buddy's mummy
Well-Known Member
as title?? any miracle feeds..he is fine condition wise but lacking topline/muscle.
best way to build topline to a horse not in work??
- Thread starter buddy's mummy
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RaynerK
Well-Known Member
Blue chip, always does the trick.
lannerch
Well-Known Member
You can't build muscle just by feeding ..... Any feed sorry
McCauley
Well-Known Member
Can i ask Why you want to 'build topline' on a horse that not in work??
xgemmax
Well-Known Member
'Topline' is muscle, so the only way to build it up is by working the horse. If you 'feed for topline' then it will just be fat and not muscle! 
hnmisty
Well-Known Member
'Topline' is muscle, so the only way to build it up is by working the horse. If you 'feed for topline' then it will just be fat and not muscle!
You mean I can't feed Barry something to make him fit enough to get round Badminton next year? Damn
dianchi
Well-Known Member
Actually blue chips trick is to put water on top on muscle to give the appearance of bigger muscles.
Only work can build up muscle!
Buddy'sMum
Well-Known Member
'Topline' is muscle, so the only way to build it up is by working the horse. If you 'feed for topline' then it will just be fat and not muscle!
^this^
but in fairness, how many ads for feeds do you see which claim to improve topline? So no wonder people think you can feed for topline.
OP - lots of carrot stretches will help.
Archie73
Well-Known Member
Turn out on a hill?
RaynerK
Well-Known Member
I understand that only work can build real muscle but care to expand on the first bit? I wasn't aware Bluechip caused water retention??
buddy's mummy
Well-Known Member
he is lame so on bute trial with vet at mo so only light hacking work...and as I am working going to work in dark and finish in dark - he doesnt get worked during the week only gets ridden 2 days a week..so need to build some topline..could poss do some lungeing I guess....
JillA
Well-Known Member
I'm watching this with interest because I have a chicken and egg situation - Reg doesn't have enough top line to wear a saddle, although after several weeks on good grass (from September onwards) he has now covered his ribs really well - and isn't hungry because he doesn't clean up his feeds in one sitting, takes 2. So how to build that muscle without riding, and with very little time to lunge or long rein? Is it possible or does he remain a field ornament until the spring.
buddy's mummy
Well-Known Member
buds is looking to be a field ornament til spring!
Lucky Lady
Well-Known Member
Product called muscle mass is brilliant and when you get to your desired condition just need to manage it. I feed Sarazens, good quality feed.
chestnut cob
Well-Known Member
Could he be hungry but not liking his feed enough? Monty was like that - always hungry but he detested the Simple Systems feed I gave him. Would kick over the bucket in disgust and walk away. Put him back onto a ready-made feed (Safe & Sound), and he'd eat it up in a moment.
You won't put on muscle without the work, though you can obviously put on weight. I switched the new pony onto Dengie Healthy Tummy at the end of the summer and wow is all I can say. The difference in him, muscle-wise, is incredible. Within 2 or 3 weeks his topline improved and because he's building muscle in the right places now, he finds work much easier. He isn't a particularly good doer so he isn't carrying any excess weight/fat (I'm having to feed linseed to make sure he doesn't lose weight, and will be getting Speedibeet soon too), but he's looking really fit and much stronger.
Buddy'sMum
Well-Known Member
The are no shortcuts to developing topline, no miracle feeds or supplements (although you do need to make sure your horse is not getting enough good quality protein to meet his daily needs). Topline is muscle and the only way to develop muscle is through lots of careful exercise. There are exercises you can do to help strengthen your horse's back muscles though, eg carrot stretches, belly lifts, asking them to back up, walking up and down hills, polework, etc.
If your horse is lame, lungeing is probably not advisable. Check with your vet.
buddy's mummy
Well-Known Member
vet said to work him as on bute trial.
sueonmull
Well-Known Member
What about also introducing a bit of 'old fashioned' banging into his grooming sessions?
buddy's mummy
Well-Known Member
sueonmull
Well-Known Member
Found this on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84Zkv3f6BYU, also lots of things come up if you Google horse, grooming, banging. I think strapping is the same thing.
chestnut cob
Well-Known Member
Strapping is brilliant!
Justturnedfifty
Well-Known Member
Hello, can I ask how old Buddy is? Earlier you mentioned he is going to be a field ornament for a few months, is this due to us being in the Winter season and time/daylight is not on your side? Is it because his lameness could mean turnout recuperation? Is he a youngster that would benefit from a few more growing months? Are you actually looking for top line or are you looking to increase his weight, put more cover on him? I am wondering whether you are confusing top line with 'fattening' up? If he has a poor neck then no amount of good old fashioned 'banging' will help because the muscle quality will not be good enough. Need more information because your post is getting more confusing!
MadBlackLab
Well-Known Member
only work can help top-line. No amount of feed will put muscle on. Strapping will help but not on its own
sueonmull
Well-Known Member
I agree MBL strapping alone isn't a solution but used in conjunction with the exercises suggested by Buddy's Mum ( eg carrot stretches, belly lifts, asking them to back up, walking up and down hills, polework, etc.) every little helps.
dianchi
Well-Known Member
I bought my mare blue chip as she looked a bit lean and wanted to help her, two days in after feeding blue chip and massive swollen legs, left no definition on the leg at all. Vet out as thought it was a major problem, went through it and explained the feed and pin pointed it immediately.
There was a test done it but I cant find the docs that got posted online at the moment, but the immediate appearance Improvement from the Original is from water retention
flirtygerty
Well-Known Member
Can I ask what a belly lift is, my mind is in overdrive trying to picture it
Achinghips
Well-Known Member
It's annoying when they loose muscle due to enforced rest. Lots of good ideas here, also feed hay from ground and do all those stretching exercises suggested .... But reduce your expectations so you can have a good worry free Christmas and however long you intend keeping out of work
Resign yourself to the start of the long slog to get it back when back in work . Out of work you can't even keep them ticking over properly, let alone "build topline"
Resign yourself to the start of the long slog to get it back when back in work . Out of work you can't even keep them ticking over properly, let alone "build topline"
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Buddy'sMum
Well-Known Member
Buddy'sMum
Well-Known Member
Yes but depending on the cause of the lameness, lungeing tight circles might make things much worse.
flirtygerty
Well-Known Member
Thanks BM, things are a lot clearer now