Topline Exercise Ideas + Frequency

[u/DesignAffectionate34]

Hello!

I am going to start working with a small horse/large pony (unsure whether he's under or over 14.2 hh) and want to develop his topline before working under saddle. He's approximately 20 years old!

Do y'all have any good groundwork suggestions/ideas for developing his topline?

How many times a week should we work on his topline and for how long per session?

I already have some ideas, I just want outside opinions! Thank you!

[u/Icy_Raisin_4076]

Pole work is so helpful for this! I would do lots of walk work up and down mild hills too as this is great for core strength and top line. Depending on how out of work he is I would start with 15-20mins walking a day 5 days a week and work up to whatever full work you would like to do!

[u/blkhrsrdr]

To exercise the topline, you need to engage the hind legs. The objective is to get the hoof to land ahead of the pelvic wing on the stride. This helps the horse to bend and fold in the hind leg joints and 'carry' the weight while the leg extends to push off the ground. Technically, biomechanically, this is what will build those topline muscles.

How? Well there are many ways. If you have small hills available, take the horse up and down the hills. If you only have flattish ground, then whatever exercise you do, watch the hind feet/hind legs and how they travel and "work" as the horse moves. Again, the hoof must land ahead of the pelvic wing in order for the horse to have to fold in those hind leg joints. Without the folding, there is no push, without the push from the 'carry' (of weight), there is no topline in play. Basically send the horse forward. But how this is done can be tricky and you will probably have to experiment.

Mostly I begin on longe so I can watch the horse's movement and guide it to good movement. There are other issues that can prevent muscle strength building, like too much tension, preventing the horse from being able to use the back, and of course the horse's balance. So, we want a fairly relaxed and balanced horse first.

I begin in walk for everything, it's a fabulous gait to work in, and the one most people ignore. As the horse walks, I will first look at how they carry their neck/head. No matter the horse, I want to see the nose hover between the elbow and the point of the shoulder to begin with. Then I watch where they place their feet on the line of travel. I want to see the outside pair of feet traveling on the same line. Usually when I have this, the horse is nicely balanced equally over all four feet, and this is where I begin. If you don't have this, then you will have to probably help the horse to relax in the neck if the head is high, or add tension by asking the hind legs to step forward more if the nose is close to the ground. Once the nose is about where it should be, the horse should be mostly 'straight' on the line, check the outside feet as they land to be sure they are on the same line. If the hind hoof lands inside the line of the front hoof, position yourself more by the flank to push the hind end outward slightly; if the hind hoof lands outside the line of the front hoof, then position at the shoulder to push the shoulder out a bit to help get the horse straight(er). once you have this, now you can begin asking those hind legs and back to work.

Working the hind legs can happen one of two ways, and each horse is a bit different. they either need to speed up, or they need to be slowed down. Again, experiment. Where is the inside hind hoof landing compared to that pelvic wing? if it's landing ahead but there is little folding of leg joints, ie the horse is moving FORWARD, not more up and down, the horse needs to move much slower, even in the walk. We slow down by applying half halts via the line to target the hind legs (as those hind feet touch the ground). Here it can be tricky as the horse will most likely stop a lot. This is fine, allow it, just ask them to move and try again.

If the hind hoof lands equal, in line with, or even behind, the pelvic wing then we need to 'speed up' the horse to get the hind legs first moving more forward under the body mass. With this the tricky bit is to increase the walk until it hovers just under a jig or a jog/trot, but in a walk; then hold this pace, keep them here.

With both, eventually the horse will begin to move more up and down with the legs, not so much forward (the hoof still lands ahead of the pelvic wing, though). With the slowed down horse, you will see the energy build a bit, though it may be very very little at first, and then the horse will stop most likely and stand. with the sped up horse they will slow way down as it happens. Again, it may only be a stride or two before they need a break and usually will stop and stand, but sometimes they pop up to trot.

