What exactly is topline?

[djlynwood]

following on from a previous post, what exactly are you looking for when looking for topline?

I thought it is something to do with the shape and head carriage maybe or is it a well toned and fit horse?

 

[welshied]

it is when the muscles on the back are toned etc i think

 

[black_n_white]

I have always thought of is as the muscles along the top of the neck, along the back and quarters - literally the top of the horse!

A horse has good "topline" if is is well muscled in these areas - not just in it's neck.

Edited to ad - So with my boy in my siggie - he doesn't have good top line as he needs to be built up more over his back and quarters (but he was only 4 in the pic so can be forgiven!!)

 

[djlynwood]

Also noticed that some poeple have said that welsh cobs dont count for pictures of topline, why?

 

[miss_c]

Well Genie's naturally cresty due to her breeding, so especially in ridden pics she could appear to have good topline even if she didn't. I personally like to thing that she does though!

 

[ester]

cos I wasn't sure if that was what the OP was looking for ie a welsh with topline isn't going to look like a warmblood with topline.

he is a naturally chunky boy with neck and bum and has always been built that way, he couldn't look like he was above the bit if he tried. so welshies can look like they have topline when they are prob just fat and not fit.

However he was very good at sticking his head in the right place and not working from behind or tracking up which is some feat for a short backed pone - much better at this now

this is NOT topline this is fat (and a hogged mane!)

this is him more recently, you can't see his neck very well as the mane is in the way but he is ok muscled all over.

 

[Ranyhyn]

I am lead to believe its a nicely develops muscle tone from the neck through to over the back and to croup and quarters.

 

[gails]

Something that I wish my boy would get back and soon

 

[pinktiger]

topline can be gained by working a horse correctly and setting muscles along the upper part of the horse in conjunction with each other therefore producing an athlete of imense power and ability!!

or
some people like to feed their horses up to give the illusion of topline!!

i much prefer the first, you can see the difference and more so 'feel' the difference!!