how do you know if your horse is working his back correctly?

[eva]

As above - I really want to know! Say, is this proven by a good stretch in free walk? Is there any way to check if his back is working correctly? When I work with my gelding after some 20 mins of work he starts to go really quietly, makes his neck rounder, I feel he is more comfortable to sit the trot, and he is also easy to change pace/direction/stop etc. - does that mean he is working his back?

 

[eva]

bumpey? oh please great collective hho wisdom come to my side

 

[maletto]

I don't think (although I know the clever HHO bods will correct me if I'm wrong) that there is a sure fire way/test to know if your horse is working correctly over his back.

From my experience, correct over the back would result in a more comfortable ride and also one where you can "feel" the swing of the horse as he goes through the paces - it should be easier to feel which leg is moving. equally, he will not feel like he is towing you along with his mouth, you will not feel like you're having to hold him up and he won't feel like he's ploughing on along.

Ideally, you need a good instructor who can give you the direction you need to get the horse working correctly so that you can feel it yourself.

Unfortunately, at least IME, it's pretty tricky to be able to describe in words! Does sound to me though that once you've warmed your boy in he's starting to work correctly if he's more comfortable and easier to manage.

 

[canteron]

Bump

I agree with Maletto, but would love to hear other HHO thoughts.

 

[3DE]

Here's a sequence from a lunging session I did with my little project mare. I use the pessoa to encourage her to work from behind. As you can see the 'front end' isn't coming into play as I have it loose. I attach the lunge line through the bit to the outside of the roller as I find this encourages inside bend.

Very hollow in the back and not working from behind - really dragging her heels...

Change of rein after 5 minutes and still pretty much the same...

After another 5 minutes another change of rein. Still hollow backed but starting to work from behind

Still on the same rein and she started to step under more, lift her back, which in turn allowed her to lift her shoulder. I really like this picture of her - though she still isn't tracking up as well as she could.

I'd like to add, before anyone crits the sequence above, that this is the first lunging session, of an 18 year old mare, who hasn't been ridden in 4 years. The sequence isn't perfect but I think it shows nicely when the horse loosens up through its back and shoulder...

 

[eva]

hmm, interesting! any other tips?

 

[Booboos]

You should be able to feel it. As the horse works more through his back, you will feel the back lift and more power come from behind. Sitting trot will be more comfortable, upwards and downwards transitions will be smoother, extended paces will be easier and halts will be square. Ultimately the horse will be able to collect more and take more weight on the hindlegs.

 

[blitznbobs]

If your riding and the horse is really working thru' if you give with your hands you'll find that the top line just lengthens and the horse lowers its head. Also you feel the horse rise thru' the shoulder so that this becomes kinda the top part of the arch of the horses body. There should be a lack of tension so that when you let the reins go the horse drops it's head and neck and actively looks for the contact. Basically if you can't feel it yourself get someone more experienced on the ground to watch and see... But if everything is going right all transition work becomes much easier and it feels right.

(IS that any help?)

Bx

 

[eva]

Thanks guys. I think I am developing a feel for it, but have just taken a lesson with a new instructor and she said he's not working properly, hence the confusion!