Topline Building

FutureVetGirl · 11-05-2008, 04:48 AM

A lot of people here have heard that I'm "training" this ottb Stallion. I call it training... but all I'm really doing is conditioning, not quite "training".

He has a really bad bony topline that I'm trying to build up. At the moment, this is my schedule each day when I can get out there (hoping to head back out in a week... stupid school).

Twice on each side at a walk and trot in the ring (like once turning towards the right, next turning towards the left)
Then we head out to the track, which takes a bit of urging (works best when I have a crop, he IS getting better)
And begin trotting it. We usually trot halfway around, then walk the rest of the way, then trot the entire thing, then walk halfway.
After that, we begin working on the ditches, always at a walk. We go up, and then down, up, and then down, for a long time, always a walk.
Then we trot half of the track again, then head back into the ring to cool down.

Overall... it usually takes about 50 minutes to an hour and twenty minutes, depending. Also, depending on the temperature of the air around us, and the amount of wind, he usually ends up either with sweat here and there, or completely lathered. Yet, the sweat lathering is diminishing as each day passes.

So... will what I'm doing build up his topline? Or am I just building up his stamina?

He naturally uses his rear end when we're riding. Rarely does he ride on the forehand. (or however you say it... still learning the "lingo").

Auzzie Honey · 11-05-2008, 04:50 AM

How old is he? How long has he been in work?
Sorry haven't been on here much .. haven't seen your other threads

JBandRio · 11-05-2008, 04:52 AM

If you're still having to use a crop, even though he's getting better, he's really not working from behind. He may not technically be on his forehand, but he's not really off it either, if that makes sense.

Do you work him on any contact?

A horse can be fit enough to do all the things you described, but his proper fitness (ie his topline) won't develop until you have him on contact and riding him into your hand - leg to hand, back to front, causing him to lift his back and base of his neck.

In your w/t/c do you ever do frequent changes of direction? Going around 1 way, then switching and going around the other way, full circuits of the ring, doesn't demand much of the horse in terms of rebalancing and taking more weight on one inside hind or the other, etc, all of which are necessary to help develop the muscles.

FutureVetGirl · 11-05-2008, 04:55 AM

He is 8-9 years old. Has been working on and off since he got off of his racing career at the age of 4.

JB... the crop is ONLY used to urge him on... he IS the mule of the Thoroughbreds... and sometimes he needs that extra encouragement just to... well... go where I tell him to go.

I don't quite understand what you mean by contact. Because I've heard a ton of varying things... and they all said "contact". So if you could explain what exactly you mean by it.

I do serpentines and figure eights often. Sorry I forgot to say that. *smacks head*

Thanks.

Chester · 11-05-2008, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FutureVetGirl

He has a really bad bony topline

Sounds like he needs more feed. That could even cure some of his laziness.

Are you back from your holiday to the real world already? Seems like just yesterday you left.

JBandRio · 11-05-2008, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FutureVetGirl

He is 8-9 years old. Has been working on and off since he got off of his racing career at the age of 4.

Is it safe to say that his last 4-5 years have not been aimed at any real fitness?

Quote:

JB... the crop is ONLY used to urge him on... he IS the mule of the Thoroughbreds... and sometimes he needs that extra encouragement just to... well... go where I tell him to go.

But there's a difference between urging to go where you tell him to go, and GOING when asked and staying until you ask something different. That is what impulsion and forward is about

Quote:

I don't quite understand what you mean by contact. Because I've heard a ton of varying things... and they all said "contact". So if you could explain what exactly you mean by it.

Do you have a feel of his mouth? How much? What do you do with your hands, and how does he respond?

And yes, Chester is right, some of the issues may be a feed issue. Maybe not necessarily more feed in general, but at least more quality protein. Do you have a picture of him?

FutureVetGirl · 11-05-2008, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBandRio

Is it safe to say that his last 4-5 years have not been aimed at any real fitness?

