The importance of working your horse correctly...

Can you spot the difference between these two images?

Left picture

• Hollow back

• Raised head and neck

• Limited hindlimb engagement

• Above the vertical

• Shortened stride length

• Tension throughout body

Right picture

• Relaxed throughout the body

• Rounded over the back

• Lowered head position

• Hindquarters engaged

• On the vertical

• Improves stride length

Many people get easily caught up making the horse 'look pretty', however there is so much more to ensuring your horse is working correctly and with consistency, improved performance is a rewardable outcome.

The theory behind the horses correct/true outline is derived from the 'Bow & String' effect. Since, 1798 this theory has given a key insight into how the entire musculosksletal system is connected during movement by explaining how the core musuculature, hindlimbs and forelimbs infleunce the horses outline. The 'bow' is the horses back which should be in flexion (rounded), meanwhile the 'string' is the core musculature and should be taut/engaged. By encouraging this type of work, the horse will correctly be able to recruit core musculature which not only impacts ridden performance but also your horses general posture. However, it is important to note that it takes time for your horse to build enough strength to maintain this position for long periods of time so initially the horse may present inconsistent.

Scientific research has provided evidence of the efficacy of this theory, including increased space between the vertebrae within the back. Therefore, this type of exercise is particularly advocated in horses experiencing overiding/impinging dorsal spinous processes (kissing spines) to reduce friction and pressure of the vertebrae. Furthermore, promoting spinal flexion (rounding) can help induce relaxation of some of the key back muscles including longisimus dorsi which are typically affected by tension, thereby indicating its effectiveness in preventing back pain.

As previously mentioned, consistency is needed to build gradual strength to core musculature and there is a few ways you can implement it into your horses training schedule. Personally, one thing i always incoporate in my horses warm up is encorugaing them to stretch down and adopt a 'long and low' position. This allows the horse to stretch over its back, open up its stride and start to engage core musculature before more intense schooling begins. This is a favourable starting point as the horse is not being asked to adopt this position for the entire schooling session and you can slowly increase the time you do this for. Pole work exercise is fantastic for core musculature and has previously shown to increase the recruitment of back muscles including the longissimus dorsi and multifidus as well as abdominal musculature such as the rectus abdominis.

Additionally, training aids can be used to support your horses way of going but advice/lessons from a fully qualified coach should be acquired if you are a novice to using training aids as incorrect placement of trainign aids can negtaivley effect your horses musculoskeletal system. Whilst the pessoa, cotton lunge aid and equi bands are amongst the few favourable training aids to encourage the bow and string effect, they should not be entirely relied upon and therefore only used a couple of times a week if needed.

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References

Turner, T., (2011) 'Overriding spinous processes ("Kissing Spines") in horses: diagnosis, treatment and outcome in 212 cases'.

Tabor, G., (2022) 'Veterinary physiotherapy for back pain in the horse', UK-Vet Equine, 21(1).

Pilati, N., Pressanto, M.C., Piccionello, A.P., Angelis Corvi, F., Beccati, F., (2025) 'Impinging and overriding spinous processes in horses: A narrative review', Animals, 15(18).

Shakeshaft, A., Tabor,G., (2020) 'The effect of a physiotherapy intervention on thoracolumbar posture in horses', Animals, 10(11).