Belly Lifts

[Laney Humphrey <laneyh@mbay.net>]

If you aren't sure your horse can lift its back, watch the back when the
horse poops!  Most endurance horses are very stiff backed because of arab
conformation and because they don't get asked to use their hind ends under
them very much.  A stiff backed horse can still raise its back but may take
longer to learn to do it "on command" as well as while pooping.  And, until
the horse learns to use its hindquarters more, and any soreness issues in
the back have been attended to, it probably won't lift its back very far -
like an inch or so, you really have to watch to see it.
Cheers, Laney
PS asking the horse to raise its back, either from below or on the rump, is
really good!