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Lori
Member
Username: maggienm
Post Number: 572
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, Oct 13, 2007 - 6:27 pm: |   |
Corinne, Would you be able to elaborate on how you relax and stretch the nuchal ligament?
You have said you are standing at the horses shoulder holding the reins, do you switch sides? I don't get a clear picture of how you are asking for the flex.
I think you ask for just a small (jaw)flex to one side then the other, how long do you ask the horse to stay flexed to one side?
How long would a session be?
My mare is quite stiff all along one side of her jaw rightthrough her neck. I think this exercise would be really good for her.
I just read a great article in DT under 'ask the experts' that addresses just how important it is for the horse to be relaxed. |
Corinne Candice
Member
Username: corinne
Post Number: 1196
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, Oct 13, 2007 - 6:49 pm: | |
Lori....I usually stand on the near side. You take the reins in your hands like you were on the horse but you are on the ground and hold them pretty close to the bit, probably about 5-10 inches. The horse is straight in front of the shoulders. You then apply slight back and forth motion like a series of half halts on each rein but you don't switch to the other hand until the horse's ligament pops. It should flop over to the side you are half halting on. If it doesn't pop after you half halt the rein a few times, after about 30 seconds switch to the other hand as the horse may be apprehensive initially or tighter on one side than the other. I tried this with four new horses prior to teaching lessons at my internship barn this past week and only one was relaxed enough to allow me to pop the ligament. The rest tried to back up as they are western pleasure horses and thought I was asking them to rein back.
The horse as he is relaxing should lower his head still straight in front of his shoulder as you are only creating slight jaw flexion not pulling the horses head to the side and should sigh or chew at the bit as a sign he is relaxing.
I do this for 4-5 minutes per session once before my ride and once after. I am sure there is a better description of how to do this from the experts. I will see if my dressage instructor will write a short summary of it over email then I can post it. She is at the r program currently so it might be next week. |
Lori
Member
Username: maggienm
Post Number: 573
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Monday, Oct 15, 2007 - 8:24 am: | |
Thank you Corinne, so what do you do when the horse doesn't relax enough to flop the ligament?
Try again later?
With my mare I am convinced it is a (broken)trust issue of many years, she is worried that the rein will get jerked and because she is relaxed it will hurt. |
Corinne Candice
Member
Username: corinne
Post Number: 1198
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Monday, Oct 15, 2007 - 9:04 am: | |
Lori,
Yes I do agree that it takes trust on the horse's part that the mouth is not going to be abused and when I had this done to my horse for the first time three years ago during a demonstration at a horse festival by Chuck Grant's protoge'it took a few minutes but I do believe that the jaw flexion action will eventually mechanically cause the ligament to relax once the horse gives. If it does not work the first time, stop and move on the to something else, try again another day, it shouldn't take long for the horse to know you are not going to hurt her and she will eventually relax. Once its pops over a few times, it's like a wonderful yoga movement, head will drop eyes will close, and it really does improve suppleness over the entire top line so that you start on a less stiff horse. I also stretch the legs forward after the girth is tightened, and prior to tacking I pick up the front leg and hold it under the cannon bone facing forward (leg positioned like you are going to pick a hoof) and I gently lift upwards to help release tight shoulders. Then I bring that same leg down and care fully place it on the ground as far back as I can to stretch the chest and forearm muscles. Repeat on both sides. The back legs I hold the hock to protect it and place the leg on the ground as far forward as I can until the foot is flat. It helps stretch the hamstrings. Then I do the opposite and stretch the hind leg backwards....obviously aware of my surroundings and always standing to the side. With these stretches as well the horse may be tense initially but will eventually look forward to them and not resist at all. Like I said any athlete needs some warm up stretching and so the muscles are nice and warm if you would like you could hand walk the horse for a moment first. Good luck!
Corinne |
Lori
Member
Username: maggienm
Post Number: 577
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Monday, Oct 15, 2007 - 12:28 pm: | |
I hope I am not taxing your patience with my questions.
When you say flop what exactly flops?
When I tried yesterday I didn't see anything move in the neck but... after a couple times she did chew a little bit. So that is a start.
thanks again |
