BUILDING A TOP LINE 

Pinning this because apparently people can't actually watch the video and listen to the fact that this is for GREEN horses and I in no way claim that my horse is perfectly muscled or is going around perfectly. Milo hasn't been in a full program until this year. He is green. Like all young horses, he's still finishing growing and filling out. He just grew another inch and as a result his body changes. This happens. He's still learning how to go around correctly and is also getting over some stiffness from a wipeout in the field. I have never and will never claim that he's the epitome of amazing top line muscle. He needs more. I really want to muscle up his neck and back much more but that takes time! I can't expect him to go around in a perfect frame the entirety of our ride when he's not ready to do so. These exercises are what helped me get him from having no muscle to this. They do work. Y'all need to remember that he was starved and was looking like a yearling when we got him and had so little muscle at 3 that he developed a locking stifle issue. This shouldn't even need to be an explanation but apparently people can't help themselves with being negative. He is a work in progress and is behind the learning curve due to how much I had to make up for his poor start and the fact that he's had every winter off and hasn't been asked to do much until very recently. He is NOT perfect. He is still green and a work in progress. Please don't try to act like I'm saying he is but if you're going to deny his improvement from where he started from then you're lying to yourself.

Great advice! I appreciate that you mentioned a proper diet, since that isn't the first thing that comes to mind when people think about building a top line.

Wow. I think this is an absolutely amazing video--nutrition, conditioning, tack; everything matters! So sad this doesn't have more views. This is exactly how I start and train my horses. Such good advice. Thank you, Shelby, you would be amazed at how many people don't know the simple truth you are trying to put forth. On the behalf of horses everywhere, thank you!

Pretty boy Milo!

you have no idea how helpful this is! Thank you so much:) I love when you make these types of videos

I’ve watched a lot of videos on this topic. Thanks for the helpful tips!

This is just what I was looking for ! So helpful ❤️

This is a great video, very helpful thank you Shelby!

I just got my two new project horses today and one of one is just so small I'm going to use some of the exercises thank u!!!

You are an amazing person for rescuing that horse and turning him into a beautiful strong animal. :D

This is such great advice ! My pony is pretty green and need to build her top line and this is what I exactly needed thank you so much 🙏

You are literally my OTTB, Guardian, angel. I’m learning so much it’s so helpful. I know that my Maverick is grateful as well.

Thank you for this very informative video. A wise person would review it from time to time. Our lives are so busy. You really covered topics such as feed, & exercises that would benefit the horse.

Fantastic information! I loved how you touched on it’s not just the exercises you do, but also a good diet, properly fitting tack, and a good seat. All of which are important in making your horse comfortable. Another channel I’d recommend is Art2Ride, Will Faerber has many excellent videos on building a topline and starting young/green horses. Keep up the good work Shelby 💕

Loved this video, super interesting! Definitely will try this with Pi - he needs to gain muscle and topline. There are lots of hills at my boarding place so that's good!

Thank you so much for this! I just bought a horse who has no muscle (or fat) whatsoever, so I'll use this as a guide on how to get her muscles back!

Oh my gosh this video is exactly what I'm looking for (recently rescued a mostly-green horse; needs to build more muscle). That, and you are AMAZING for going to such feed and supplement lengths for them!!! This is an excellent reference video -thanks!

Amazing video with awesome tips! Love love love love it ❤️

This is so helpful thank you Shelby!! Because I just got my first horse, she's 14 and an OTTB, I'm deciding between the name Jade or Mocha. Her race/show name is Wang Dang Swedle since she's had that name ever since she was a foal. I will definitely look forward to this video for her health. Thank you Shelby 🐎💜

Super helpful. My horse is pretty good with everything bc she's pretty experienced (still has her quirks though), but I'm looking into getting project horses so this is great (:

great video! short and to the point ❤🐴

Thank you very much! I've been trying to find more information on building a top line, but i couldn't find any actually helpful ones. Thank you again.

Two years later and this video just unblocked a path in my riding knowledge. Thanks so much 🤩

Very nice and useful! Gotta try the after workout stretches!

Hill work is a great easy method of developing top line they will naturally put themselves into a good outline when climbing up a incline but care needs to be taken if going down hill as your horse are more prone to overreach and or slip if thecgoingbis wet

EVERTHING IS GORGEOUS

Looking better every year. I can't get over what a beautiful boy he is.

That's a lot of really smart things for my horse sassy to get back in shape!!

Great video! Thanks for sharing!!

Hell yes I needed this!

Very nice video. Love your description

This is a super helpful video Shelby!!

this was super helpful! Thank you

This video is so helpful tysm

Fantastic video Shelbs! 💞

This is so so so helpful!

Not sure where you live but I’ve never seen anyone recommend giving horses iron. Most horses are getting toxic loads of iron in water sources and Unidentified ingredients in commercial feeds. Also balancing copper/zinc is important if you feed iron. Might want to research that. Otherwise nice video!

Great video! Thank you.

thanks this video helped me so much !!

