A Horse Owner s Guide to Massage: The Neck Part One By Debranne Pattillo, Master Equine Body Worker

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1 A Horse Owner s Guide to Massage: The Neck Part One By Debranne Pattillo, Master Equine Body Worker If you own a horse or have been in the horse industry for some time, you may have heard the statement, if a horse is ridden correctly they do not need body work. Mmm.really? We can all agree that horses ridden correctly may have fewer issues than those pounding the surface or traveling upside down. However, there are too many variables, many of which we have no control that cause problems stemming from emotional, biomechanical or chemical origin. Some horses don t have the best conformation (they way they are structurally put together), others have tack that doesn t quite fit, some housing limits normal activity in addition to problems associated with feed imbalances, shoeing or trimming, worming, vaccination, medications as well as vices, emotion, hormones, disease, injury, poor use of training devices, footing, and spinal issues. The variables which contribute to body sensitivity and dysfunction involve a long list and all the correct riding in the world can not undo many of the burdens our companions may have to endure. You as the owner, trainer or caregivers can offer comfort and establish a knowledgeable baseline of what is normal or not for a horse. If you have been following this series in this magazine, Horse Owner s Guide to Massage, you will see we have tackled the trapezius muscles (Photo 1, the green muscle at the neck and shoulder) found on either side of the scapula. You will find it useful to refer back to those articles and include those simple techniques as area for this portion; the neck. Photo 1: Superficial Muscles of the Neck WHY THE NECK? The variables mentioned above can wreak havoc in the area but performance can also suffer in regards to the tasks required of a comfortable neck. As we look beyond the superficial layer to the next you will find there are so many more muscles involved, many of which are still not shown Photo 2: Deeper Muscles of the Neck

2 in this deeper layer (Photo 2) WHAT CAUSES PROBLEMS IN THE NECK? Incorrect riding, training and gimmicks: Illustration 1: Skeletal Curves of the Neck This area in the spine actually has two curves; the nuchal curve and the cervical curve (Illustration 1). While the whole body working properly and comfortable for a horse to carry itself properly and efficiently, often these curves in the neck are compromised with hurried training, discomfort, conformation, soft tissue concerns, neurological issues and bony changes. With any one of these denominators present problems within the neck can actually manifest. For instance, the horse which tends to hyperflex (overbend) at the poll, will make the cervical curve or lower portion of the neck look like it is bulging at the base. A horse that is early on in training needs to be able to straighten the base and develop the muscle requiring the position in order to allow it to bend at the poll naturally and within the proper range without gimmicks. While most humane training aids used sensibility as a suggestion not as a loop hole for proper training and conditioning may be fine, forced frames with the improper use of training aids can cause physical problems. To understand how the neck works, first of all, think about your nose extending the length of a horse s face. Get on your hands and knees and hollow your back. You will notice that your chest drops towards the ground along with the base of your neck and your horse nose points outward similar to a horse with an inverted back and leading with the nose. Now raise and arch your back. You will feel the base of your neck straightening and your horse nose points to the ground much like a horse telescoping.[dap1] In regards to the opening statement about a horse ridden correctly, yes there should be fewer problems in the ideal horse that goes well. On the other side of the coin, some horses are ridden in a frame where the neck is shortened and compressed without the establishing the required muscling to straighten the neck first. They are overbent at the poll which some people describe as not being the highest part of the bend or broken at the poll. Eventually this type of structural limitation can cause problems in the rest of the spine as well as soft tissue issues (muscle, tendon and ligament). Saddle: If a saddle restricts proper movement, the horse is going to adapt his way of moving avoiding the discomfort. Slide your hand in between the front of top edge of the saddle flap where it comes in contact with the shoulder. You should be able to slide your flat hand through this area. It will be snug. Try leaving your hand there and

