Condition pic, how's he lookin, and cannot build his hindquarters up, shall I strap?!

[dressagelove]

My horse is only a little guy, he has a very slight frame (full TB) only 15.3hh, and is always fairly slim. He is working at elementary level dressage, has beautiful natural paces and doesnt struggle in the slightest at stepping under. He leg yields, half pass, medium work, counter canter etc etc as easy as pie, like he is not even trying, but he still has a tiny back end!

I do loads of hacking with him, lots on the road, and we live in a very hilly area, so he is constantly going up and down hills, but his bum still will not improve.

I have never strapped a horse properly, could that improve his muscle tone? How do you do it properly?
I clipped him today, my blades are probably due for a sharpen now, so they didn't do the best job, but this is he. How is his condition looking for Feb? Im quite pleased with him, you can't see or really feel his ribs that well, so Im chuffed with how he has kept his weight on.
I hadn't swept up yet, forgive the mess! lol

 

[Countrychic]

He's a good weight, back end doesn't look too bad but the I'm a show jumper lol.
My physio suggested lots of transitions while doing hill work to build one of mine up

 

[dressagelove]

bumpp, anyone else

 

[coss]

i think he looks a little well covered to me
i agree with the above that transitions on hills are fab. Also, lost of direct transitions - walk to canter is great. halt to trot etc, all to get more push from behind than the normal transitions.

 

[MeganLindsx]

I think as you keep on working him he will build the topline, might take a while but he looks good! Better then others I have seen!

 

[Tnavas]

Looking good!

Raised trotting poles are great to build up the bum especially if you can't ride out because of the snow. A brick at each end and poles placed at 4'6" are ideal - really makes them work. Either ridden or on the lunge.

 

[dressagelove]

some good ideas, yeah, thanks guys, do occasionally do raised trotting poles, but will incorporate them more often, as well as the harder transitions, nice one.