I'm having a tough time with Shaz...

[alliekk]

My Arabian, Shaz, is probably THE MOST lazy horse you will ever meet and I'm kind of baffled on how I go about building his muscle... You see, his biggest problem is he doesn't engage his hind end and he tends to move with what we call "broomstick legs," where he hardly bends at the knee and hock... I know trotting is the key, I do this when we ride, but there aren't very many hilly areas in our field and his trot (more like a stupid little jog, even when I ask to extend) is soooo jarring it kills my back!!!

Right now he has a hay belly and looks ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS because he is narrow in the chest and slightly under-muscled in the hind-quarters... Here's a picture...

No need to say anything about conformation, I know it's not the greatest.

[Stauffer]

try having him trot over low poles...either set right on the ground or up a few inches, or a mixture of both...I did this with my haflinger and it worked wonders :D

[alliekk]

actually, to tell the truth, I don't ever remember him taking such a big stride. his favorite class is WP and we do really well because he can move slowly and quietly... hehe, he is actually quite short strided, if only he could engage and pick his feet up!!! I guess it would help if we had access to an arena or anywhere with deep dirt... just maybe... lol

[Flicka]

To build hind ends, I've always been told to back up a hill. This won't do much for the belly, because only aerobic activity will take care of that. BUT to build muscle in the rump area, backing up a small hill, gradually building on that, will build up that area.

[DixieGirl]

Or you could ride him or lounge him everyday to get him in shape. :)

[moniexponie]

try having him trot over low poles...either set right on the ground or up a few inches, or a mixture of both...I did this with my haflinger and it worked wonders :D


I've done the same with my Connemara Pony (THE laziest creature on the face of the eart. PLUS he loves food way too much, PLUES he's a pony so his metabolizsm (sp?) isn't the greatest xD). It really will help, and not only will he be working harder and building up muscle, but it will teach him to be careful with his feet. ^^

Does he stand at a round bale all day?

[alliekk]

thanks I'll try that... I guess my biggest problem is not enough time. I'm in between jobs right now and have a boyfriend who lives 40 miles away (lame, I know... I love him though)... I just cant wait to go out and see him without having to be pinched for time. it's tough because I love him so much

[alliekk]

oh, and by the way, I was talking about shaz in that last sentence