| Does your horse have a weak topline? | | | | strong topline, horses need to stretch the muscles and |
| Some horses just have conformation that promotes a | | | | ligaments in their topline. Feeding them on the ground |
| weak topline. Whether your horse is swaybacked or | | | | will definitely help. In addition, consider using a ground |
| loses his topline when he isn't in training, a weak topline | | | | toy that dispenses feed. There are a lot of options on |
| is never pretty. Luckily, there are three simple ways | | | | the market, including the Nose-It, the Likit Snak-A-Ball, |
| that you can help any horse build a stronger, | | | | and the Amazing Graze toy. |
| better-looking topline. | | | | These toys all roll around on the ground, which |
| #1: Build Your Horse's Topline with Backing | | | | encourages your horse to keep his head down for |
| When your horse walks backwards, he has to engage | | | | long periods of time, thus stretching his topline muscles. |
| the muscles in his back and hindquarters, especially if | | | | When these muscles are stretched, they develop |
| he lowers his head while backing. Teaching your horse | | | | mass more easily. |
| to back with his head down is a valuable time | | | | I've used all three of the toys mentioned above, plus a |
| investment for two reasons: | | | | few others that are no longer on the market. They |
| 1. It increases his topline | | | | work well because the slow dispensing of feed keeps |
| 2. It puts him in a relaxed state because horses relax | | | | your horse interested for longer than a non-food toy. It |
| when their heads are low | | | | also keeps him engaged for longer than his normal hay |
| At first, your horse may only want to back with his | | | | or grain allotment. |
| head up high. You may have to spend some time in | | | | One additional benefit is that having your horse stretch |
| the beginning teaching him to back with his head down | | | | his topline is that this prevents his withers from "getting |
| low. Sometimes holding a treat down low can | | | | stuck," which is the case in a lot of horses that are |
| encourage your horse to drop his head. | | | | "built downhill." They are not actually built that way, but |
| I sometimes break the exercise into two pieces: | | | | their withers are stuck so they look downhill. Once their |
| dropping the head and backing. To teach my horse to | | | | withers are released, they will have a more |
| lower his head, I crouch down low and gently tug on | | | | balanced-looking topline. |
| the lead rope. Most horses are curious enough to drop | | | | #3: Feed Raw Coconut Oil |
| their heads and see what I'm doing. I reward that | | | | This works well for horses who are fat all over |
| action with a treat. Next, I get teach him to lower his | | | | except over their topline. For some reason, the calories |
| head while I'm standing up, again using a treat as a | | | | from raw coconut oil go to a horse's topline. Most |
| reward. Finally, I teach him to keep his head low while | | | | horses that have this problem of being fat but having |
| backing. | | | | no topline have a Shao Yin personality type. These |
| This may take several days, as some horses actually | | | | horses can be absolute pudges, yet look swaybacked |
| don't know how to engage the correct muscles to | | | | and ewe-necked. So it's coconut oil to the rescue. If |
| back with their head low. At first, one of my horses | | | | you have this kind of horse, here are the three |
| could only take a step or two backward with his head | | | | resources you need: |
| in the correct position. It took several days before he | | | | - Get raw coconut oil at your health food store or |
| could engage the correct muscles and back 10 steps | | | | online |
| or more. | | | | - Learn more about Shao Yin and other horse |
| Once your horse has learned to back with his head | | | | personality types at the Horse Harmony website |
| dropped, back him every day for 100 steps. This | | | | - Type your horse's personality online for free at the |
| exercise will build the muscles in his topline, including his | | | | Horse Harmony Test website if you are not sure |
| neck, back, and hindquarters. The results are actually | | | | about his type |
| surprisingly quick. You should see a difference in 2 | | | | For those of you out there with topline-challenged |
| weeks or so. | | | | horses, I hope these recommendations help. They |
| #2: Feed Your Horse on the Ground and Use Ground | | | | have certainly helped my two horses who have this |
| Toys | | | | issue, even during the winter, when they are not in |
| If you feed your horse in hanging bucket or manger, | | | | training. Hope these tips help your horse, too! |
| this may be contributing to his poor topline. To build a | | | | |