How to Activate Your Horse's Core

The horse that is effectively using its core will lift and round its back and engage the hind end to move forward in a fluid, energetic fashion while maintaining a soft and responsive front end. This requires strengthening the core, including the back muscles, over a period of time with specific exercises. The length of time it takes to develop the core will depend on the horse's prior fitness and training levels and may take weeks or even months to achieve even with professional riding skills. There are, however, some exercises that can assist the process if the rider does not have advanced dressage training.

Things You'll Need

  • Carrots
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Teach the horse to do standard stretches using a carrot. These are performed on the ground, not while mounted. Stretches will strengthen the horse's top line and allow the horse to round and bring up the core. Hold a carrot, or other preferred treat, at the horse's shoulder and only allow the horse to take a hold of it when it stretches its neck around without moving its feet. Repeat on the other side. Do the same when holding the carrot between, and just behind, the horse's front legs to stretch the entire top line. Gradually lengthen the time spent on each stretch by holding the carrot just out of the horse's reach for up to 15 seconds.

    • 2

      Saddle the horse and warm it up under saddle for 10 to 15 minutes. Take the horse out to a field and trot it up a hill. Walk the horse down the hill and repeat the trot back up the hill. This can be repeated multiple times depending on the horse's fitness level. Trotting up the hill encourages the horse to stretch forward with its head and neck and strengthens the hind end, both of which will help it to reach underneath itself and lift and activate the core. Walking down the hill will encourage the horse to take shortened, precise steps, increasing balance and stability throughout the core. Integrate hill work into the horse's regular riding schedule.

    • 3

      Ask the horse to specifically lift and activate the core when it has been sufficiently conditioned to do so. To ask for the core engagement, subtly ask the horse to lengthen its stride by squeezing its sides gently and smoothly with your calves. If the horse speeds up the tempo of the gait rather than lengthening the stride, half-halt to ask the horse to maintain its rhythm and ask again with the leg. It may take multiple training sessions at the walk to achieve a reliable and correct response to these aids. Work on this at the walk and trot before attempting at the canter.