Yes. He has just been ridden here and there on trails and such. But since he has such a mule-like personality, nobody really wanted to deal with him much more than that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBandRio

But there's a difference between urging to go where you tell him to go, and GOING when asked and staying until you ask something different. That is what impulsion and forward is about

OK... thanks. I didn't QUITE understand all of that. I just know that his impulsion always comes from his back end... and I've been told by a couple other people here (where I live) that he carries himself nicely... which might not mean what I think it means.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBandRio

Do you have a feel of his mouth? How much? What do you do with your hands, and how does he respond?

I usually have light hands, like I don't jerk and pull, but from what I can tell (please remember that this is a beginner speaking, yes... I'll admit it now), I have good contact. He isn't "on" the bit, but I have a good feel of his mouth, and though my hands are light, I still have excellent control. One squeeze of one hand can usually get him to turn in that direction. I usually have my hands in one place, right above the saddle pommel, about a little less than "shoulder" distance apart. I mean... they're not bird wing apart... but they're not squeezed together if you know what I mean. The only times when I apply more contact is when he wants to run back to the barn, and I sometimes have to hold his head to one side using the rein (the rein on the other side is always very slack when this happens), and I simply wait until he turns back, and then I release, while still keeping that contact on the mouth. So yeah... I probably don't have perfect contact... but I can feel his mouth and he generally responds well (he does have the occasional "off" day where he refuses to do anything).

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBandRio

And yes, Chester is right, some of the issues may be a feed issue. Maybe not necessarily more feed in general, but at least more quality protein. Do you have a picture of him?

This is the "best" picture I have of him that's not under saddle and isn't just of his head. Sorry for the poor quality. My little brother took it. It's right after a ride... so he's kind of sweaty.

Brandywine · 11-05-2008, 05:43 AM

Hi. It looks like he needs to gain weight, you can see his ribs. If he were still at the track and in training, I'd say he looks like he should. I like to keep my horses where I can't see the ribs but I can feel the last ribs if I rub my hands on them. Adding extra hay at each feeding and/or a type of beet pulp may help increase his weight. He has high withers so make sure that the saddles fit, if he is in pain, he is NOT going to want to go forward. It looks like there are old saddle scars on his back (the white spots on his spine), that indicates bad saddle fit and has made him sore or raw in the past. Have you tried to lunge him at all??? If so, is he just as lazy on the lunge or is it just under saddle? How about when he is outside, does he just stand around and graze or does he take off bucking and kicking? It sounds like with some added "groceries" , having the tack looked at to make sure it fits properly and the work you are doing (I'd even toss in some lunging with the encouragement of a lunge whip), you can get him going nicely. It is not everyday that you hear of a TB acting like a mule, a stallion at that! Good luck. Keep us posted.

FutureVetGirl · 11-05-2008, 05:54 AM

Thanks!!

I haven't had a chance to lunge him... but once we get to the point where I can go out there and work him without having to ask permission for everything (which should be soon), I'll do so and see how he reacts.

Beanie33 · 11-05-2008, 07:28 AM

I am an owner of a OTTB.
My boy is in about the same body condition as yours.

He needs more weight. The more weight he gains the more energy he gets.
(We had a new hand at where I board, he was not told to fed the horses in the back pasture....eeeekk. My boy went three weeks without feed. He had tons of good grass, but no feed.)

So now he's being fed...I don't have to use my spurs.
(boy did I feel like a horrible mom when I found out why he was being so lazy!)
You need to find a feed that will put weight on him, but not make him hot.

11-05-2008, 04:48 AM	#1
FutureVetGirl Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Lone Star State Posts: 4,049 Images: 57	Topline Building A lot of people here have heard that I'm "training" this ottb Stallion. I call it training... but all I'm really doing is conditioning, not quite "training". He has a really bad bony topline that I'm trying to build up. At the moment, this is my schedule each day when I can get out there (hoping to head back out in a week... stupid school). Twice on each side at a walk and trot in the ring (like once turning towards the right, next turning towards the left) Then we head out to the track, which takes a bit of urging (works best when I have a crop, he IS getting better) And begin trotting it. We usually trot halfway around, then walk the rest of the way, then trot the entire thing, then walk halfway. After that, we begin working on the ditches, always at a walk. We go up, and then down, up, and then down, for a long time, always a walk. Then we trot half of the track again, then head back into the ring to cool down. Overall... it usually takes about 50 minutes to an hour and twenty minutes, depending. Also, depending on the temperature of the air around us, and the amount of wind, he usually ends up either with sweat here and there, or completely lathered. Yet, the sweat lathering is diminishing as each day passes. So... will what I'm doing build up his topline? Or am I just building up his stamina? He naturally uses his rear end when we're riding. Rarely does he ride on the forehand. (or however you say it... still learning the "lingo").

