Strong topline muscles are considered to improve performance by encouraging better posture, carriage, and propulsion. A weak topline can often result in reduced core engagement, hollowing through the back, and subsequently reduced limb engagement.
Sounds important right? But how can topline musculature be improved? Nutrition? Training aids? Hill work? Well, it's good news because there are several methods of improving topline in horses. The key is understanding how the muscles work and how we can target them.
Muscle Chains
Muscles never work alone, they work in groups (chains) with each other, counteracting and balancing the forces. Think of the topline as the dorsal muscle chain (red arrows in the picture below). Counteracting these forces is the ventral muscle chain (blue arrows), otherwise known as the core/abdominal musculature. When one muscle or region of the horse becomes compromised within the chains, the other muscles further down the chain will also be affected. For example, lower back pain or tension may result in lifting of the head and poor hindlimb engagement. Reinforcing core and topline support is therefore critical to ensure correct muscle function and way of going.
Bow and String Theory
According to the bow and string theory first described by Slijper in 1946, the equine spine acts as the bow (dorsal chain) that can be maintained in a slightly rounded position by tension of the string (ventral chain). When there is insufficient tension on the string (the abdominal muscles are functioning poorly), the weight of the ventral chains extends the spine promoting an inverted and hollow posture. The ventral muscle chains should therefore be strengthened to ensure correct posture and use of topline muscle. Therefore, increasing topline muscle mass. Equally, the bow (dorsal chain) should be lengthened to increase suppleness and the horses ability to flex through the back.
Things to Consider
This theory was a first attempt at considering the equine trunk as a unit, allowing us to view the horse more holistically. However, since this theory was proposed, our knowledge of equine biomechanics has significantly progressed. Although this theory is still important to understand, it is also key to recognise that the spinal collum of the horse also has other planes of movement it is capable of, not just flexion and extension as depicted in this theory, but also rotation and lateral flexion.
Additionally, it is important to understand that the power generated from the different muscular chains is not equal, nor is their function. The spinal muscles are much thicker and more dense in comparison to the thin, sheet-like abdominal muscles, therefore they are able to generate more force. However, these same spinal muscles do not function primarily to facilitate back movement but instead, give support and stability to the vertebral column. In terms of muscle structure and size when comparing the topline muscles and abdominals, their form supports their function. Our understanding of this theory also often excludes the head, neck, and limbs. All of which also play a vital role in topline and abdominal engagement.
Okay, I understand. But how can I improve engagement?
The first thing to consider is to have your horse checked over by a physio and ensure that your saddle fits appropriately. If you have any concerns, have a vet come and check them out. Therefore, if there's a reason your horse may be struggling to develop their topline, this can be determined and you can work with your physio and vet on an individual basis.
Nutrition - Diet and nutrition shouldn't be used as a substitute for proper work, however, ensuring your horse is receiving the correct nutrition will help. Firstly, it's important that your horse is receiving enough calories for the work that they are performing. Additionally, it is essential that your horse is consuming enough protein and amino acids within their diet to aid in the repair and maintenance of muscle tissue.
Management - Excellent management practices can make all the difference to our horse's performance, but it is commonly overlooked. The health and welfare of our horses should always be the number one priority and appropriate, regular turnout should be provided alongside an accurate feeding, handling, and exercise regime. However, there are small changes we can make to improve general posture and prevent inaccurate muscle use. Feeding hay from the floor, and not always in the same area is beneficial, as it encourages stretching through the back. It also prevents unnecessary strain through the neck and back muscles that may occur with the repetitive pulling when eating from a hay net. The muscles that often become overused when regularly eating from a haynet are also the opposite muscles we want to improve if we're looking to develop topline. Feeding from the floor can also improve behavioural frustration and respiratory function.
Ridden work - There are so many exercises we can do to strengthen our horse's topline. Your physio can suggest appropriate exercises to suit your individual situation. However, some good exercises to consider are:
Hill work: Inclines can encourage engagement of the hindquarters, whilst delines require increased postural control, limb placement, and balance.
