making a horse work his back end?

[pony_person_mee]

hi,
my pony is having some trouble working his back end to build up muscle. we are also trying to build up his topline has anyone got any advice on either of these things??
thanks
xx

 

[Cliqmo]

Use a pessoa

 

[pony_person_mee]

i thought of that but some one told me that it would not work so i am now a bit confused and not sure whether to use it?

 

[nikicb]

Lots of lengthening/shortening exercises in trot (I emphasize by rising in lengthened/forward pace and sitting in shortened/collected pace). And lots of trot to walk, walk 6 strides, back to trot. Also, trot to halts at quarter markers followed by few steps rein back then straight back into trot. Do this say 6-8 times on one rein at A, E, C, B then do half halts in the same place. I do this most days when I am warming up and it makes all the difference. Hope that helps.

ETA is it the Haflinger in your picture you are talking about? I used to school a Haflinger for a friend and used these exercises on her (as well as on my 3/4 TB) and she got the hang of them really quickly.

 

[scheffings]

Trotting up hills works wonders too

 

[pony_person_mee]

thankyou i will be trying out these things tomorrow

 

[Abbeygale]

As much hill work as possible - worked wonders for my mare. Do plenty in walk as well as trot - but make sure you really make your horse march up the hill when you do it it in walk!

 

[Flint12]

Hill work. . . there are loads of hills around where i hack. . .i maily walk up them on a loose rein and really make him march so he stretches all over his back and brings his bum under him. . .i ave noticed a real difference in him

 

[dwi]

I think the best is actually trotting down hill. When you go uphill they can pull themselves up on their forehand but if you ask them to trot downhill they need to use their backend properly to balance themselves.