I have a young horse, that needs to build up her hindquarters & her topline. What ridden exercises does everyone like that are the quickest/most efficient at this?
I don’t expect something to make a difference in one session, but I don’t want to take years either.
Do you have any access to hills, or varied topography? Correct dressage movements will naturally strengthen the hind end but adding natural challenges will greatly support the process.
Hills, backing up, and raised poles can all help-- just start with doing them in very small quantities.
I second Cortana, hill work is very effective. HOWEVER this needs horse WALKING up hills, down hills. allowing horse to use his head and neck for balance. Not canter work or even trotting. Marching walk uphill is best. Bonus is getting horse used to being outside, looking and moving FORWARD instead of always seeing the wall or ring edge ahead to turn off of. Horse will enjoy the changing scenery too.
Other option is long-lining using two (truly long, 30-35 ft) lines. Horse is able to go BIG with you walking 10-15ft circles in the center, not just twirling there. You also need a whip with lash long enough to “reach out and touch horse” when he ignores vocal commands. Just needs a flick to enforce command to let him know you CAN reach him, mean what you say!
I suggest an inexpensive, 6ft stick, driving whip, then add lash length with parachute cord, put the popper on the end. What is sold as lunge whips are extremely top heavy, kills your wrist carrying it. They are made with too short of lash length. You can’t reach horse with a short lash, they laugh at you! Driving whips are light, easy to carry longer times, very flexible, can be pretty inexpensive. Witmer Coach Shop in Penn carries such whips in various stick and lash lengths. We drivers like choices! Ha ha
Couple other points; long lines have a LOT of leverage. Be careful how hard you are pulling as horse learns this exercise. Outside line needs to go around rump to help “control” the rear end, and is always run straight thru supporting surcingle ring to your hand so it releases quickly. Inside line also needs a surcingle support ring, never straight from bit to your hand. This support ring will simulates rein hold when riding. Both support ring should be midway down the barrel, so horse is less able to turn underneath the lines and tangle!! Once a horse twirls, you have LOST control! NEVER want that happening!!
Ignore any “drinky-bird” head bobbing for a while. Horse is learning self-carriage, has to figure out the most comfortable head position. You control the speed, drive from behind, which will cause changes in head carriage as horse changes his balance. We just ignore head and neck as they gain rhythm in gaits and SUDDENLY the head carriage is perfect for speed they go because it is the most comfortable place to be! I would expect to start seeing rmuscling esults within a couple months if done 3 to 5 days a week.
Long-lining can do a lot building/teaching a horse when done correctly. We never lunge horses, they are not learning anything doing that. Very few people know how to lunge a horse correctly. They are mostly chasing them in a circle, hanging on a line or rope. Lines are way too short, forcing small circles, horse pulling/leaning on the line ALL the time, rumps swung out. Neither will you get the desired results round penning. You are not controlling the body as needed.
How old is she? What’s her level of work so far? What’s the level of energy she offers?
Building muscle CAN take years, depending on where you’re starting. A 3yo has to lay down a solid foundation of 1-2 years of progressive fitness before real “muscle building” work can really get cranking.
And first, you need energy so you can start to shape it.
Correct work is where you start. Rein backs, poles, hills, all add to that, but you can’t just go straight to them full force, they have to be started very small and increase.
What’s the diet? Exercise can’t outrun a diet that’s not providing enough quality protein (which means not just enough crude protein, but enough essential amino acids).
Trying to build muscle quickly is a good way to injure ligaments and tendons. It simply takes time
Building muscle can be done (eta: relatively) quickly but it takes months if not a year to build up bone. You really can’t rush good solid foundation-building.
Correctly ridden transitions, especially downward transitions that encourage sitting, will help build those muscles. Try doing trot serpentines with a trot to walk to trot transition each time you cross the centerline.
But agree with others that this will take time and is basically a never ending process. Every level you go up you are building more strength in the haunches and back for the level of carrying and sit needed.
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