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  Discussion on Older horse gettin' taller?
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Member:
Kristenm

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 17, 2005 - 9:45 am:

Ok, I recently heard someone state that their 9 year old Hanoverian had grown one inch taller because of the way they had started riding differently, and placing the saddle differently. Or, let me explain it this way. They said that with the different saddle placement allowing the horse to fully extend and contract the shoulders (scapula) thus encouraging correct posture, and doing something called hill therapy (moving up and down hills at different gaits allowing the horse to use and develop different muscles) the horse has built up the muscles along the topline, that has strengthened the back and withers, and since the withers sit on muscle, and the muscles are now in the correct posture, the horse has gotten a bit taller.
Is there truth to this, or am I misunderstanding?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Aug 18, 2005 - 5:51 am:

It is certainly true that better condition along the topline can add height at the withers but the rest is a bit iffy.
DrO
Member:
Kristenm

Posted on Thursday, Aug 18, 2005 - 8:08 am:

Ok, thank you Dr.O. A good topline adding a bit of height at the withers makes sense, I had just never actually heard of it until this person.
I thought the rest of it sounded iffy as well, but I thought I could've just been mistaken.
Thank you.
Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Thursday, Aug 18, 2005 - 6:09 pm:

Good muscling along my horses topline has made my saddle fit better and stay where it should. He is an arab with low withers. The saddle used to fall forward when he was around 4. I needed a crupper to stop it falling over his neck. Now it sits naturally in the perfect position. (The saddle fit perfectly) He is now 8 and extremily fit.His withers did not get higher however his muscling and body shape changed so as everything just fits better. Its hard to explain till you see the changes for yourself. They also look taller because of different self carriage,I never heard that it actually makes them taller. Who knows, I dont think it did with my horse other than maybe 1/2 to 1 inch of natural growing all over. Interesting .
Member:
Kristenm

Posted on Friday, Aug 19, 2005 - 8:27 am:

Hey Katrina,
What did you do to develop his topline? Just let him fill out naturally, or did you do something like the hill therapy I mentioned in my first post?
Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Friday, Aug 19, 2005 - 10:05 am:

Hi Kristen,
Lots and lots of work. All different things. I am lucky to live in the mountains, so yes he definatly gets lots of hill work. At least twice a week. He also gets lunged with side reins twice a week, Only for about 15 minutes which helps him use and build the right muscles. We also do a lot of shoulder in, backing and tons of transisions and straightning exersises. Transisions will definatly teach your horse to use his hind which will strenghten his back. I do 2-3 steps of canter, then 2-3 trot, 2-3 canter transisions in one circle, but my horse is extremlt fit .
Your horse must be soft and relaxed also to use correct muscles. A tense horse will always use wrong muscles, EG: hollow back, u neck etc. Someone on the site told me about backing up on a hill. I might do it occasioanly. A good tape for building suppliness and giving to the bit( teaches horse to be soft to use correct muscles) is Clinton Anderson Suppleness video.
I hope that helps.
Member:
Kristenm

Posted on Friday, Aug 19, 2005 - 10:21 am:

I live in the mountains as well. I guess it's time I start putting these hills to work for me, eh.
I don't have any of CA's video's, but I do have Linda Parelli's Fluidity. Have you ever seen anything from her?
Thanks for responding.
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