Keeping a dense horse happy in his body

 I have been a devout TB person my whole life.  I have found that TBs have quite a few distinct advantages, most notably the ease they have getting fit and their fast rebound time from strenuous work.

With Uno and Dutch have similar difficulty with relaxation as the work gets more intense and as they get more fit. With Dutch I was always looking at ways to support his joints and feet from concussion. With Uno it is a constant trial to soften his muscles.  

Look at that body!

As a young horse (up to just last year) he was unable to eat from a feed pan on the ground, and even reaching into a low bucket would have his fore legs shaking.  He also found carrot stretches to be VERY difficult.  As a young horse he needed the muscles in his back injected, and he definitely benefits more from hacking than he does flat schools.  

Basically he is a muscle bound jock who is slowly trying to do yoga after years of not being able to even touch his toes.  He bulks up quickly and is a solid horse, but even just basic in hand work focusing on bending is a hard workout.

If you look back at some of our show pictures, Uno's tell tale sign of stiffness is kicking out under saddle. 

Here is what we have found to be the most beneficial in order from least $$ to most.

1. In hand work - Once a week we work over raised poles at the walk. We stretch with treats. We do pillar work. We work on turn on the forehand and turn on the haunches.  I also lunge over fences 1 - 2 times a month. 

2. Hacking - We do 2/3 of our rides out on the road or in the fields. Mainly walking.  As we walk we stretch long and low, then pick up into a medium walk, then go back down.  We add in loose rein trotting for long periods and hills.

3. Living Out - Uno is in for bad weather and meals only.  He spends 1/2 the day on grass pasture and 1/2 the day in our pen with hay in a slow feeder. 

4. MSM and Omega 3s - I am not 100% sold on supplements that claim to fix everything, but these are very inexpensive and seem to help him recover.

5. Vet Care - Uno gets looked at 2 - 4 times a year and treated for body work, injections, and tooth care as needed.  I tend to be conservative about injections, but so far hock injections every 16 - 18 months has shown a big impact on his low back.

6. Magna Wave - Although this doesn't always fix his muscle soreness, it does help.  It also does a really good job of showing where the soreness is in his body.  It is less expensive than vet care, but also less necessary.