🎗️ Required Material:
A band with a width of 10 cm.
✨ Effect & Benefits:
The activation body band for the hindquarters improves the horse’s body awareness and can encourage more active engagement of the hind legs.
It is attached to the billet straps of the saddle or to the D-rings of a lunging girth and placed around the hindquarters.
This creates a better connection from back to front, helping the horse to stretch while moving with greater carrying power.
In addition, the band can positively influence rhythm, impulsion, and balance.
It is particularly suitable for:
- Young horses that are just getting used to wearing a girth or saddle.
- Horses that are very sensitive or not very responsive to the rider’s leg.
- Nervous horses that strongly react to movement behind them or struggle in confined spaces.
- Horses with stiff movements, tail swishing, or dragging gaits.
- Jumping horses that need to develop a stronger connection from the hindquarters to the forehand.
📝 How to use:
- Ideally, the horse is already familiar with body bands. Otherwise, first apply the band loosely and lead the horse at walk or trot to test acceptance.
- Secure one end of the band with a flat, easily releasable knot to the saddle or lunging girth (e.g., to the billet straps or D-rings).
- Carefully unroll the band, guide it around the hindquarters, and maintain gentle, steady contact.
- Attach the other end on the opposite side, also with an easily releasable knot.
- The band should lie softly, not cut in, and not slip.
- Let the horse walk a few steps and observe its reaction. If necessary, a second person can help.
👀 Observations:
The effect often appears immediately. Many horses move with shorter, more collected strides because they use their hindquarters more consciously.
Watch for changes in stride length, flow of movement, and posture.
📌 Important Notes:
- If the horse reacts with strong discomfort or significantly slows down, a loose rope may be an alternative. This swings with each step and can stimulate hindquarter activity more effectively.
- If the horse does not feel comfortable with the band, begin with another body band first or gradually accustom it step by step to its use.
🔀 Variations & Further Use:
If there is no suitable attachment on the saddle or if the knots are bothersome during riding, you can use a second band.
A good alternative is the double-loop body band, which lies flat under the saddle flaps.
Depending on the horse type, the knots can be tied in front of the knee roll or behind the saddle flap.
