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Caring for and improving the horse’s top line motion

Keywords
REF HA52, Horse physical training, Muscle warm-up, Horse muscle mass, preliminary training to jumping
Intermédiaire

Michel rides Day Dreamer for the first time, and as it’s his practice when a new horse joins the yard, he starts by assessing the horse. Michel finds out the weaknesses and strengths of the horse by paying attention to the horse’s reactions when he varies his position. It will enable him to set some training goals. Regarding Day Dreamer, like the majority of horses, his weakness is some sensitivity in the withers and underneath the saddle. Michel explains the mind and body attitude to take on, in order to allow Day Dreamer to improve the motion of his top-line which will in turn release the points that are blocking the flow of energy.

Bringing a particular attention to the horses’ back has always been a priority for Michel. No exercise can be beneficial and successful if the horse moves in a wrong attitude. If the horse doesn’t use his back correctly, it’s illusive to expect him to be in self-carriage and to engage his rear legs. The rider’s priority should be to stretch the horse’s entire top line in order to improve the driving forces and to allow the energy to flow through as freely as possible, from the rear-end to the mouth with no blockages.
 

To remember:

- Caring for the  horse’s  back must be an absolute priority. “No back, no horse”

- Beware of your horse’s reactions to detect eventual soreness or blockage in the flow of energy.

- At the end of an exercise, if you let go off your reins and the horse stretches down, it means that he loosens up the correct way. On the other hand, if he opens up and lifts up his neck, it shows some soreness, blockage of energy, or some misunderstanding.
 

Time: 
3 video - 28 min 30