This is one of several blog entries about various exercises you can do to shift your horse’s weight off the forehand, onto the hindquarters, and improve his strength, as well as teach the new habit of carrying himself in self-carriage.

There are many benefits to strengthening the hindquarters and the lower back of the horse, in brief a few are: gives the horse more pushing power, increases the horses ability to turn (using the inside leg), increases the horses’ stability in lateral movements (i.e. leg yield, shoulder-in etc…), improves canter departs, and prevents injury.

Horses that have been on the forehand for some time are weak in the back and the hindquarters. This may be due to youth, inexperience, or years of being ridden and trained incorrectly. Until the horse is strong enough in his back and hindquarters, he won’t be able to get off the forehand.

Getting him stronger must be done before you can ask your horse to perform consistently under saddle. There are ground exercises you can do to strengthen the horse. Here are some ideas on helping your horse improve.

I have written about Dr. Hilary Clayton’s video Activate your Horses’ Core, featuring a series of stretching and mobilization exercises for the horse, in Horse Ideology and I will cover some of this material here. In particular, I want to cover some of the exercises I’m using that ask that your horse shifts his weight backwards (read the entire series and view her dvd and book for specifics before proceeding).

Backward Weight Shift – a subtle weight shift back, by using a hand – moving upwards and backwards – applying pressure on a pectoral muscle with the other hand resting on the spine to feel the lift. The key is for a subtle shift back that does not result in a backwards step.

Weight shifting can be done with pressure on the pectoral muscles (place a hand on the side of the chest opposite of the hind leg that is not bearing weight, i.e. if right hind is cocked, place hand on left side); by using the halter as shown in this video; by using the bridle; or by using a Linda Tellington-Jones Balance Rein or cordeo. When your horse knows how to half halt, this action can be used to gain the shifting of weight while you are in the saddle.

A horse should shift SLIGHTLY backwards (not a reinback step) before moving off at walk, trot or canter. By shifting back, he frees his forelegs and lowers his hindquarters in preparation for full use of his back legs and pelvis.

Tail Pull – Unlike the Linda Tellington-Jones TTouch of the same name, this is not a backwards pull on the tail but a tail pull that is done by moving the tail to the side. The horse resists the pull and engages his muscles isometrically.

Tail pull causes the HQ muscles to stabilize isometrically

Lumbar and Lumbosacral Lift – Flexion and bending of the pelvis. lifting the lower back and rounding the lumbosacral area. In this dvd, Dr. Stubbs shows the finger/pressure up the tail spine to activate this response more slowly.

The pelvis flexion I’ve seen done uses the groove at the Poverty Line, applying pressure on either side of the tail. However, this method puts you in perfect alignment to be kicked if your horse reacts negatively.

Pelvic tilt using stimulation points

Lumbar Lifting and Lateral Bending – angling a line of pressure across opposite side of the rump where you are standing, gains pelvic lift and rotation.

Lumbar Lifting and Lateral Bend

Thought: Lifting and then rotating, increases the pelvis stability and like many core exercises for humans, the strength is further developed when you must hold a bend or your own weight in balance.

Before the Lumber Lift, note natural line of back

Lumbar Lifting and Lateral Bending - side view

Disclaimer: I highly recommend you consult your vet and chiropractor first, and read and research if these exercises are appropriate for your horse due to his training, health, age, and past medical history.

There is a lot more to these exercises then I can post in one blog, so please! be sure to view Dr. Clayton’s dvd and her accompanying book for full details.