If you’ve ever been told that your horse needs to engage their hind end, you may have wondered what that actually means.
Engagement is one of the most important pieces of good riding because it helps your horse become more balanced, lighter in the forehand, and stronger through their body. It also plays a huge role in helping your horse develop a healthy topline.
In this video, I explain what engagement really is and share one of my favorite exercises to teach it. This simple rein-back exercise helps your horse learn to step underneath themselves, lift their back, and develop the muscles needed for better balance under saddle.
Before we dive in, if you’d like to learn more about my groundwork system, be sure to check out my Free Groundwork Training. This free training is happening on July 26th at 12:00pm PT. Inside, I’ll walk you through the exercises I use to improve communication, confidence, and performance before I ever get in the saddle. Hurry! Seats are filling fast. Make sure to save your seat here.
The Best Engagement Exercise to Build Strength and Balance
When we talk about engagement, we’re really asking the horse to bend the joints of the hind leg and step farther underneath their body. As the hind legs come under, the horse naturally lifts their back, lightens the forehand, and begins using their body more correctly. This not only makes your horse easier to ride, but it also helps build a stronger horse topline over time.
One of the easiest ways to teach this is through the rein back. I always teach rein back from the ground first because your horse can learn the movement without carrying the weight of a rider, making it much easier to find true engagement.
Groundwork for Horses Starts with the Basics
Before asking for a rein back, make sure your horse can confidently perform walk-halt-walk transitions while staying straight and accepting the contact. A quality halt creates a quality rein back, so don’t rush this step.
As your horse begins backing, focus on straightness and rhythm rather than speed. If they tend to drift sideways, using the arena wall can help guide them into a straighter rein back.
Over time, the rein back encourages better engagement, improved balance, and greater strength through the hindquarters and topline.
Building Your Horse’s Topline Starts on the Ground
Groundwork isn’t just about manners. It’s an important part of developing your horse’s strength, balance, and topline.
By practicing a little rein back before each ride, you can help your horse engage their hind end, improve their topline, and prepare them to work more correctly once you’re in the saddle.
Happy Riding!
Amelia
P.S. If you’d like to learn my complete groundwork system, be sure to RSVP for my Free Groundwork Training. I’ll show you the exercises I use to build communication, engagement, and confidence from the ground before ever stepping into the saddle.
Seats are limited, so make sure to save your seat before they are gone.
