05/28/2026
They lean on the forehand, hollow their back, drag from behind, rush transitions, brace through the neck, rely heavily on the rider’s hands, struggle to stay balanced, and overuse certain muscles to make up for weakness somewhere else.
And for many horses, because those patterns become so normal, they're easy to miss.
Instead of seeing these things as a strength issue, they are often labeled as:
- lazy
- stubborn
- unfit
- or “just how they're built”
But, many horses aren’t unwilling. They're simply underprepared for what we're asking of them.
This is especially true for horses with:
• Weak toplines
• Poor core strength
• Thoracic sling weakness
• Hind end weakness
• Stiffness or restricted movement
• Uneven muscle development
• Or a history of moving incorrectly
They may look “sound enough” to work, but still not have the strength to carry themselves properly and protect themselves from compensation related injury.
That’s why so many horses struggle with canter, transitions, self-carriage, collection, circles, pole work, or simply maintaining good posture throughout a ride.
Weakness isn't always obvious. Sometimes it shows up as resistance, tension, poor behavior, or what looks like laziness.
But it always shows up somewhere.
The real question is whether or not you notice it early enough and are willing to support the body with the strength, education, and consistency it needs before it turns into a bigger problem.
