Engaging + Strengthening the Hind End

[Trumpet_Peformance_H]

My OTTB mare has been having some training issues we have put down to not enough strength and engagement from her hind end. Would anybody have any exersises, tips, articles or advice?

She is slightly downhill which certainly isn’t helping either.

Much appreciated

[CFFarm]

Transitions, transitions, transitions.

[merrygoround]

Hill work, starting slowly if she is really weak behind. Transitions, as mentioned, And, if you and she are at that level. the classical strengthener, Shoulder In. If you aren’t at that level, spiral circles maintaining the bend going in and coming out, so that the hindlegs cross will start you on your way.

[Manni01]

try to ride only sequences which are as you like it. Don’t allow her to move bad for a long time. That way she will strengthen the right muscles And yes Transitions will help!! Everytime something feels bad ride a transition. Even better if you ride it before it gets bad…

But one additional hint. Sometimes you need to ride forward in order to preserve her willingness to look expressive. Do it in a moment when everything feels good!!

[exvet]

I’ve dealt with a few downhill types and strengthening their hind end is part of the key, the other is encouraging them to reach out to the hand and OVER the back. You have to strengthen their hind end and their abdominal muscles in order to allow them to lift themselves in front, carry themselves behind and still step through underneath. I use a lot of conditioning training which includes miles every week on mountainous terrain - simply walking miles up and down inclines has helped a lot. I also use transitions - between and within the gaits. Trot canter trot transitions down correctly and precisely helps build both hind end and abdominal muscles. You can do all of this though to know end if you don’t have the horse working forward. The trail work I did really helped build up my guys without the added concussion, wear and tear of drilling exercises in the arena. Don’t get me wrong my guys got their hours each week in the arena as well; but, I always planned my ride times out by the week and varied the exercises so that weren’t getting drilled. I also didn’t over do it so that they were ever sore. I took my time and the pay offs were huge. I appreciated it by seeing a change in their muscling where it was correct and they developed a ton through their loin especially. Good luck with your endeavors. It is possible.

[Tanny98]

My boy is much of the same. I read yesterday in an article that said to try up and down walk trot transitions while in the leg yield.

[csaper58]

How old is your mare? OTTBs can grow until they are 7-8 yrs.

So be sure her hocks are fully developed and strong enough to do the things you are asking her to do. That includes the strengthening exercises being suggested.

Tarsitis, an inflammation of the soft tissue and joints of the narrow end (lower end) of the hock is often seen in young racehorses and there are no changes on x-rays to indicate it is present.

Have you thought about having a vet who specializes in lameness check her hind end?

She may not be clinically lame but if inflammation and/or irritation are contributing to her resistance solving those issues now will save you time and money (and save her discomfort) in the long run.

[Rockfish]

THC (No, not THAT type!)

Transitions
Hill work
Cavaletti

I know how you feel…my little OTTB mare is very down hill.

[CanteringCarrot]

My guy is built and travels in a fairly uphill manner, but he still needs strength, especially for his weird stifle issue he once had. We do hill work and walks in the forest when weather permits. Both mounted and unmounted.

In the ring we do a lot of transitions from gait to gait and within the gait. I also incorporate poles/cavaletti almost every ride. I’ll also long line over them.

I rode a horse that would get “divey” and a bit on the front end and it was solved my lateral work when he got a little heavy and/or a down transition then right back up again.

It sucks battling conformation, but you can definitely still make improvements.

[Trumpet_Peformance_H]

Thank you for all your tips guys! It’s only been a week but she is already starting to feel stronger and is holding herself better

[China_Doll]

Saddle fit can so effect how they use their body. I just ran across this video that was very informative. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UMrHSucshg&feature=youtu.be

[Magicboy]

I use turns on the forehand, walk off gradually moving to trot off then canter from the atOF.

[MysticOakRanch]

Agree with lots of transitions and cavelleti. And try things like rein back to trot, the rein back really engages them behind. Just a few steps of trot, while the quality is uphill. Also agree with Manni - you must have energy to create engagement, so if your horse is behind the leg, get her forward (not saying she IS behind the leg, just something to be aware of). In the canter, I LOVE leg yield - it really lifts the horse in front.

I also like trot leg yield to a canter transition. Leg yield gets the horse’s hind leg and hips working. Then the canter transition tells you whether the horse is truly in front of your leg - finish the LY, and promptly canter - if it takes a few strides, you have another issue to deal with.

Also agree with ExVet - if you have access to hills, AND your horse is good on the trail, that can help strengthen. Unfortunately, many don’t have that combination, so back to arena work ideas.

[Puzzled]

My vet recommended the use of an Equiband to help improve topline and gluteal muscles. I use the Equiband 1-2x a week and cut the workouts in 1/2. You can tell my guy is working hard with the bands. Good luck!

[PNWjumper]

I’ve had several horses that are built somewhat (or less than somewhat) downhill that I’ve taken into the big jumper ring. Similar needs to dressage, and all strengthening has been done through and with the help of my dressage trainer and dressage lessons. All of the above - transitions, hill work, and cavaletti, absolutely. In fact, those are the core of my strength training for all of my horses.

But a couple of other things I’ve done:

• I have a 30’ long slight incline into my arena. I back my horses up that incline every single day as I head into the ring to ride. If I didn’t have that “chute” into the ring, I’d do it up my driveway or find another area. I’ve found that backing up that slight hill really loosens them all up before I get on. It also gets them really engaging back muscles and swinging through the hip.
• halt to reinback and then back to the gait we were at (walk, trot, and canter)
• walk jumps - this is obviously a bit easier for me than it might be for someone who doesn’t already have jumps in their ring, but this has been a phenomenal way to generate even push from behind and really strengthen the “sit” muscles. You can do it in hand (you walk up to a 2’ - 3’ vertical with good impulsion and “hup!” them up and over…easiest done on a lunge line where you can “catch” them on the backside of the jump from the front side of the jump without impacting the landing stride), or astride (here, even walking an 18" fence with impulsion and having them jump it is great, but I’ve done it over quite large fences - but again, slightly different goal and comfort level).
• canter to trot for a step and then right back to the canter (and the same where you go to a shoulder fore for the trot step(s))