Building muscle and strength in hindquarters..UPDATE

[Martucci_Rachel]

This is my first post on the forums. A little background on me: 17 years in the equine industry including Barn Managing, Vet Tech, Riding, First Aid, etc. I have rescued over 15 OTTB for a rescue that I managed in Florida. Now I live in SoCal. I have adopted a 4yo TB (Never Raced) She is slightly underweight and needs groceries (which we are doing) We are in our 6th day with each other and she is doing great. Slowly starting feed, upping her hay and starting to do some groundwork.

The issue I am facing is she is very very green and does not tie or lunge. We are working on these things and now can walk to the turnout pen without stopping every few steps. I noticed this morning she was real stiff in her right hind. I pulled her out got her walking and the stiffness left. I can see that she is very weak in her hindquarters and needs to build muscle in her hind and also her topline. I understand its slow and steady process which I have no problem doing.

She get 2 flakes of alfalfa and 1 flake of Orchard/Alfalfa in the am along with cavalor senior

afternoon she gets 1 flake of Alfalfa/Orchard in a slow feeder hay bag

Pm she gets 3 flakes alfalfa and 1 flake Alfalfa/Orchard with cavalor senior in a slow feeder hay bag.

What are some exercises that we can start doing in hand to help build muscle and strength? Or if any suggestion to feed I would be open to hear.

Update>>>

After talking with the Vet and the new trainer it has been decided that she is simply just weak in her hindquarter as of now. The Vet said to keep an eye on it while she is being worked. She is now not stiff at all.

On her first session with the trainer we noticed she seems confused with where to place her back feet and trips over herself a lot. Also could really notice the weakness. On the second session, she was more aware of her back feet and did not appear as weak.

As the vet said it is now just a waiting period as she grows and builds up the hindquarter. Ahhh rescues!

[ThreeFigs]

Has she been seen/evaluated by a vet? I relied heavily on my vet’s advice when rehabbing my gelding’s injury. He was 7 YO at the time, but like your horse, weak in the hind end and underdeveloped due to the injury.

Has she gone under saddle at all? If so, walking up and down long gentle slopes will be good for her back and hind end. If she can handle it, then trot up the slopes and walk back down. (I wouldn’t trot down unless you’re sure of her balance and “brakes”.)

Cavalletti – even hand walking her over them will help her.

Backing her in-hand, on flat ground to start, then backing up gentle slopes (again, in-hand) will help. Just a few steps at a time, then forward again.

What you’re seeing in the right hind MIGHT be weakness, but have her checked out and get suggestions from your vet first.

Best of luck. Rehabbing is fun and rewarding.

[Martucci_Rachel]

[QUOTE=ThreeFigs;8298357]
Has she been seen/evaluated by a vet? I relied heavily on my vet’s advice when rehabbing my gelding’s injury. He was 7 YO at the time, but like your horse, weak in the hind end and underdeveloped due to the injury.

Has she gone under saddle at all? If so, walking up and down long gentle slopes will be good for her back and hind end. If she can handle it, then trot up the slopes and walk back down. (I wouldn’t trot down unless you’re sure of her balance and “brakes”.)

Cavalletti – even hand walking her over them will help her.

Backing her in-hand, on flat ground to start, then backing up gentle slopes (again, in-hand) will help. Just a few steps at a time, then forward again.

What you’re seeing in the right hind MIGHT be weakness, but have her checked out and get suggestions from your vet first.

Best of luck. Rehabbing is fun and rewarding.[/QUOTE]

I am speaking with the vet tomorrow and setting her up to be seen.

She is broke to ride but very green. We have some gentle slops where we are boarding at that we hand walk daily. Along with hand walking in the arena to get use to the noise and atmosphere.

[emipou]

I second the vet first. But it sounds like you doing a lot of the right things. Slow and steady, hand walking. slopes. Just slowly add more in as she builds more strength.
One you get her a little stronger, consider ground work - longing, ground driving, and more hand walking on hills.

Love the idea of hand walking over cavalletti too.

[Manni01]

one thought… If you plan to ride her in the long run, and if she is rather weak now, I ( I know I am bad) would ride her now, before she developes a lot of strength with good feed and hand walking… If you walk her while riding, she will develope strength as weill and she will be used to riding… But thats just my humble opinion because I am not a brave rider and I kind of like to ride…

[CFFarm]

Ride at the walk. Work on getting her to accept the bit and on the aids. Flexions. Carrot stretches/back lifts. This will teach her to lift her back and engage the hindquarter muscles. If she checks out with the Vet, lots of walk/trot work/transitions.

Creatine builds muscle but I don’t recommend it because of cramping. I would just give her time with a friendly environment, good diet and slow, steady work. I’m sure she will bloom. Keep us posted and be sure to take some before and afters!

[Huntin_Pony]

You could ask your vet about Gamma Oryzanol. On vet’s recommendation I use a supplement called Body Builder for my elderly EPM horse and it has helped him maintain weight and muscle mass. Large percentage rice bran oil.

Nothing is better than the slow steady work that you and others have already described. Have fun!

[merrygoround]

You are starting sensibly and slowly. As far as tying goes, you could start tying in her stall, which is a common track practice, which she may have had done,even though unraced. I too would sit on her back, as she has been started, keeping a log of the length of time and the type of riding.

Her diet sounds very reasonable.