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WANT TO SEE THE EFFECTS OF WALK WORK?

The photos below were initially taken for my own reference as I’m curious about the changes in the horses I work with. Photographing horses can be difficult and I always aim to capture the same stride phase for accurate comparisons. Along with photos and video screenshots, I keep schooling diaries to track what works.

My before and after photos, together with my records have shown me that targeted walk work is one of the most effective methods for bringing about positive-long term changes. This small section below here is just part of hundreds of images I have showing the benefits of this approach. I hope you find these changes as fascinating as I do, and I'd love to hear your thoughts.

TREVOR, 11 YEAR THOROUGHBRED EX-RACEHORSE 

TOPLINE & POSTURE

Trevor had an underdeveloped topline, overdeveloped underneck, and a hollow, tense way of going when I leased him. Despite his tendency to seem "lazy," he had a kind temperament and willingness to engage. I rehabilitated him with corrective hoof trimming, diet changes, and slow in-hand work combined with long-reining to improve his posture. Once he could carry himself better, I rode him bareback in a slow walk with stretching. After several months of building topline in walk, I introduced trot and canter, and he became much more forward, responsive, and fluid.

ROCKY, 26 YEAR OLD PONY WITH CUSHINGS

DIPPED BACK

Rocky developed a dipped back and kissing spines due to muscle wastage and poor posture. I worked him in-hand for two weeks, 20 minutes per day, three times a week, until his back was strong enough to carry a rider. Then I combined in-hand and ridden walk work for another two weeks.

His thoracic sling lifted, his back straightened, and his topline muscles built up. Rocky is now retired, living happily in his herd and working as a therapy horse. Though no longer ridden or worked in-hand, he remains sound, strong, and free of back issues.

ROCKY, 26 YEAR OLD PONY WITH CUSHINGS

DIPPED BACK

Rocky developed a dipped back and kissing spines due to muscle wastage and poor posture. I worked him in-hand for two weeks, 20 minutes per day, three times a week, until his back was strong enough to carry a rider. Then I combined in-hand and ridden walk work for another two weeks.

His thoracic sling lifted, his back straightened, and his topline muscles built up. Rocky is now retired, living happily in his herd and working as a therapy horse. Though no longer ridden or worked in-hand, he remains sound, strong, and free of back issues.

FLICKER, YOUNG ARAB MARE

CROOKEDNESS

Flicker is a young Arab mare with a curious and positive attitude toward people and learning. She faced some challenges with her hooves and developed crookedness in her body, leading to compensations. Once her hoof issue was resolved, I began in-hand work to gently correct her crookedness and undo those compensations. We worked for about 20 minutes, up to 3 times a week. She quickly learned to stretch correctly forward and down, a fundamental skill. Over time, she softened her neck, lifted her thoracic sling, and aligned her body, significantly improving her topline and freedom of movement in all gaits. The photos show how her body and movement became straighter over a period of one month.

FLICKER, YOUNG ARAB MARE

COW HOCKS 

Flicker’s cow hocks also showed dramatic improvements. By the end of just two weeks of targeted in-hand work, her cow hocks and resolved themselves and she was choosing to stand square during her feeds.

FLICKER, YOUNG ARAB MARE

COW HOCKS 

Flicker’s cow hocks also showed dramatic improvements. By the end of just two weeks of targeted in-hand work, her cow hocks and resolved themselves and she was choosing to stand square during her feeds.

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