Building up hind leg strength

[Scribbles]

Little laddie has come on leaps and bounds (no more mouth/head shaking issues, and we even get a lovely collected canter in the field).

His front end has muscled up nicely, but his back end is still fairly 'baby' and skinny and so I was wondering good not-too strenuous exrecises to improve this? Transitions seem to throw him onto his forehand, as do circles. We have LOTS of hills round our place, loads of fields on slight or steep inclines. The only problem is going up the hill means going down, so does this have a detrimental effect?

Is hill work the best stuff? Lunge work has really improved him, so should I incorporate lunge work into 'normal' ridden work? He gets lunged when he has been bitten by another horse where his tack goes (lol) - I'm not fussed as he is a young gelding enjoying himself.

Would polework help, so he can't drag his front legs along?


Ideas appreciated

 

[Kenzo]

Is your horse stepping under himself properly when he is being ridden and lunged, a young horse will carry himself more on the forehand when ridden but you'd still expect to see even and balanced strides when lunging without the weight of a rider. If you horse is fully sound and with the right schooling and time, transitions/pole work will help.

If you feel that he is not progressing but he's muscling up everywhere else (depending on the schooling your doing and amount or work he's in) and that his backend is still rather weak then it by be down to how he moving which will prevent him developing in his hind legs.
Have you had him checked over by a chiropractor recently just to rule out anything?

It could be something that just comes with time and more work or due to his confirmation, if he's still young and gangly they will still change shape (muscle wise) until the have matured fully and in some breeds that might not be until he's 6 or 7 but I would do all you can to make sure there is no physical reason before you really start to work your horse and expect things.

 

[Scribbles]

He holds himself very well on the lunge. I'm not a huge fan of chiropractors from past experience, but vet has checked and found no problems. No soreness, straight movement and even muscle tone, anyway. He gets ridden every other day, with 2 day breaks often, so he's not worked *too* hard.

I agree it's a baby growing thing, just wondered if I could encourage it to grow the right way! He's definately the most wobbly wobbly baby I've ridden. But he's only just started to go from being "all legs" as my vet said, to looking like an actual horse.

Thanks

 

[Kenzo]

[ QUOTE ]
He's definately the most wobbly wobbly baby I've ridden. But he's only just started to go from being "all legs" as my vet said, to looking like an actual horse.

Thanks

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like it will all come in time then, good luck with him.

 

[Taffster]

My cob who was worked 6 days a week from 5yrsand we thought he was fit moved to a new yard in february time, he now hacks out 5 days a week in walk only for 40-60minutes and more if time allows, Since this time he has developed a much stronger behind his walk is better his paces more elevated he is much fitter and looks altogether rounder, Definately hill work whether it be up or down but he must still be coming underneath himself and not on his forehand

 

[MrsMozart]

Trotting poles. Will help to lift his front end. Then do a row of them with alternate ends raised.

Can also make a wagon wheel shape, when he's a bit more into bending/circles