Long and low: encouraging a long and low "stretchy" frame with the correct contact, working over the entire back is a great way to build topline musculature as it can engage all the appropriate muscles with more freedom and stretch throughout the movement. Think forward not fast.
Transitions: speed-play and transitions can be so beneficial at improving balance and hindlimb propulsion. During a transition, the horse needs to change their pattern of muscle recruitment to enable whole-body coordination. Additionally, research has found that activation of the epaxial and abdominal muscles increases as the speed of trot increases. Subsequently, improving topline musculature through increase and decrease of speed during work.
Polework: polework is also great for increasing limb engagement, therefore lifting through their back. To improve balance over poles, horses also tend to lower their heads which will further help to increase topline suppleness.
Groundwork - Carrot stretches and training aids can be a great exercise to integrate into your weekly routine to improve topline and abdominal recruitment. However, caution with training aids to ensure you do not have the opposite effect of restricting their movement through incorrectly used or fitting aids. Additionally, always have a physio show you the correct way to carrot stretch your horse so as to not overstretch or cause injury. Long-reining can also be a great way to encourage a long and low posture from the ground whilst improving straightness.
Key Points:
The topline musculature cannot be individualised and targeted without considering head and neck position, limb engagement, and abdominal recruitment.
Muscles work in groups and with each other throughout the body. Our job is to ensure that the muscular chains do not become compromised and that the horse is working appropriately.
How we manage our horses can make a big difference. Consider changes such as maximising turnout and feeding hay from the floor or a low-level feeder.
Working your horse long and low whilst introducing more transitions, polework and hill work into our ridden routines can help to build topline and abdominal and limb engagement.
Groundwork is often a forgotten part of an exercise regime and plenty can be achieved on the ground to improve topline and vary your horse's routine. Carrot stretches, long-reining and training aids can be a great strengthening technique.
Dont forget! Rest days should also always be implemented into a training regime, with at least one rest day per week.
References
Ané (2023) Is Equine Bow and String Theory Relevant | Onlinepethealth. [online]. Available from: https://onlinepethealth.com/bow-and-string-theory/ [Accessed July 22, 2023].
Clayton HM. Core Training and Rehabilitation in Horses. Veterinary Clinics: Equine Practice 2016;32:49–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cveq.2015.12.009
Clayton, H.M., Kaiser, L.J., Lavagnino, M. & Stubbs, N.C. (2010). Dynamic mobilisations in cervical flexion: Effects on intervertebral angulations. Equine Veterinary Journal, 42: 688-694. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00196.x
Gómez Álvarez, C.B., Rhodin, M., Bobbert, M.F., Meyer, H., Weishaupt, M.A., Johnston, C. & Van Weeren, P.R. (2006). The effect of head and neck position on the thoracolumbar kinematics in the unridden horse. Equine Veterinary Journal, 38(S36), 445-451. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2006.tb05585.x
Pfau, T., Simons, V., Rombach, N., Stubbs, N., Weller, R. (2017) Effect of a 4-week elastic resistance band training regimen on back kinematics in horses trotting in-hand and on the lunge. Equine Veterinary Journal. 49(6), 829–835.
Robert C, Valette JP, Denoix JM. The effects of treadmill inclination and speed on the activity of three trunk muscles in the trotting horse. Equine Vet J 2001;33:466–72. https://doi.org/10.2746/042516401776254745.
Shaw K, Ursini T, Levine D, Richards J, Adair S. The Effect of Ground Poles and Elastic Resistance Bands on Longissimus Dorsi and Rectus Abdominus Muscle Activity During Equine Walk and Trot. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 2021;107:103772. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103772
Tabor, G., Elliott, A., Mann, N., Williams, J. (2019) Equine Posture Analysis: Development of a Simple Tool to Record Equine Thoracolumbar Posture. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 73, 81–83.
Walker VA, Tranquillle CA, MacKechnie-Guire R, Spear J, Newton R, Murray RC. Effect of Ground and Raised Poles on Kinematics of the Walk. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 2022;115:104005. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104005
Comments