Lunging to strengthen a back

[poiuytrewq]

My horse has been off work for 3 months with back and hoof problems- I think all is sorted now as far as the back go's and the farrier is booked next Wednesday for shoes.
I thought i would lunge for a bit before riding just to try and strengthen his back up a bit. What would be best to do and for how long? Would you just use a roller with side reins or what?- any suggestions please?

 

[xnaughtybutnicex]

what about one of them body wrap things(a big vague sorry) i think that helps strengthen backs but im not really certain.

 

[kit279]

I'd go for a chambon personally to get the horse stretching down and through his back. But a word of caution! I had a horse with a bad back who had time off and I personally feel that it's better to start the horse off in straight lines before asking them to lunge. Long reining would be good but really he needs to get used to carrying the weight of a rider on his back. If you can, try hacking out long and low or in a correct outline (get out of the saddle into a forward seat so the horse finds it easier at first). I spent 3 weeks doing that and also sitting tight since he carried on bucking the first few times! Only then did I start lunging him in a chambon.

 

[poiuytrewq]

UMM absolutely no idea, Sorry!!
Any idea where they sell them so i could have a look please?

 

[vieshot]

i wouldnt recommend lunging- long rein instead x

 

[golddustsara]

What about trying a pessoa as this will encourage him to carry himself properly. They are expensive but there is a cheaper alternative by Mark Todd on equestrian clearance (as have just bought one!) As for time wise, if he has been out of work for that long I would suggest 5 minutes on each rein as lungeing is quite strenous.

 

[poiuytrewq]

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i wouldnt recommend lunging- long rein instead x

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Yeah Actually i know this would be best- the problem is the last time i long reined was years ago and it was a horse very used to being long reined.
Mine as far as i am aware never has been, and he's not the best to lunge.
So i am wary of doing it alone and have no-one to help out

 

[kate081]

I've been doing this with my girl. I've found the pessoa in the long & low (between the legs) position is great. Her back has definitely muscled up nicely. I started without anything (sides reins/roller/pessoa) & then once she'd got a bit fitter (able to do 10 min trot) I introduced the pessoa & built it up from there. Lunging is great coz u build up the muscle without the interference a rider casues. Take it easy initially - no more than 15 min total with say 5 min trot & see how he/she copes.

 

[tinker512]

I would say aswell start off with longreining straight first, and then introduce bending etc and then start lunging, probably building up from 10-20 min in a pessoa.Any hill work will help aswell getting the horse to use its back and hind legs more

 

[Coffee_Bean]

If you are going to use a pessoa, buy one of the cheap alternatives from an eBay shop. I did and works exactly the same as the pessoa,but at 1/3 of the price.

 

[ihatework]

I wouldn't be lunging straight away.
I'd ideally longrein or do at least a fortnight of hacking first.
When you do eventually start lunging I would use a chambon

 

[PapaFrita]

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what about one of them body wrap things(a big vague sorry) i think that helps strengthen backs but im not really certain.

[/ QUOTE ]
For a horse?

 

[poiuytrewq]

A few people have mentioned riding as being prefreble to lunging, this surprises me? I thought that it may make more sense to build up back muscle before plonking myself back on top?
Life before this horse was easy my old horse never lost a shoe, never had a bad back or any sort of injury at all!!
hence the reason i'm not 100% sure how best to bring him back into work

 

[PapaFrita]

I don't think judicious lunging is harmful. I think I'd use a de gogue though. I've used a pessoa on YO's instructions on a few of his horses and I find it a bit harsh... especially if they spook and sock themselves in the mouth!

 

[xnaughtybutnicex]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
what about one of them body wrap things(a big vague sorry) i think that helps strengthen backs but im not really certain.

[/ QUOTE ]
For a horse?

[/ QUOTE ]

yea i dnt no wot there called il try n find a pic

 

[poiuytrewq]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
what about one of them body wrap things(a big vague sorry) i think that helps strengthen backs but im not really certain.

[/ QUOTE ]
For a horse?

[/ QUOTE ]

yea i dnt no wot there called il try n find a pic

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That would be great, Thank you.

 

[TarrSteps]

Re: body wraps - do you mean the elastic bandage-type arrangement? Article about it here: http://www.ttouch.co.za/files/articles/article.php?art=80

And before people go, "It must be b****cks because I've never heard of it/it isn't "traditional"" I've seen it used in equine physical therapy, particularly to aid in repairing proprioception disorders and it's a pretty established tool in the therapy box for people as well. It's not a "cure all" it's a tool, just like a pessoa or a chambon.

I have used one successfully on a few horses that were very stiff in their top lines as it is a way of "shaping" the horse's body without having to attach anything to its mouth/head - contact issues are often part of the reason the horse is uncomfortable in its top line in the first place. At the very least it's hard to get wrong! (Which is definitely NOT the case with a lot of other longing tools.)

I don't know how valuable it would be as a device to build strength IF the horse already travels in a correct shape but it might be a good "first step" for a horse that's inverting etc. In fact it's quite possible to get a horse working correctly just in a halter, at least at the most basic level so what you use is probably less important than how you use it.

Did you ask whomever treated his back about a rehab program? Often they'll prescribe some stretches etc. Some are very keen on longing, some hate it with a passion and think recovering horses should go as much as possible in straight lines and very gentle curves. Depends a bit on what the horse's problem was, I guess, and likely on the preferences of the practitioner!

 

[xnaughtybutnicex]

Yes thats what i meant i didn't know what it was called & you can't find it anywhere but there was an article on it in a horse mag(H&R, i think)