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Rounding Back? *with videos*

4K views 34 replies 9 participants last post by  SonnyWimps 
#1 ·
As another topic said, I am trying to find a way to build a topline for Sonny and get him to correct properly...rounding his back and using his hind legs more.

Well I think I got it!!!!!!!!!!
I was watching the two videos that was made of Sonny before I bought him and I thought I'd put my hands in the same position as the lady did.
I did it and it seemed that something was different about his gait...it seemed a tad stronger (even at his western jog) and also I seemed to be sitting up farther than I originally was...yet it seemed like his front was up higher than his back end.

So I think I got him to do it!!!!
I am going to do it again and have a friend comment to see if she thinks the back is rounded and also take a video so you all can decide if he looks rounded...but there was definately some difference!!

I'm sooooo happy.

But with the position my hands are in I don't think I'd be able to show like that.

I found out that if I put my hands around my belly button and have my horizontal (like I usually have them) he hollows his back, brings his head up further and goes on the vertical (dressage collection I call it)...but if I put my hands down close to the pommel of the saddle and keep my hands vertical (I guess you'd consider it piano hands) he'll lower his neck, go on the vertical, and "hopefully" round his back

I'll let you all know how it goes tomorrow!!!
 
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#6 ·
Well my friend took videos and though she definately wasn't that great of filmer, it did show what I wanted to see (or show what I didn't want to see if I could say).
Sonny's back was not rounded at all and looked around the same
The wierd thing is his gaits did seem different than they used to be...but no idea why :(

Here are the videos...what do you all think?:
http://s263.photobucket.com/albums/...on=view&current=Possiblyroundingofback012.flv
http://s263.photobucket.com/albums/...on=view&current=Possiblyroundingofback013.flv
http://s263.photobucket.com/albums/...on=view&current=Possiblyroundingofback014.flv
http://s263.photobucket.com/albums/...on=view&current=Possiblyroundingofback015.flv
http://s263.photobucket.com/albums/...on=view&current=Possiblyroundingofback016.flv
 
#9 ·
The second and last videos are the best. He is holding a frame quite well, although does slip out here and there. However, I would like to see his hindquarters engage a little more and have him step up under himself more, rather than just drag his hind end around.
Another thing I'd like to comment on is your hand position - it is very low, almost like you're resting your hands on his wither... it would be better if you could keep your position correct (hands up higher, elbows bent, shoulders back) and make the horse come to you.
 
#13 ·
Your starting to get there. If you watch the videos look at where his hind feet land in relation to the front ones. If the back hoofprint lands in the front one then he is starting to step through properly. Do what your doing now and try what I suggested about the lifting but drive him on when he stops even if you only use it a lower pressure the resulting drive should help a lot.
 
#19 ·
SonnyWimps said:
was he doing that at all? even a little bit..
how would I go about having him do that?

The way he looked in the vdeos...do you think that will help him regain his topline?
From what I saw, he is on his forehand. You need to get him engaging his hind and and rocking back to work off the hindquarter. Lots of stopping, backing, and then moving forward into a trot or canter (right off the bat, no walk steps if you're trotting and no walk or trot steps if you're cantering) will help. Make him step his little hiney up and under him, and as someone posted before you can do this by "lifting" him with your legs and making him rock back.
And yes, this will build his topline.
 
#20 ·
ooh ok I'll try that

did you think he was rounding his back at all, JDI, in the video? Also is that he's doing now (in the video)...will that help his topline? Not sure if you meant what you just suggested on getting him off his forehand would help his topline of it what I was doing with him in the video would
 
#21 ·
SonnyWimps said:
ooh ok I'll try that

did you think he was rounding his back at all, JDI, in the video? Also is that he's doing now (in the video)...will that help his topline? Not sure if you meant what you just suggested on getting him off his forehand would help his topline of it what I was doing with him in the video would
He was working on the vertical in the second and last video. I didn't see him really working through his back, which is where engaging the hindquarters comes into play.
It is very important to building topline.
 
#23 ·
SonnyWimps said:
so you don't think there was really any collection at all today? :( hehe
Collection stems from the horse being wound like a spring; they have to work off the hind end to accomplish this. So, I'm sorry, I just saw a horse on the vertical that was trotting/jogging slowly, he wasn't truely collected. Remember that there is a major difference between headset and collection, they are not one and the same.

Edited to add:
These things will come with proper training. He's looking good, and you should keep up the good work! You'll get there eventually - these things don't happen overnight.
 
#24 ·
JDI...can you tell if there was any collection in these two videos of him? I've been watching the two videos that the lady made of him trying to see if she would just work him off the vertical or actually get him to round.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrXDA5hnTXo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoV7p6ivRVE
(only about 1 minute of the last video would be of him actually "rounding" his back if he was...the other parts was of my riding him when I had my lesson on him)

I'm thinking that she trained him only to go on the vertical as collection and that most of his "topline" was fat and not actually muscle. If that be the case then maybe he doesn't even know how to push himself from his hind end and round his back.

I will try some stopping, backing and then asking immediately for a trot or canter.
Would it be best to use a crop for this? Or try without it? Usually he's pretty good about picking it up, but he's been moody because of the weather haha (can't say I haven't either...I don't like hot weather hehe).

Thanks JDI your awesome
 
#26 ·
yep I know he should have been going a bit faster, but it was a hot day, we just finished a trail ride and he was blowing. I dind't want to push him too much. EIther Thursday or Tuesday I'll get another video and do it right when I get on him...that way he'll have energy
 
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