02/10/2024
Good Pelvis Work: The Key to True Back Lift & Hind Leg Engagement
When we talk about hind leg action, many riders focus solely on getting those legs high off the ground. But true lift-off & engagement from the hind legs are only possible when the pelvis is flexible. And flexibility comes from deep muscle and deep tissue relaxation.
In this photo, we can see a great example of how hind leg activity, pelvic flexibility, and elevation of the back all work together harmoniously. The muscles behind the saddle are rounded and CLEARLY lifted (no need to draw any elevated lines — the back on the side of the bending hind leg is truly lifted and engaged) creating a balanced and supported posture that allows for true engagement. The angles of the active hind leg are spectacular, but only because the pelvis is so relaxed and able to tilt and rotate.
Without this flexibility, the lumbar area would drop, and the pelvis would have to rotate backwards creating with time a tendency for a roached back with negative backwards tilt of the pelvis — we call such horse’s LEG MOVERS, but actually it’s their trainers who should be called “leg-focused” because a trainer who only focuses on how high the horse lifts off the hind leg with disregard to the ability of flexing the pelvis (and thus how well the horse relaxes in activity) produces such a horse.
To sum up: Riders who focus only on the hind legs without ensuring the pelvis is relaxed often end up teaching their horse to lift the legs while the back remains dropped. To achieve this level of movement and connection, it’s crucial to develop not just leg lift off, but the deep relaxation of the horse’s body which results in a good flexibility of the pelvis.
This photo of Incredible Life’s pelvis work with engaged back perfectly captures that beautiful coexistence of relaxation, flexibility, and power ✨and we achieved it thanks to the Optimal Performance Program (OPP): the only one program for horses focused on teaching them Performance Relaxation across the Spectrum of Movement.
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