The Head and Neck

The horse’ head is a very heavy object at the end of a very long neck. The neck is used for balance which allows it to change the center of gravity fairly quickly. Muscles originating in the forelimb and trunk have a critical role in forelimb movement and are attached to the neck bones.

 The teeth are very important to the well being of the horse, If they are not balanced then the horse will not be either. Palpate all the acupressure points in the head, record the sore points and now analyze where the pain is coming from. Make sure that the teeth are balanced by putting your finger on the top teeth of the molars, feeling for points and irregularities. Look at the incisors and take notes on the way they match. The teeth will throw the meridians out and the balance in the body will be affected. As you do this watch the ears, eyes, nose, feet, and twitching for information on painful areas.

 The next place to look for pain will be at the base of the skull. Right behind the ears you will palpate for soreness and irregularities in the joint. Go down the vertebrae along the long muscles of the neck and record where you find pain here.

Why does my horse have a neck problem ?

AND A BACK PROBLEM?

Now how do we relieve the head and neck and make the horse feel better? We are going to start with the mandible lift and massage. You will put your palm on the bottom jaw and holding the halter gently invite the horse to put his weight on your palm using your hip for support because the head is heavy. As they relax then you will let go of the halter and strip the massetor muscles and massage the top of the head and around the jaw. The horse will tell you when it is enough, then you go to the other side. and do thee same.. More massage once you have relieved the T.M.J. of the ears, frontal muscles, nasal ducts and massetors.

The next step is the neck. This area has a large mass of muscle, ligaments and tendons. The most important ligament is the nuchal ligament, this holds the body together like the wires on the Golden Gate Bridge . It is very important to examine this ligament and make sure that it is feeling normal. We will start with a Tai Chi massage over the top of the vertebrae. Using the palms of our hands again, followed by stretches up down and from side to side. Keep palpating and making notes as you do this, is it improving or getting worse?

 Once we have the neck relaxed and we look at our notes we will put our hands in strategic places and stretch the horse around the hand.

Massage again because usually the horse has become tense again. When you get them relaxed again then you can do the same stretch again. Massage again and re palpate. The massage and stretches are in the book Introductory Stretches for horse and rider. The Atlas Rock, massage the long muscle of the neck with the palm off your hand under and the other arm over the top of the neck.. The muscle should be getting softer. Once the muscles are all soft then we stretch.

 Stretching ignites the muscle into readiness for action or just helps realign the body into well-being. A stretch is held for twenty five to thirty seconds and done as often as possible for rehabilitation. It is not an exercise, so do not over do the stretch as you may do more damage than good.

I am in horse heaven look.!!!

This is part of the atlas Rock that you will learn about and be able to put this look on lots of other horses.