Tracking Up...

[royal]

Hi guys
A discussion developed at the yard today about tracking up...
some believed that basically it means nothing in terms of the way a horse is working ie: doesn't mean they are working from their back end at all...
Some believed it does mean they are working from their back end, but not necessarily working correctly as a whole ie: depends what is happening at the front end as to whether horse could be said to be working correctly...
I have my own thoughts, but would be interested to hear yours!

 

[Kallibear]

The length of over-track depends on their conformation too. Kalli has a very long back and short legs - even at her most extravegant walk she only just tracks up. My friends TB has a short back and the most ridculously long legs - his over track when just mooching around is a good 12"+ and when striding out it can be almost 2ft!

They have to be relaxed through their back and loins to be able to track under themselves, esp in trot, so a horse who's tense can't track up well, which I suppose is where the school of thought that tracking up=correct way of going comes from.

 

[Ziggy_]

As Kallibear says it is a lot to do with conformation. My horse is fairly short coupled for a mare with long TB legs so has a huge overtrack in walk and trot whereas other horses are incapable of tracking up at all in walk (although I personally think this other extreme is abnormal and could indicate a problem somewhere - for instance there was an ex-trotter at my old yard, similar build to my mare, who couldn't even get close to tracking up in walk.)

Tracking up is a good indicator that the horse is moving forward with enough impulsion IMO - I dislike seeing horses trot round in an 'outline' but barely moving forward at all. On the other hand my mare can easily overtrack in working trot with her head and neck stuck in the air.

FWIW, I think you're better off focussing on the back end, making sure the horse is tracking up, than trying to adjust the front end and create a pretty 'head carriage' - but overall the horses whole way of going must be taken into account.