How to Round a Horse's Back

A horse with a rounded back is working correctly with its hindquarters underneath it. This is important to help it carry a rider's weight and stay balanced and stable. Many horses find it difficult to round their backs due to immaturity, underdeveloped muscles or poor conformation. These horses should ideally be started with ground exercises, which will allow them to strengthen their muscles without the burden of a rider's weight.



A horse that works correctly with a rounded back will be more balanced and energetic to the rider, and will suffer less stress on joints and legs.

Things You'll Need

  • Horse
  • Tack
  • Riding helmet
  • Cavaletti or jump poles
  • Small natural fences
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Instructions

    • 1

      Trot your horse up and down hills. This will encourage it to bring its back legs underneath it, and build up muscle in the hindquarters. If your horse is not fit, start by leading up the hills and riding down. Stand up in your stirrups uphill to keep your weight off your horse's back, and lean backward when going downhill. After a few weeks you should see an increase in top line (the line of muscle along a horse's back).

    • 2

      Use jump poles. Place poles on a flat area of ground about 4 feet apart, and ask your horse to trot over them, keeping an even, energetic pace. As your horse stretches down to look at the poles, the muscles along its back and neck will lengthen and stretch.

      Vary this exercise by arranging the poles in a circle like the spokes of a wheel. Your horse will have to work harder because the distance between the poles will be variable.

    • 3

      Teach your horse to stretch its neck and head down when ridden. At intervals in a riding session, and particularly after any fast work, gradually lengthen your reins to allow your horse to stretch. If your horse snatches and pulls the reins out of your hands, pick them up and start again.

      The lengthening process should be so slow that the horse is barely aware of it, and it should gradually pick up the extra rein by reaching its neck down. Allow your horse to take the full length of the rein, and stretch downward and forward to loosen its back and neck.