Alternative to hillwork?

[vikki85]

After a previous thread on which we established my mare wasn't building top line despite being correctly schooled, I have had her checked yet again by a different osteopath who I've never had before, who is well recommended as finding problems other people have overlooked.

Turns out she was unlevel behind and her back was 'out' (very miffed with myself at having not noticed this, as having had her from a foal and knowing her so well I usually pick up on these things) we believe due to a horse box accident last year in which her leg went through side of a friends box and she was trying to violently yank it out in her panic

Anyway, osteopath treated her and prescribed hill work and raised trotting poles (which I can do).... But the land around my yard is flat as a pancake Working full time and relying on my Mum to drive the horsebox, it's not possible to take her out to more hilly areas on a regular enough basis.

Any ideas for other exercises (other than normal lateral work which I'll slowly build back up to) to get her lifting and stretching her back and build up her now quite weak bottom? Due a lesson next week so will of course speak to my instructor, but any ideas in the meantime?

[sarahp]

You can only do what you can do. Go and find some hills when you can and do the raised trotting poles at home. Beyond hills, poles and lateral work I can't think of anything else.

Just had a thought - daughter's dressage instructor does a nifty trick used in lessons to show riders how the back should feel when used correctly. Done with horse standing, she pokes (gently) in a couple of different spots, I've never done it so can't explain exactly where they would be but one just behind the ribs somewhere and the other on the back of the quarters, roughly on a level with the stifles. Both if done in the right place will prompt the horse to lift the back, in her context under the saddle so that the rider on top could feel what it should be like. Might this work for a starter exercise for yours, performed without a rider?

Good luck, now that she's been diagnosed it should be onwards and upwards from here.

[vikki85]

Thanks sarahp, I had considered these kinds of exercises but wasn't exactly sure where I should be 'prodding' will see if I can find some more info on them! The osteopath is coming out for a follow up session at the end of the month so fingers crossed she notices a marked improvement I could definately feel the difference when I got back on her for the first time after her treatment - she felt about a hand higher as she was able to lift her back that much more! Just can't believe it went unnoticed for so long

[sarahp]

Well I don't know exactly, never done it myself, only seen instructor doing it! Fascinating to see it done, it was a new one on me. Trial and error I think as to where to prod, I'd start gently in case she objects.

Now that she's all freed up the muscle will come back with correct work and feeding as you know.

[vikki85]

I'll experiment tonight! On a side note, I'm finding it quite difficulty to find a local feed store which sells feed balancers :/ Will have to search further afield I think or try and order direct of a website.

[sarahp]

I'm amazed, most decent big feed companies now make them. Can you find out what brands are available and look up their websites, maybe your feed stores choose not to stock the balancers so you could lobby them for them. And some feed companies will deliver direct.

Certainly Top Spec, Baileys and Dobson and Horrell make them, and Dengie do too specifically designed to balance their alfalfa based products.

[vikki85]

I think they must choose not to sell them, to be honest the few stores around me don't have a great range of feeds full stop. I've been keeping my eye out for TopSpec and Baileys as they were mentioend in my previous post but no luck. Will take a look online

[sarahp]

Badly written by me I'm afraid - I meant check to see what brands the shops round you stock to start with! If they stock a brand that do a balancer but don't order it to sell on spec themselves, maybe they would get it in for you?

[magrat2002]

Do you happen to have any equine spa facilities around you?

[threekids]

can you use a pessoa to get her long and low and stretch the back.

[gurnos]

Another thing you could do is a lot of direct transitions. I find these the best to get my C to lift his back a little, especially repeating halt to trot

[vikki85]

gurnos - yes, transitions is something I do a lot of anyway in my day to day schooling, so I'll definately work on them

magrat2002 - No equine spa facilties around here I'm afraid

threekids - I had thought about a pessoa because a few people suggested it on my original post but I'm generally not into gadgets so I'm a bit wary :/ however girl who owns my yard has one so could try it. I must admit, out of all thje 'gadgets', the pessoa is the one that seems to be the least villified of them all so perhaps will give it a go!

sarahp - Hadn't thought of that, my local feed stores do stock Baileys, Dodson and Horrell etc so will ask if they can order in one of their balancers

[gobby]

I would have said pessoa too. How about strapping to help build her bum up?

[vikki85]

I would like to try strapping but never done it before so think I'll youtube it for a bit of a tutorial!

[icarus]

Topspec deliver to your door(online shop) and even with the postage its cheaper than my local feed place!!!!

[vikki85]

That's good to know, I think I'll go visit their website!

[fruity]

You can help from the ground with simple stretches - there's probably someone on here who can explain better than i but I was given exercise to "switch on" on my fellas back muscles after he put his pelvis out.
You press a spot under the belly, centre, about where the girth goes (I can feel it but can't describe, sorry - help someone??) and when pressed they lift their back. I do it 4-5 times twice a day - that might help? There's another spot on the quarters you can exercise those muscles with but can't remember where!
There must be someone one here who can explain better... :-)

[sarahp]

I've explained what I can about these above!

[GinaGeo]

I know what you mean, my physio showed me some exercises to do with my horse. The first the lifting the back one. I stand facing his side and then put my hands palm up under his belly, with my fingers pointing upwards, then press my fingers into him, it doesn't take much once they know what you're after. She said if I struggled then to try running a hoof pick (softly) from the front of the belly to the back as that's a fool proof way to achieve it but I've never needed to.

The "bum" ones she called "unzipping", not done this one for awhile! But if I can recall correctly you use your thumb, with your hand in a fist and run it from the highest point of the croup in a diagnol toward the tail when you're stood facing them side on. You might have to play about with this one a bit though, as the reaction never seemed to noticeable to me

[sarahp]

No, I have seen a different bum one, the more the merrier.

[vikki85]

Great, I will try all the stretches mentioned by all Her neck has started to look better already since the ostepath came but her little bum will need more work

[snowflake]

The reason hill work is good is because it makes them use their back end, which means their working through their topline, pushing through their back thus giving a natural outline. So you need exercises which makes them use their back end - try propping poles on little blocks & trotting over them. This is great for building top line & making them work hard! Then put them roughly on a 20m circle. Lots of schooling exercises, especially circles will help.