What builds topline? Work, supplements or both?

[PolarSkye]

Question is in the title really . . . my own experience is that without effective work, no supplement in the world will CREATE topline . . . it's using the right muscles in the right way that builds a healthy muscle framework for the horse . . . but I hear and read alot about certain supplements/balancers being good for promoting topline . . . so what's the answer? More protein to promote muscle development (with appropriate exercise)?

Discuss.

P

 

[Goldenstar]

Its correct work and training that builds up top line of course apporiate nutrition is part of it but it's mainly work and training.

 

[PolarSkye]

Its correct work and training that builds up top line of course apporiate nutrition is part of it but it's mainly work and training.

So what would appropriate nutrition be?

P

 

[be positive]

Correct work, diet and a well fitting saddle.
Last year a new horse was purchased to be at livery with me, he came from a very experienced home and had spent the previous season in a top event yard. Over the last 12 months he has had regular physio, sensible but hard work at times, eventing and SJ all last year, he is not on any special feed just ad lib haylage, fast fibre and some mix (he will not eat without the mix).
At the age of 14 he has now put on so much topline that his owners are having to buy 2 new saddles to replace the ones he was purchased with, both were fitted to him.
He is not fat, although needs to tighten up a little, his first event is at the end of March and his tummy will lift up by then.

 

[Goldenstar]

Well I would say without getting bogged down in detail they need apporiate supplementation for there situation and some high quality protein in the diet .
The last time I discussed this with a nutritionist it was with a five raising six yo TB in quite hard work and was Advised that 2.5 to 3 kilos of Alfafa with 200 grammes of micronised linseed per day the rest of the food being provided by haylage would supply all his requirements for protein.

 

[Mlini]

I would agree with the above that supplements/feed do not create topline. No matter how much feed you pump into the horse it has to be working correctly for the muscles to form in the correct places. But then again, you wont build topline if you work the horse but don't feed it adequately.

I am trying to build topline on my exracer, advised by my chiro to work him long & low and do LOTS of walking, I have started by lunging with a harbridge and hacking.

I would be grateful for any suggestions on anything else that will help ...

 

[YasandCrystal]

You can use supplements particularly for rehabilitating a horse. This one was one that the vet and physio were dead set against as they said it was too unnatural:

http://www.equitop-myoplast.co.uk/

But I used Feedmark's Opti Muscle and my physio was impressed with this supplement as a support for muscle build in my horse.

http://www.feedmark.com/product.asp?product=Opti+Muscle

I fully agree that the horse has to be working the muscles in question correctly in order to build muscle anyway. My horse has chronic sacro illiac dysfunction and he had his sacrum mobilised by a holistic vet. This enabled him probably for the first time in years to use his gluteus muscle on his right hind. The physio enlivened his dormant nerves and did some Tens work and we did lots of daily pessoa long lines work inhand and fed him the Feedmark supplement for 2 months. He gained a whopping 4cm of gluteus muscle

 

[Marydoll]

My horses topline has developed well over the past couple of years, she is in mod/ hard work, will do ode, sj and some BE this season again.
Working correctly incorporating exercises to stretch longintudinally and laterally with good nutrition, she is tb and is fed ad lib haylage, alfa A oil, speedibeet hi fibre nuts and her suppliments.
After warm up she works long and low, then some lateral work for 10-15 mins, then 30 mins body of work then long and low again to cool off.
I personally have her seen by an equine bodyworker every 8-10 weeks and myself, coach, and EBW all think shes in great shape now.
If i could work out how to post a pic i would as im proud of how she looks now, but tbh we needed to work to get it, theres no quick fix to get a proper muscular topline