schooling....what do people do..?

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oliviacharley

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my youngster has had the winter off and is getting pretty frisky and bad mannered in the field. I bring him in every night, brush him over and check him over...but it is time to bring him back into work...he is really pestering my old pony too and she is not impressed so its time to burn some of the energy off!!

I just wondered what people find good to build muscle and improve topline as he does not have much muscle...I have been walking him up hills at weekends and I will start to trot up hills to improve his fitness....but im in no hurry and like to take my time...
I was thinking of buying a training aid to make him use his back end quarters more as he is quite lazy and doesnt move great....
any tips or advice would be great :0)
 
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I just wondered what people find good to build muscle and improve topline as he does not have much muscle...I have been walking him up hills at weekends and I will start to trot up hills to improve his fitness....but im in no hurry and like to take my time...


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DON'T trot up hills to build muscle - it's hellish hard work and can cause back strain in an unfit horse. We have a lovely steep hill (all weather track) in the woodland opposite and the hunters never get asked to trot up it until they have been walking up it (daily) for at LEAST 4 weeks - and then they only trot for 50 yards - walk 100 yards - trot 50 yards etc to start with and build up slowly from that.

When working up hills, try to ride on as long a rein as is conducive to control - the lower the horse's head, the more he rounds and stretches his back and the more good it does.
 
thanks for the info JanetG - To be honest im a bit soft with him and I tend not to like trotting him up the hills...as said I like to take my time as as long as he is walking up it ok I wont push him really....I ride western so his reins and head are always pretty lose and low...
Im more interested in what people do in their arena's really to improve muscle and topline....
thanks for the advice though...I bet alot of people dont know that...thanks :0)
 
The only schooling aid I will use is a Pessoa as it rewards the right things instantly (quicker than I can) and my IDxTB lost a lot of condition over the quarters after being ill and it really helped as he is lazy behind and doesnt use himself behind unless you can get him doing it.
 
yeh i was going to suggest the pessoa as well. when i am away or can't ride my mum puts it on my guys and when i get back on its like 'hellllooooo connection!!' lol.
i havn't used it consistently over a time period though so i don't know how well it builds muscle, but i'm sure i does give a nice topline because the horse is sure to work round over the back.
try it!
 
Hi,
I used to train race horses in my youth on a very successful Yard in Lamborne and the head trainer used to give us a serious telling off if we trotted up hills for the fact that it was easier for the horses to trot up a hill than to walk up it. If I come to a steep hill whilst out hacking my gelding always starts to trot up but I insist he walks, he shows his dislike by doing a power walk type jog!! Unsure who's right on this one! Pessoa definately but once he is showing topline tone then you need to move the clips up onto the highest D rings of your roller (not immediately on the wither but just to the side) this produces a huge dressage type crest but make sure you have been using the other settings for quite a few weeks first. Start him off long and low (clipped between the front legs first). Hope this is of some help.
 
I tend to fight with my horse for 30 mins before he decides that in fact it is easier to work in outline. He gets lunged in a pessoa or double line lunged too.

I always think that walking up hills is better for fitness than trotting - if you take a horse up a steep incline, it will tend to trot as it's easier - walking makes them really use those muscles!
 
I am not a gadget person but I bought a Pessoa type training aid and I'm really impressed with the results. It's given the horses top line, gets them stretching over their backs, helps them work from behind and doesn't force them into a shape. I bought the Whittaker version which came with surcingle - well worth the money!
 
thanks for all the super advice peeps....Ill be looking into a pessoa...sorry if spelt wrong...thanks
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longlining is very good for this.

build up muscle, see new things, etc

as is being out 24/7.

Feeding from the ground (ie not haynets) will also help develop back muscles correctly)
 
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