Golf
New User
What is the best way to fix this. We are talking serious muscle. So much so that the horse finds it very hard work to work correctly and opts for giraffe position wherever possible. Built up over a number of years.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Upside down neck
- Thread starter Golf
- Start date
be positive
Well-Known Member
It probably has a tight under muscled topline in general, especially under the saddle if it has been going this way for years.
First you need to rule out pain as the reason for it going so badly, then probably some physio, a saddle check and bear in mind as it changes its way of going these will be ongoing requirements.
Then all being well start to encourage it to work long and low, at first it may find this hard as the muscles will struggle to change, plenty of steady work up hills should help, teach it to move from your leg and seek the rein, once it is strong enough lunging will help, pole work, keep sessions short to make it as easy as possible for correct work, better 10 mins good then stop than an hour of poor work.
Things like carrot stretches can really help them get the idea it is ok to reach down, plenty of praise when things go well, feeding everything from the ground will be useful.
First you need to rule out pain as the reason for it going so badly, then probably some physio, a saddle check and bear in mind as it changes its way of going these will be ongoing requirements.
Then all being well start to encourage it to work long and low, at first it may find this hard as the muscles will struggle to change, plenty of steady work up hills should help, teach it to move from your leg and seek the rein, once it is strong enough lunging will help, pole work, keep sessions short to make it as easy as possible for correct work, better 10 mins good then stop than an hour of poor work.
Things like carrot stretches can really help them get the idea it is ok to reach down, plenty of praise when things go well, feeding everything from the ground will be useful.
Pearlsacarolsinger
Up in the clouds
We bought a mare with a seriously ewe neck. It took a long time to lose the muscle under the neck and develop the right muscles. We always fed her from the ground - no haynets. Then correct riding in a suitable bit without gadgets worked wonders but there is no magic cure, although we do have plenty of hills, which helped.