My 6 year old oldenburg needs building up!?

Question

I have a 17.1 hand chestnut oldenburg gelding. He has filled out a little but I think he still has a years worth of filling out to do. But the thing is.. we have started doing Elementry and he is built uphill, but his backend is still weak and I really need some ideas and tips to build up his bum and hinds for the movements such as simple changes and collection. I'm at the moment using a strapping pad on him, lunging him over trotting poles in a pesoa and theres not much hill work around where he is stabled so i'm abit stuck. He LOVES to go long and low.. and his back is O.K but the problem is he needs to shorten up for the collection and he gets dominant and brat-ish about it and throws his toys out of the pram.. But also i think he finds it hard as he is weak behind. And ideas and help would be VERY appreciated. Thanks x

Answer 1

hi, yes i agree with you in that he would find it hard and be difficult  because he doesn't have a lot of muscle back there. i think that if you let him work long and low, especially at the beginning of your riding session, this will let his back become more supple and warmed up before you take up collection, and then he might not be so cranky about it. i would work on exercises that strengthen his back, the trot poles are great, (esp if raised a little (5cm) off the ground), and when riding, half halts, and lots of transitions, and riding out even if there is no hills is still going to help, with lots of strong working trot as well as some light gallops. this worked with my tb, hope i helped:)

Answer 2

well he is a big horse, and with my experience wont be fully matured untill he is 8 or 9! Untill then, keep the feed up and the work to help muscle tone. Pole work, gymnastic jumping, dressage schooling and hacking/galloping work will all improve his over all fitness, but especially develop the back end, although raised trotting poles work a treat.

Answer 3

well i know as my friend and i are training a Appaloosa male called Flynn and he has a weak back bum and legs and we've got him to do lots of trotting as this help improve his muscles and his fitness , also i would try going over some trotting poles into a small jump and like other people have said raise the jump after hes done this after a few times , the poles in front of the jump help him concentrate and not rush the jump like my mare Dee Jay loves to do and she doesn't rush jumps any more and is very good , and if he is afraid of the jump aim him for the center and encourage him and praise him if he doesn't throw a strop then he will learn how to behave!!!!

have fun and good luck , also if he is afraid of fillers , put things in hes used to like hay , straw or shavings and build it up to using fillers again!!!

xx

Answer 4

This is absolutely normal for German bred horses before they mature at around 7 or 8

There are also some bloodlines which have a genetic tendency to light rear ends - mostly if they have jumping bloodlines.

If your horse is young then don't despair - it will improve with age. If he is mature then you can only improve him by working on making him lighter in front. Trotting poles at uneven distances will make him think. 2 trotting poles then a caveletti, 2 poles - caveletti, and so on in sequence.

half halts in trot and canter flat work will make he more responsive. As to throwing his toys - sorry but it could be the bloodlines again!! and those you can't change.

I have 3 warmblood mares. one hanoverian and her last daughter who is by an Oldenburg (Feiner Ludwig from Feiner Stern) and a 9yo by the same stallion but out of a completely unrelated mare. The daughter and the unrelated mare have many similar traits which they have inherited fron their father - as have many of the offspring from this stallion in this area. So it's not a fairy tale about the genetics!

Good luck and perseverance is a fine thing!

Answer 5

hello i also have a oldenburg 6 yr old chestnut gelding 17hh he was broken in 2 years ago since then doing eventing pre novice, he is as fit as you could get and still his butt is the same narrow high dock look, my friend has a Xoldenburg how is 12yr 18hh and he has the same problem. I have done alot of looking up to see what could be done and its in the breed.So love your horse love its bum!

Answer 6

You could try some small jumps and raising the poles to make him use his back-end. Just perservence, keep doing it and eventually he'll get the idea.

Answer 7

maybe raising the trot poles a little (like a mini jump)

do bounce lines (jump, land,jump)