Training the back muscles of a dressage horse

Why the back is so important

A horse's back muscles connect the forehand and hindquarters and form the bridge over which impulsion is transmitted. In dressage you ask your horse increasingly to bend, collect and swing through the back. If the back musculature is too weak or too tense, this throughness is blocked. The result: a stiff stride, a locked back and a horse that struggles to truly come onto the hand. Investing in back exercises is therefore not a luxury, but a necessity for every dressage horse that wants to progress beyond the basic gaits.

Signs that the back needs attention

Do you recognise any of these points in your horse? Then targeted back training is well worth the effort.

• The back flinches or dips when the saddle is placed on
• The horse takes short steps behind and does not step through
• Unusual behaviour when being girthed up or when the back is touched
• Visible muscle asymmetry along the spine
• Difficulty adopting a relaxed, round outline

Ground exercises as a foundation

Start away from the saddle. Stretching exercises on the ground, also known as 'carrot stretches', are proven to be effective in activating the deep back muscles. Ask your horse at least 3 times per week to bring the nose to the chest, to each flank (towards the knee) and to the belly. Hold each position for 3 to 5 seconds. Combine this with manual stimulation along the flexion line: gentle pressure with a blunt instrument or your thumb along the abdominal muscles reflexively activates the back musculature. After 4 to 6 weeks of consistent practice, most horses already show a noticeable difference in muscle development.

Lungeing techniques for back health

• Lunge on the cavesson in a low, stretching outline, at least 10 minutes per session
• Work in the chambon or pessoa for a moderate deepening of the back swing
• Alternating tempos in walk and trot activate the stabilising muscles of the back
• Polonaise work and working over cavaletti poles (height 10–15 cm) for coordination and strength
• Working on slightly sloping terrain strengthens the hindquarters and relieves the back

Under saddle: building up in three phases

Divide the build-up into clear phases to prevent overloading. In phase 1 (weeks 1–4) you focus exclusively on loosening work in a long, low outline for 15 to 20 minutes per session. Phase 2 (weeks 5–8) adds long sides, large 20-metre circles and simple lateral exercises such as shoulder-fore. In phase 3 (weeks 9–12) you gradually build collection with more collected hindleg exercises such as renvers and half-pass. Rest is just as important as work: plan at least one full rest day per week.

Nutrition and recovery support muscle development

Muscles only develop if the nutrition is right. Ensure sufficient crude protein (at least 10–12% in the ration), supplemented with magnesium and vitamin E for muscle function and recovery. Movement in the paddock or on a horse walker after an intensive training session speeds up recovery considerably. Ask your vet or nutritional advisor for a ration check if you are seriously working on back health. In the EquiSight horse profile you can keep nutritional data and training notes side by side, so you recognise patterns more quickly.

Measuring and tracking progress

Without measurement there is no improvement. Every four weeks, record a short video of your horse on the lunge in trot, filmed from the side. Pay attention to the degree of back swing and the activity of the hindquarters. Also note the reaction when being saddled and the willingness to come onto the hand. EquiCoach helps you interpret your notes and provides concrete suggestions based on what you enter in the diary. This way you always have a clear picture of where you stand and what the next logical step is.