Topline Talk
Ok so here is my pseudo blog about top lines (Now referred to in this as TP and UL for underline, an important factor!).
Here is a little background on Smokey and I! I come from a varied background of riding from Saddleseat to Eventing, starting at 5. I was in Miami Valley Pony Club an graduated a C2. I have competed Novice level eventing with my previous horse that I trained from the ground up; a trotting Tennessee Walker, but he's a subject for another time :p I've also competed up to Second Level in dressage, but schooled higher and currently working on my Bronze medal. I am now a 26 year old professional Assistant trainer and Instructor at a Dressage barn in Missouri.
Smokey (JC Hear Me) is my 10 year old OTTB. Bred and born in Florida, he raced 23, until he was 6ish, breaking his maiden and not doing much else; with earnings around 22k. I got him when he was 8, and he had been "let down" and semi restated by a 11 year old kid and i assume some type of trainer, hunter jumper I believe. This plan was obviously not working, and soon he because a rushing, running stopper at jumps, and a habitual rearer in all other situations. I got him for a song after his would be new trainer had an accident shattering his arm. He had been sitting in the field for 6 months at that time. The owner told my head trainer the horse was very athletic and needed a "young pro that would take him to his potential and not be scared of his antics." I bought him from Florida on just some pictures and my bosses word that he could do some stuff, had perfect changes in the field and could be great.
still in Florida, "pasture" condition
the face got me.
Ok so now to the fun. Some of these will be bullet points since it's so much info.
When I got him we immediately did a Sand Clear in him cuz Florida.
He didn't eat hay well at first so we got his teeth done and started him on Neighlox too for likely ulcers.
We use Purina at our barn, but I've used other feeds for putting on weight too. The most important thing is to find something that is high quality, tested and the horse likes. I don't like sweet feeds or beet pulps if I can avoid them (too much sugar) I'd rather add more roughage and a fat supp. We also feed 3 times a day grain in smaller amounts which greatly reduces colics, ulcers and digestive issues.
His CURRENT feed is this
Free choice quality grass hay (well it is for him, it's the barns normal 2 large flakes am and pm but he eats the hay slow it lasts all day) I do recommenced free choice, or close to it if they can have it, especially with horses with ulcers.
Am 2lbs Purina Strategy
Lunch 3lbs Strategy 1lb Ultium plus Purina Super Sport (1/2 lb)
PM 2lbs Strategy.
It took a lot of finagling to get this feed perfect, and it might change as his showing and training changes. I have also used Purina Impact, enrich 32, Hydration hay, and various combos of supplements when they were needed (Smartpaks omega3 with Neighlox really helped the ulcers, they're gone now. I used Smartpaks Combo 2 supplement but he was growing out of his shoes and having the farrier come every 3 weeks is crazy!)
I like the strategy because it doesn't make him hot, but it has plenty of protein and is easy to digest. same with Ultium with the extra fat nuggets, although a larger diet of that WILL hype the horse up. So will Alfalfa or any legume pretty much. Smokey is in almost all day (I know I know but we work on a small farm, the stalls are huge and he loves it. Honestly he was doing worse on full 24 turnout.) all the horses do get turned out daily; and in the spring and summer he does get turnout on grass as well. Pasture and good grass will help put weight on faster as well as help with digestion.
Things to remember, eating more and smaller meals will lessen digestive upset and ulcers. These things take a long time to fix and you may need more than just a neighlox supplement. I tried that first and it worked, he stayed on it for the better part of a year before he stared cleaning up his hay better and I felt safe taking him off of it.
Short notes on feeding
* less sugar, more protein and fat and digestive supplement if you think they're not getting all of it/ have loose stool.
* the horse has to have fat reserves to draw from when building muscle. That means he must be consuming more calories than the work he's doing is taking from him.
*roughage is the base and the building block. Let them eat all day if possible.
Ok now onto the training!
Training items I have used to help him develop his TP and UL.
Lounging with side-reins.
A snaffle.
Fairly well fitting saddles.
Eyes on the ground/ correct training and lessons.
