as he did the year he was as smooth as glass, and he is being used by a child now.
IF one of the adults rides him, he trys for us, and will get it but not for long.

I know I can get it back, if I work him like I did that year, and flex/back him more then he is getting now ( none , kids dont do that stuff)


Your Thoughts PLEASE!!!!

[halfmoonfino]

First, make sure he is getting good quality grain and forage. It's been said that hay puts weight on the bottom of the belly, but grain puts weight on the top. Focus on getting the horse to stretch out his neck, reach forward, and round up at the walk. I find the more collected/extended walk and canter work I do, the better Pitty's topline gets. This, in turn, will smooth the gaits out. Remember that in order to gait well a Paso must raise the root of the neck and hollow the back a smidge. Over time, without good stretching at the walk, this can lead to loss of topline. So make sure you let your horse stretch out, and collect up at the walk before moving on to faster speeds. The feeding regimen can also affect it.

[Terry Wallace]

By working on true collection. Which would include hand-longing in about ten or twelve foot circles to where you are getting good hind leg cross-over by the horse. You stay by his hip and drive him forward keeping your circle small. You take small steps in a smaller inner circle...he takes longer steps in the bigger circle.

[ErinC]

Perfect!

THANKS,

that is what I was thinking!

his food is great, so that really would not be something to look at, we are going to start giving him some Vit E. a smig more grain ( fat ) while we work on this and see what we get !

THANKS

[Terry Wallace]

Erin....I forgot to mention....be SURE you keep and arc in his body while you hand work him on the "short longe". Keeping an arc in the body, and keeping those hind legs crossing over is perfect for building back muscle and suppleness. Just be sure you do not ask for that more than 15 minutes in either direction. It is better to do one side, and then the other...don't switch back & forth.

If he tires early..realize that you must work up to the 15 minute time frame. You will know he is doing it correctly when you get good cross-over, and he is visibly tiring from it...its HARD work..go easy!

[Lynn L.]

I also like to do a lot of backing by hand. I like using a rope halter for this excercise. Stand facing forward by your horse's head while he is facing the other direction. Then grab the knot at the bottom of the halter and ask him to back. Use the halter to keep his head down wither-height or lower. This will cause his back to round as he goes backwards. If he gets sticky, tap his feet or pasterns with a whip/stick/etc. This will encourage him back without throwing his head up too high. This also takes alot of muscle energy. So give lots of breaks when you are starting out. It is very tiring. It can also develop good biceps for you if the horse leans on your hand! If he does, you want to bump him off of leaning on you, but still keep his head lower. I have found this works great for the back. It also works on coordination (mine and the horse's) and it is also very good for horses that are impulsive forward. It makes them start thinking backwards which can be a very good thing!

Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

[ErinC]

good idea, I was wondering about that too!

now I will do that! I have a LARGE poen area, so that will be easy!


I will take pic. in a month to see how things are going!


thanks again!

[GeorgeGuns]

Ditto all the above.

There is a neat little exercise you can do every time you see him - press on the midline of his belly and he should reflexively raise his back. Make sure his head isn't high when ya do it. Its kind of horsey calesthenics (sp?)

Make sure the front of the saddle is up away from and behind his shoulder blades when his leg is extended - may need a riser pad to do it. This will make it easier for both of you.