Daytona
Well-Known Member
So what's best..? Walk , trot or canter and fast or slow.
What's the most beneficial for building up the hind quarters please.
What's the most beneficial for building up the hind quarters please.
Hill work for muscle
- Thread starter Daytona
- Start date
Santa_Claus
Well-Known Member
walk = muscle
trot + canter = cardio fitness!
Well that was what I have always been taught. If you think about it if in walk it is a longer workout and more muscle contractions as the stride length will be at it's shortest but not as physically demanding in terms of energy required hence better for muscle. Whereas trot and canter requires less strides and therefore muscle contractions but a larger high energy burst hence improving cardio fitness.
trot + canter = cardio fitness!
Well that was what I have always been taught. If you think about it if in walk it is a longer workout and more muscle contractions as the stride length will be at it's shortest but not as physically demanding in terms of energy required hence better for muscle. Whereas trot and canter requires less strides and therefore muscle contractions but a larger high energy burst hence improving cardio fitness.
Daytona
Well-Known Member
Ok thanks, fast or slow walk it does it make no difference..??
Cortez
Tough but Fair
To actually build muscle you need lots of transitions between the paces, on the bit, (engage muscles, balance, contract and decontract), fast work will also be beneficial and faster result than walk. Think difference between lifting weights in the gym and going for a gentle stroll.
be positive
Well-Known Member
I use all paces, having some good hills to work up, active walk will make them work for longer, slow but active trot will usually get the back end engaged and pushing so building up more muscle, then once they are fit and the topline has become fairly good, steady cantering with some trot, canter transitions to really get them pushing. I have rehabbed 2 this summer and both have built up well behind, both had hind leg injuries so it has been a focus to work on. Regular physio has also been part of the process to ensure it has gone well, raised pole work in straight lines has also been useful to target the hind action.
TarrSteps
Well-Known Member
I've found walking up and down hills, paying attention to HOW the horse walks, helpful for strengthening and stretching, particularly for jumping horses. It's important for this purpose that the horse takes the rein down, brings the back up and really steps under behind. For horses that don't do this easily initially it's helpful to keep the walk quite slow and concentrate on quality not speed or quantity. This is essentially similar to working in a bascule and what many peole are trying to acheive with "long and low" but often don't because the horse falls on the forehand. If the horse loses posture or starts to struggle and rush I'll let it have a rest and then do a bit more, although I don't tend to stop going down if the hill is at all steep as horses aren't comfortable standing downhill, especially with a rider on. I also do this with horses that want to rush or step up a gait to get up the hill and solve the problem with momentum. Getting a horse to walk down a hill in a balanced way with a lowered head is a bit of a trick - I see lots that invert and rush down with the rider pulling on the mouth to steady them, which is no help at all.
Think of your hills as "tools" like poles - you can do lots of different things with them.
Think of your hills as "tools" like poles - you can do lots of different things with them.
TarrSteps
Well-Known Member
Although, to be fair, when weight lifting a great deal of emphasis is placed on doing the exercises slowly and correctly foremost, rather than just going for reps. A horse trotting or cantering up and down hills in a good posture will be doing good work for both strength and fitness but one rushing to avoid working properly, not staying straight etc isn't doing itself any favours.
Daytona
Well-Known Member
Thanks folks that gives me some food for thought
Wheels
Well-Known Member
Someone's touched on fitness already, hill work should be done at the pace relevant to the horses fitness. If you were starting to get fit from scratch then hill work would come in at the walk after a few weeks and trot and canter would be added once they had been done for a few days on the flat.
Similarly you shouldnt take a horse cantering up a steep hill when they haven't regularly been doing hill work in walk and then trot to gradually build up their muscles, all you will do is end up with a horse that has sore muscles.
Similarly you shouldnt take a horse cantering up a steep hill when they haven't regularly been doing hill work in walk and then trot to gradually build up their muscles, all you will do is end up with a horse that has sore muscles.
Dry Rot
Well-Known Member
Be careful what you wish for!
Scenario: Pony entered for the local big show. Judge spends far more time with mine than others but placed Third. Chat with judge: "Needs more muscle on his backside".
Next twelve months spent running him up and down hills. Gorgeous backside!
New judge, same show: "He's not fat enough". Placed Fifth!
Scenario: Pony entered for the local big show. Judge spends far more time with mine than others but placed Third. Chat with judge: "Needs more muscle on his backside".
Next twelve months spent running him up and down hills. Gorgeous backside!
New judge, same show: "He's not fat enough". Placed Fifth!
Cortez
Tough but Fair
Be careful what you wish for!
Scenario: Pony entered for the local big show. Judge spends far more time with mine than others but placed Third. Chat with judge: "Needs more muscle on his backside".
Next twelve months spent running him up and down hills. Gorgeous backside!
New judge, same show: "He's not fat enough". Placed Fifth!
Think you need a new judge........