Building the Body Before the Ride: Why Whole-Horse Conditioning Matters for Young Horses

In recent years, the conversation around backing young horses has evolved, but perhaps not always in the most helpful direction. While we've moved away from outdated methods of drilling youngsters in the arena, we may have swung too far in the opposite direction by rushing them under saddle and straight out hacking, without laying the right physical foundation.

When starting young horses, focusing on the whole horse’s body—not just their behaviour or willingness—is essential. Backing a horse is not just about saddle acceptance or steering; it's about preparing the bones, muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues to support the additional demands of carrying a rider. And that preparation starts well before the first ride.

The Role of Groundwork in Physical Conditioning

Before a young horse is backed, their musculoskeletal system is still developing. Growth plates don’t fully close until around 5-6 years of age, and until then, a careful and progressive approach is vital. This is where low-impact, structured groundwork plays a critical role.

Through exercises such as in-hand work, poles, liberty movement, and lateral work from the ground, we can begin gently activating key muscle groups such as the thoracic sling, abdominal muscles, hindquarter engagement, and neck stabilisers. These are the very systems that help the horse maintain posture, absorb shock, and carry a rider without compensating or overloading certain joints.

By taking time to condition these areas early, we set up the horse for healthy spinal alignment, pelvic stability, and core strength, all of which are foundational to sound, comfortable ridden work later on.

Lessons from the Past – and the Pendulum Effect

Historically, horses were often given a full year of groundwork before backing. The intention was good: to build strength, coordination, and responsiveness. However, many horses were kept almost exclusively in the school during this period. The result? Repetitive strain injuries, mental fatigue, and physical imbalance due to overuse of the same muscles in confined, repetitive patterns.

Now, we’re seeing the opposite trend: backing horses early and sending them straight out hacking as a “low-pressure” alternative. While hacking offers exposure and benefits like straight-line movement and cardiovascular development, it lacks one crucial element: correct, controlled body development.

Why Hacking Alone Isn’t Enough

When young horses are backed and immediately start hacking, their bodies may not yet be conditioned to handle the load. Out on the trails, they move mostly in straight lines, often lacking the lateral flexibility and core engagement needed to stabilise the spine and support healthy movement.

Without targeted groundwork to build symmetrical muscle patterns and flexibility, these horses can quickly fall into compensatory movement patterns. They fatigue, brace, or overuse certain areas of the body, setting the stage for future issues.

These problems often go unnoticed until horses are later asked to step up into schooling or competition. It’s only then that owners and riders start to notice resistance, tension, or behavioural changes. Sadly, many of these horses are then diagnosed with postural kissing spine, sacroiliac (SI) weakness, or chronic lameness—conditions that are now becoming alarmingly common in horses aged 7 to 13 years.

Finding the Middle Ground: Gentle, Targeted Conditioning

The solution lies in balance. Not over drilling young horses in the arena, but not skipping foundational conditioning either. By combining thoughtful groundwork with occasional, varied exposure like hacking or hand walks, we can gradually prepare the young horse for ridden work without overstressing or underusing key areas of the body.

Think of it like preparing a human for advanced sport. We wouldn't expect a 25-year-old to walk into a gymnastics class for the first time and perform flips and tumbling passes. Without years of conditioning, stretching, and strength work, they’d quickly injure themselves. So why do we assume horses, especially young and developing ones, can carry a rider before their body is ready?

Condition Now, Ride Later – and Ride for Longer

By starting conditioning early and progressively, we give young horses the best chance at a long, comfortable, and happy ridden career. We reduce their risk of injury, improve their ability to enjoy their work, and support their mental and physical health as they grow.

The key is to approach training with patience, knowledge, and respect for the horse’s body. That means focusing on what they need now—not just what we want to do with them in the future.