🐴 Building the Horse’s Core: Why Core Conditioning Matters

💡 Why the Core?

When riders talk about “core strength,” they usually think of human athletes and six packs — but your horse has a core system too.In horses, the core muscles — the deep stabilisers of the back, abdomen, and pelvis — are vital for balance, posture, and spinal stability.

Whether your horse is coming back from injury or you’re aiming to improve performance, a strong core is essential for long-term soundness and athletic success.

My favourite type of six pack!

🧠 What Is the Equine Core?

The equine core includes the thoracolumbar spine, abdominal wall, pelvic stabilisers, and the deep back muscles such as the longissimus dorsi and multifidus, which basically lies between the longissiums dorsi and spine. These muscles work together to stabilise the spine and coordinate limb movement.

Image courtesy of Sculpture: Equine Anatomy - https://www.deannaraemontero.com/

🔬 Dr Hilary Clayton (2016) describes the equine core as “the muscular system responsible for dynamic stabilisation of the spine,” mirroring how the human core supports posture and balance.

💪 Why Core Health Matters

Weak or uneven core muscles can cause:

• Hollow topline or dropped back

• Shortened stride and poor engagement

• Girthiness and saddle discomfort

• Reduced collection or balance under saddle

• Chronic stiffness or back pain

Studies show that horses with back pain or chronic lameness often have atrophy or asymmetry in deep spinal stabilisers like the multifidus (Sullivan et al., 2022; Licka et al., 2008).

📚 What the Research Shows

🩺 1. Core Training Supports Faster Recovery

Horses completing a 4-week Core Abdominal Rehabilitation Exercise (CARE) program after colic surgery returned to training sooner and performed better than controls (Holcombe et al., 2019).

🏋️‍♀️ 2. Ground Poles and Resistance Bands Activate the Core

Surface electromyography (sEMG) demonstrates that walking or trotting over ground poles and using elastic resistance bands significantly increases activity in the rectus abdominis and longissimus dorsi (Shaw et al., 2021; Ursini et al., 2022).

🧘‍♀️ 3. Dynamic Mobilisation Improves Posture and Muscle Tone

Simple “carrot stretch” routines and dynamic mobilisation exercises (DME) enhance multifidus cross-sectional area (CSA) and thoracolumbar posture, improving flexibility and spinal lift (Tabor 2015; Shakeshaft & Tabor 2020).

🎯 4. Saddle Fit Affects Back and Core Muscles

Incorrect saddle tree width compresses the back and limits muscle development, while correct fit supports symmetrical muscle growth and freer movement (MacKechnie-Guire et al.,2019).

🏇 Core Conditioning Techniques at EB Equine

Our programs integrate the latest equine research with practical exercises that build lasting strength and flexibility:

• Dynamic Mobilisation (Carrot Stretches)

  • Encourages spinal flexion and engagement of deep stabilising muscles (Tabor 2015).

• Ground Pole & Raised Walk Exercises

  • Stimulate abdominal and back muscle activation (Shaw 2021).

• Core Activation on Variable Terrain

  • Improves proprioception and stabiliser strength for a supple topline.

• Manual Therapy & Myofascial Release

  • Relieves tension and enhances range of motion (Nankervis 2006).

And occasionally,

• Elastic Band Training Systems

  • Promote abdominal lift, topline engagement, and hindquarter coordination (Ursini 2022).

🌟 The Takeaway

A strong, balanced core is the foundation of every athletic movement your horse makes.By improving spinal stability, posture, and muscle symmetry, you support comfort, performance, and long-term soundness.

At EB Equine, we design bespoke, evidence-based core conditioning programs to build topline strength from the inside out — because every stride starts with the core. 💛

🧾 Evidence-Based References

• Clayton H.M. (2016). Core Training and Rehabilitation in Horses. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract.

• Holcombe S.J. et al. (2019). The Effect of Core Abdominal Muscle Rehabilitation Exercises on Return to Training and Performance in Horses After Colic Surgery. J Equine Vet Sci.

• Ursini T. et al. (2022). Electromyography of the Multifidus During Therapeutic Exercises. Front Vet Sci.

• Shaw K. et al. (2021). Effect of Ground Poles and Resistance Bands on Core Activation. J Equine Vet Sci.

• Sullivan H.M. et al. (2022). Influence of Chronic Lameness on Multifidus Structure in the Horse. J Equine Vet Sci.

• Shakeshaft A. & Tabor G. (2020). Physiotherapy Intervention on Thoracolumbar Posture in Horses. Animals.

• Licka T. et al. (2008). Electromyographic Activity of Longissimus Dorsi During Locomotion in Horses when walking on a treadmill. Vet J.

• Hyytiäinen H. et al. (2014). Fibre Type Distribution in Equine Back Muscles. Acta Vet Scand.

• MacKechnie-Guire R. et al.(2019). The Effect of Tree Width on Thoracolumbar and Limb Kinematics, Saddle Pressure Distribution, and Thoracolumbar Dimensions in Sports Horses in Trot and Canter. Animals.

• Nankervis K. et al. (2006). Effects of Manipulative Therapy on the Longissimus Dorsi in the equine back. CEP.