Notice how small that list is? That because if you ride correctly that's ALL you need. I am NOT against training aids, they can help certain horses and certain situations. But most OTTBs just need some correct riding. If you are an ammy that doesn't know how these things SHOULD feel and look then GET A TRAINER. This is what we're HERE for. It's doable on your own but frustrating for the horse and you before it gets anywhere. If your trainer talks about getting his head to do anything other than flex left and right when having a correct bend, leave. If a trainer ever says " put him in a frame" unless they're taking about his whole outline, RUN. If a trainer doesn't have their OWN trainer that they take (somewhat) regular lessons or clinics from, go elsewhere. A good trainer knows the importance of eyes on the ground and constant educations. Even Olympias have other trainers.
Caveat, I am a Dressage trainer with Eventing background, so I do some hill work and gallop/trot sets too. No matter what discipline you're in correct Dressage work WILL help the horse. It takes time to develop a feel for the horse and the correct contact. Building a TP is building a whole horse and it takes TIME and dedication and regular work and TIME.
Smokey normally gets worked 4-6 days a week, and for a while when we were really working and he was having some soreness I'd do every other day with a lineament rub and a stretching lunge on the off days. His riding time is anywhere between 15 minutes to an hour, depending on how much we're working on that day and how quickly it gets done. I don't like to drill unless he's just being stiff and goofy. Lunging on the side reins I max out at 20 minutes, but in earlier sessions I would extend the time if he was pulling away or taking off.
The first month we only lunged in loose side reins just to get him working. When we restarted him he used to stop at the gate and rear after 5 minutes. So for a while all we were working on was just that, going to work! Steering, half halts, and light transitions. I just sat still and pretty much let him put his head where ever as long as he was steering and responding. My reins were not loose, just a long contact. Soon he started relaxing and diving down with some stretching. We encouraged this for a while since seeking the bit is good! However after a certain point you do have to teach them to lift up and sit on their hocks.
You'll notice the head tossing. This is pretty normal in transitions and when you change the contact. If the head tossing is constant or very violent it's probably a pain issue or something deeper than "wow I hit the end of my parameter!" Also with head tossing, and most other things the best thing you can do is NOT REACT. Sit still and light and keep your hands in one place. If you cannot do this, get a trainer who can. Nothing will be achieved if the horse learns he can pull you out of the tack or you're too stiff/not enough core strength to really be steady with your hands and arms. The horse will not be willing to relax and give into stiff or inconsistent contact.
I think this was the 3rd ride.
First canter
We also worked on Jumping. At first he seemed to get over his issues, but over time he told us no and we listened. But here is an example of how you can start them for jumping/ hunters too.
picture from that same summer
Fall of 2013
you can see just how weedy he was in this picture, hollows behind the shoulders and haunches, ribcage visible. As work increases sometimes you'll get this greyhound look. Keep feeding them it'll get better!
After the initial "just settle and be consistent" rides we started working on leg yields, shoulder in and some other later work and small dressage tests. Now it was time for him to do small circles, more transitions and halts and learn to lift the base of his neck and sit on his haunches and hocks. This is when they normally backslide a little bit, as being told they can't dive on the forehand is a real tough thing to digest :p
Once you get them up and lifting the base of their neck you want to think up the rib cage and getting them to track up a little more. Especially at the walk. At the same time, this will build more UL muscle, which is honestly just as important if not more so than the TP. Think about it like this, get on the floor, all fours and lift your back with your head down, as a horse would work on the bit. How much does that hurt your abs?! They feel the same. Developing their core is just as important as developing your core in the saddle! The stretching and coming back up develops this very important core of the horse. Allowing the UL to be just as elastic as the TP. Make sure when the horse stretches he doesn't get quick, and that you're reins aren't flopping. If he gets quick or loses contact shorten back up and ask him to reach down again. Think about the push from the back of the horse to the front. If the horse feels light in your hand but it behind the vertical or ducking it's NOT right. That's an evasion and they need to be lifted up and put in front of the vertical again.
This is why eyes on the ground and mirrors if you have them are important!
Summer of that year
Winter of that year and Jan 2014 as the last picture.
We had a clinic with Win Foekema a Dutch Dressage trainer early in spring 2014. We worked on keeping the trot the same in all of our lateral work and getting his quicker with his inside leg to really used that stifle and hock. We are also working on him not getting BTV and gaping the jaw. He got rubs on his jaw so I couldn't use his flash for this lesson. Normally he has a padded flash and that makes things a little easier. He likes to lock that jaw, and no its not a pain issue. We began small half passes in this lesson too with emphasis on the correct haunches in too. Those exercises done right really get the back legs to come up and under the horse while maintaining the correct bend of the font end.
