Building topline on thoroughbreds?

[Alicat88]

Can anyone with tb experience help me out? What's the best way to go about it? I do have a topline activator, has anyone used these on their tb and did it work? If so, how long?

I've ordered some equivite bodybuilder to try and beef him up a bit too, any other suggestions? Particularly when riding? He does have a very good outline when he relaxes, but I want to get him built up more.

Much obliged from Freddy and myself

 

[glenruby]

Lunge and long rein with a chambon, pessoa (if you can afford one!) or side reins if you havent anything else. From personal experience this can make the greatest difference to a horse's topline if done properly. I like the chambon.
Tbs can start off quite tense under saddle so it can be hard to build the correct muscle even though they do eventually soften and work nicely (essentially it can be because the first 50% of the schooling is with a tense upright frame building the underside of the neck and 50% is relaxed working on the muscle of the topline meaning you dont see much change). When riding a youngster or a TB that doesnt tend to often very well, I usually start off with a quick trot on each rein then canter quite early on. After the downward transition from canter, maintain the trot. I find they usually ted to relax and settle once they have cantered and then you can do the bulk of your trot schooling AFTER your first canter. Im not sure if this will help you much, but I do find it can make quite a big difference with a tense or young TB who lacks concentration.
Im afraid i know nothing about the topline activator so cant help you there.

 

[Alicat88]

Thanks glenruby, I do actually find that helps him settle a bit, I would canter quite earlier than with the other horses and stroke his neck, and he will often automatically drop his head right down.

I actually never thought of long reining, will give it a go. I've thought about getting a chambon too.

When relaxed, he works like this shape....
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[Cash]

Second the pessoa.

 

[domane]

Hi, I got my first thoroughbred (ex P2P) a year ago and he had awful feet so wasn't really ridden or worked over winter. Consequently, come the spring he was looking very sad with little muscle and topline. Finances prevented me from buying a Pessoa so I opted for a Topflyght Topline Activator and started with very short, slow sessions, building up to 15-20 mins 3 times a week. It worked wonders for Roo and really helped him to lift his back and work nicely.