>>>> in the saddle it feels he lifts his head way high. and since he is >>>> naturally very low headed it seems forced and strained and bracey. So >>>> while you could say there is not a sensation of him hollowing, he is >>>> actually, by throwing his head unnaturally high (for him)-
I was talking to someone recently who has a somewhat roach-backed horse, gaited, but she trots him too. She mentioned that when he rounds his back to trot, it actually gives her a weird feeling, pushing her up and forward in an odd way. (It's also a saddle fit concern.) So, yes, I gather that roach-backed horses can indeed raise and even "hollow" their backs - it may not be noticeable by looking at their backs alone though. What about the other extreme - horses with some natural "lordosis" - the conformational type of swayback, that is inborn, not a result of bad riding? Couldn't they even manage to achieve some degree of "roundness" by tightening their abs and driving their legs under themselves...? I've never thought about that one before. I have a friend who owns such a horse. I should ask her. I don't expect that horse to ever APPEAR obviously round though... Karen Thomas [EMAIL PROTECTED]