Shoulder in
baby half pass
more upright canter.
April of 2014
early summer 2014
We worked on the sitting and collecting and in front of the vertical all this summer, showing First and receiving our first score for the Bronze with a 65% =) We also started more angle in the half passes as well as counter canter loops and starting changes over poles. I really like the haunches in on the circle to get that good bend from nose to tail while encouraging correct engagement of the hind and working the UL.
You can start to see his gaits change at liberty too as we get further into this working correctly thing.
Correct Dressage can even help your barrel racer turn and burn :p
or make the athletic enough to do fun tricks like this!
As of now in our training we had another clinic with a Dressage trainer and Judge, Sarah Micheal. She now has us stretching back down in all of our work with emphasis in almost over flexing and bending to break up the jaw and rub cage. This is LDR not rollkur, as the basis of LDR is the RELEASE. Flex and release to get them to really seek the connect and strengthen their UL. I really noticed a HUGE change in his canter and his lengthened trot (we finally have one!!) his belly was also very hard to clip this year due to the large abdominal muscles =) the underside of his neck is also very soft and floppy while in work, with his back and hocks engaged.
If I'm having a lazy day or he seems sore I'll still lunge him with side reins too. or free lunge, whatever he needs.
Building a top line on your horse is a constant journey and you must be willing to be flexible with your demands and ideas. when you start working them hard or change the contact you want be prepared for some soreness or unwillingness since you just changed your expectations. The goal of building a top line is healthier, happy horse to ride and train that is whole body fit AND flexible. The muscles should be conditioned and stretched. Massage, liniments and chiro work along with well fitting tack, great farrier work (if the feet angles are messed up the whole body will be too!) and a good solid base of instruction are a must. I only had to do a few month of Chiro and did the massage/liniment myself. Learn how to improve your core and your riding to aid your horse. Everyone in the partnership has to be using their core!! For every "take" of the contact there should be an equal give to teach the horse in a positive way. Develop a feel, and always educate yourself. and also, have fun =)
Jump some jumps,
do some bareback
Hack around
and enjoy the journey.
Here he is, freshly clipped yesterday.
Here is a little background on Smokey and I! I come from a varied background of riding from Saddleseat to Eventing, starting at 5. I was in Miami Valley Pony Club an graduated a C2. I have competed Novice level eventing with my previous horse that I trained from the ground up; a trotting Tennessee Walker, but he's a subject for another time :p I've also competed up to Second Level in dressage, but schooled higher and currently working on my Bronze medal. I am now a 26 year old professional Assistant trainer and Instructor at a Dressage barn in Missouri.
Smokey (JC Hear Me) is my 10 year old OTTB. Bred and born in Florida, he raced 23, until he was 6ish, breaking his maiden and not doing much else; with earnings around 22k. I got him when he was 8, and he had been "let down" and semi restated by a 11 year old kid and i assume some type of trainer, hunter jumper I believe. This plan was obviously not working, and soon he because a rushing, running stopper at jumps, and a habitual rearer in all other situations. I got him for a song after his would be new trainer had an accident shattering his arm. He had been sitting in the field for 6 months at that time. The owner told my head trainer the horse was very athletic and needed a "young pro that would take him to his potential and not be scared of his antics." I bought him from Florida on just some pictures and my bosses word that he could do some stuff, had perfect changes in the field and could be great.
still in Florida, "pasture" condition
the face got me.
Ok so now to the fun. Some of these will be bullet points since it's so much info.
When I got him we immediately did a Sand Clear in him cuz Florida.
He didn't eat hay well at first so we got his teeth done and started him on Neighlox too for likely ulcers.
We use Purina at our barn, but I've used other feeds for putting on weight too. The most important thing is to find something that is high quality, tested and the horse likes. I don't like sweet feeds or beet pulps if I can avoid them (too much sugar) I'd rather add more roughage and a fat supp. We also feed 3 times a day grain in smaller amounts which greatly reduces colics, ulcers and digestive issues.
His CURRENT feed is this
Free choice quality grass hay (well it is for him, it's the barns normal 2 large flakes am and pm but he eats the hay slow it lasts all day) I do recommenced free choice, or close to it if they can have it, especially with horses with ulcers.
