Building up the hind quarters?

[DosyMare]

What schooling exercises do you recommend to build up the hind quarters?

I've been suggested - lots of cantering, lunging in the Pessoa, lots of transitions, walking up hills and feeding more chaff! What works for you? Schooling idea needed?

New horsey is Irish Draught x TB and looks like his got the bum of a TB and massive head/neck/shoulder.

 

[HappyHooves]

apart from ridden exercises you can do a huge amount of on the ground work. Long/ complicated story but I had to muscle up a horse who had damaged gluteals and couldn't have ridden exercise. Equine physio recommended a super book called Activate your Horse's Core. In 2 weeks the physio was amazed at how the horse's muscles had developed and it took only 10 minutes twice a day. Well worth it.

 

[DosyMare]

Is that Dr Hilary Clayton - I've watched a few bits on you tube.

 

[Mike007]

Remember, an ID takes a while to grow into himself. Generaly ,when they are 8yo. Hacking and hills are the best in my opinion. ID s tend to have massively powerfull sholders so they tend to use their forehand rather than their quarters because it seems easier to them. Bob the "nota"cob is naturaly very forward going but he does this by using the front end rather than by engaging his quaters. I find that slowing the paces down and riding him into my hand more tends to get his quarters working .

 

[ellie_e]

Pessoa work is great!!! And lots of hill work to!

 

[HappyHooves]

Is that Dr Hilary Clayton - I've watched a few bits on you tube.

Yes, a super book to have, and it comes with the DVD as well.

 

[MrsMozart]

apart from ridden exercises you can do a huge amount of on the ground work. Long/ complicated story but I had to muscle up a horse who had damaged gluteals and couldn't have ridden exercise. Equine physio recommended a super book called Activate your Horse's Core. In 2 weeks the physio was amazed at how the horse's muscles had developed and it took only 10 minutes twice a day. Well worth it.

Where did you get the book from? I've just looked for it on Amazon, but it's not on .co.uk

 

[Pidgeon]

Agree with Mike007, took me a long time to get mine even with hindquarters matching the front end!

 

[DosyMare]

Yes I can't find the book either but watched a few bits on you tube. I tired a couple earlier and watched him lift up but I would prefer the book to make sure I was correct.

Thanks for your suggestions - he has very high wither (shark fin) and when under saddle looks very dip backed. But his a lovely horse - guess I'm just use to Warmbloods coming together so quickly.

 

[Dry Rot]

http://www.bookfinder.com/search/?a...nation=gb&currency=GBP&mode=basic&st=sr&ac=qr

Not exactly cheap, is it? Think I'll get mine through my local library and Inter Library Loan!

 

[soulfull]

also no matter how much correct work you won't build the muscle without the correct diet. For muscle building you need protein. Which is why I feed a balancer and not just a vit min supplement. I personally use spillers lite as horse doesn't has to watch his waist line (new one will be on the same for the same reason)

 

[HappyHooves]

Good grief!! I got mine via BHS books I think and it was about £20. Will try to find invoice. Its sort of plasticised and has a spiral binding that allows you to open it easily and double it back - so water proof and easy to see.

 

[Firewell]

Hills and proper work!
My TB had one weedy arse when I got him! Now he has a big round ginger backside, the size of a bus!
Basically lots of short but sweet schooling sessions where they work properly pushing from behind. When they are weak after warm up, if you can get a good 5 mins of them working properly into the bridle thats more than enough to start with. Its quite good if you feel they have worked really well to give them the next day off to let the muscles recover and build.
Hill work, steady walking up hills, dont let them trot, its harder to walk.
Once they are fitter and stronger and can walk up hills easily then lateral work up hills .
Feeding wise just any decent diet that keeps them looking well. Protein from grass is the best or if you dont have access to good grass then some alfa, compound feed or balancer with more than 12% protein will help in the short term.
Tbh though I find it less about feed and more about building up their strength with work. Mine is only on good grass and happy hoof and thats more than enough to keep him beefy at the moment.
If they arent building up after 6 months or so either the flatwork isnt good enough or they have a physical reason thats stopping them.
Hes lovely good luck .

 

[DosyMare]

Thanks Firewell that all makes sense.
I will no longer feel bad when I don't ride him every day - give his muscles time.

Few people keep telling me to give away the contact/outline and just get the bum going and the rest will come. But I know when his using his bum - and make him use it but it just seem rather little.

Hopefully with the above suggestions and protein in the new summer fields we will get there.

Found book - http://www.beva.org.uk/bookshop/product/149