Exercises to build up weak back end

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jo_pearl

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Hi all ☺️

Does anyone have any lunge exercises I can do (when not riding) my youngster to build up his back end?

He won’t be lunged more than twice a week and does hacking the rest of the time. This includes hill work and canter work around a track.

It’s definitely improving from the hacking but want to vary his work.

Also does an Equilibrium Massage Pad help with strengthening back muscles or is it just for a massage (as in to warm muscles up before riding etc)

Thanks in advance all 🤗
 
When I had to build my ponies "back end" up after a period of rest due to sacro problems, I was told by the physio not to lunge, but to do long reining over poles. Also, either leading or long reining up hills. I did introduce very short periods of lunging, but they were only a few circles at a time.
 
Walking up hills and once they’re older and stronger, i introduced walk and trot transitions but that was when he was around 8/9 as our hills are hard work!

Controlled, straight rein back

Lateral work can be done on hacks (I’ve hardly been in an arena this summer, all my schooling has been done on hacks



I have the massage pad and use it before and after every session just so his back is looser and warm
 
admittedly not a youngster but when we were building my older boy back up after time off with hock OA my physio told me to use a tail bandage round his bum as a resistance band type thing - did it both ridden (attached to girth either side) and in hand (by using a roller). As well as raised poles and hills
 
Thank you all, we already do hills (advantage of living in wales 😂) long reining would be difficult as our lane isn’t the best (very quick drivers with no respect) that why I thought lunging.

Pole work we can try in hand.

I’ve heard of the resistance bands around the bum and looked at them but I like the idea of a tail bandage! Cheaper and easier!
 
jo_pearl said:
Thank you all, we already do hills (advantage of living in wales 😂) long reining would be difficult as our lane isn’t the best (very quick drivers with no respect) that why I thought lunging.

Pole work we can try in hand.

I’ve heard of the resistance bands around the bum and looked at them but I like the idea of a tail bandage! Cheaper and easier!
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You can long rein in the school, I would say thats better than lunging 😊, better to engage through the neck and back instead of circles with no contact
 
In hand reinback is brilliant and can be done quickly when turning out and bringing in. Teach them halt, then relax down head, then step back. 4 steps back then a walk forward repeated 3x a day. As they get stronger you can work towards 8 steps back. Focus on straightness, relaxation and a steady rhythm.
 
Raised poles when lunging and I just use the whole arena rather than 20 meter circles your own back end gets toned as well then from all the running about🤣

I would do the rein back and lateral work ridden a good rein back exercise is start with 2 steps of rein back then straight up into trot and repeat a few times on each rein.
 
I'd not add any gadgets, search on "groundwork" on here for other ideas, I'm always earning people against strengthening dysfunction and to start out addressing balance and posture and, once the horse is straighter and starting to push up in front you'll start to be able to "load" the back end with harder exercises.
 
On the lunge, I’d be doing plenty of transitions - walk, trot, walk, trot to get him stepping through from behind and thinking about transferring his weight back onto his hocks through the upward transitions. Dont let him collapse in the downward ones, insist he moved forward and steps through correctly. I’d also add some polework (even just walking over raised poles) on the lunge too.
 
Pinkvboots said:
Raised poles when lunging and I just use the whole arena rather than 20 meter circles your own back end gets toned as well then from all the running about🤣

I would do the rein back and lateral work ridden a good rein back exercise is start with 2 steps of rein back then straight up into trot and repeat a few times on each rein.
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Haha 😂😂 well that is def a positive! And thank god we have a defibrillator on the yard 😂
sbloom said:
I'd not add any gadgets, search on "groundwork" on here for other ideas, I'm always earning people against strengthening dysfunction and to start out addressing balance and posture and, once the horse is straighter and starting to push up in front you'll start to be able to "load" the back end with harder exercises.
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no I haven’t as he uses his neck for balance sometimes being big so wouldn’t want to restrict him
 
spotty_pony2 said:
On the lunge, I’d be doing plenty of transitions - walk, trot, walk, trot to get him stepping through from behind and thinking about transferring his weight back onto his hocks through the upward transitions. Dont let him collapse in the downward ones, insist he moved forward and steps through correctly. I’d also add some polework (even just walking over raised poles) on the lunge too.
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Thank you
 
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