Am 2lbs Purina Strategy
Lunch 3lbs Strategy 1lb Ultium plus Purina Super Sport (1/2 lb)
PM 2lbs Strategy.
It took a lot of finagling to get this feed perfect, and it might change as his showing and training changes. I have also used Purina Impact, enrich 32, Hydration hay, and various combos of supplements when they were needed (Smartpaks omega3 with Neighlox really helped the ulcers, they're gone now. I used Smartpaks Combo 2 supplement but he was growing out of his shoes and having the farrier come every 3 weeks is crazy!)
I like the strategy because it doesn't make him hot, but it has plenty of protein and is easy to digest. same with Ultium with the extra fat nuggets, although a larger diet of that WILL hype the horse up. So will Alfalfa or any legume pretty much. Smokey is in almost all day (I know I know but we work on a small farm, the stalls are huge and he loves it. Honestly he was doing worse on full 24 turnout.) all the horses do get turned out daily; and in the spring and summer he does get turnout on grass as well. Pasture and good grass will help put weight on faster as well as help with digestion.
Things to remember, eating more and smaller meals will lessen digestive upset and ulcers. These things take a long time to fix and you may need more than just a neighlox supplement. I tried that first and it worked, he stayed on it for the better part of a year before he stared cleaning up his hay better and I felt safe taking him off of it.
Short notes on feeding
* less sugar, more protein and fat and digestive supplement if you think they're not getting all of it/ have loose stool.
* the horse has to have fat reserves to draw from when building muscle. That means he must be consuming more calories than the work he's doing is taking from him.
*roughage is the base and the building block. Let them eat all day if possible.
Ok now onto the training!
Training items I have used to help him develop his TP and UL.
Lounging with side-reins.
A snaffle.
Fairly well fitting saddles.
Eyes on the ground/ correct training and lessons.
Notice how small that list is? That because if you ride correctly that's ALL you need. I am NOT against training aids, they can help certain horses and certain situations. But most OTTBs just need some correct riding. If you are an ammy that doesn't know how these things SHOULD feel and look then GET A TRAINER. This is what we're HERE for. It's doable on your own but frustrating for the horse and you before it gets anywhere. If your trainer talks about getting his head to do anything other than flex left and right when having a correct bend, leave. If a trainer ever says " put him in a frame" unless they're taking about his whole outline, RUN. If a trainer doesn't have their OWN trainer that they take (somewhat) regular lessons or clinics from, go elsewhere. A good trainer knows the importance of eyes on the ground and constant educations. Even Olympias have other trainers.
Caveat, I am a Dressage trainer with Eventing background, so I do some hill work and gallop/trot sets too. No matter what discipline you're in correct Dressage work WILL help the horse. It takes time to develop a feel for the horse and the correct contact. Building a TP is building a whole horse and it takes TIME and dedication and regular work and TIME.
Smokey normally gets worked 4-6 days a week, and for a while when we were really working and he was having some soreness I'd do every other day with a lineament rub and a stretching lunge on the off days. His riding time is anywhere between 15 minutes to an hour, depending on how much we're working on that day and how quickly it gets done. I don't like to drill unless he's just being stiff and goofy. Lunging on the side reins I max out at 20 minutes, but in earlier sessions I would extend the time if he was pulling away or taking off.
The first month we only lunged in loose side reins just to get him working. When we restarted him he used to stop at the gate and rear after 5 minutes. So for a while all we were working on was just that, going to work! Steering, half halts, and light transitions. I just sat still and pretty much let him put his head where ever as long as he was steering and responding. My reins were not loose, just a long contact. Soon he started relaxing and diving down with some stretching. We encouraged this for a while since seeking the bit is good! However after a certain point you do have to teach them to lift up and sit on their hocks.
You'll notice the head tossing. This is pretty normal in transitions and when you change the contact. If the head tossing is constant or very violent it's probably a pain issue or something deeper than "wow I hit the end of my parameter!" Also with head tossing, and most other things the best thing you can do is NOT REACT. Sit still and light and keep your hands in one place. If you cannot do this, get a trainer who can. Nothing will be achieved if the horse learns he can pull you out of the tack or you're too stiff/not enough core strength to really be steady with your hands and arms. The horse will not be willing to relax and give into stiff or inconsistent contact.
I think this was the 3rd ride.
