Pole work

Ruby was as sound as a dollar used to be this morning, so we'll start riding again soon.  And trying to build muscle along her top line. 

When asked, most horse people will recommend these different activities to help with back muscle development: surcingle work, transitions, hill work, walking, and belly lifts, and pole exercises.

Transitions and hill work are currently out for Ruby and I.  Surcingle would be pushing it until we get clearance from the vet, so we're down to walking, belly lifts, and pole exercises.  But arena work is boring, you say.  Yes, it absolutely can be...even Ruby thinks so.  Unless you start to think outside the box a bit, like this.  

Unfortunately, most of John Marti's videos are not posted on his website - his really impressive stuff is loaded to his Facebook page.  He's German but you don't need to know German to watch the videos and get some ideas.  If you don't want to spend lots of money on special (aka from a horse supply store) poles, these are cheap enough to be worth painting on your own time.  And these blocks might be worth looking into in order to create cheap and easy cavaletti. 



Why not PVC poles?  Ruby likes to kick PVC poles around like they're an annoyance - wooden poles would put a stop to that pretty quick.  She'll still be bored to tears for a few months yet, because we'll be doing these at a walk, but it's something and any work we can start doing on her top line now, only walking, can only help down the road.