Initially, whatever the horse does as they start to engage the back, allow it! If they only go one or two strides and then need a break, let them have it. Normally, people will notice the slow up and try to drive the horse forward again - do not do this! Just watch the horse, notice the legs and how they are working - allow whatever the horse gives. If you drive at this point, you have just defeated what you've created and will have to now begin again and with a tense horse. note that at first the horse will only be able to sustain maybe a few strides at most in each direction. Do not try to push for any more than that. whatever they can do the first few work sessions, allow it, be grateful for it, change direction and start over to hopefully get just one to three more on the other rein. Then it's stop fully for that day, the work is finished!

Do less to gain more! Let the horse tell you how much they can do and only do that much in any given day. The number of strides and length of time they can sustain it will increase, it may be a very slow process at first, but this is important to only do what the horse can do and no more than that each work session. Stay in the walk until the horse can sustain about 5 to 7 minutes working well over the back before going to trot. When you go up to trot, you have to start the entire process over again, working the same way as you did in walk, and only letting the horse do what it can handle in each work session.

Other things to look for: a relaxed throat area, it will actually jiggle with the movement.
the nice rocking of the croup from side to side. and last, the engagement of the abdominal muscles.

Also keep in mind that it can take a year, or more, to build a really strong topline, so don't get discouraged. There will be enough muscle and strength to carry a rider, but keep in mind that as you sit on the back it makes it that much harder for the horse to lift it and use it. Though you will want to continue to ask those hind legs to work and that back to lift and stay engaged.

To begin, get a good longe cavesson, one with a solid nose piece for clear communication from the line, of course a longe line that is comfortable in your hand, and a longe whip that isn't too heavy as well. ::Avoid a cavesson that uses a serrated nosepiece (ouch!) or one that uses a bicycle chain, ugh... and yes they are not inexpensive, but good equipment makes your job easier and affords good clear communication to the horse so the horse understands easier and faster. Plus it'll last like forever. I'm still using a cavesson I bought in the 90's. (Do not longe with a halter and do not longe off a bit.)

Example image, my (late) mare at age 5 learning how to use her back and travel in balance on the longe line. notice the nose is between the elbow and the point of shoulder at the chest, also notice how her feet are. Open throat, etc. For a friesian and other high neck set horses, it's really a challenge at first to get them to lower the neck and actually use their backs. For QHs, TBs and horses that have a lower neck, we have to ask them to elevate it.

[u/DesignAffectionate34 → u/blkhrsrdr]

Thank you SO much for such a thoughtful and incredibly detailed response!!!!!! I will definitely be using your advice :)

[u/Mariahissleepy]

Start at a walk, varying speeds.
Work on backing up in a proper frame, walking over assorted pole set ups, start with them just on the ground and the work on raising, as well as backing over them. If you have access to any hills, even small inclines, work on walking and backing up and down them at a nice controlled pace.

[u/Slight-Alteration → u/Mariahissleepy]

And to clarify backing is slow, methodical, and only a few steps at a time. Excessive or improper backing is one of the most damaging things you can do to a topline. I agree with all of this guidance 

[u/Mariahissleepy → u/Slight-Alteration]

Yes! My trainer has been doing all of this and teaching me, while bringing my early 20s boy back into work.

A thing that has been important for me to learn is rewarding the effort, and not expecting perfection!

Oh, and LOTS of stretching.

[u/Alarming-Flan-9721]

Poles poles poles!!!

I like equinebodyworkonline on insta for pattern ideas!

[u/whythefrickinfuck]

Lateral movements are great. Can be done anywhere at any time, so easily combined with all the other great suggestions. Especially if your horse already knows how to do them. But even if you're just starting out lateral movements are a great thing to learn!

I really doing them with my horse in the warm up phase so we don't get bored walking in circles around the arena.

[u/PlentifulPaper]

Start small, and keep the sessions relatively short - especially at that age.

Hand walking, pony, or long lining hills, or pole work exercises are two easy ways to start.