No topline - how to improve? (pictures included)

[chickflick1066]

I was just looking at these recent piccies of my dearest Stumps and noticed how scrawny, weak and lacking in any real topline/muscle her neck is.

What do you think? And how can I improve this? Just 'proper' schooling? I must admit, our schooling sessions aren't the most productive, and we're hopeless in the menage!:rolleyes:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/chickflick1066/0217c6a3.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/chickflick1066/49240f4b.jpg

[bexj]

Lots and lots and lots of walking and trotting up hills will help with her topline, as will making her work properly when you are out on a hack, and not letting her "slop" along;)

[domane]

Long-lining or lungeing and encouraging her to work "long and low" will help too... I can personally vouch for long-lining being great fun, MUCH more fun than lungeing and far more versatile - you only need two lunge lines as it can be done, if necessary, with a saddle and stirrups instead of a roller.... :p

How are you feeling today Mints??? :)

[Kira657]

I must admit working on the lunge (with two lines ) did wonders for my mares topline, plus schooling exercises that involve working them long and low-like domane said. remember to do any new exercises gradually though, and also, remember muscle can take months to build but only days to disappear!

[Tim]

..and whilst your trying to build the muscle up, make sure there is protein going in to help. Conditioning cubes or topline cubes like Baileys No4 will give you slow release protein and nutrients to help the muscle building process. If you've got good grass you may get away without the cubes but with the weather having been so hot, many places have scorched earth instead of grass.

[Scarlett 001]

When Skeet arrived a year ago, there was kind of a dip in front of his wither if you looked at him in profile, which showed how the neck was lacking muscle on top. His neck was not strong, and he had not been ridden with a proper contact - he rode tense and with his neck up. Even before the long reining, there has been a notable improvement in the topline after I owned him for about 9 months, and especially the neck. But more recently, the long reining has *really* help him built up those top neck muscles. I don't have a great recent pic, but I have a couple that will show the changes I think. But admittedly, Skeeter was getting *intensive* long reining - we are talking 4 times a week for 3 months - so the changes did take some time and work on both our parts.

I'll try and attach a few pics to show the kinds of improvement I have been getting. I guess the point I want to show is that with regular and serious long reining work, notable changes are possible.

Skeeter's neck a year ago. See the dip immediately in front of the wither?
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a17/scarlett001/skeeterwither4444.jpg

Skeeter about 9 months later. No long reining, but more exercise, better diet and but I was riding him about 3 times a week. You can see the dip in front of the wither is not as significant.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a17/scarlett001/conformationrightclose1.jpg

Skeeter a few weeks ago, after 3 months of intense long reining work. The neck is looking strong, and the dip in front of wither is getting less obvious (not the best pics, but the best I have - sorry).
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a17/scarlett001/skeetersnack2nome.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a17/scarlett001/skeetersnack4nome.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a17/scarlett001/skeetersnack3nome.jpg

[domane]

..... and carrot stretches regularly to help her flexibility:

- hip
- shoulder
- between her front legs (high and low)
- beside her front hooves (on the outside of them) at ground level
- stand in front of her and hold as high as you can to encourage a stretch up

[Santi]

How are you long lining? Is it just from the bit through a roller to the person behind?
How does it help the horse move differently than being lunged? My horse hates being lunged (he just hates going round in circles -can't see the point) but is very willing to do anything else and he has most of his neck muscle underneath.
He's an ex-trotter so some of his develpment is from that, he's only been ridden for 8-9 months.

(sorry only photo i could find showing his neck is us doing nose blowing)

[Scarlett 001]

How are you long lining? Is it just from the bit through a roller to the person behind?

I can try and answer this. I am long lining from the bit, through a surcingle (roller?) and to me behind. The good part is you can get a contact and work on things like that, unlike in lungeing and much better than lungeing in side reins. Also, you can do any old pattern you want - just like riding. You are not at all constrained to circles, so way more interesting for the horse too and better for them too. :)

[joey_olop]

Try carot stretches, worked wonders with mine and lots of lunging :) Mine had a similar neck to yours last year and its definately improved :)

[LMS]

Working over ground poles also help.

When I took over my father's QH (ex barrel racer), he had not top line, was stressed & cold backed.

I worked him in hand, massage, stretches, TTEAM, lunging, going over ground poles. All things that made him use his body more efficiently, drop his head & raise his back. In the end (took over a year for him) he was a transformed horse with a wonderful top line.

With so many exercises & approaches, you won't get bored that's for sure!:p

Have fun & take photos!

[teabiscuit]

i used hills, walking out smartly up the hills and resting him when he was huffing and puffing too much so that i could keep asking for a smart walk.
helped his topline and his waist line and his bum :)

[Lucy J]

lots of hacking in walk and trot, hill work. i also, if i am lunging, use a pessoa training aid and also feed blue chip. my mare had the same dip on her neck as shown above, but now she is all strong and muscular (although as i have been away she has had 4weeks off and you can see the difference!

[Siogfinsceal]

in order to improve the horses topline he must work on the bit when ridden otherwise the excercise that you do will not benefit this area. If he is difficult to get 'on the bit' I would suggest some lunging in sidereins to start him on the right track - start off with just a little bit and build it up. The more consistently the horse works, the better that topline will be !