What are some tips on developing topline?

[Spandale]

Hello! I apologise in advance for the long post

This is my beloved rescue, his name is "Spanner" due to the shape of the marking on his head. He's a 6 year old gelding but due to him being a rescue, his breed is unknown. When I first got him he had no muscle what-so-ever. None. I don't know how he managed to hold his head up. I was told he had big head syndrome and dwarfism so therefore his head was way to large for his body. This is what it looked like:

As you can see it is quite hollowed out and lacking in any muscle or definition.

But I started working with him, I got him some good feed and did a lot of ground work with him and he started to develop more muscle in his body but still practically nothing in his neck. Once I solved all his other issues like bolting, hot temperedness, bucking and aggression I started working on his vertical flexion, and voila! He no longer had a head to big for his body! Bazinga, his 'Big Head Sydnrome' magically disappeared. These are some of my most recent photos of him:

This is a fairly old side-by-side as you can see the "new" picture which is on the right is with his summer coat, it is now winter.

I'm wanting an opinion, is there much room for improvement? And what are your methods of developing a horse's topline?

Thanks!

 

[Pinkvboots]

there is an amazing difference between pictures so I think your doing a pretty good job well done!

proper topline muscle comes from working correctly so just making sure his working through from behind and using his back so not running round in a hollow frame, if you don't have a physio for him I would get one to come out and see him they can give you so much to do on a daily basis that can help him move and use himself properly.

 

[Spandale]

Thanks! I have a chiro coming out because his hips were out, maybe I can ask her

 

[highlandponygirl]

Fantastic job so far! Agree with above re getting working correctly from behind, I find a good method of achieving and then working with this is to get them doing some hill work, if there is somewhere suitable nearby. Working uphill really ecourages to push from behind and to bascule slightly, engaging the right muscles to build a good strong topline, rather than one that just looks pretty.

 

[Spandale]

Thanks! We love going trail riding here in the Blue Mountains of Australia so there's plenty of hills. More trails for us then I guess No complains here

 

[AmyMay]

He's an absolute credit to you xx

 

[milliepops]

yup work, work and more work.

Some horses can continue to look a bit weak if their necks come out of their shoulders at an unfortunate angle, then it can be really hard to fill the gap in front of the withers. Yours doesn't look like one of those I find that tends to improve with time as they learn to truly work out to the contact without contracting the base of the neck.

My younger horse is getting a decent topline just through flatwork and gentle hacking. She still needs to get some better core muscles, as she was so unfit, her back hung down like a hammock she's muscled up quite well and feels much stronger esp behind the saddle but still looks a bit broodmare-shaped

 

[ShowJumperL95]

What an amazing job you have done! He looks fantastic. I agree with above posts lots of hill work asking him to keep his head low but when he engages his core that will lift his back and the head should lower naturally. Also don't forget to do transitions downhill obviously not too steep but do canter to trot is a good one because they really have to come up under themselves to make the transition.

 

[pansymouse]

My saddler told me I needed to build my mare's topline and when I asked how she said "ride" so I did and it seems to be working! The one tip she did give me was to have the girth as loose as is safe to allow the back muscles to work more freely and develop fully. I do a lot of trotting up hill with a positive contact to make her work.

 

[Bumblebee123]

A very nice example how good work makes a horse beautyful!

I agree with "just continue working", gymnastics with spears, cavalettis and little fences also are a good idea for every horse and additionally fun for both.