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Muscling?

2352 Views 6 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  JavaLover, 
JavaLover
I got my horse 6 months ago. That whole time, I've been working on putting weight on him. Well, now I think I put a bit too much. He has a pot belly.

How often would I have to lunge him and for how long, to help him gain muscle? Riding won't help much as he won't trot or canter under saddle.
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Kayty
Unless you know how to lunge correctly, supplying an outside rein and ensuring his hind legs are really working, lunging won't do much.

If you have hills, get on him and walk him up and down a hill for around 20mins a day and slowly increase it.

Any reason why he 'wont' trot or canter, is there anything medically wrong with him to prevent him doing so or is he just being a horror head and refusing to do so?? If he's just misbehaving, get an instructor to help you out with him because he will build muscle much more quickly and effectively if you are able to trot and canter him under saddle.
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kassierae
Trotting up hills is the best way to gain muscle.
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~*~anebel~*~
Noooooo. Walking correctly and briskly is the best way to build muscle. Add hills and you have a great exercise.
Walk walk and more walk is the best thing for your horse!! Make sure he is on turnout in a field which encourages him to walk (ie food and water on opposite ends). And when you do ride him, walk walk walk! And walk don't doddle. You need a clear four beat, energetic walk what is in a frame. Walking outside on natural slopes is absolutely great for them, body and mind.
I would have the vet out to see why he wont trot or canter undersaddle.

Good luck!
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MIEventer
Noooooo. Walking correctly and briskly is the best way to build muscle. Add hills and you have a great exercise.
Walk walk and more walk is the best thing for your horse!! Make sure he is on turnout in a field which encourages him to walk (ie food and water on opposite ends). And when you do ride him, walk walk walk! And walk don't doddle. You need a clear four beat, energetic walk what is in a frame. Walking outside on natural slopes is absolutely great for them, body and mind.
I would have the vet out to see why he wont trot or canter undersaddle.

Good luck!
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Absolutely! Jim Wofford wrote a great article about muscling up an Eventer *my Coach showed it to me recently because I've been wanting to get Nelson muscled up* and he states this exact theory.

Walk, walk, walk and walk some more. Then, when you are done walking, add some more walk.

It isn't just a poddly walk though *poddly...is that a word?* just as Anabel said, you need an energetic, engaged walk. The back legs need to be reaching the front legs, or surpassing them.

Then, get your horse to work on long and low, that really helps alot, especially for the topline, neck and rump. You need to sit on all 3 points of your seat, tall upper body, chest open, looking up, legs lifting the ribs up into your seat and that 4 beat energetic walk will really start taking effect.

Just as already stated, hills are amazing - being an Eventer, I ride outdoors as much as possible when the weather permits. Hack, hack, hack, hack and then do more hacking when I finish hacking.

My daily riding routine, consists of majority of walk - long and low, energetic, engaged walking. I do so much flippin' long and low, that's all Nelson wants to do now...lol. Takes alot of work for me to keep him on his hind end when we do though, especially at the trot and canter - but it is working!!

I was going to add all this fandangled muscle building suppliments to my guys daily feed regime, but after talking with Anabel and my Coach - I decided to just stick to traditional way of conditioning and save my pennies on more important things.
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MyBoyPuck
JavaLover said:
Riding won't help much as he won't trot or canter under saddle.
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Wanna bet? Energetic walking under saddle over uneven terrain is the best way to build muscle. We're talking on the bit, marching walk. Lumbering around sight seeing won't do it.
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JavaLover
Oh, I didn't mean that there is anything medically wrong with him. He's an ex pacer, so he paces under saddle instead of trotting, and instead of cantering, he paces even faster. I'll try your suggestion of walking though! It sounds great :)
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