The topline — the chain of muscles running from the poll, down the neck and back, to the croup — is a considerably reliable indicator of a horse’s physical health, conditioning, and postural balance. It reflects the overall physical health and training balance, with a strong topline indicating proper muscle development and biomechanics, while a weak one can signal pain, poor conditioning, or underlying issues.

I was contacted by the editor of the Canadian Horse Annual to put this together for their 2025 issue to discuss what the topline is, its importance, and exercises that can be performed in-hand and under saddle to help the horse develop theirs. You can read it here: