Horse Hollowing Out or Bracing Under Saddle | Causes and Rider Fixes

Horse Hollowing Out or Bracing Under Saddle | Causes and Rider Fixes
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Horse Hollowing Or Bracing Under Saddle. What It Really Means

When your horse lifts the head, drops the back, or braces against your seat and hand, it can feel like they are fighting you. Most of the time, hollowing and bracing are your horse trying to protect themselves from discomfort or confusion, not trying to be difficult. This guide explains why horses invert, what to check, and how riders can support a softer and more relaxed topline.

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For riders who want a horse that feels safe enough to stretch into the contact.
What You Are Feeling

What Hollowing And Bracing Actually Are

A hollowed back is a protective posture. The horse lifts the head and neck, drops or tightens the back, and often shortens the stride. Bracing happens when the horse feels they need to lock muscles to defend against pressure, pain, or anxiety.

It is the opposite of the lifted, round, swinging topline we want. Instead of energy flowing from hind end to hand, the horse blocks that flow in the body.

Hollowing is not an insult. It is information about how safe and comfortable your horse feels in that moment.
Why It Happens

Common Reasons Horses Hollow Or Brace

There is usually more than one reason, but some of the most common are:

  • Back or sacroiliac discomfort that makes lifting through the topline uncomfortable.
  • Saddle or pad fit that pinches, bridges, or rocks on the back.
  • Girth or ribcage soreness that makes reaching forward feel risky.
  • Cold weather stiffness or lack of warm up time.
  • Anxiety about contact, rider balance, or past experiences.

Only your vet and saddle fitter together can rule out deeper problems. Your observations give them a clearer starting point.

Real Rider Routine

A Simple Three Step Plan To Help A Hollow Horse

This routine assumes your vet and fitter have looked at your horse and cleared them for training while you work on comfort and confidence.

Step 1

Lengthen The Warm Up And Lower The Pressure

Start with more walk, longer rein, and large figures. Invite your horse to stretch the neck forward and down without forcing a frame. The aim is a soft back before big asks.

Step 2

Reward Every Hint Of Stretch

When your horse offers a softer back, a reach forward with the neck, or a deeper breath, acknowledge it. Relaxation grows where it is rewarded, not where it is ignored.

Step 3

Support The Muscles That Do The Work

Build a comfort routine for back, loin, and girth areas so lifting through the topline feels possible. Focus as much on how your horse feels as on how they look.

Relates to your horse. A horse that believes the first steps will feel safe is much more likely to offer the stretch you want.
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Where Our Products Fit

How Riders Use Draw It Out® With Hollow And Braced Horses

Draw It Out® products do not replace saddle fitting, training, or veterinary care. Riders use them to support soft tissue comfort in horses that are learning to carry a more lifted and relaxed topline.

  • Draw It Out® 16 ounce Gel along the back, loins, and girth area before and after rides to support topline comfort.
  • Draw It Out® Concentrate in spray form on major muscle groups after schooling sessions to help with recovery.
  • CryoSpray Cooling Body Brace on targeted muscle zones after intense or repetitive work when cooling support is appropriate.
  • MasterMudd™ EquiBrace on specific soft tissue areas identified by your veterinarian or body worker as needing deeper support.

Ask your veterinarian how these tools can complement the fit, conditioning, and training program they recommend for your horse.

Horse Hollowing Or Bracing Under Saddle — FAQ

Why does my horse hollow their back when I ride

Many horses hollow to protect themselves from discomfort in the back, saddle area, or hind end, or because they feel anxious or confused about the work. It is often a protective response, not a training failure.

Is hollowing always a sign of pain

Not always, but pain and tension are common contributors. Some horses hollow from confusion about contact, others from stiffness or soreness. A vet and fitter can help identify the primary cause.

When should I call the vet about my horse bracing or hollowing

Call your vet if the behavior is new, gets worse with work, is clearly one sided, or comes with other changes such as reluctance to be saddled, back soreness, or a change in gait.

Can exercises fix a hollow backed horse

Once your vet and fitter have cleared your horse, correct exercises and better warm ups can help. Comfort, fit, and training need to work together for lasting change.

How does Draw It Out® fit into a hollow horse plan

Draw It Out® products support comfort in muscles and soft tissue so horses can find it easier to lift and stretch through the topline while you and your trainer work on balance and contact.

This guide is for education only and does not replace examination, diagnosis, or treatment by a veterinarian or qualified professional. If you are concerned about your horse’s back or behavior, contact your vet.