Building up Neck - advice please

[Bessieboo]

Hi everyone

I would like to build up my horses neck more. She is a cob who had been ill before I bought her so had lost alot of her neck muscle. I have built her back up and she is in really good condition but I would like to build up her neck more as I think she would look more balanced.

Do you have any advice or tips on what sort of exercises I could do with her to help achieve this?

Thanks in advance.

 

[celia]

Hill work, stretching and working with the neck in different positions will help. Make sure you build up gradually though and don't expect a difference straight away as her muscles will need to strengthen and get used to working in different ways. You'll want to make sure she is properly forwards from behind every time you work as she's only going to build correct neck muscle if she is carrying herself properly rather than leaning on the bit or relying on your hands to carry her. (Apologies if she doesn't do this btw but a lot of cobs do!) Work on the lunge may help too - but again, only if she is using herself properly.

 

[Bug2007]

Huge big shipping chain round her neck, dragging that around and keeping her head up will build up the muscles......lol (joke before anyone kills me)!!!

As above good answer.

 

[Bessieboo]

Thanks for that.

I have her working well now from behind and she has built up some lovely muscle on her hindlegs due to this. So I will give the hill work etc a try