Building back muscles and lunging/long reining

[Scarlett 001]

It's been mentioned a few times on recent threads, that long reining in particular is a great way to build up the back muscles of a horse. I have a few questions about this.

This must be due to the fact that there is no rider sitting directly on top of the back to impede the muscle development of the back while the horse is being exercised in a nice frame, correct? Which back muscles in particular will be allowed to develop better without the saddle (for those familiar with the names of horse muscles)? I have a book and can look up the muscles on a diagram. Wouldn't it always be good then to do a certain amount of work without a rider to let the muscles develop or stay maintained unimpeded by the rider's weight?

p.s. As you may all have realized by my recent posts, I am *fascinated* and *intrigued* with long reining as part of a rider and horse's training. That is why I have so many questions on it recently.

[poohsmate]

Is this due to the fact that there is no rider sitting directly on top of the back to impede the muscle development of the back while the horse is being exercised in a nice frame? Which back muscles in particular will be allowed to develop better without the saddle (for those familiar with the names of horse muscles)? I have a book and can look up the muscles on a diagram. Wouldn't it always be good then to do a certain amount of work without a rider to let the muscles develop or stay maintained unimpeded by the rider's weight?
.

i quite agree, i am a great believer that we should spend more time on the ground with our horses instead of riding them 7 days a week.
whenever i treat a horse i do suggest to the rider that they should lunge/long-rein their horse at least a couple of times a week, without anything on their back.
i also think it's a good idea to maybe lunge before you ride, how many of us drag our horse out of his stable/field tack up and go for a school, ride etc'.
Top class athletes would not jump out of bed and go and run a marathon without warming up, yet we expect our horses to and with someone on their back:(
yes we warm up when we are in the school, but we have already clamped a saddle onto a cold maybe tight back and then get on ourselves, so we are probably starting of with a horse who may not be able to use himself properly from the start.

[Scarlett 001]

Do you find in your work that a pre-riding gentle massage etc. (gentle insofar as muscles are cold etc.) is useful? I'd think it would be a good idea to do before riding too, wouldn't it?

[poohsmate]

yes certainly,
the act of grooming is a form of massage:)