Engaging the hinquarters help!

[hihosilver]

Hi,
My niece did her first novice unaffiliated test. She was pleased with how the horse went, a little disappointed with the mark at 60 percent but he mostly got 6s and 6.5 and some 7s. The comments were encouraging but the end comment said he needs to engage his hindquarters more and lift his forehand. She has regular lessons but are there anything else that will help at home? he has a big trot. Thanks!

 

[paddi22]

does he have enough muscle behind to sit and lift more? I know with one of mine it took YEARS to build it up on that particular horse. I had to do tons of hillwork and raised poles etc to get him stronger behind to push more and engage. Whats the horses conformation like as well? some horses always look like they are on their shoulders more.

 

[Mule]

Millions of balanced transitions should do the job. She could try walk to halt, walk to trot, trot to walk in a few strides and trot to canter and back in a few more strides.

Once the transitions are well prepared and the horse is balanced with half halts both before and after the transitions they will help get more hindquarter engagement.

 

[Muddywellies]

It's taken me over 2 years to get a relatively balanced canter so these things really do take years. I do gazillions of transitions - every kind. Rein back to trot, walk/canter/walk, transitions within the pace, lateral work etc etc. pole work helps too. It's a case of perseverance and determination, even when you think you're getting no-where.

 

[tristar]

what paddi says.

to be honest i`d stop going to competitions where judges make such stupid and potentially damaging suggestions about a novice level horse, the rider was pleased with the way the horse went, that says it all to me, if he went well for the rider that`s a good start to build on gradually.

 

[milliepops]

Think that's a bit of an overreaction, tristar... if the judge didn't actually give any reason as to why they had scored as they did then the OP might be posting on here asking what they should be working on to gain higher marks. Generally it is viewed as constructive when they make suggestions like this

well done to your niece, OP, getting the first one out of the way is a good milestone agree with the suggestion about transitions and developing the ability to adjust his balance, as you say he has a big trot perhaps he's tending to push hindlegs out behind which would put him on his shoulders. Your instructor would be best to advise. also check that the horse is not tense through his body, one of mine can't engage properly until she has done a good bit of work on lateral suppleness (for her, turns, shoulder in and leg yield really help) then she starts to breathe, relax and step through better.

 

[ester]

I've always found it is level dependent too, they usually are commenting on the frame for that level. We would never get that comment for novice but we would at elementary due to the higher requirement for taking the weight behind.

 

[Chloe087]

First of all, well done to your niece! I'm in a similar place at the moment with my mare. I've only owned her for 3 months, but she got rushed through being backed and was very week in her hind quarters when i got her, after regular sports massage/therapy, loads and loads of groundwork you can see a massive difference in her topline and hind quarters already. If this helps, we do plenty of raised pole work, loads of transitions from walk/trot - trot/walk - Trot/Canter etc - even if its only a few strides then change, try and do this on hills too even if its just walk and trot - its made a massive difference for us, we've just started lateral work now her balance is better, Leg Yielding etc. Hope this helps.