Having trouble developing topline?

A lack of topline musculature can indicate many things. If the horse is not developing despite regular work, we need to investigate.

A nice topline is something every rider strives for in their horse. Seeing the muscles develop over time to create that lovely curvy outline is validation of the work we put into training and it's an indicator that we are on the right track. But with some horses, developing a nice topline can be very challenging. Often, the horse just doesn't seem to fill up, especially in the back musculature, despite regular work. When this happens, we need to put on our detective hats and look for the cause. Here are some very common reasons why the horse might have trouble developing his topline muscles.

Poor saddle fit

A saddle that doesn't fit well will prevent the horse from developing back muscles regardless of how great our training is. Pressure from an ill-fitting saddle might cause the horse to dip his back in an attempt to avoid the pain. By doing this the horse will prevent the back from moving as it should, which will not give the back muscles a chance to develop. Pressure points from the saddle can also create tight spots in the long back muscle, making it less able to do its job. Don't forget that the shape of the horse's back will change with training, so having a saddle fitter out on a regular basis is a must, especially for a developing horse. A common tell-tale sign of poor saddle fit causing topline issues is an obvious lack of muscles just between the scapular cartilage and withers.

Don’t forget the back changes over time, so make sure to have a saddle fitter out on a regular basis.

Thoracic sling dysfunction

Although the muscles of the thoracic sling are not topline muscles, they are crucial in developing a nice outline. When the thoracic sling is dysfunctional and the horse's front end is stuck downwards between the front legs, the horse can't lift the base of the neck. When that happens, the horse can't use his neck to balance himself properly. The neck muscles are not working evenly, which will often lead to a ewe neck and an overdeveloped brachiocephalicus. A common tell-tale sign of thoracic sling dysfunction causing topline issues is a dip just in front of the withers.

 A dip in front of the withers is a sign of thoracic sling dysfunction.

Poor range of motion in the spine

If we want the muscles of the topline to do their job and become strong, we need to first achieve good range of motion so the horse can actually access the muscles. When the spine has a poor range of motion the muscles will only be able to work in a very narrow range, which often leads to tightness. And we all know tight muscles aren't strong muscles. Spinal range of motion is often limited by ventral line issues, poor ribcage mobility or excess tightness in the psoas muscles. A common tell-tale sign of poor spinal mobility causing topline issues is a weak lumbar area or an overdeveloped gluteal tongue (a bulge over the lumbar area) with a lack of musculature over the thoracic spine.

Nutrition

In order for the body to build muscles, it needs protein. Specifically, it needs amino acids, which are the building blocks that create new tissue. When it comes to protein, it's not about the quantity, but about the quality. A quality protein source provides a wide range of amino acids, which the horse uses to build muscles. If the protein the horse is consuming is of poor quality, some of the amino acids might be missing, preventing the horse from building new tissue. A good way to make sure the horse has enough building blocks available, is to offer several different protein sources, but always consult a nutritionist first, before making any big changes. A tell-tale sign of protein deficiency causing topline issues is a general lack of muscling all along the topline.

A nice topline means we are on the right track.