3 have someone move your horse s neck side to side. If you have feel any discomfort, you probably now have a good idea as to why your horse did not want to bend the neck sideways. With your hand still in place, have someone bring your horse s leg on that side forward. Again, any discomfort felt is contributing to him shortening his stride as he reaches with that limb. Any lower limb problems: If you have a blister on your foot, you would tighten your muscles as you load that leg to minimize the pain you were about to feel. The horse s front legs are analogous to your arms and are intimate in the working relationship to the horse s neck. If the horse has a bruise on the sole, injury to the lower limb, compromised joint, abscess, sore foot, shoeing or trimming problems or any type of lower limb syndrome, he will do whatever he can to avoid loading the limb completely. This is accomplished by bracing the muscles in the neck. Dental: A horse that is uncomfortable in the mouth is going to resist and brace through the neck. Often this shows up in the rest of the horse s body. Bridle and Bit: Check that the brow band is large enough for your horse, especially those double bridles. Some horses object to pressure from the bridle at the base of the ears on the poll piece. This pressure comes from brow bands that are too short or the bridle not properly fitted to the horse. Not all horses carry the bit in the same place. Some horses carry it close to the cheek teeth while other like it lower depending on the structure of their mouth. Remember to check the length of the bit and the thickness. A thicker bit in a mouth without a lot of space in-between the upper and lower jaw is actually more uncomfortable than a thinner bit. Other Troubles in This Area: Similar problems occur here that were explored in the previous articles regarding the trapezius muscles. Horses that are unwilling to round (lift) the back, experience girth or cinch problems, carry the unbalanced rider, have any spinal pathology or nerve impingement, or are worked without regard to footing combined with fatigue will often display hypersensitivity in this area. BEFORE YOU BEGIN: Please refer back to the first article of this series to review the surface anatomy. It is very important that you do not use these particular strokes on the bones of the neck. Your horse will object! Also, please look over the safety concerns and initial instructions for proper massage application. Preparing the Neck: Prepare and desensitize the area by stoking the area with flat relaxed hands. (Photo 3) Remember to leave a slight bend in your knuckle to Photo 3: Desensitizing the Neck with Flat Hands

4 communicate relaxation and don t forget to breathe. Try to spend some time here covering the entire area above green muscle in the photo so you avoid the neck bones. Increase your weight of the stroke if the horse leans into you. Cross Fiber Massage: With the same flat hand you are now going to work across the muscles with those hands moving in opposite directions of each other. Think about stroking upward with the palm of your right hand and raking down with your finger pads of your left hand at the same time. (Photo 4) Now switch the direction; right hand rakes downward with the finger pads and the left palm strokes upward. Continue up and down the area of the neck again avoiding the bones covered by the big green lower strap like muscle (the brachiocephalicus) Photo 4: Cross Fiber Alternation Hand Direction on the Neck As you near the poll it is easier to use your fingers and thumbs for this same move on the lateral muscle of the head. (Photo 5). Photo 5: Concentrating on the Muscles of the Poll

5 The Forearm Press: Rest your entire arm just above the brachiocephalicus for the forearm press (photo 6). Make sure you have even pressure along your arm without applying unnecessary weight in your elbow. Sink inwards. ). Please note that your arm is just above the horse s vertebral column (spine). Things will feel hard and lumpy if you are too low and the horse will not like you pressing directly on bone in this manner. If the horse seems to object, try raising your arm higher to avoid the cervical (neck) bones. On larger horses it may take up to two lengths of your arm to cover the area. Photo 6: The Forearm Press Once the horse offers some pressure on your arm, meet his lean and lift upwards towards the mane, still keeping contact with entire forearm. Try to avoid slipping across the skin. You will notice he will lower his neck for more pressure. When he does, hold for at least 90 seconds. Photo 7: Sinking in Further Copyright 2009 Debranne Pattillo and Equinology, INC, All rights reserved. All Equinology, INC illustrations, article, text and photos are protected by copyright laws. No reproduction allowed without written authorization. A special thank-you to Sarah Linton and her horse Omar, Wynn the wonder horse and Polly the Writtle sitter! Photos by Laura Payne, Paul Hougard, Gary Golladay and Sarah Linton Illustrations by Celia Strain About the Author: Debranne Pattillo is the CEO of Equinology INC, an educational company with sister affiliates around the globe offering over 40 courses taught by leading veterinarians and specialists. Debranne is the chief instructor for the Equine Body Worker Certification Courses

6 (equine massage and EBW techniques), Advanced Equine Massage Techniques Level One, the Progressive Equine Anatomy and Equine Stretching courses. She has been featured in various major media publications in the USA, UK, New Zealand and Australia and her work was showcased on BBC s Country Files. Debranne lives at The Sea Ranch in Northern CA and holds a long time practice as a Master Equine Body Worker in the neighboring 5 counties. More information can be found at: EBW certification courses in Queensland and Western Australia March Canine Body Worker certification courses in Queensland August Equine MFR in NSW August 2009.