THE BIOMECHANICS OF COLLECTION

What really happens when a horse ‘engages’ Ask ten riders to define collection, and you may hear ten different answers: “The horse carries more weight behind,” “He lifts his shoulders,” “She sits more,” or “It’s self-carriage.” While these phrases capture aspects of the concept, true collection is rooted in biomechanics — and understanding what actually…

BylizzieJune 20, 20250Comments

ASKHQ: TOPLINE

Q: What is topline? A: To put it simply, a horse’s topline are the muscles that support the spine from the neck all the way to the hindquarters. The topline of a horse stretches along the spinal column from the end of the neck at the wither area, down the back and loin. Three main muscle…

BylizzieOctober 29, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training

ASKHQ: BACK AND NECK PAIN

Q: As a rider, I deal with a lot of pain in my back and neck. How do I go about treating this, and what are the different options? Asked by Christie Baines A: Many riding-related injuries occur in the back and neck. There are several factors involved as to why this happens, and there are also…

BylizzieMay 7, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training Know How

ASKHQ: CONFORMATIONAL FACTORS

Q: Which conformational factors are considered important to look for in a riding horse? A: When looking at the conformation of the horse to assess his rideability, the following factors should be considered: The back and ribs A relatively short back is generally strongest for taking weight, as it has shorter, stronger coupling than a longer back.…

BylizzieFebruary 19, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health

ASKHQ: WHAT IS THAT NOISE?

Q: My horse makes a funny noise when I ride him. It sounds like it comes from the saddle, but my instructor says that it is my horse sucking air in and out of his sheath because he was recently gelded. Is this true? How long will it go on for? A: Your instructor is absolutely…

BylizzieJanuary 29, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Breeding Horse Breed Horse Channel Know How

ASKHQ: BREEDING TIPS FROM CALLAHO

Q: What are Callaho's top breeding tips? A: The broodmare is the beginning and the end of any successful mating. A good dam mated to a mediocre stallion will give you a good horse. A top stallion is mostly useless on a mediocre mare. Any attempt at creating a good dam-line from scratch is not impossible…

BylizzieJanuary 16, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training

ASKHQ: RISING TROT

Q: How does the rising trot affect the horse's back? Answered by Hayley Kruger A: The rising trot can be a lot more forgiving on the horse's back than sitting trot. However, riding rising trot incorrectly can also do serious damage to the horse's back. The rising trot caters to the forward movement of the horse. So,…

BylizzieOctober 17, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel

ASKHQ: WEIGHTY ISSUES

[Q] What is the maximum weight a leisure horse should carry (horses who go on lots of hacks up mountains and through water) and how much should a competition horse carry? Asked by Bernadette Marx [A] This is a difficult question. Horses can carry between 12% and 20% of their body weight, but body weight…

BylizzieJune 6, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel

ASKHQ: I SLIDE AROUND IN MY SADDLE AND THEREFORE I DON’T FEEL SAFE. IS THIS THE FAULT OF THE SADDLE OR DO I NEED TO SIT DEEPER?

Without having an experienced saddle fitter seeing you on the horse, it is quite difficult to say for certain what is happening. In all likelihood, however, the issue is either that the saddle is too big for you, the seat has too-forward a cut, the seat is too flat or the saddle is out of…

BylizzieMarch 12, 20190Comments

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