Exercises for back strength

[Mug_4_thoroughbreds]

Hello all,

Anyone have any really good exercises I can try in the school or out hacking to improve the strength in my tb mare's back? Have been re-schooling from racehorse to riding horse (she is now 10 but quite green and done very little, she was too laid back to race and had been a glorified pet since). We are doing well on the flat and she loves to jump but finds it hard to stay balanced and in an uphill frame. Can work nicely in long low outline and stretching well but now need to start getting her to lift of forehand.


-Claire

 

[Abbeygale]

Lots and lots of walking (marching not slopping along on a long rein) up some good hills.

 

[Cadfael&Coffee]

^^ that

but also leg yielding, shoulder in, bending and flexing in general.

spirals... stuff like that

 

[be positive]

Plus lots and lots of transitions.Pole work is also useful they can be used in a line or even better on a 20 metre circle.

 

[Kokopelli]

Keep working long and low until she has the strength to carry herself in a more uphill frame. Lunging can also be helpful, I have found lunging with two lines works fab for my lad and getting him working well.

 

[muddygreymare]

To strengthen my mares back, the physio told me to put a vertical line of 4 poles on the ground up the middle of the school. Then do circles over them and serpentines making sure both sides are equal. Then raise the poles to cavaletti heigh, alternately on each end if that makes sense? Then do the same. We were told to do this in hand but we do it ridden too but mostly do it inhand. Also carrot stretches will help alot

Oh and longreining, that helped her too, we were told to avoid lunging and do lots of longreining in straight lines with her

 

[tallyho!]

As above plus transitions. Loads of those at walk, trot and canter and try and get into a constant rhythm and why not try a bit of collection in corners.

I find this helps me with mine.