Video of reflex exercises for horses

[Appy2quarter]

Hmm, interesting lot of questions Lyndsey.  Often sideways work by necessity raises the back, so combining the sideways with the reach of the inside hind in giravolta may very well raise the back; however I don't know that I'd wait for the back raise before asking for it, but allow the exercise to produce it and capture it. 

You may find that rather than waiting for the back to lift before backing, get a rock in situ and then walk out of it.  I found that doing lots of this built the lift and strength in the back you are talking about.  This strength then evolved into the ability to back with more lift although the more refined version of HSS where you get a shoulder-in type position from which you ask for a step back also really changes the shape of their back.

As Hilary says, getting the rockback/pilates going and doing bits each day then evolves into something but it does take time.  In the meantime what I tried to do was to get as many other exercises that also helped build back strength going and break then down into reward-able chunks.  I also have a horse who tends to be too straight in his back legs and he also has a less then ideal back conformation so I'm always puzzling ways to try and build strength up there.

Don't know if this helps!!

[Appy2quarter]

After discussions on the relative merit of rockbacks, I decided to video the rockback up close.  It wasn't the easiest operating the camera and attempting to clamber up the mounting block...Loly kept doing what he was taught and lining up bless him 

Anyway, I got a clip from above where you can see the lift in the lumbar region, and a clip from the side which I think shows a different look to the spine than the clip I posted the other week.  Finally managed to get someone to stand on the mounting block and video from behind which is quite interesting to see - if you watch the liver spots on the right, you can see more 'quarter' appearing as he rocks if that makes sense!!

I know this isn't everyone's cup of tea; please be aware that this is a work in progress and I know he overbends somewhat.

rockbacks up close

 

[christuris]

Boy -- you can really see him lifting his back and engaging the abdominals!  Great work!

Thank you soooo much for posting that!

Christina
Indian Hills, Colorado
www.AlphabetRanch.com

[Lyndsey Lewis]

if you watch the liver spots on the right, you can see more 'quarter' appearing as he rocks if that makes sense!!

Yes! Very cool! Thanks for posting this. I think this clearly shows raising the back for the rockback instead of dropping!!! I will try and get a camera person to help me with the different angles as that is a really interesting way to do it.