12/22/2025
๐ช๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ฒ: ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐
โจ aka the reason your horse feels heavy, hollow, or just not right โจ
Hot take ๐ฅ
If your horse feels heavy on the forehand, itโs not a training problem.
Itโs not a bit problem.
Itโs not a โthey just leanโ problem.
๐๐ผ Itโs a thoracic sling problem.
The thoracic sling ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ itโs a muscular support system that suspends the ribcage between the front legsโฆ
because horses do not have a collarbone.
So if this system canโt lift?
The horse literally has nowhere to go but down.
๐ง ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ฌ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ?
When itโs functioning correctly, it allows the horse to:
๐ฅ Lift the withers
๐ฅ Free up the shoulder for true reach
๐ฅ Absorb concussion through muscle instead of joints
๐ฅ Stay balanced without leaning on the riderโs hands
When itโs weak, restricted, or shut downโฆ ๐๐ผ
๐งฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง๐ฏ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ฌ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ :
โข ๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ โ the primary โslingโ muscle that lifts the ribcage
โข ๐๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ โ stabilize the front end and assist in limb control
โข ๐๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐๐ณ๐ข๐ฎ๐ฌ โ supports wither lift and shoulder movement
โข ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฆ๐๐จ๐ข๐๐ฌ โ help elevate and stabilize the scapula
๐ง Think of this system like a suspension bridge:
If the cables arenโt doing their job, the whole structure collapses forward.
๐ฉ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ฌ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ฌ๐งโ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ฃ๐จ๐:
โข Heavy or dull in the bridle
โข Short, stabby front limbs
โข Tripping or toe-dragging โfor no reasonโ
โข Tight lower neck + sore, guarded pecs
โข A hollow back that wonโt stay round no matter what you do
And hereโs the spicy truth ๐ถ๏ธ
You cannot fix this by pulling their head down.
No gadget.
No frame chasing.
No stronger hands.
โ Posture does not create strength.
โ๏ธ Strength creates posture.
๐ ๏ธ ๐๐จ ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐จ ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ฌ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ?
โ๏ธ Slow, correct work (yesโฆ boring before brilliant)
โ๏ธ Walk work that actually develops posture and control
โ๏ธ Cavalettis done with organization, not speed
โ๏ธ Transitions that lift the ribcage instead of dumping it forward
โ๏ธ Bodywork to clear fascial restrictions so muscles can fire, not just exist
โ ๏ธ You cannot strengthen a muscle thatโs stuck in protection.
๐ง ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ:
Strength does not come from tension.
It comes from support, coordination, and capacity.
If the front end canโt lift, the rest of the body will compensate.
Every. Single. Time.
Fix the sling โ change the horse.
Want another muscle group next week?
Drop a ๐ช๐ผ in the comments!
