TRAINING SERIES PART 6: Training the hindlimbs

Developing Correct Movement, Training Series Part 6: Training the hindlimbs 

The natural crookedness pattern in the horse makes them effectively left or right handed. So we have uneven weight bearing and movement as a natural pattern in their body from day 1 of their life. 

So in training / rehab we need to work on our horses symmetrical use of their body and limbs within movement, to develop both strength AND flexibility into the horses body and limbs. The crookedness pattern develops into one diagonal pair of limbs becoming stronger than the other. To train symmetry, we need to train the stronger diagonal pair of limbs to also become flexible, and strengthen the opposite diagonal pair of limbs that have been doing more flexing. 

If you really get your eye in with your horses limb movement you should be able to see the differences in the diagonal pairs or each forelimb or hindlimb pair. Stand back and just watch your horse in walk to begin with, on the end of the lunge line or going over poles, and really study how they use their body and limbs…this really is a brilliant use of your time, to help understand their pattern! 

I teach all about this in depth in my membership, as it’s such an important piece of the jigsaw with our horses, what is their crookedness pattern, which hindlimb is the stronger but stiffer hindlimb, and how are we going to work on this body wide pattern to develop symmetry in the horse.

Focussing on the hindlimbs is, I find, the easiest way to initially see our horses crookedness pattern, and once we know what their pattern of movement is, we can work on improving symmetry! 

Working on developing symmetry left-right in the hindlimbs ultimately affects the whole body, so once we start to develop more symmetrical use of the hindlimbs, the rest of the body and forelimbs will follow in terms of improvement, so to speak! And once the hindlimbs are functioning in a more even way, your horses work and movements will be more symmetrical left-right! 

I hope this all makes sense, it’s an important foundational level to work on with horses. If we don’t address their crookedness, we just end up strengthening the crooked pattern, so strengthening the negative in the body. And lots of exercise on an uneven crooked body is a slippery slope to injury. 

Working with in hand exercises to train a more equal use of the hindlimbs is one of my preferred methods, and this work develops a more even ‘push’ in the hindlimbs, as well as training the horse to use his body in a more effective way...for himself!! 

Walking over ground poles is also one of my highly recommended exercises to help your horse, in so many ways! In the context of this post, walking over poles helps with flexing and strengthening the limbs evenly, over time. 

This post is part 6 in my current Training Series...if you would like to read the rest of the posts, they are all available on the blog! 

**FREE EBOOK: Posture, Core Strength & Crookedness in the horse! If you would like to read more about posture and crookedness in the horse, click here for more details about my Free Ebook: Free Posture Crookedness Ebook