11-05-2008, 04:50 AM	#2
Auzzie Honey Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: WA, Australia Posts: 1,011 Images: 11	How old is he? How long has he been in work? Sorry haven't been on here much .. haven't seen your other threads __________________ Training Sessions -- interesting, challenging and achievable. Don't complicate it any more than that. xx Jess, Honey, Jeddai, Jock, Sambo & Buxton xx

11-05-2008, 04:52 AM	#3
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 32,004 Images: 196 Blog Entries: 12	If you're still having to use a crop, even though he's getting better, he's really not working from behind. He may not technically be on his forehand, but he's not really off it either, if that makes sense. Do you work him on any contact? A horse can be fit enough to do all the things you described, but his proper fitness (ie his topline) won't develop until you have him on contact and riding him into your hand - leg to hand, back to front, causing him to lift his back and base of his neck. In your w/t/c do you ever do frequent changes of direction? Going around 1 way, then switching and going around the other way, full circuits of the ring, doesn't demand much of the horse in terms of rebalancing and taking more weight on one inside hind or the other, etc, all of which are necessary to help develop the muscles. __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173)

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11-05-2008, 04:55 AM	#4
FutureVetGirl Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Lone Star State Posts: 4,049 Images: 57	He is 8-9 years old. Has been working on and off since he got off of his racing career at the age of 4. JB... the crop is ONLY used to urge him on... he IS the mule of the Thoroughbreds... and sometimes he needs that extra encouragement just to... well... go where I tell him to go. I don't quite understand what you mean by contact. Because I've heard a ton of varying things... and they all said "contact". So if you could explain what exactly you mean by it. I do serpentines and figure eights often. Sorry I forgot to say that. smacks head Thanks.

11-05-2008, 05:43 AM	#8
Brandywine Full Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sprakers, New York Posts: 25	Hi. It looks like he needs to gain weight, you can see his ribs. If he were still at the track and in training, I'd say he looks like he should. I like to keep my horses where I can't see the ribs but I can feel the last ribs if I rub my hands on them. Adding extra hay at each feeding and/or a type of beet pulp may help increase his weight. He has high withers so make sure that the saddles fit, if he is in pain, he is NOT going to want to go forward. It looks like there are old saddle scars on his back (the white spots on his spine), that indicates bad saddle fit and has made him sore or raw in the past. Have you tried to lunge him at all??? If so, is he just as lazy on the lunge or is it just under saddle? How about when he is outside, does he just stand around and graze or does he take off bucking and kicking? It sounds like with some added "groceries" , having the tack looked at to make sure it fits properly and the work you are doing (I'd even toss in some lunging with the encouragement of a lunge whip), you can get him going nicely. It is not everyday that you hear of a TB acting like a mule, a stallion at that! Good luck. Keep us posted.

11-05-2008, 05:54 AM	#9
FutureVetGirl Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Lone Star State Posts: 4,049 Images: 57	Thanks!! I haven't had a chance to lunge him... but once we get to the point where I can go out there and work him without having to ask permission for everything (which should be soon), I'll do so and see how he reacts.

11-05-2008, 07:28 AM	#10
Beanie33 Full Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Texas Posts: 86 Images: 5	I am an owner of a OTTB. My boy is in about the same body condition as yours. He needs more weight. The more weight he gains the more energy he gets. (We had a new hand at where I board, he was not told to fed the horses in the back pasture....eeeekk. My boy went three weeks without feed. He had tons of good grass, but no feed.) So now he's being fed...I don't have to use my spurs. (boy did I feel like a horrible mom when I found out why he was being so lazy!) You need to find a feed that will put weight on him, but not make him hot.