Building muscle at the base of the neck?

[vikkiandmonica]

Hi all, I recently had a lesson, and my instructor told me that Wings needed to build muscle in the base of his neck. He said that Wings is fairly unstable in the contact, and can wibble his head and neck around a bit, but we've been given some exercises to help him keep straight. Obviously, as he builds more muscle at the base of his neck, he will find it easier to be consistant in the contact. He also thinks that this will help stop him rushing into fences, as atm in canter, he doesn't have the muscle at the base of his neck to come back to me, so hollows out through his back and runs off

So, has anyone got any suggestions as to how to build muscle here? I am working him in a slightly deeper outline than normal (normally work fairly long and low, but now we think he should be in a slightly shorter outline), which will hopefully help build up his muscle, and also, when he is in a deeper outline, the contact is more elastic and steady. Does anyone have any other suggestions? (btw, we have no hills where I live and he has a fairly good topline, so not sure it's necessarily that he is undermuscled elsewhere).

Also, his stomach muscles need improving slightly, just a little to make him more trim, although these do not need improving drastically, I know this will help to make a more consistant outline too.

Thanks to anyone that has any suggestions

PS: will try and get some photos of him both being ridden and a couple of him just standing there so you can see what sort of condition he is in

 

[Seahorse]

working low would definitely help, make sure the muscle is bulging out of his neck but that it's starting at the shoulder not just coming out of the middle (if that makes sense!)
I was at a Charles de Kunnfy clinic the other week and a horse there had a very weak neck and that's what he made them do.

 

[vikkiandmonica]

Seahorse, thanks for that, that's the problem, he has a very muscular neck, but not where his neck joins his shoulders, and this is where we need to build it up. The long and low has worked fab for his topline and overall neck muscle tone and stomach muscles etc., but when he works slightly deeper, that is when he seems to be properly using the base of his neck etc.

 

[rowy]

continue with long and low and also i find working long and low over poles and though long grass will really help the topline and stomach muscles.
My mare is exactly the same but we find its because she puts herself into a false outline and doesn't work through properly. make sure he is using his hind properly and perhaps go on a 20m circle and do long and low for a circuit and then shorten into normal outline for a circuit and then do low again etc.
Hope this helps.

 

[vikkiandmonica]

Thanks rowy, it does help, thanks! It is a bit with him that he's fine working long and low, and does properly step through, but then does drop behind my hand, so isn't fully taking the contact forward, although does have a very powerful hind end, and does tend to step through enough. We normally warm up long and low, then do about 20mins with a shorter contact, and then cool down long and low again, however this includes shortening and lengthening the contact while warming up. I also do lots of transitions and changing pace within the pace.

Will definitely do some pole work, even though he finds this exciting