TRAINING SERIES PART 3: Why we seek 'long and low' posture

Why we seek ‘long and low’ posture! 

Good correct posture in movement, is the horse using all of his body including his back and core, and the ‘long and low’ posture enables the horse to use his body fully. 

Movement in the horse is a cycle of energy from the hindlimb, up over the pelvis, over the back and neck, and this cycle pushes the horse forward from the hindquarters. 

By developing the long and low posture where the horse lengthens and elongates his neck, lifts his wither and forehand, and lifts his core and back, we can strengthen the whole body. 

This posture allows us to strengthen the horses back by him being able to engage his core properly, which he can’t do when in a hollowed back posture. And considering Part 2 in this series, we also need to consider whether the horse is on the forehand in movement, this is part of the overall 'good posture' that we seek and need to work on with our horses. 

By using long and low posture in exercise, we can separate the DSP’s (dorsal spinous processes), these are the bones the become too close and touch in cases of ‘kissing spine’ - the hollow back posture decreases the space in between the bones. So working on long and low helps to create space in between the DSP’s and therefore the horse will become more comfortable over time. 

I like to think of the horses body like a see-saw! Their weight balances over the forelimbs, so if the neck is lowered, the back and core can lift, and vice versa! Have a look next time you’re exercising your horse non-ridden! 

I experience horses having what I term a ‘locked core’, especially horses that have / had kissing spine or other injuries, due to compensation. They have learnt to keep going by locking their back. So it’s a re-education process, we need to teach the horse to ‘let go’ in his mind and body! Once the mind and body have started to let go of tension and stress, we can move into developing a new posture. 

And ultimately what we are seeking to achieve with long and low, is that we develop strength in the horses body, in particular the back and core, so that he can carry himself properly first, and then carry a rider second. 

This is an important piece of the jigsaw for our horses, and information that I feel really passionate about sharing. If you look at your horse and see a weak, hollow back, or you feel like you're sitting in a hollow, it's crucial to step back and strengthen your horses posture so that your horse is not suffering and putting up with back pain on a continual basis. 

NEXT BLOG: next we will be looking at the fine line between ‘long and low’ and ‘being on the forehand’! This is part of a series of 10 posts... if you want to have my blogs sent directly to your inbox, you can sign up to my emails on this page! 

***Would you like my Free Ebook 'Posture, Core Strength & Crookedness in the horse? Click here for details: Free Posture & Crookedness Ebook