Exercises For Weak Hind End

[AHorseSomeDay]

Does anyone have any good exercises to strengthen a horse's weak hind end? My horse had to be on stall rest for three weeks and I am slowly bringing him back. We can now walk and trot but his hind end is really weak and this winter while riding indoors I want to work on some exercises to strengthen his hind end.

Does anyone have any good exercises for the indoor? Unfortunately due to Connecticut winters I can't trot up hills. :D

Any exercises suggestions to work on in the indoors?

Thanks.

[allpurpose]

I've been working on stifles and sacro for the last 10 months, and I do lots of gentle hill work. Since it sounds like you'll be stuck indoors, I'll share my indoor routine:

Lots and lots and lots of walk/trot, trot/walk transitions; walk/halt/back/walk/trot-rinse-repeat transitions (check with your vet on the backing first), lengthen/shorten strides at walk and trot, ground poles, raised poles, 20-meter circles, spirals (again, check with your vet), and collection and extension on the long and short sides of arena.

If you work on two or three exercises a session, it keeps it a little fresher for you and your horse. As far as the ground poles, someone posted on a similar thread that they vary the distance between the poles to keep their horse thinking about his feet.

Also, are you SURE you're stuck indoors all winter? Here in Michigan we have the same nasty winters you get where you are, although there are several days where we're able to get out on the roads. Luckily there's a long farm lane nearby with some gentle hills and little traffic that stays fairly ice free in the winter, and that saved our sanity during rehab last winter!

Good luck to you! Know that my old guy and I are working away on the same thing in Michigan!

[JB]

Honestly, it's all about correct riding. It IS Dressage work - transitions, lateral work, responsiveness, forward, engagement. It's nothing more than correct flatwork.

[Small Change]

I'm helping a friend of mine bring her big WB gelding from an injury. He had a weak, trailing hind end to begin with, and his rehab time off didn't really do anything to improve it. We've been doing lots of work getting him forward, long and low - he's the type of horse that would prefer to be stiff and straight through his spine from nose to tail with his hind end about two miles behind his front end. That, combined with loads of hacking over varied terrain in the same long and low position is doing wonders for him as a starting place. Next, we'll be looking at work over caveletti and small gymnastics, as well as asking for more advanced flat work.

Another big thing for this horse is keeping him elastic and responsive in all gaits, which means that we're on top of him being forward from the minute a bum hits the saddle (he'll poke along for the entire ride if he thinks he can get away with it!), and insisting that he demonstrates collected, working and extended paces within each gait.

[AHorseSomeDay]

I'm helping a friend of mine bring her big WB gelding from an injury. He had a weak, trailing hind end to begin with, and his rehab time off didn't really do anything to improve it. We've been doing lots of work getting him forward, long and low - he's the type of horse that would prefer to be stiff and straight through his spine from nose to tail with his hind end about two miles behind his front end. That, combined with loads of hacking over varied terrain in the same long and low position is doing wonders for him as a starting place. Next, we'll be looking at work over caveletti and small gymnastics, as well as asking for more advanced flat work.

Another big thing for this horse is keeping him elastic and responsive in all gaits, which means that we're on top of him being forward from the minute a bum hits the saddle (he'll poke along for the entire ride if he thinks he can get away with it!), and insisting that he demonstrates collected, working and extended paces within each gait.

My horse also started off with a weak hind end to begin with and the stall rest made it worst. I can definitely feel it when I ride and my trainer says it is noticeable. I did notice that it does get better after I've trotted around the ring a few times. He probably won't be turned out for another couple of months because we don't want him to reinjure himself.

[EiRide]

Hills best.

If you are stuck in a flat arena, I'd say lots of trotting poles, transitions, and rein backs (start slow, build up of course) will help.

[Junebugz]

Hills best.

If you are stuck in a flat arena, I'd say lots of trotting poles, transitions, and rein backs (start slow, build up of course) will help.

Rein backs are excellent and it doesn't take much. If you have a slight slope that you can back up it will not take much to build that rear end. Just keep in mind as the previous poster said start slow and do this in moderation :yes:

[Levi's owner]

Pole work. Even at the walk. Plus, it's something to keep their interest when they are stuck inside.

[Show_hunters]

Raised trot poles and transitions.

[alteringwego]

transitions and hill work. Actively engage your horse under saddle. If he's weak then go slow so that you don't make him sore.
Walking and trotting up hills is amazing though!

[VarsityHero4]

Also, even if you have a decent sized field outside that you can use you don't necessarily need the hills. My horse had a pretty weak canter and was very tough to get off of his front end. I have a fairly large field that is ever so slightly sloped and has some mild dips and rises in it, ever since I started riding him as much as possible in the field his canter has not only improved about 100% but he's become much more aware of where his feet are and has learned how to balance going down a slope and to carry himself up.

[wildswan]

Simple leg yields, when done correctly, also help.