First canter
We also worked on Jumping. At first he seemed to get over his issues, but over time he told us no and we listened. But here is an example of how you can start them for jumping/ hunters too.
picture from that same summer
Fall of 2013
you can see just how weedy he was in this picture, hollows behind the shoulders and haunches, ribcage visible. As work increases sometimes you'll get this greyhound look. Keep feeding them it'll get better!
After the initial "just settle and be consistent" rides we started working on leg yields, shoulder in and some other later work and small dressage tests. Now it was time for him to do small circles, more transitions and halts and learn to lift the base of his neck and sit on his haunches and hocks. This is when they normally backslide a little bit, as being told they can't dive on the forehand is a real tough thing to digest :p
Once you get them up and lifting the base of their neck you want to think up the rib cage and getting them to track up a little more. Especially at the walk. At the same time, this will build more UL muscle, which is honestly just as important if not more so than the TP. Think about it like this, get on the floor, all fours and lift your back with your head down, as a horse would work on the bit. How much does that hurt your abs?! They feel the same. Developing their core is just as important as developing your core in the saddle! The stretching and coming back up develops this very important core of the horse. Allowing the UL to be just as elastic as the TP. Make sure when the horse stretches he doesn't get quick, and that you're reins aren't flopping. If he gets quick or loses contact shorten back up and ask him to reach down again. Think about the push from the back of the horse to the front. If the horse feels light in your hand but it behind the vertical or ducking it's NOT right. That's an evasion and they need to be lifted up and put in front of the vertical again.
This is why eyes on the ground and mirrors if you have them are important!
Summer of that year
Winter of that year and Jan 2014 as the last picture.
We had a clinic with Win Foekema a Dutch Dressage trainer early in spring 2014. We worked on keeping the trot the same in all of our lateral work and getting his quicker with his inside leg to really used that stifle and hock. We are also working on him not getting BTV and gaping the jaw. He got rubs on his jaw so I couldn't use his flash for this lesson. Normally he has a padded flash and that makes things a little easier. He likes to lock that jaw, and no its not a pain issue. We began small half passes in this lesson too with emphasis on the correct haunches in too. Those exercises done right really get the back legs to come up and under the horse while maintaining the correct bend of the font end.
Shoulder in
baby half pass
more upright canter.
April of 2014
early summer 2014
We worked on the sitting and collecting and in front of the vertical all this summer, showing First and receiving our first score for the Bronze with a 65% =) We also started more angle in the half passes as well as counter canter loops and starting changes over poles. I really like the haunches in on the circle to get that good bend from nose to tail while encouraging correct engagement of the hind and working the UL.
You can start to see his gaits change at liberty too as we get further into this working correctly thing.
Correct Dressage can even help your barrel racer turn and burn :p
or make the athletic enough to do fun tricks like this!
As of now in our training we had another clinic with a Dressage trainer and Judge, Sarah Micheal. She now has us stretching back down in all of our work with emphasis in almost over flexing and bending to break up the jaw and rub cage. This is LDR not rollkur, as the basis of LDR is the RELEASE. Flex and release to get them to really seek the connect and strengthen their UL. I really noticed a HUGE change in his canter and his lengthened trot (we finally have one!!) his belly was also very hard to clip this year due to the large abdominal muscles =) the underside of his neck is also very soft and floppy while in work, with his back and hocks engaged.
If I'm having a lazy day or he seems sore I'll still lunge him with side reins too. or free lunge, whatever he needs.
Building a top line on your horse is a constant journey and you must be willing to be flexible with your demands and ideas. when you start working them hard or change the contact you want be prepared for some soreness or unwillingness since you just changed your expectations. The goal of building a top line is healthier, happy horse to ride and train that is whole body fit AND flexible. The muscles should be conditioned and stretched. Massage, liniments and chiro work along with well fitting tack, great farrier work (if the feet angles are messed up the whole body will be too!) and a good solid base of instruction are a must. I only had to do a few month of Chiro and did the massage/liniment myself. Learn how to improve your core and your riding to aid your horse. Everyone in the partnership has to be using their core!! For every "take" of the contact there should be an equal give to teach the horse in a positive way. Develop a feel, and always educate yourself. and also, have fun =)
Jump some jumps,
do some bareback
Hack around
and enjoy the journey.
Here he is, freshly clipped yesterday.