Suggestions to unlock the neck

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Barlow

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I wonder if I could ask for some help and suggestions to unlock my horse’s neck?
my horse has a short neck and holds tension there. Tight muscles in his neck are regularly treated by physio. Am waiting for a made to measure bridle to arrive as physio has suggested current bridle fit may not be helping either. Back and teeth all ok.
I struggle in the school with getting him to unlock and soften his neck - he is very good at fixing it and giving the appearance of working well but he isn’t through.
I am currently doing lots of leg yield, shoulder in, shoulder out, travers and half pass to encourage flexion and bend, as well as flexing his neck to the outside.
I’d be very grateful for any helpful exercises which any of you have tried with success to help with unblocking the neck!
i appreciate I probably haven’t explained this very well, but basically it boils down to how can I encourage my horse to relax his neck to work through properly?
 
I'm having the same difficulty so will be interested to hear more replies.

In walk and canter, it has certainly help giving and re-taking the reins. Literally totally give away the outside rein for a few strides, then back to central, then totally give away the inside rein, back to centre, then both etc etc.. It seems to be working slowly but surely and get him to soften / carry himself but it's not quite working in trot yet..!
 
I schooled an Arab which was very upside down, different problem but very tense in his neck, but once I had him fully checked by the vet, I lunged him encouraging him to go forward actively and stretch down. I got him responding to my voice which helped to get him active when riding. Once I got him doing that, I worked when riding him on riding him forward into the contact on a long rein constantly, always making sure he wasn't just tucking his nose in and not going forward. He really improved and relaxed his neck.

I know this isn't exactly the same as your house but hopefully it may be some help.
 
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Simple question - potentially complex answer and difficult to answer without seeing what is going on.
Things to consider that can contribute - conformation, soundness, rider, balance, bitting, surface, mental tension/confusion and probably others.
 
ihatework said:
Simple question - potentially complex answer and difficult to answer without seeing what is going on.
Things to consider that can contribute - conformation, soundness, rider, balance, bitting, surface, mental tension/confusion and probably others.
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This is definitely also something that my boy is probably going through the motions of. He's been off with injury and just had a full MOT (for the 800th time this year) so I'm still trying to work out if its a schooling problem or an 'ailment,' problem.
 
agree with IHW's list of possibilities. I also think that sometimes a problem that appears to be centred in one area is actually stemming from another. my welsh has a short thick neck and can feel like riding a stiff rhino at times. She can and will bend her neck, evenly (anatomy allowing) from poll to withers so it's not a neck issue with her, the rhino neck is actually caused by her hindlegs being out behind and rudeness in the contact. work on engagement of the hindlegs solves the neck thing.

therefore, sorry to be that person, but it's kind of impossible to really make meaningful suggestions without being able to see what is happening, therefore a good instructor is probably your best bet - many are starting to get out and about again now I think.
 
Thanks all. Yes I think MP is right, it does seem to be a combination of softening in front and enough push from behind as well as using the lateral work to open up behind. He’s very good at being “dishonest” and looking like he is going well when actually he doesn’t feel through. I have lessons with Justine and Adam from AM and another regular instructor, all three of whom are excellent and have helped me a lot with him. I guess this morning we just had an off day and I was just wondering whether there was something else anyone had tried with success, although like anything each horse is different and no doubt once I’ve cracked this issue he will throw something else at me!!!
I cant wait to get back to proper lessons now that lockdown has eased!
 
AMD are up and running again - whoo hooooo!
With K I have to wobble her off the contact sometimes, not by doing big neck bends but just little poll flexions and also be fairly quick with the rein otherwise she happily sits on the bit and lets me hold her head up rather than actually agree to go in self carriage. she's not one to hold herself artificially, particularly - she's either polite and (various degrees of) through or rude yawping idleness so it's a technique that works well for her and I find it works well combined with hindleg activation - just working on the hindlegs pushes her onto the forehand. I have to remember to be quick with the aid though, it's tempting to go back to doing big slow bends which does not help her at all.
 
Thanks MP, yes it is a fine balance indeed! And actually I think some of it could just be he is quite opinionated at times! It took me eighteen months for him to accept being corrected without a protest, and even now we have the odd moment when I put my leg on- I need to remember how far we have come at times! I wish I could get to AM but until they open the kitchen I’m a bit stuck as will be camping in the back of my 3.5!! I rang the Belfry yesterday but they aren’t taking bookings yet either!
 
My suggestion would be to keep an open mind about the possibility of getting some neck x rays. My vets are finding a large number of horses with neck arthritis. My own was one, of course, but a neighbour has another with a loss of use claim in at 8 years old, with arthritis at C5 that the vet attributes to schooling in draw reins at some time before she was bought aged 6.

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Assuming no physical problems, you are doing the right things with lateral movements to soften his back and engage hind end. I like to think of head and neck as a symptom of the feet and back. If feet and back are going correctly, the head and neck will find the right spot.

Previously I had a 17.3 ISH who also liked to do this. He never pulled hard but could easily ‘frame’ his neck up but not be truly coming through behind. Because he was so big and powerful, it really felt like he was pushing from behind well and was really forward. I had to get used to riding him what felt a bit quick and overly forward to actually get him to really engage hind end. I think a lot of amateurs really underestimate what a truly forward pace is - myself included. I would focus on making sure your horse is always quick off your leg and maybe even a little more forward than you think you need (especially at walk and trot) to really engage hind end and back. Before starting lateral movements, I would increase tempo a bit and try to maintain throughout movement.
 
Barlow said:
Thanks MP, yes it is a fine balance indeed! And actually I think some of it could just be he is quite opinionated at times! It took me eighteen months for him to accept being corrected without a protest, and even now we have the odd moment when I put my leg on- I need to remember how far we have come at times! I wish I could get to AM but until they open the kitchen I’m a bit stuck as will be camping in the back of my 3.5!! I rang the Belfry yesterday but they aren’t taking bookings yet either!
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Adam has sent out a letter explaining h ow they are organising things, why not contact them if you haven't received it.
 
I would try some Masterson Method lateral cervical flexions to see if you could release some tension which hopefully would translate to the ridden work. As others said there may well be something physical elsewhere going on so I'd try a physio and/or chiropractor just to make sure.
 
flexions would be a good place to start - if you can't get a good, consistent, easy even bend at halt then you'll not get it in walk. If you can't get it in walk you won't get it in trot and so on and so on :)
 
also - is your neck or other areas stiff or are you able to fully follow the movement of hips matching hips, shoulders matching shoulders and neck loose and free?
 
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