Quality of Movement: Enhancing a Horse's Way of Going
It’s common knowledge that weightlifting with incorrect technique can damage a person’s physique more than it benefits, but how many of us have considered the same is true for our horses? Exercise is incredible in its benefits, when in the correct form, but research has shown us the negative effects to a horse’s stride when we add a rider’s weight. Because of this insight we must consider whether we ride life in a way that benefits the horse and does not harm. An educated rider can show their horse a way of going that will correctly engage the horse's musculoskeletal structure to improve his longevity and vitality, as well as improve his athleticism and ability to complete complex maneuvers. From the correct alignment of their topline to the engagement of their hind end, every aspect of biomechanics influences how a horse moves. Though the movement of a horse will be highly influenced by conformation and breeding, focusing on specific biomechanical techniques, riders and trainers can improve any horse's quality of movement, enhance performance, and overall well-being, to reach each horse’s individual potential.
Here are five strategies to start with:
1. Correct Equine Toplines:
The AQHA rulebook defines an excellent western lope, but an essential piece in the puzzle includes maintaining a level topline. The topline refers to the horse’s structure from Poll to Tail. So, a level top line would be a horse with tucked and engaged hind quarters, a lifted and level back, and a level neckline. There is a common misconception in the all-around horse world that to achieve this, you should bridle a horse up by bumping on your reins to get the neck down. Unfortunately if you only engage the reins, you may get the neck down, but you are not engaging the rest of the horse’s body without additional aids. I like to encourage my clients to picture their horse’s ideal shape as a rainbow tucked in upfront and behind, lifted in the center. To achieve this, we can picture our horse like an accordion. Bridle contact allows us to create a stop sign to send our horses motion into, which will then pop the horses back up in the center, but the motion absolutely must start from getting the horses hind end engaged then the back lifted. Then by consequence of those two things, the horse's neck will fall into a level position. So the forward motion we can create through our leg is just as important, if not more important, than contact through the bridle. A correctly developed top line will lead to better support of the rider's weight, improved balance, and more connection between horse and rider.
2. Bit Contact:
The AQHA and APHA rulebooks describe horses carrying their noses “behind the bridle” as “showing intimidation”. For English and western classes we want to encourage our horses to connect with the bit and stretch forward into the contact. Alternatively, classes like the western pleasure and trail horses will be shown on a drape rein without contact, so self carriage becomes essential. Self carriage is developed through correct bridle contact first. The ideal contact encourages the horse to reach forward into the bit, allowing for a soft connection from the rider's hand to the horse's mouth. I like to give clients the mental picture of pushing a shopping cart. Their hands should push forward towards the bit then their leg sends their horse forward into the contact. Horses must be ridden back to front and not front to back. If we override the front of our horses, consequently they start to display intimidation by coming behind the bridal. By encouraging the horse to stretch down and out, riders promote a rounded frame and engagement of the horse's hindquarters, resulting in improved balance and impulsion.
3. Forward Motion:
Forward motion is the foundation of quality movement in horses. It refers to the horse's willingness to move freely and energetically from the hindquarters into the bridle. Unfortunately, in the Hunter Under Saddle and Western Pleasure classes, many exhibitors are not confident in sending their horse forward because they have a belief that the slowest wins. But let me be clear, forward motion does not necessarily mean speed. We are looking for impulsion and energy that sends the horses legs forward in such a way that allows them to engage through their core and lift their shoulders. Our rule books are very clear that we should never sacrifice quality of movement for slow speed. I like to encourage my riders to picture their forward motion like peddling a bike backwards, the energy should have an uphill motion, traveling up the horses shoulders, over the back, then down through the hips and forward through the feet. Horses must be exhibited at a pace that best shows deep, striking movement. Riders can encourage forward motion through correct use of their seat and leg aids. For more information on a correct western seat. Please refer to this article…. Consistent forward motion creates a dynamic, rhythmic stride and shows off our horses at their best.
4. Core Engagement:
Just like humans, horses rely on a strong core for stability, balance and coordination. Core engagement refers to the activation of the horse's abdominal and back muscles, which provide support for the spine and pelvis during movement. A horse cannot lift his back without an engaged core. A popular buzzword at the moment is the thoracic sling, but the truth is many horses even competing at a high level are not strong though the thoracic sling and because of this are struggling to be fluid through complex maneuvers. If we build off our mental image of pedaling a bike backwards, a horse must come up through his pecs, up through the shoulder, then over his back etc. While it is important to have the correct idea as a rider and ask for this in our horse, we must also be mindful of his muscle development to be sure we are asking fair questions. If you ask for prolonged behaviors on an unfit horse, you can easily frustrate your animal and find he begins to act out. To build core engagement, I like to focus on long and low stretching circles, lateral work, and raised poles. An easy exercise to start with is a medium to large size circle, keeping your horse bending in towards the circle then asking him to move laterally away from the circle, releasing on his best efforts laterally away from the circle.
5. Hind End Engagement:
The hind end is the powerhouse of the horse, providing the propulsion necessary for forward movement and impulsion. Engaged hindquarter will provide the deep step behind to allow our horse to lift upfront. To engage the hindquarters we must activate the muscles of the hind legs, pelvis, and lower back to create a pushing force that drives the horse forward. The pelvic tilt of a horse can be the easiest way to identify hind end engagement. When engaged correctly (which varies depending on conformation) you’ll notice a steeper angle from the top point of the horse's hip to his tail bone. Another indication of improper engagement from behind is a horse taking a smaller step with his back legs than the front at the trot. To improve impulsion I encourage rider to develop their feel and awareness of the hind legs by verbally telling me “left” and “right” when they feel the horse step with their hind legs. When we build the awareness we can use our seat and leg aids to encourage forward motion as we feel him begin to lift his hind foot off the ground. I begin this at the walk.
Take your time developing your horse's strength through his core and hind. With consistency and patience you will be able to improve your horse's forward motion, topline, and connection to the bit. These changes will never make your horse a perfect mover if he does not have a strong conformation but you can build his movement to reach his full potential and improve his longevity.
Just as improper weightlifting technique can harm humans, riding a horse with incorrect form can negatively impact its stride and health. The article highlights five key strategies to improve your horse’s quality of movement.
Correct Equine Toplines: Maintain a level topline by engaging the horse's hindquarters and lifting its back.
Bit Contact: Encourage the horse to reach forward into the bit to develop a rounded frame and self-carriage..
Forward Motion: Ensure the horse moves energetically from its hindquarters using seat and leg aids to encourage a dynamic stride.
Core Engagement: Strengthen the horse's core muscles to support stability and balance, using exercises like stretching circles and lateral work to build core strength.
Hind End Engagement: Activate the hindquarters to provide impulsion and improve forward movement, focusing on the horse’s pelvic tilt and step size.
By incorporating these techniques, riders can enhance their horse's movement quality, performance, and longevity, tailoring their approach to each horse's conformation and abilities.
