What is the importance of being in an outline?

[ponies-R-gr8!!!]

Question in the title really, i was just wondering.:o
I know its for balance etc, but is it really nesaccary(sp)?

[Yann]

It's not just balance, it's about the horse using itself in the most efficient way and strengthening all the most important muscles in its back, neck and hindquarters so that it can carry a rider comfortably.Ideally I think all ridden horses should do some schooling as it wards off back and other muscular trouble and hopefully lengthens their working life.

[chev]

Echo Yann really. If a horse is using his quarters properly, bringing the hocks underneath him, and lifting and rounding his back, he's much more able to carry a rider effectively and comfortably. When he's hollow, with his nose poked out and leaning onto the forehand, it's actually much harder for him to carry and balance a rider.

[mayoguinness]

Yep thats what Jayne Lavender told me so I agree with you both, not that Mayo works in an outline I'm sure:o

[coss]

as the others have said, it about getting the horse to be able to carry the rider more effectively, it puts less strain on the back, legs etc if they sit on their hindquarters more and round their back. it prolongs their working life because of this and for some horses that really helps.

[Sasca]

I know a lot of people come to the conclusion that because a wild horse doesn't go around in an outline its more natural to ride them like this (this is in NO way refering to anyone here) but it has to be realised that they have no extra weight on their backs when working like this.

If you go down on your hands and knees on the floor and completely hollow your back and stick your head up, and then see how high you can lift your knee. You can do this when everyone's left the house if you want, hehe. Then raise and round your back and lower your head and do the same thing. Can you feel the difference? you should be able to get your knee higher and further forward and you would also be able to hold weight easier but you wouldn't know that unless you tested that as well, hehe. This will help answer your question without a lot of technical words added in.

Hope it helps.

[summerguest]

Isn't there a connection with structural strength with bridges..the upside down u shape is structurally stronger than the u shape.

Also horses put about 60% of their body weight on their front legs and that increases to about 75% with a rider on board. Getting the hind legs engaged means they transfer some of the body weight onto the hind legs.