I know exactly how much money and effort went into creating a nutrition plan for your horses 😂. I have a lot of respect for the care you put into their diet, that's awesome! More people should do that, but I know its super expensive and time consuming. My miniatures are show horses, and they get a pretty specific diet too. Once you figure out what works, the difference in how they look, feel, and move is incredible. It all starts with their diet, which is the most important part

Thank you SO much!

So informative. Very clesr

my horse is very reactive and would always be super tense under saddle because he was never rightful trained. Ive worked with him for months on just getting him to stretch and relax under saddle and even bareback with a pad. I want to make sure my horse is happy during his rides so we cana dvance our bond snd training in a good way!

Great tips...love u soo much

this is so helpful

This horse eats better than most humans

Thank you for your video, very sweet horse. You may also like to watch - Developing Your Horse's Back: the Biomechanics of Engagement 1 & 2. Number 2 especially goes into exercises to develop a good back.

I’m getting a new horse soon and he was rescued by our vet from a ‘dude ranch’ he’s finally back up to a normal weight, but definitely needs to build up some muscle. Thanks for the awesome video!

Clearly these worked out well, since Milo's topline is looking fantastic in current videos :]

You want to be careful giving a horse iron, FWIU. We tested some of our horses and they had elevated iron levels in their blood. Our vet said that it is very rare for horses to be low in iron. And that if a horse is anemic, it's usually due to deficiencies in copper and zinc, not iron. Excess iron can accumulate in the liver and prevent it from functioning to its full ability. Just thought I'd share what we learned on this topic.

Would this work without riding like free lunging and changing consistently?

My horse will hate all of this, lmao! I'll give it a careful go though! Thank you!

Hey, my horse has a dipped back- do you think this will go up as I start improving muscle? He has a really BAD topline as I just got him

Is it possible to have a horse put their heads down as if they were going long and low but not raise their back? My horse has a really weak top line and I’ve been encouraging long and low but it looks like there is little to no raising in his back. Is this normal or is there something im doing wrong? He is very new to this and he has to re discover how to use himself since he is a rescue

Milo looks so much like my TB mare. Hahah it made me miss her a lot.

So i’m thinking about adopting a rescue horse. Could you make a video on tips and tricks for developing a young, green horse into a miracle like Milo? I love you guys!

How much flax, biotin & sunflower seeds do you feed? I want to start my horses on those

These exercise can be done on Longing?

What are some things you like to do with horses cleared for work, by a vet, coming back from a bowed tendon?

stunning neck on your horse

How many days a week did work him when trying to build his top line?

My horse is 20, his back is getting weaker because of age. Is this also good

My green horse is a really hard time picking up the right lead and anything I’ve tried it’s not helping I’ve tried other riders I tried lunging in a bidding rig I tried drawings I tried neck extenders I even tried to see if maybe starting western would work better for him but he just doesn’t seem to understand the right lead he’s a very sweet and confident horse

Plz make a video on "how to grow horse taller " or how to increase its height

For horses to engage their backs to be more rounded - I've been reading that arabians, because of their conformation and how horizontal their croup is, it is harder for them to lift their back. My arabian, he isn't one of those halter type show arabs, as well as being not completely full arab, most arab, but not all. He is only 3 though, and by the looks of it he doesn't have a horizontal croup. But I just have to ask, would I still be able to train him to engage his back and have a round frame?

How do you teach your horse to stretch their neck while riding? This is super useful. I have a horse that is slightly hollow on the top of his neck and has a quite jumpy gallop and I feel like both of these will be improved with building a topline. I follow you on insta and I’ll check your channel for beginner-friendly R+ tips :)

I love milo

those last stretches are great except my horse seems to be immune to them. The cat stretch one I have tried so many time but he will not do a thing except maybe look back at me like I'm an idiot. Even the body worker who has horses on the same property I have him on can't get him to do it. Same with the tummy tucks. The only ones he will do are the carrot stretches, but he has to be backed into a corner or he just spins around to follow it hahaha What would you recommend doing if when I ask for a walk to trot transition, almost all the time he will 'jump' into it. He doesn't rush, or at least not like a mortal horse would rush, he literally jumps up with his front legs a little before trotting, but his trot to canter is fine, just walk to trot?

INTERNET TRAINER: If your horse is not shiny there unhealthy and diabetic! ME:Can horses even get diabetes? LOL

Where did you get biotin in bulk like that?

How different is building a top line in a non green horse vs a green horse?

Don't feed extra Omega 6s!!! Horses actually almost always have a very unbalanced ratio of Omega 6s to Omega 3s. You should always supplement Omega 3s and never Omega 6s.

The more you improve the slower pace the better your horse will get if you work on the walk it will improve your trot and so on take your time as this is foundation stuff that is important so do it right and you set your horse up for years to come

Early 😊😊

What is in 2:02??

what is a green horse????????????

I recommend using a half pad for your horse, when they’re really young and older, so they don’t hurt themselves and help support their back. Also when your jumping,

I would not be feeding flex seed if you’re horse is overweight it has a massive amount of calories and makes people put on weight.

Feed thrive feed no supplements or extras needed

Y’all doing Modern things whilst in the past horses never needed this you just making horses weaker and weaker everyday