[ImmiconLady]

I know many people say that topline helps a horse when it is ridden because a horse's back wasn't made to carry the weight of a rider. But I have a buckskin that I am mainly just going to play around on and trail ride, occasionally do a rodeo for fun with my friends, compete in some SCA events, etc. I do not intend on showing him, as I also have 2 show horses already. Also, I am unfortunately having to undergo back surgery in July, and there wont really be anyone to train him and keep him in top muscular condition. I am debating whether or not to try and build up his topline before my surgery? I just dont want to hurt him, but my idea of riding as much as I could before July didnt really consist of hours of trot and collection work. I started working on it a couple days ago, he is very smart and he is understanding it quickly, but he HATES it. He lowers his head when I ask for carriage though, pops his head up occasional, but he puts it back down when I tell him to. He has a higher head carriage then most quarter horses, high withers too. He is extremely muscular in his shoulders and neck and butt. His topline, is OK... everyone says it could be built up a little more. Do you guys think he needs more topline? He is overall very healthy, nice healthy coat/fur, sound feet, no grass belly. To sum it up, my question is: Will it hurt him if I ride him, probably 4-5 days a week, if I never fully develop his topline? Does he even need more topline?

 

[NorthernMama]

Your picture is kind of hard to see. I'd say he looks OK, but take that with a grain of salt. It doesn't matter if you are going to show him or not. The point is that a horse needs back muscles if he is going to carry weight. You are going to trail ride - therefore, he will be carrying weight, therefore he needs muscles. The muscles will come with properly weight distribution and work. If he loses muscle for a little while, no biggie - it just means that when you are ready to ride again, you can't go all out right off the bat. But, you won't be ready for that either.

Back muscles are not for show. They are for health and well-being.

 

[GracielaGata]

Your picture is kind of hard to see. I'd say he looks OK, but take that with a grain of salt. It doesn't matter if you are going to show him or not. The point is that a horse needs back muscles if he is going to carry weight. You are going to trail ride - therefore, he will be carrying weight, therefore he needs muscles. The muscles will come with properly weight distribution and work. If he loses muscle for a little while, no biggie - it just means that when you are ready to ride again, you can't go all out right off the bat. But, you won't be ready for that either.

Back muscles are not for show. They are for health and well-being.

Slightly off topic, but not really... Do you know of any good example pics of good topline vs. not? I agree topline is impt, and how you ride them affects, it, correct? So I have always wondered what to look for. Thanks!

 

[NorthernMama]

I can't post properly right now
I'll try to remember to come back here later. Maybe you'll be lucky and someone more knowledgeable will pick up on this thread. But if not, I'll see what I can find.

 

[MaximasMommy]

Maybe you could lunge him in a pessoa system or something like that to not only develop his carriage and topline, but also keep him "in work" while you can't ride him. I'm just a beginner, but I do notice that when my horse can't be ridden, lunging seems to keep him in work mode.

 

[Saddlebag]

You say you can get his head down but that is an artificial position unless you are also asking him to get his hindquarters deeper under him. When you achieve this and it may be for only a few strides at first, you will feel it, much nicer than a hollow back.

 

[ImmiconLady]

No when I get him on the bit he is moving from the hindquarters forward and stepping up underneath himself. Luckily my trainer told me he naturally already somewhat carries himself which means a lot less work on my part, though she said getting his head to stretch would help

 

[ImmiconLady]

Would everyone say this is decent/good topline?

 

[Endiku]

He isn't SKINnY if that is what you mean by a good topline, but he is missing a lot of muscle that he would develop with proper work. See that excessive dip behind his shoulders, withers, and right where his SI joint is? All of that will get a thicker, more rounded appearance if he is being conditioned correctly. As he is, I wonder if it will be really hard to fit him for a saddle.

 

[ImmiconLady]

Thank you for your information! And yes, unfortunately my saddle I believe does not fit him as well as it should, look at my other thread about White Spots and I have some pictures there as well.

 

[NorthernMama]

Gracie,
see the post by Endiku - that's a decent explanation. The neck should flow to the withers which should flow to the back and to the rump. No dips, hollows, or lumps.

 

[GracielaGata]

Gracie,
see the post by Endiku - that's a decent explanation. The neck should flow to the withers which should flow to the back and to the rump. No dips, hollows, or lumps.

Gotcha! So it is that simple? If there is a decent smooth transition among all those parts, (barring a high withered horse, I assume), then the topline is fairly decent?
I think that bodes well with my mare. I keep meaning to get some confo pics of her, as I want to know personally, and I also think many might like to see her muscle growth and such, since she was posted about quite a bit by CecilliaB when she was a baby and growing up.
Unfortunately we don't have great flat ground on our property, and every time I think to do it, the sun is just too bright for the camera to handle it.
Thanks NorthernMama and Endiku.

 

[NorthernMama]

Gracie, simple is as simple does -- in Immicon's pic there is a dip on the sides behind the wither and a slight hollow just ahead of the rump. I always look at the withers because it's simple and easy to see. Advanced riders and trainers see more of course.

If you want to know about your horse, you can start your own confo thread and get some input directed just for you!

 

[GracielaGata]

Gracie, simple is as simple does -- in Immicon's pic there is a dip on the sides behind the wither and a slight hollow just ahead of the rump. I always look at the withers because it's simple and easy to see. Advanced riders and trainers see more of course.

If you want to know about your horse, you can start your own confo thread and get some input directed just for you!

Thanks! I will probably be doing that soon, when I have some decent confo pics for her.