Today I will be showing you the exact plan that I use to develop my horse’s topline. To build muscle, you need the correct nutrition AND the correct training. I will be showing you BOTH in today’s video, including 2 of my favorite under saddle exercises.
Disclaimer:
This video is Powered by Purina… and so is Kensington!
If you’re interested in checking out Purina’s products, they have a wonderful Purina® Feed Greatness® Challenge that you enter online and get some great coupons for feed. The difference in Kensington’s topline now that he’s actually getting the correct nutrition is crazy!
What is a topline? Why is it important?
A horse’s topline is just what it sounds like. It is the muscles that run from the head of the tail all the way up to the poll. It is important that your horse has a good topline because it makes them more comfortable for you to ride and easier for them to perform the movements. Some horses naturally have stronger toplines than others – so the best way to assess and monitor your horse’s progress is by taking and comparing progress photos.
As you are working on your horse’s topline, you want to look for the muscles in the top of your horse’s neck to be developed, and the under-neck muscles to be smaller. When your horse’s under-neck is overdeveloped, it is a sign they are not carrying themselves correctly and they will be more likely to go around hollow and inverted. You also want to look down your horse’s spine and see that there is nice muscle along both sides of the spine. Your horse’s rump should also have a rounded look, with muscle filling out both sides.
There are 2 components that you need to develop your horses topline: consistent training and the correct nutrition. Just like if you want to build muscle, you have to eat and exercise! About a year ago, I was moving up to the FEI level with Kensington. I was doing all the work but his topline just was not developing the way it should. He didn’t have a lot of muscle along his saddle support area and his rump looked like a tee pee!! I met with Dr. Kelly Vineyard, a Ph.D. Equine Nutritionist at Purina and realized that what I was feeding Kensington was not giving him the protein he needed to develop the muscles in his topline.
So, here’s what I’m feeding him now: SuperSport® and Ultium® Gastric Care.
Unlike many feed companies, Purina puts years of research into their products so I know they are safe and effective for my horse. Also, I only need to feed 2 different things (plus hay!) and it takes care of Kensington’s stomach.
So after diet and nutrition, how can you help your horse physically build topline? Here are 2 of my favorite exercises:
Walk-trot-walk transitions – This is a great exercise to build your horse’s topline, and honestly, you cannot do too many transitions! However, these transitions will only be helpful when your horse is round and on the bit. As the rider, you will be able to see the top of their neck in front of the withers get fatter when they are round. Ideally, you want to work on your walk-trot-walk transitions on a circle. This will help you use your diagonal aids (inside leg to outside rein) more effectively, which will help your horse to engage their topline. As you are riding, you want to see the top of your horse’s neck engaged and their under-neck loose and relaxed.
Rein Back – Riding the halt-rein back is a great exercise because it helps engage and lower your horse’s hind end. When you are riding the halt-rein back, it is important to make sure that your horse is round, with their poll the highest point, and you are riding forward into the halt. Remember, you can look for the muscle in front of their withers to get fatter as a way to check and see if they are round and using their topline.
Throughout your ride, it is important to make sure that your horse is soft and supple. Check and see if you can soften the inside rein with your horse’s frame remaining the same. This is a sign that they are using their topline.
Today’s video is proudly sponsored by Purina. Don’t forget to check out their Purina® Feed Greatness® Challenge!
