Helping get this guy in good shape--pic heavy

I don't know why I didn't think of that before (smacking forehead) When I was little my parents made me work my pony through the poles. It was mostly to show that I had control, but it could help Yogi's bending.

To be honest I never thought of polebending since I've not got any poles but I think when I get my own I may invest in some. George also had no muscles after being left, he was left in a field more or less for two years because the owner's son had lost interest in him, don't know why because he was a fantastic little pony.

My first pony had been used for some pole bending when I got him, and the man that helped my parents gget into horses and found my first pony suggested it. By the end I could run the poles and control my pony. Yogi will probably play on the poles and barrels to help him bend better since my brother's legs are so short. He's getting the point playing on the barrels, so maybe doing this a little more at the walk and trot will help him to build himself up. I feel like such a doofus for not thinking of that when it was how I learned to ride. I just didn't think of that as a way to help him gain muscles in his neck.

YAY!! My mom had a break through with Yogi. He finally took the right lead today, and so she was able to get him to do the barrels and poles. :)

Hill work, hill work, hill work!! :) That's the best way to help a horse build muscle and learn to 'push' himself along rather than 'pull' himself along....doing this is supossed to be a therapy, so it has to feel and be good for the horse. Just remember that if he breaks gait at first, let him, because he has to figure out how to use his body. Don't be too picky....it's a therapy. If you don't have hills, work the horse over raised ground poles, that's a great alternative. You can also ask the horse to jump smaller jumps, like cross rails, something pretty easy. While in the saddle, work on 'long and low' exercises to get him to stretch his topline and also transitions.

As for not taking the one lead, make sure your saddle fits, his feet are okay, teeth, and absolutely get a chiropractor out to see him!

We're working on the hills, he is very good about not breaking gait. I think his lead issues had more to do with the fact that he didn't understand what was being asked. My mom asked him a different way, and he did it the first time. We just had a communication malfunction.

He's not very supple, but hopefully that will get better. There are no equine chiros in my area. (Middle of nowhere TN) He actualy enjoys the up and down hills, so we are having my little brother with him on the trails (hilly ones) as much as possible, adn my mom is working with him on beding and getting more supple.

Could I get an explaination on the "long and low" excercises and examples? I'm not really sure what you mean. We got his teeth and feet done, and the saddle fits really well on him. :) Those were our first checks when we got him. (He was lame, and we weren't sure about his past)

I'll keep everybody updated on how he does with his work. He's such a good boy, and he will do almost anything to please. He's also getting to work on being ok in the stocks...not really gotten anywhere with that yet.

I wonder if lots of work with your horse on the bit, flexing at the poll may help build up that topline some more. Sometimes horses with under developed topline can over develop under the neck, creating the 'ewe neck'. Getting his head down but under could help correct this - if it is an issue that is.

lots of troting up and down hills helped me!! even walking, an some canter!

Thanks Kiwigirl: We're working on working his neck with flexing and everything. He's doing better with it, and his neck is improving with the flexing work.

Spirithorse and WelcomeStranger28: Thanks :) We're definitely working on that. He's going to be up and down hills, and on poles and barrels. He actually seems to be liking it very well. :) We also have him on a good hillly pasture, and he's being ridden a lot to try to help get him in better shape.

I think working with collection would help both the muscling problem and the issue with his leads. If he could engage himself more, it would help him develop more coordination and strengthen his topline.