Build up muscles on the back end...

[Noodlejaffa]

Had my new boy about five weeks now and need to start working on building up his back end. It's lacking muscle.

What would everyone suggest I do exercise wise to achieve this?

 

[lastresort]

Have you got a pessoa? Make sure you start slowly with it but they are really good for topline

 

[little_pink_piggies]

raised poles... deep joy!

 

[amandathepanda]

Raised poles and hill work. Strapping is fantastic but you might end up looking like a body building too

 

[sfward]

hills!

 

[Noodlejaffa]

I've got plenty hills!

 

[Tempi]

raised trotting poles definately, loads and loads of transitions and lots of hill work!!

 

[franki]

When you're working up and down hills, remember a couple of things, walking up hills is harder than trotting, get your bum out of the saddle to allow his back to really work but be careful not to load up his shoulders. Make sure he's walking straight up the hill, if he is a bit weak behind, it will be really hard for him and he may try to get out of it by not tracking up correctly with his hind legs or jogging up the hill.

When walking downhill again be light with your seat to allow the back to swing and make sure he goes down straight and ask him to work to a soft contact to truly use his back. Keep it slow and relaxed, tense muscles strain very easily.

Cantering up slopes is great for building muscle but don't canter anything too steep, very easy to strain a muscle, use steep hills for walking.

And remember the slower the walk up a hill the harder the work, once he's tracking up.